On any trip around Europe, Krakow is a must-visit. Filled with history, beauty, and magical horses, this city will steal your heart and make it hard to leave! Read on to find out how you can see Krakow on a budget. Find free and cheap attractions, the best places to stay, and cheap places to eat.
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Places to see in Krakow on a budget
There are plenty of things to see and do in Poland that are cheap. If you don’t believe us, make sure to check out this awesome breakdown of costs in Poland. Anyway, like the rest of Poland, Krakow can also be done on a budget. Walking around is completely FREE and you can see and experience so much without paying any entrance fees. Here are the top attractions.
Krakow Main Square
We started our first full day in Krakow by wandering around Main Square. The Sain Square is a magical place and I just can’t even begin to imagine how pretty and magical it must be in the winter when the streets are filled with snow. Christmas markets line the streets and people sit out drinking mulled wine. Even though we were here in the summer months, the main square is still very pretty with the old buildings, clock tower, and elegantly decorated horses and carriages circling around.
The Main Square is the perfect place to unwind in the evening, with plenty of enticing restaurants and outdoor seating areas. There are also lots of street entertainers; from break dancers to guitar players and singers.
Wawel Castle Grounds
Next on the list of Kraków budget attractions is Wawel Castle. Wawel Castle is one of the largest castles in Poland and a significant cultural site. People have lived on Wawel Hill for over 50 thousand years. When the hill became bustling with trade, the rulers of Poland decided to take up residence there as well. Whilst there is a small fee to go into many of the exhibitions, it’s FREE to walk around the gardens. As you walk around the garden you can admire the colourful flowers and the mix of European architecture.
Love admiring castles? Don’t miss Bran Castle in Romania!
Kazimierz District
Kazimierz District, also known as the Jewish District, is now a popular tourist attraction in Krakow. At the end of the fifteenth century, a large Jewish population moved to the Kazimierz District. The district is teeming with culture and history. There are also plenty of quaint bars and eateries around this area too.
Street art in Krakow
Krakow is filled with different types of street art. You will find plenty of art in the Kazimierz District that pays homage to the Jewish community. We recommend just walking around to find the art, but you can also take a guided street art tour too if you’re interested in the stories behind the images.
Auschwitz Museum
Whilst harrowing and hard to stomach, a visit to Auschwitz should be at the top of everybody’s list. The Auschwitz Museum is the Nazi concentration camp where many atrocities were committed against mainly Jewish people. It’s a heartbreaking piece of history, but one we must acknowledge to learn from and to make sure no such tragedies ever happen again. To keep costs down you can visit the Auschwitz Museum for free by booking your place on the official site beforehand. Alternatively, you can take one of the guided tours that will provide you with more information.
How to get around Krakow
Getting around Krakow is easy! To see Krakow on a budget you can easily walk between the places mentioned above. Besides, you will be too busy admiring the historical buildings to notice how far you would have walked. Alternatively, you can easily jump on a tram or bus. When you get on the bus or tram, you will need to buy a ticket from the driver and then VALIDATE it in one of the machines. This is an essential tip for travelling in Europe as if you fail to validate your ticket, you could end up with a hefty fine. Public transport tickets cost 6 Zloty ($1.53) and are valid for 90 minutes.
Where to stay in Krakow
Feeling luxurious: Villa Zakamycze – Out of the main area for a quiet, peaceful stay but within a short drive to reach all of the main attractions of Krakow. The accommodation is modern and cosy, set in tranquil grounds, and boasts a swimming pool.
Budget private room: Fenna Apartments – Great for couples! The apartment-style accommodation is spacious and perfect for those who want to stay in the heart of Krakow and have easy access to Krakow Main Square.
Dorm life: Pillows Party Hostel – Pillow Party Hostel is in an excellent location. Just a 5-minute walk to the main square and surrounded by shops and tram lines. It’s the cheapest in the area for such a great location. The staff at the hostel are very friendly and will help you with anything you need. You can also arrange pub crawls and tours from the hostel.
For more prices and deals on properties in Krakow, CLICK HERE.
Cheap eats in Krakow
Lastly on the list of how to see Krakow on a budget, FOOD! Krakow has tons of places to eat, treating you to all kinds of the best Polish dishes. Even spending a full year in Krakow and eating out every day, I don’t think you could cover every establishment. You will be spoiled for choice. However, if you’re on a budget but are looking for a filling meal, then Smakolyki is the place to go. The menu is extensive and quite cheap. Psst…they have GRAVY! I can’t tell you how happy we were to see gravy on the menu after backpacking in Asia for 2 years where it’s almost unheard of. We paid 60 Zloty ($16) for 2 meals and 2 large beers. Not bad for a bit of fine dining. Beats cooking pasta with a manky sauce in the hostel!
Essential resources for travelling in Poland
Travel Insurance – No matter where you’re travelling to, it’s a good idea to make sure you’re covered for any accidents or losses. We spent days and weeks searching for insurance, but most insurers would not allow us to take out a policy as we were already abroad. Our personal choice is Safteywing. You can opt for automatic monthly payments, just like a subscription. More importantly, it is available in 180 countries and can be purchased whilst already travelling. There is no cap on the duration of travel.
Visa – Before you travel to any country, make sure to check if you need a visa. iVisa is a fantastic website that is super easy and quick to use. Just type in where you are from. and where you are going. to check if you need a visa. If you do, you can quickly make an application online.
Accommodation – Booking.com is our go-to when looking to pre-book accommodation online. Booking.com tend to almost always have the best rates and a FREE cancellation policy for most properties.
Overland transport – Our go-to website for overland transport is Bookaway. Bookaway offers multiple forms of transport, from buses, mini-vans, trains, and ferries. The routes on offer are extensive and certainly cover most of the backpacker trails. Bookaway works a little like Skyscanner but for overland transport. You will find plenty of transport options from a range of companies. All you simply need to do is book online and receive your ticket by email. The email will contain essential information, such as where the bus leaves from and departure and arrival times.
Tours & Activities – If you want to book tours and activities online, make sure to check out Get Your Guide. Get Your Guide takes the stress out of booking activities abroad. You will also find a range of benefits, such as skip-the-line passes, lunch included in your tours, and so much more.
Travel tips ebook -Before you head off on your adventure, make sure to download our free ebook. It has a whopping 109 budget travel tips to help you make your hard-earned cash go further. Click here to download your FREE ebook.
We hope you enjoyed our guide on how to see Krakow on a budget. We are sure Krakow will steal your hearts just as much as it did ours. If you’re heading to Slovakia next, make sure to check out our Bratislava guide.
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You really have described thisbplace beautifully. It makes me want to go and just stroll around. The images are stunning, looks very “old world.” It looks like the tourist have found this gem, though. Which can be good in many ways. I will put this on my ever expanding bucket list.
Krakow is one of my favourite places in Europe so far, we are even thinking of heading back to stay for a while 🙂 Hopefully it will all work out. Hope you get to visit soon to see the magic of the place for yourself.
Lately I have been seeing a lot of posts on Krakow and that how amazing it is. You have done justice and convinced me to visit it someday. Great post!
Thanks a lot 🙂 Hope we have inspired you to make a visit soon.
Krakow comes across as such a charming and vibrant city. Love the old world charm that it has which is so alluring. Of course, when you hear the word Krakow the holocaust that it went through always comes to mind. But yes Auschwitz is a place that one must visit as a grim reminder of the depths to which the Man can plummet.
Such a charming city indeed, we love the vibe there 🙂 Auschwitz is such a sad place but still a must visit!
I used to love visiting Krakow, i have been there many times. But my last visit back in 2016 I noticed the place has become a major tourist trap and this was in October. Apart from the usual stag do’s from Britain, I notice a lot more touristy stuff going on in the main square with mimes, balloon sellers, and all the bars/restuarants around there have hiked up their prices big time. It dampned my last visit and I felt that the city lost its soul. 🙁 But I still tried to enjoy myself by having a wander around the side streets, going up town hall tower and the wawel castle. I think its time to explore the rest of Poland but will have many fond memories of Krakow. 🙂
Yeah, I think that is the same with most Central and Eastern European countries too. Many people are starting to venture out of their comfort zone and go further afield. Nonetheless, Krakow is still a fab and charming city with so much character 🙂 Hope you get to visit other place in Poland soon.
Great guide. I’ve not been to Krakow. Knowing that it is a good walking city is appealing.
Thanks for your comment 🙂 Krakow is a wonderful city. Even if you don’t do much walking, you can sit out i the square and take in loads.