Krakow on a budget: 7 travel hacks to save on your trip

The cost of living in Krakow is really reasonable, which means that traveling to Krakow on a budget is a piece of cake. A single person can live for about $600 a month here, so you can easily visit Krakow without breaking the bank. Krakow is also a great place to visit if you love culture, great food, and wandering through an amazing city and seeing the sights.

When you choose to visit Krakow on a budget, it's a good idea to head to a luggage storage location in the city to drop off any unneeded bags. Then, you can explore this one-of-a-kind city without dragging heavy bags behind you. It's affordable to store your bags with Bounce, and we can help make sure that you have peace of mind to enjoy your trip.

Cheap places to stay in Krakow

Many parts of the city are ideal to stay in when you need to visit Krakow on a budget. If you want access to cool things to see and do, you might want to consider locations that are by Princes Czartoryski Museum or other areas of interest. Every neighborhood in Krakow offers something a little different, so do a little research before you commit. If you need some help deciding, here are a few of our favorites:

Hotel Jan

This is a really cool little hotel that is right in the heart of Krakow Old Town. You can stay here for about $70 a night, and you will love that the rooms are clean and comfortable and offer refrigerators, tea kettles, and even free Wi-Fi. There is also a free breakfast that is included in your room each day.

This comfortable place you can call home during your time in Krakow is a four-minute walk from the main square of Old Town and a few minutes away from lots of different public transport options.

Leonardo Boutique Hotel

Located in the Old Jewish Quarter, this hotel books rooms that start at $50 a night. This doesn't mean you won't be comfortable, however. You will love your clean room that has a cozy feeling and a comfortable bed.

This is the perfect part of the city to choose for your stay if you want to be able to walk over to sights like the Wawel Royal Castle or the Wawel Cathedral. You will also be two minutes from the main railway station here.

Nobilton Hotel

This is actually a three-star hotel, and it has rooms that are only $40 a night. You will get complimentary Wi-Fi here as well as a comfortable room with a TV in it. There is a great breakfast buffet here that is also free. The hotel also offers a shuttle service to various places around the city.

This beautiful little hotel is ten minutes from the heart of Krakow Old Town, and you will have no trouble getting to public transportation from this spot as well. This area of the city is very walkable, so you can get around on foot easily.

Cheap things to do in Krakow

Wawel Castle

Wawel Castle is one of the most popular things to do when you are in Krakow, and you can visit here for just about $10. The Wawel Cathedral is close to this location, and most people spend about three hours at the castle and then take in the sites at the cathedral on the same day. You have to buy a ticket for each location, however, so don't assume that your castle ticket will make it possible to gain entrance into the cathedral.

The State Rooms, Royal Apartments, and the Lost Wawel Castle exhibition are all really memorable and well worth the money for your ticket. You will want to enjoy the grounds as well while you are visiting since they are beautiful and create a great backdrop for lots of nice pictures.

The Cloth Hall

Krakow was a major trading hub for many generations, and textiles were one of the most important trade items that passed through the city. You will find stalls with jewels, local crafts, souvenirs, and everything in between on the lower level here. You will also be able to learn a lot about the history of the cloth trade on the level above, which is a museum. There is also a great cafe with delicious Polish food when you are done with your sightseeing.

Prices vary for tickets here, but between the different museum halls here, the prices range from a very reasonable $5 to $6. You might not have time to see all of the various parts of this huge museum's location in the old town, but you should plan for about half a day spent here while you are in Krakow on a budget.

Rynek Underground

This really cool museum costs about $8 per person, and it offers a really unique look at Krakow's history. You can learn about the Middle Ages in this location beneath the surface of the Main Square in the old town. These long-hidden parts of the ancient city were discovered when public works were being done and have been preserved carefully so that tourists and locals can see them.

This museum helps you to see just how incredible Krakow was during this very important period in its history. If you have chosen to visit the Cloth Hall, this museum location is just steps away.

Cheap places to eat in Krakow

Along with looking for things to do that offer free admission or free entry, you will need to look for affordable places to eat during your stay. Budget travel is easy in this city due to the wide array of restaurants with great prices, large portions, and even cheap alcohol prices.

Jadłodajnia U STASI

This is one of the best eateries to head to for an affordable meal that is also full of classic Polish charm. This location appeals to students, and you will be able to get knedle, Polish dumplings, or soups and mashed potatoes for less than $10 a person. This is a really lovely place to eat due to the family dining system that is used where you eat what you want and then just tell someone on your way out what you ended up eating. They stay open every day into the evening or until the food runs out.

Zapiekanki Królewskie

This street food cart offers you access to some of the most classic Polish dishes, and you can get a big meal for less than $10 in most cases. The most popular item on the menu here is the Zapiekanki, which is a lot like flatbread that is loaded with sausage, sauce, and veggies like tomatoes. This might be enough food for two people, and you can easily take this meal on the go with you if you are in a hurry.

Bar Mleczny

Your trip to Krakow on a budget would not be complete without heading to a classic Milk Bar. These cafeteria-style dining locations are a holdover from the communist days in Poland, but you can get a lot of food for about $5-$10 here. From soups and sausage to dumplings, there is hearty fare on offer at all of the Milk Bars in the city. The atmosphere is nothing to write home about, but the food is always delicious and filling, as well as cheap.

Cheap bars in Krakow

Pijalnia Wodki i Piwa

Bars like this one, which offer a really affordable shots menu and cheap beer specials, will make it easy for you to enjoy a night out on the town while you are in Krakow on a budget. You can easily pop into one of the many locations of this business and see a menu of shots that will cost you about $2-$5. Beers are about the same price, and the atmosphere is fun and welcoming.

BaniaLuka

This is a cute little tavern that offers beer and straight shots, as is classic in the bar culture in Krakow. You can head here for really affordable drinks, a great happy hour menu, and a combination of offerings that will get you beer or spirits for everyone at a discounted rate. Count on having a complete night out for about $20 or even less per person.

Free Pub

This cool tavern and bar location near the old town offers you access to lots of flavored vodkas for great prices, as well as the usual shots and beer. The atmosphere is really fun as well since you will be in what feels like a bunker with books on the wall, old, scarred tables, and a sense of fun that you don't get at other locations. You can count on combination deals and happy hour offerings here, so you can probably enjoy drinks and snacks for well under $20 a person here.

Bonus budget tips for Krakow

Don't buy water

Saving money on water is actually a great way to keep some of your hard-earned cash in your pocket when you are in Krakow on a budget. You can fill up your water bottle at a lot of different locations around the city, making it easy to avoid paying for spendy drinks while you are sightseeing or buying bottles of water. The tap water is safe to drink and you'd be surprised at how much this kind of extra cost can mount up.

Beware of tourist traps

Avoid most of the city tours that are being advertised around the Krakow old town or in places where the typical tourist might be attracted to join in and buy a ticket. You have free admission to the entire city if you just use your feet. You can look up all of the things that you want to see in the city online, and this kind of research is completely free as well.

Sightsee on two wheels

Rent a bike from the Krakow lending bike plan and see the city with ease without breaking the bank. Bike rentals start at $2.50, and you will be able to go all over seeing Krakow old town, as well as places like the Jewish Quarter, esily on a bike. This is also a great way to get into the areas around the city that would be hard to get to in a car. A bike tour will cost you more than a bike rental, and you can go wherever you want when you go ahead and just rent a bike for the day.

Conclusion

Visiting Krakow on a budget is really easy if you take the time to look for free admission to local tourist locales and if you choose to eat at places like Milk Bars. You can also save a lot of money by staying in hostels and avoiding hotel locations that offer private rooms. Buy tickets in advance if you can, as there's usually a discount for this as well.

Budget travelers can have a great time in Krakow. If you need to fill up some more of your time, but you are worried about spending more money, you need to use our guide to the best free things to do in Krakow. This is an ideal way to keep kids busy, and you will be surprised at how many cool things you can do in the city without spending a penny. The typical tourists that come to Krakow are looking to stay in fancy places and spend a lot of money, but that should not dissuade you from going to Krakow.

Visiting Krakow on a budget is very easy, and you will not miss out on any of the best things to do and see in this city just because you don't have heaps of money to spend. Traveling can be affordable, and you will make memories that will last a lifetime. From seeing the old town and trying out traditional Polish cuisine to enjoying the free sights around the city, you can have a great time in Krakow on a budget.