How Much Does Kraków Cost? 2026 Budget Guide | Prices & Tips
Kraków is widely considered one of Europe’s most budget-friendly city break destinations, offering a high quality of life for a fraction of the cost found in Western capitals. For a solo traveler, daily expenses can range from an economical $45 / 160 zł to a luxury-tier $502 / 1,802 zł. While iconic attractions like the Wieliczka Salt Mine ($37 / 132 zł) command higher prices, the city’s dining and transport infrastructure remain exceptionally affordable. Visitors can enjoy hearty, traditional meals at subsidized milk bars for as little as $6.98 / 25 zł, making it easy to manage a daily budget. The city is particularly well-suited for those who appreciate history and nightlife without the premium price tag of cities like Vienna or Prague.
Is Kraków expensive to visit?
Kraków is highly affordable, with daily budgets typically ranging from $45 / 160 zł to $502 / 1,802 zł depending on your travel style.
On This Page
Daily Budget
How much to budget per person per day in Kraków
$45
per person /day
$156
per person /day
$502
per person /day
Trip Costs by Duration
Total estimated costs per person, excluding flights
| Trip Costs by Duration | Budget | Mid-Range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-Day Trip | $134 | $468 | $1,508 |
| 5-Day Trip | $224 | $782 | $2,512 |
| 7-Day Trip | $313 | $1,095 | $3,517 |
per person — Excludes international flights
Budget Buffer
Recommended contingency for unexpected expenses
It is wise to maintain a 15% buffer to cover incidental costs such as the $1.4 / 5.02 zł fee for photography in St. Mary's Basilica or the $5.58 / 20 zł daily charge for luggage lockers at the Main Station. This also accounts for discretionary tipping, which usually ranges from $2.94 / 11 zł to $5.89 / 21 zł for good service in restaurants.
How Does It Compare?
See how Kraków stacks up against other popular destinations
What Things Cost
Real prices for common tourist expenses in Kraków
Food & Drink (3)
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant Typically a large main course at a casual bistro. Costs ~$11 / 40 zł. | $11 40 zł |
| Traditional Milk Bar (Bar Mleczny) Full Meal Authentic, subsidized Polish comfort food. A plate of pierogi is ~$3.88–$5.3 / 14 zł–19 zł. | $6.98 25 zł |
| Pint of Local Draught Beer (0.5L) Craft beers in Kazimierz often cost ~$6.12–$7.65 / 22 zł–27 zł. | $5.03 18 zł |
Transport (4)
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| 20-minute Public Transport Ticket (Zone I) Valid for all buses and trams within the city limits. Costs ~$1.12 / 4.01 zł. | $1.12 4.01 zł |
| 60-minute / One-journey Public Transport Ticket Good for longer journeys or transfers within an hour (~$1.67 / 6 zł). | $1.67 6 zł |
| Airport Train (SKA1) to Main Station The fastest way to the city center (~18 minutes). Costs ~$4.74 / 17 zł. | $4.74 17 zł |
| Official Airport Taxi (Zone 4 - City Center) Flat rate to the Main Market Square area. Ride-hail apps (Uber/Bolt) are usually ~$14–$21 / 51 zł–76 zł. | $30 109 zł |
Accommodation (3)
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Dorm bed in a highly-rated hostel (City Center) Prices for popular hostels like Greg & Tom or Mosquito typically range from ~$24–$34 / 85 zł–120 zł depending on the season. | $24 85 zł |
| Mid-range 3-star hotel room (Old Town) Centrally located options like Hotel Matejko or Campanile average around ~$117 / 421 zł per night. | $117 421 zł |
| Luxury 5-star hotel room (Hotel Stary/Copernicus) Based on the verified average of $279 (~$292 / 1,048 zł). High-end boutiques in the Old Town can exceed ~$412 / 1,478 zł in peak summer. | $310 1,112 zł |
Activities (4)
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Wieliczka Salt Mine Tour (Foreign Language) Includes mandatory guide. Polish language tours are ~$2.82 / 10 zł cheaper. | $37 132 zł |
| Oskar Schindler's Enamel Factory Entry Book well in advance; Mondays often have free (but limited) entry tickets (~$8.93 / 32 zł). | $8.93 32 zł |
| Wawel Royal Castle - State Rooms Entry Individual tickets are required for each section (Private Apartments: ~$14 / 50 zł). | $9.77 35 zł |
| Auschwitz-Birkenau Guided Educator Tour Includes headset and specialized guide. Price ~$31 / 110 zł. Free entry (no guide) is limited. | $31 110 zł |
Connectivity (1)
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Orange Flex eSIM (75 GB Plan) Best value for tourists; includes EU roaming and is activated via app (~$9.77 / 35 zł). | $9.77 35 zł |
Food & Dining
What to eat and what it costs
The dining landscape is defined by a mix of historic milk bars (Bar Mleczny) and trendy bistros, with a full traditional meal at the former costing roughly $6.98 / 25 zł. Inexpensive restaurant mains average $11 / 40 zł, while a 0.5L pint of local beer typically costs $5.03 / 18 zł, though craft options in the Kazimierz district can reach $7.65 / 27 zł.
Cheap Eats
Where locals eat — real places, real prices
Endzior
$4.19–$6.98 / 15 zł–25 złKazimierz (Plac Nowy) · Street food area
This is the most famous spot for 'Zapiekanka' (Polish open-faced toasted baguette). One is large enough for a full meal at ~$5.58 / 20 zł.
Milkbar Tomasza
$6.14–$13 / 22 zł–45 złOld Town · Local chain
A modern take on the traditional milk bar; incredibly central and great for breakfast (~$6.12–$13 / 22 zł–45 zł).
Gospoda Koko
$6.98–$11 / 25 zł–40 złOld Town · Local chain
Legendary for its set lunch deals (~$8.95 / 32 zł). Portions are massive and service is fast.
Przystanek Pierogarnia
$4.46–$6.7 / 16 zł–24 złOld Town / Kazimierz · Local chain
Specializes only in pierogi. Cheap, fresh, and many locals' favorite spot for a quick ~$5.3 / 19 zł bite.
Sami Am Am
$7.82–$13 / 28 zł–45 złKazimierz · Street food area
Excellent Syrian street food if you need a break from heavy Polish dumplings (~$7.77–$13 / 28 zł–45 zł).
Getting Around
Transport costs and the smartest ways to move
Most of the historic center is easily explored on foot, but public transport is efficient and cheap, with 20-minute tickets priced at $1.12 / 4.01 zł. For arrivals, the SKA1 airport train to the Main Station costs just $4.74 / 17 zł, offering significant savings over the $30 / 109 zł flat-rate official airport taxi.
Accommodation Overview
Hostel dorms in the city center are a bargain at approximately $24 / 85 zł per night, while mid-range 3-star hotels in the Old Town average $117 / 421 zł. Luxury seekers can find 5-star boutique stays for around $310 / 1,112 zł, though prices can fluctuate during the peak summer months.
Accommodation Budget in Kraków
Budget
Hostels, budget hotels, shared facilities
Mid-Range
3-star hotels, boutique stays, great locations
Luxury
5-star hotels, suites, premium amenities
💡 Prices vary by season. Book 2-3 months ahead for best rates.
Money-Saving Tips
Insider tricks to stretch your budget further
- 1 Dine at Milkbar Tomasza or Gospoda Koko in the Old Town for filling Polish meals that rarely exceed $7.06–$11 / 25 zł–40 zł.
- 2 Visit the Rynek Underground Museum on Tuesdays when admission is typically free, though online reservations are essential.
- 3 Book tickets for Oskar Schindler's Enamel Factory for a Monday to take advantage of the free entry offer, saving the usual $8.93 / 32 zł fee.
- 4 Avoid the $30 / 109 zł airport taxi by using the SKA1 train or a ride-hailing app like Uber or Bolt, which typically costs $14–$21 / 51 zł–76 zł.
- 5 Look for 'Lunch of the Day' (Zestaw obiadowy) specials at local bistros between 12:00 and 16:00 for a multi-course meal at a discounted price.
- 6 Refill water bottles with 'Krakowianka' tap water, which is safe, clean, and free throughout the city.
- 7 Use the Jakdojade app to purchase $1.12 / 4.01 zł transit tickets directly on a smartphone to avoid hunting for ticket machines.
- 8 Explore the Kazimierz district for nightlife, as prices for a $5.03 / 18 zł beer are often lower here than in the immediate Main Market Square.
- 9 Visit the Wawel Royal Castle on seasonal free days (typically Mondays or Sundays depending on the month) to see select exhibitions for $0.
- 10 Purchase a 24-hour public transport pass if planning to visit the outlying districts, though the $1.12 / 4.01 zł 20-minute ticket covers most central needs.
Seasonal Pricing
When prices rise and fall throughout the year
Jun, Jul, Aug, Dec
+25-40%
Jan, Feb, Mar, Nov
-20-30%
May, Sep, Oct
Winter (excluding Christmas) offers extreme bargains with hotels under ~$71 / 253 zł, but weather is often grey and below 0°C (32°F).
Events to Watch
- ● Christmas Markets (Dec): +40% hotels
- ● Jewish Culture Festival (late June): +25% accommodation in Kazimierz
Free Things to Do
The best experiences that cost absolutely nothing
- 1 Walk the 4km Planty Park, the circular green belt that replaced the city’s medieval walls.
- 2 Explore the Father Bernatek Footbridge between Kazimierz and Podgórze to see the balancing acrobatic sculptures.
- 3 Visit the Ghetto Heroes Square (Plac Bohaterów Getta) to see the 33 bronze chair sculptures memorializing the Kraków Ghetto.
- 4 Hike to the top of Krakus Mound for panoramic views of the city and the nearby Liban Quarry.
- 5 Enter the Church of St. Francis of Assisi to admire the famous Art Nouveau stained glass by Stanisław Wyspiański.
- 6 Explore the outdoor street art trail in the Kazimierz district, including the famous 'Judah' mural.
- 7 Visit the Rakowicki Cemetery, an architectural and historical landmark often compared to Père Lachaise in Paris.
- 8 Wander through the Main Market Square (Rynek Główny) to listen to the Hejnał Mariacki trumpet signal every hour.
- 9 Stroll along the Vistula River boulevards beneath the Wawel Royal Castle.
- 10 Visit the Arkka Pana (Lord’s Ark) Church in Nowa Huta, a symbol of resistance during the communist era.
- 11 Walk through the Liban Quarry, which served as a filming location for the camp scenes in Schindler’s List.
- 12 Explore the public courtyard of the Collegium Maius, the oldest building of the Jagiellonian University.
Worth the Splurge
Premium experiences that justify the price tag
Tasting Menu at Bottiglieria 1881
The first restaurant in Poland to receive two Michelin stars; world-class Polish-inspired fine dining (~$153 / 551 zł).
Private Golf Cart Tour of Jewish Quarter & Ghetto
Covers a lot of ground in Kazimierz and Podgórze comfortably, especially useful for those with limited mobility (~$98 / 350 zł).
Royal Chamber Orchestra Concert
Classical music performed in an 18th-century palace setting with excellent acoustics (~$28 / 100 zł).
Popular Activities
Top-rated tours and experiences in Kraków
Day Trip Costs
Popular day trips from Kraków and what they cost
Wieliczka Salt Mine
$3.35 / 12 zł by train
$37 / 132 zł
$52 / 185 zł
Zakopane (Tatra Mountains)
$17 / 60 zł by bus
$2.79 / 10 zł
$50 / 180 zł
Auschwitz-Birkenau
$8.93 / 32 zł by bus
$31 / 110 zł
$49 / 175 zł
Payment & Money
How to pay and what to know about money
Polish Zloty (PLN)
1 $ ≈ 3.59 zł
No
Excellent; even small kiosks and most market stalls in Plac Nowy accept contactless payments.
Standard practice is rounding up or 10% in sit-down restaurants. Leave ~$1.18–$2.35 / 4.22 zł–8.44 zł on the table in cafes.
Avoid 'Euronet' ATMs due to high conversion fees. Use bank-affiliated ATMs like PKO BP, Pekao, or ING for the best rates (~$0 fee with some cards).
Connectivity
eSIM: $9.42–$14 for 10GB (opens in new tab)
Local SIM: $4.71–$7.06 / 17 zł–25 zł for 20GB (prepaid)
WiFi: Excellent in the Old Town, Kazimierz, and almost all cafes/restaurants.
Orange Flex is the best local option for its ease of use and low cost (~$9.77 / 35 zł for 75GB).
Why you can trust this guide
35+ countries • 8 years analyzing travel data
Independent developer and travel data analyst based in Prague. 35+ countries visited across Europe and Asia, 8+ years analyzing flight routes, accommodation prices, and seasonal weather patterns.
- All neighborhoods verified by walking them
- Curated locations based on walkability & safety
- Real-time availability via live partner maps
- Prices based on Booking.com & Numbeo averages
Methodology: This guide combines on-the-ground neighborhood research, current hotel pricing data, and real traveler feedback to provide honest, actionable accommodation recommendations for Kraków.
Updated: February 16, 2026
Ready to Visit Kraków?
Book your flights, accommodation, and activities
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kraków expensive to visit?
How much does Kraków cost per day?
How much does a trip to Kraków cost?
What is the cheapest month to visit Kraków?
What are the hidden costs in Kraków?
How can I save money in Kraków?
More Kraków Guides
Weather
Historical climate averages to help you pick the best time to visit
Best Time to Visit
Coming soon
Things to Do
Coming soon
Where to Stay
Best neighborhoods and hotel recommendations
Itineraries
Coming soon
Complete Cost Guide
Full budget and cost breakdown