Is Krakow Expensive? The Ultimate Guide to Prices in the City

Is Krakow expensive? You may be asking this question if you’re planning a visit to one of the coolest cities in eastern Europe. We think it’s a great choice because Krakow has lots up its sleeve. From bustling nightlife to beautiful architecture to a mouth-watering food scene, there is no shortage of reasons to visit the city, which was once a residence of Polish royals.

What about the costs of your trip, though? We’re here to talk about how much you should expect to spend on your holiday in Krakow. You’ll learn about the average hotel rates and get an insight into the best places to stay for each budget. We’ll talk you through the costs of getting to the city and the rates for food and drinks. So, let’s take a closer look at Krakow prices…

Gone are the days, when westerners could live like kings in Krakow, but you will still notice that things are substantially cheaper than they are in western Europe. Yup, inflation in 2022 has hit Krakow prices quite hard, but the value of the Polish Zloty has also dropped more than other major currencies. That means you will get quite a lot for your euros, US dollars, and pounds.

Let’s get to the details then. If you were planning to stay a week in Krakow, you should budget at least 1,600 PLN (≈€335) per person. That should cover accommodation, food, drinks, and some activities for seven days. That’s of course if you stay in mid-range hotels and don’t spend too much on fancy restaurants. However, you could also get by on a smaller budget if you stayed in hostels, tasted Krakow street food and didn’t spend all your dosh on Krakow’s famous nightlife.  

There are oodles of amazing places to stay in Krakow and that keeps the prices very competitive. In fact, five-star hotels are much more affordable here than in most European cities, so you might be able to stay in luxury without breaking the bank.

The average price of a mid-range pad for two people in a decent location is around 300 PLN (≈€63). Don’t worry if that’s too much for your budget, though, you can find hostels for as little as €10 a night if you don’t mind sharing a room in a hostel. That’s in the centre too. However, if you’re on the opposite end of the scale, expect to pay closer to €150 for a night’s stay in a 5-star hotel with a spa in the heart of the old town.

Here are some of our favourite spots for each budget:

The cost of getting to Krakow depends heavily on where you’re coming from. However, thanks to a well-connected airport, you should be able to get there cheaply from most European destinations. Airlines such as Ryanair, EasyJet, and Wizzair have many routes into and out of Krakow, so you shouldn’t have much trouble getting here without spending big dollars.

Luckily, it doesn’t cost much to get to the city from the airport, especially if you travel on a train or a bus. Taxis and private transfers to the old town are a bit more but shouldn’t cost you more than €25. In general, it’s not too pricy to get around the city on public transport, especially if you have a European student card, which gives you a 50% discount on buses, trams, and trains.

You can also travel to Krakow overland from many other Polish and European cities by train or bus. There are inexpensive direct railway connections from Prague, Vienna, Berlin, Budapest, and Bratislava, with tickets starting at around €15. You can also take advantage of cheap bus connections with Flixbus to many other major cities across the continent.

The good news is that eating in Krakow isn’t too pricy, even if you choose to dine at some of the more expensive restaurants around the main square. However, prices of food across the city vary quite significantly from place to place, so if you’re on a tight budget, we recommend scanning the menu before ordering. There are oodles of inexpensive street food parks scattered across the city, so you can easily find a quick meal that won’t break the bank.

When it comes to drinks, we’ve got some good news for you. Krakow is one of the best-value nightlife spots in Europe, so don’t be surprised to see British stag-do groups in fancy dress. They’re here to take advantage of cheap drinks, and so should you. The average price of a pint in Krakow is around 10 PLN, which is a little over 2 euros. You can also find cheaper spots like Bania Luka or Pijalnia Wodki i Piwa. Those are small drink bars with cheap alcohol and simple food.

The amount of money you should budget for activities will depend on what you plan to do. Admission fees to museums and art galleries are not usually too high, but you might need to spend more if you want to hire an English-speaking guide.

However, you can enjoy some of the best attractions Krakow has to offer for free. Exploring the main square or the Jewish quarter won’t cost you a penny. If you’d like to learn more, you could join one of the free walking tours. You can also walk up to the Wawel Castle and see some of the exhibitions inside for free. However, if you want to see the royal chambers or the treasury, you will have to pay around 25 PLN (€5.30) for entry.

However, there is also no shortage of attractions and museums for which you’ll have to pay some fees. Here’s how much the most popular ones are:

• Wieliczka Salt Mines: Entry – 109 PLN (€33)/Tours with transport – from 250 PLN (€52)
• Rynek Underground – 28 PLN (€6)
• Auschwitz-Birkenau – From 75/85 PLN (€16/€18) for a guided 3,5 tour/Tours with transport – from 150 PLN (€31)
• Oskar Schindler’s Factory Museum – 28 PLN (€6)

Luckily, for most visitors, Krakow isn’t too expensive, so there isn’t too much you should do to save money. However, there are many ways to keep the costs of your trip down to a minimum. Here are a few things you can do to enjoy Krakow for as little as possible:

• Use public transport – Getting around the city using relatively cheap taxis such as Uber is tempting. However, the costs of private transfers here and there quickly add up. You can save a lot by using trams and buses instead, or even walking if you’re only trying to get around the old town and Kazimierz.
• Free walking tour – Join one of the free walking tours to learn about the city without paying for a guide. We do recommend a donation, though.
• Street food – There are oodles of food truck parks scattered across the city that offer inexpensive and tasty food.
• Multicurrency card – You might not realise it, but getting a Revolut or Wise card can save you a lot of dosh when transferring your euros or pounds into zlotys.
• Stay in hostels – It might not be an option for everyone, but there are lots of fantastic and cheap hostels that could save you a lot of money on accommodation. There are lots in a great location, and you’ll have a chance to meet fellow travellers.
• Krawl Through Krakow – If you’re in Krakow to enjoy the nightlife, visiting cheap drinking bars like Bania Luka isn’t your only option. You can also join the best pub crawl in Krakow for unforgettable fun at a low cost. You’ll quickly realise that the 55/60 PLN fee is nothing when you get an hour of unlimited, free booze!