Krakow on a Dime: Travelling on a Student Budget
- ibarancikova17
- Mar 4
- 3 min read
Whoever said you can’t travel on a student budget hasn’t done their homework! Yes, a luxe week in the Maldives would be nice – but there are tons of cities you can visit without breaking the bank. Let me take you through my trip to Krakow and inspire you to book a city break of your own.
TRAVEL TIP 1
If possible, travel during the week. It’s much cheaper and less busy - save your money and your patience! Flights with Ryanair during the week can cost as little as £25 one-way.
We arrived at John Paul II Airport promptly at around 10 am on a chilly morning in January. An early flight is tiring but worthwhile, as you have the entire day to settle in and explore! Bolt is the equivalent of Uber over there and let me tell you... it’s an incredibly cheap mode of transport! It cost us around 29zl to get to the Airbnb, which is approximately £6.
Our studio apartment was located right in the heart of Kazimierz. A 10-minute walk away was the Old Town and to the other side, 5 minutes away, was the Jewish Quarter. Both spots house an amazing choice of bars and restaurants and they’re not far from one another!
TRAVEL TIP 2
Go for an Airbnb! You can find a great one in the heart of the action and while you might miss out on a hotel buffet, it’s the perfect excuse to explore the local food scene. The one we stayed at was hosted by Squarestate at a bargain - £103 for three nights!
As we were tired and aware that we needed to wake up early the following day for our planned activity, we had an early night…but still explored and tried some excellent food. A few of my favourite restaurants that we visited during the trip were:
🍴Kuchnia U Babci Maliny and Restauracja Ptaszyl for authentic Polish cuisine at a cheap price. The first one is located underground and has a quiet vibe.
🍴Milkbar Tomasza serves breakfast food all day, but you still have the choice of other items. The omelette is my favourite, and their eggs are to die for!
The next morning the coach was waiting to take us to Auschwitz-Birkenau and the Wieliczka Salt Mine. If you come to Krakow, it’s an absolute must to go to both of these museums! We booked ours through GetYourGuide for £165 for two people, transport included. The experience was unforgettable and so worth the money.
TRAVEL TIP 3
We booked the museums to visit all in one day as we were short on time, however, if you visit Krakow for longer, I’d recommend splitting them up as it can be a challenging day! At times, the trips can cost as little as £59 per person but don’t forget to bring a packed lunch. We stopped at a Zabka convenience store for some snacks to keep us going!
We ended our visit at the Wawel Castle, where entry to the grounds is free and the Cathedral costs a few pounds. Be sure to bundle up and check out the square and the Vistula River too. Don’t miss out on the bakeries, and ESPECIALLY the zapiekanka.
TRAVEL TIP 4
Have fun!
