Hotels near Royal Castle (Zamek Krolewski)

Standing at the southern entrance to the Old Town, the Royal Castle served as the official residence of Polish monarchs from the 16th century until the Third Partition of Poland in 1795. The Nazis dynamited the building in 1944, and it was reconstructed between 1971 and 1984 using salvaged fragments and meticulous archival research. Today the castle operates as a museum showcasing original Canaletto paintings, the Marble Room, the Throne Room with its gilded canopy, and the Senators' Chamber where the Constitution of 3 May 1791 - the first modern constitution in Europe - was adopted.

Admission is 30 PLN for adults (about 7 EUR). Free entry on Wednesdays draws long queues, so arrive before 10:00 if you aim for that. The castle courtyard and Plac Zamkowy (Castle Square) with the Sigismund III Vasa Column are free to access at any time - the square offers one of Warsaw's most recognisable photo spots.

Pro Tip: Buy tickets online to skip the queue. On Wednesdays (free day), arrive at 09:30 and start with the upper-floor galleries - most visitors head to the ground floor first, so the Throne Room will be nearly empty.