13 Budget tips for visiting Krakow

I’m huge fan of Krakow since visiting the city 10 years ago.  As this report from Merit proves,  Krakow remains one of Europe’s best value destinations with bunch of great savings to be found on accommodation ( great hostels ) plus on food, drink ( cheap and affordable beer ) and transportation. It remains a city that I long to revisit. So when my friends Merit and Mark recently visited Krakow to check out a few hostels there, I had ask them to share with me 13 budget things to do in Krakow on a budget. This is what they came up with. Hope you find them useful. Checkout also my updated version of my cheap eats guide to Krakow.

How much money do I need for Krakow

Krakow is still a  budget destination to visit and you can travel easily on a € 60-€ 70 budget ( minus accommodation ) per day.

Here is a rough guide of how much things cost in Krakow to use as a reference

• Main courses: 30–55 zł (€7–13)
• Soup: 15–20 zł (€3.50–4.65)
• Soft drinks: 10–20 zł (€2.30–4.65)
• Beer: 15–25 zł (€3.50–5.80)
• Cocktails: 30–40 zł (€7.00–9.30)

Question I get a lot if where can you find the cheapest beer in Krakow and I point you in the direction of the infamous Banialuka bar ( several locations that include Szewska Street and Plac Szczepański 6 ) . The bar is famous locally for its very cheap drinks, boisterous atmosphere that brings together tourists, locals, and expats alike. Cheapest beer is 10zl ( €2.38 ), local draft beer from tank. The other choice for dirt cheap beers is Pijalnia Wódki i Piwa ( ul. Floriańska 34  , Plac Nowy and Szewska Street too ) where you can get a small beer ( 300 Ml) for 11zl and a big beer ( 500 ml) for 14 zl. For more inspiration of finding the cheapest beers in Europe checkout my guide.

13 budget friendly things to do in Krakow

1: Drink tap water

The tap water in Krakow is safe to drink and has a really good taste without any chloride. So try to refill your bottle as much as possible to save money and the environment.

2: Don’t go on a city tour

When you walk around Krakow you’ll see plenty of golf carts racing around with the typical tourist in them. But Krakow is small enough to explore by foot and it gives you the possibility to find those magical alleyways and small cafes in the inner courtyards of the buildings. So save yourself the money and experience more of the city.

3: Use Krakows bike plan

If you want to visit places outside of the old centre like the Schindler’s factory or Nowa Huta than you can use the cities bike plan to get there. In Krakow (and other cities in Poland) it’s really easy to use the bike plan. All around the city you can find docking stations where you can pick up your bike and you can return the bike in any other docking station around town.

Use the electric scooters or e-bikes from Bolt or Lime (Uber) , available through their apps.

4: Eat street food

You can find different kind of street food in Krakow to still your appetite during the day or after a good night out with plenty of beer and vodka. Hereby some popular options:

Zapiekanka: this Polish pizza is half a baguette covered with mushrooms and cheese and after the toaster you cover it with ketchup. Most of the time you can choose extra add-ons to put on your Zapiekanka.  You pay around 15 zl (€3.50) and Plac Nowy in Kazimierz is the best place to get them.

Obwarzanek (Bagels): on every corner you can find bagel stands where you can buy a bagel for 3,50 zl (€ 0,80)

Kielbasa (sausage or Polish hot dog): the most famous sausage you can get from 8 pm – 3 am from the kiełbasa van where you can get your sausage of the grill for 17 zl (€4). Every night you can find the van parked in front of the market east of the Old Town near the train bridge (ul. Grzegórzecka, opposite ul. Blich)

5: Visit a Milk Bar

A ‘Bar Mleczny’ aka ‘Milk Bars’ is a must when visiting Krakow and one of the few remnants and insights into life in Krakow during the communist era. These still offer subsidised food to both locals and tourists. In a time of war, rising food prices the milk bars are a way of Poland offering nourishing, affordable meals to locals and a healthier alternative to the fast-food chains.

The most authentic milk bar in Krakow is Bar Mleczny Centralny which is actually a 40 minute ride away from Krakow, located in the former communist utopia of Nowa Huta, so getting there takes a bit of time- but is not difficult with public transport.

With some friends I remember ordering three plates of pierogis , big plate of pasta cabbage with sausages which was tasty plus some potato pancakes all for 16zl : That’s €4!

There’s talk of the milk bars subsidy being phased away which would be a shame. I spotted a number of elderly locals dining at lunchtime. These establishments are still a vital lifeline to locals. There are now only 150 of these milk bars in existence. Cornelia, my guide from the fab Crazy Guides tours ( btw, I highly recommend ) told me that luckily Krakow has managed to preserve many of these milk bars. That might due to the fact that the concept was born here: Poland’s first milk bar was actually opened on Kraków’s market square on May 30th, 1948.There’s a novelty factor definitely – walking in there really felt like I had stepped into time capsule back to another era. The food is wonderful though. A truly unique experience that you must savour on your next trip to Krakow.

6: Stay in hostels

Hostels are a good budget option to stay on very central locations in the city. And most of them offer a free breakfast so you’re sure to have a good start of the day. The amount of hostels in Krakow is growing rapidly and while most of them focus to create a party atmosphere, you do have good exceptions. So check what kind of hostel it is before booking your stay!

Hereby two good hostel options in town with their own atmosphere:

Dizzy Daisy Hostel is located a 10-minute walk from Kraków’s Main Market Square in a 19th-century building. It offers dorms, private rooms and apartments with various amenities. Guests can use luggage storage, laundry facilities, WiFi, and enjoy free tea and coffee. The hostel has a kitchen where travelers can prepare their own meals, with an all-night store nearby. Staff are available 24 hours to assist guests. The common room provides television, internet access, and a space to meet other travelers.

If you’re looking for a comfortable place to relax after a day in the city with a warm and welcoming atmosphere than Atlantis Hostel is your place to stay. Located in a renovated historic building this hostel has a nice shared lounge and communal kitchen area ( with free tea and coffee) plus 24-hour reception desk. Accommodation options here include private rooms and dormitories with either shared or private bathrooms while some ooms have air conditioning and TV. There is a free continental breakfast and luggage storage.

7. Affordable hotels in Krakow

MEININGER Hostel Krakow Centrum provides modern and affordable accommodation in the Grzegórzki district, just east of the historic center. This hostel offers a combination of hotel-like comfort and hostel-style flexibility, featuring both private rooms and shared dormitories, all equipped with en-suite bathrooms, complimentary WiFi, and personal reading lights. Its proximity to key attractions such as the Old Town, Wawel Castle, and the Kazimierz district makes it an ideal base for exploring Krakow.

8: Admire the Maria Church from the prayers side

The Maria Church on the main square has an entrance for prayers which has free admission and an paid entrance for tourists (18 zl / € 4,20). From the prayers side you also have a good overview of the church but keep in mind to pay your respect by sitting down, being quiet and not to take photos.

9: Go to a museum on a day it has free admission

Every day there are some museums with free admission. So check out the exact days and keep that in mind while planning your stay in the city.

One of the most visited museums in Krakow is Schindler’s Factory, located in the former enamel factory operated by Oskar Schindler during WWII. Admission is free on Mondays, but free tickets can only be collected in person at the ticket office on the same day. On other days, tickets should be booked online in advance. Guided tours are also available for those who want to gain more historical insight – such as this Schindler’s factory tour.

10: Travel from and to the airport by public transport

From the airport there are 2 buses during the day and 1 bus during the night that have a good connection between the airport and the train station in the city centre. It takes 30-40 minutes to get to the train station and it costs 6 zl /€ 1.40 (it’s 89 zl /€ 22 if you go by taxi). Make sure you have exact coins to pay the fare in the bus.

This map can help you find the route of the buses to see if you can use a stop closer to your hostel.

11: Check the best prices for food and drinks

Ask your hostel to show you the restaurants and bars with the best prices. My hostel recommended Gospoda Koko as a great restaurant to eat. It’s close to the main square, it has Polish food for very affordable prices and big portions (soup and main dish for 14 zl)(€3,50). It’s open till 3 am and located in the old town on Ul. Golebia 8.

Places that you have to avoid because of the ridiculous high prices for drinks are Cocomo, Hard Candy, Saxons, Flames and Etage.

12: Go to Auschwitz by public transport

Every hostel or tour agency offers tours to Auschwitz and Birkenau. But if you go by public transport it’s much cheaper and more flexible. There are frequent and inexpensive buses from the main bus station and every two hours a train leaves from the main train station.

When you get out at the main Oświęcim station, you’re a short walk away from the camp (follow the signs to “Muzeum”). The entrance of the camp is free of charge but you have the option of a guided tour which costs 130 zł (€30.25)

Free entry without a guide is still possible, but since May 1, 2025, free tickets must be booked in advance online at visit.auschwitz.org. They are no longer available on-site. Reservations can be made from 90 to 7 days before your visit.

13. Free museum days in Krakow

Certain museums in Krakow offer free entry on specific days like Schindler’s Factory on a Monday, the Rynek Underground and Krzysytofory Palace on Tuesdays and the first level of MOCAK, Museum of Contemporary Art is free on Thursdays.