Poland has long been hailed as one of Europe’s most affordable destinations, where you can “get a full meal for just a few euros, hop on a train for next to nothing, and book a decent hotel without breaking the bank”.
Stepping into Warsaw’s bustling streets and Kraków’s postcard-perfect Old Town, I quickly learned that reality is a bit more nuanced. Prices have risen in popular areas, tourist-zone restaurants now charge almost Western European prices, and some attractions hide sneaky fees.
That legendary 8 złoty (€2) beer? It exists, sure, just not if you’re sitting in a tourist-packed bar in Kraków’s Old Town. Yet beyond the pricey patios and souvenir stalls, Poland can absolutely still be a budget traveler’s dream.
This is the story of how I navigated the country’s price paradox – uncovering what’s truly cheap, what’s unexpectedly costly, and how to dodge the misunderstandings that cause so many travelers to overspend.
City vs. Countryside
Poland offers two price realities. In major cities like Warsaw, Kraków, or Gdańsk, you’ll find that central tourist areas can dent your wallet more than you’d expect.
A coffee in a trendy Warsaw café might set you back 15 PLN (~$4), and a hotel in Kraków’s Old Town may rival mid-range Western European prices. As one Polish-American travel expert notes, prices in the city centers of Warsaw or Kraków “will be higher than those found in smaller towns and cities”, whereas if you venture off the beaten path you can “find affordable prices, without losing any quality”.
I learned this firsthand when I left Kraków’s center for a day trip: in a rural village bakery, I paid under 10 PLN for a coffee and a fresh pączki donut – a fraction of what the same treat cost back in the city.
The difference isn’t just urban vs. rural – it’s also which city you choose. Many visitors flock to Kraków and Warsaw, but some of Poland’s most charming cities are cheaper and less touristy.
I found Wrocław’s colorful market square and Toruń’s medieval lanes both easier on the budget and more relaxed than Kraków’s crowded center.
In fact, one seasoned blogger argued that if you think Poland “begins and ends” with Kraków and Warsaw, you’re missing out – places like Wrocław, Toruń or Lublin offer rich experiences with “way lower prices” and fewer tourist scams. Even popular Gdańsk felt gentler on my wallet than Kraków.
While Gdańsk’s beautiful Long Market attracts its share of summer tourists, everyday expenses there (from museum tickets to pierogi lunches) tended to cost a bit less. The moral: Poland’s affordability shines when you broaden your itinerary beyond the obvious hotspots.
Local Stays vs. Tourist Hubs
Finding a place to sleep in Poland can range from dirt-cheap to surprisingly steep, depending on location and expectations. Before my trip, I’d read a horror story of one traveler spending $645 USD on just six days of hotels in Poland’s big cities. Absurd, I thought – and it truly can be.
Another traveler, Tosh Bene, reported that her three full weeks of accommodations across Poland cost only about $1,000 CAD (≈$750 USD), and that included cozy apartments and even a mountain chalet. Her secret? She avoided the priciest districts and booked in advance.
I took a page from that book. In Warsaw, instead of a hotel next to the Palace of Culture, I found a lovely guesthouse in the Praga neighborhood for half the price – just a short tram ride from downtown.
In Kraków, I stayed in the trendy Kazimierz district rather than the tourist-clogged Old Town, snagging a spacious room that was both cheaper and more authentic.
The general rule I discovered is echoed by many budget experts: avoid staying inside the postcard-perfect historic centers. As one guide put it, if you insist on that tiny Airbnb by Kraków’s St. Mary’s Basilica, you might “pay double for a shoebox room” that would cost far less a couple of tram stops away.
Hostels remain a fantastic option – even in peak season, a dorm bed in a well-rated Kraków or Gdańsk hostel can be found for €15–€20 per night. Meanwhile, mid-range hotels in Poland still feel like a bargain to visitors, provided you avoid inflated “tourist tax” locations.
I was amazed to get a full apartment in central Warsaw for about 250 PLN (~$60) a night – but that was through a local rental site, not a last-minute booking in high season. The key is to plan ahead and consider neighborhoods just outside the core.
You’ll often get a bigger, quieter room for less, and as a bonus, experience a slice of local life away from the tour groups.
Food & Drink
Food in Poland was where I experienced some of my biggest price surprises – both good and bad. On my first day in Kraków, travel-weary and starving, I wandered into a “traditional Polish cuisine” restaurant right on the main square.
The menu was in five languages (first red flag!) and a friendly host beckoned tourists inside. Only later did I realize I’d fallen for a classic tourist trap restaurant, paying nearly 70 PLN (€15+) for a very average plate of pierogi.
I learned later that locals get the same dish for a fraction of that price. In fact, as one blunt travel writer warns, “Tourist restaurants exist to overcharge… You’ll pay €15–€20 for an average meal that locals get for €6–€10”. My mistake became clear when a Polish friend shook his head and promptly marched me to a bar mleczny, the famed Polish milk bar.
Walking into the milk bar was like stepping back in time – cafeteria trays, formica tables, and a menu of hearty Polish staples. There, I paid about 18 PLN (under €4) for a massive plate of homemade pierogi, a bowl of soup, and a kompot fruit drink. The difference was astonishing.
Forget the lukewarm tourist fare I’d had earlier; this was the real deal – delicious, filling, and dirt cheap. I remembered reading how one travel blogger mockingly described those Old Town eateries serving “lukewarm, uninspired pierogi for €15” to unsuspecting foreigners.
At that milk bar, I finally understood what he meant. For just €4–€7, you can feast on a home-style Polish meal that leaves you full and happy. No wonder he crowned milk bars the best deal in Poland.
Even famed guidebook author Rick Steves is a fan – noting that thanks to government subsidies, “prices remain astoundingly low — his bill usually comes to about $5” at a milk bar. These humble cafeterias, relics of the communist era, still deliver not only bargains but a slice of culture that pricier restaurants can’t match. As Rick quips, you get a “super-cheap meal with a side of cultural adventure”.
Beyond milk bars, I found plenty of other ways to eat well on a budget. Street food is huge in Poland, especially in cities. In Kraków’s Kazimierz district, I joined locals in a queue for zapiekanka, a grilled open-face baguette piled with toppings – a satisfying dinner for around 10–15 PLN ($3–$4).
On another evening in Gdańsk, I followed my nose to a small pierogi stand in the market hall where locals shop; a generous serving of dumplings there cost about half of what restaurants on the touristy riverside were charging. It became a pattern: the more local the venue, the lower the prices.
A pint of local beer, for example, might be 8–12 PLN ($2–$3) at a normal pub, but 20+ PLN in a bar full of tourists. Even vodka – Poland’s favorite spirit – has its tourist traps. I nearly fell for an organized “vodka tasting” experience costing something like 150 PLN per person.
Thankfully, a Kraków native friend laughed and led us to a no-frills vodka bar instead, where we tried a variety of flavored shots for about 40 PLN total. In other words, we recreated the experience for one-quarter the price.
We later learned this trick is practically common knowledge: some tours charge €30+ for a few vodka samples, when you can get the same for ~€10 by visiting a bar on your own.
Lesson learned – when it comes to food and drink in Poland, follow the locals. Eat at the milk bars, neighborhood canteens, and market stalls. Avoid any place with a barkers luring you in or menus with more flags than a UN meeting. Do this, and not only will you save a bundle, you’ll also savor the authentic flavors of Poland that many rushed tourists miss.
Transit and Taxi Traps
One of the absolute joys for a budget traveler in Poland is the transportation system. Simply put, getting around Poland is one of the best bargains in Europe. In Warsaw, I was astonished that a single bus or tram ticket cost me under 4 złoty (about €0.80) and that a 24-hour unlimited transport pass was just 15 zł (around €3.50).
Coming from other European capitals where day passes easily run €10+, Poland’s public transit felt like a steal. And it’s efficient too – modern buses, trams, and a metro in Warsaw that whisk you around the city reliably. I quickly learned to love the trains as well.
Poland’s rail network connects most cities and towns, and if you book even a little in advance, the prices are shockingly low. For example, I booked a fast InterCity train from Warsaw to Kraków for about 45 PLN (~€10) – a comfortable 2.5-hour ride for the price of a lunch sandwich in London!
It’s not just a one-off: typical fares can be €10–€20 for major routes like Warsaw to Kraków or to Gdańsk if you snag an advance deal. Even last-minute, the prices are reasonable, and buses (like Flixbus or Polskibus) are often even cheaper, sometimes as low as €5–€15 between cities.
I remember chatting with a backpacker from Belfast who was delighted that a 300 km train journey in Poland cost him less than the 50 km airport transfer back home.
While long-distance transport in Poland is a budget win, newcomers should be cautious with taxis and other potential money traps on the road. Within cities, taxis themselves aren’t wildly expensive – in fact, compared to many countries, official taxi rates per kilometer are quite fair.
The problem is that unwary tourists can still get overcharged by unscrupulous drivers. I nearly fell victim to this in Wrocław: arriving late at night, I jumped in a cab outside the station without checking if it was a registered taxi.
The ride should have cost perhaps 20 PLN, but the meter (or whatever device he had) was clearly rigged – the fare was soaring. Halfway through, I asked firmly for the approximate price in Polish (to show I wasn’t clueless), and miraculously the driver adjusted his route and the meter slowed.
Others haven’t been so lucky. Travel forums are dotted with stories of scenic “shortcuts” or unlicensed cabs at airports overcharging foreigners. Tourists occasionally fall prey to drivers who charge more than the going rate, so it’s wise to always check the posted price list inside the taxi and confirm the estimate before starting the ride.
In Poland, legitimate taxis are required to display their rates (usually on a side window) – if you don’t see that, or something feels off, don’t get in.
Frankly, I found it easiest to bypass the taxi concern altogether by using ride-hailing apps like Uber and Bolt, which are widespread in Polish cities. With those, I always got a fair price quote upfront (often significantly cheaper than hailing a cab from a touristy location, where you might pay a hefty premium).
For example, a late-night Uber across Warsaw cost me 18 PLN, whereas a friend who grabbed a street taxi for a similar distance paid over 30 PLN. The difference adds up, especially on a backpacker budget.
Another tip: if you’re traveling between cities, consider overnight buses or trains when available – they’re not only cheap but effectively double as accommodation, saving you a night’s hotel bill.
I took an overnight train from Kraków to the eastern city of Przemyśl, paying around 60 PLN for a couchette. It wasn’t luxury, but I slept decently and arrived at dawn having saved both time and the cost of a hostel for that night.
Finally, a quick note on driving: Car rentals in Poland can be affordable per day, but remember to factor in fuel (gasoline hovered around 6 PLN per liter during my visit, about $5.50 per gallon, which is pricier than in the U.S.). Also, parking and traffic in city centers can be a hassle.
Unless you’re venturing to remote areas, you really don’t need a car – Poland’s public transport will get you almost anywhere, for far less money and without the stress of navigation. All in all, moving around Poland was one area where my budget breathed easy, as long as I stayed savvy about a few potential pitfalls.
Attractions & Activities
Poland is a country where you can soak up incredible history and culture on a shoestring – if you know where to look. One big misunderstanding I’ve seen is travelers assuming they need to pay for costly guided tours or exclusive experiences to see Poland’s highlights.
In reality, many of the best experiences are either cheap or completely free. I spent my first day in Kraków essentially sightseeing for free: I wandered the expansive Rynek Main Square, peeked into historic churches, and strolled the lush Planty Park that encircles the Old Town – none of which cost a grosz.
I joined a free walking tour in the evening, tipping the guide 20 PLN at the end, which felt like a great deal for the rich stories and orientation it gave me. (Poland’s major cities all have these tip-based free tours, and it’s customary and polite to tip what you can – a fantastic budget alternative to paid group tours).
Museums and landmarks in Poland are generally inexpensive by European standards, but even those small fees can add up. The happy secret? Many museums have weekly free admission days.
For example, in Kraków I discovered that the fascinating Rynek Underground Museum is free on Tuesdays, and the Oskar Schindler Factory museum (a must-visit for WWII history) is free on Mondays – though you still need to reserve a timed ticket in advance. Similarly, Warsaw’s National Museum offers free entry on Sundays, and even the grand Wawel Castle has certain sections open for free on specific days.
By timing my visits, I saved at least 100 PLN across various cities. It pays to check each attraction’s website or ask at tourist info centers about these “free days”. Sometimes the free days can be more crowded, but if you’re on a tight budget, the extra people are a small price to pay (pun intended) for free entry.
Of course, not everything can be free – but even when attractions charge money, Poland often delivers value. A ticket to the top of St. Mary’s Tower in Gdańsk for panoramic views cost me around 10 PLN. The memorable hike in Zakopane’s Tatra Mountains had a national park entry fee of roughly 5 PLN.
These are small sums. The real danger for overspending is with tourist-oriented excursions or gimmicks. For instance, I almost bought a pricey day-trip package to the Wieliczka Salt Mines near Kraków through a hotel – until I realized I could go on my own by public bus and pay the standard entry, for less than half the package price.
A lot of Poland’s famous sites (Auschwitz-Birkenau memorial, for example) can be visited independently for free or minimal cost, with the option to hire a guide if you want. Auschwitz, in fact, is free to enter as an individual (though you must book a free ticket slot) – something many tourists don’t realize when they see expensive tour advertisements.
Whenever you’re presented with a packaged tour, it’s worth doing a bit of homework: how hard is it to get there on your own? Often, public transport and a local guidebook can replicate the tour experience at a fraction of the cost.
One of my favorite cost-free activities was something uniquely Polish: in Wrocław, instead of paying for an organized “city game” or expensive guided walk, I spent an afternoon on a self-guided hunt for the city’s famous dwarf statues, armed only with a free map. It was quirky, fun, and totally free – aside from the coffee I treated myself to along the way.
Meanwhile, I heard other travelers mention shelling out significant cash for things like a “Polish folklore evening” that, by their description, sounded like an overpriced restaurant dinner with a band. That’s the kind of tourist trap we budget travelers learn to sniff out.
As one no-nonsense guide I read put it, spending “€30 on a ‘guided walking tour’ of a city you can explore for free is a joke” – and I tend to agree. Poland offers plenty of authentic experiences without a big pricetag, as long as you’re willing to explore independently and embrace the local way of doing things.
Currency, Tipping, and Other Confusions
Before traveling to Poland, I noticed a lot of confusion on travel forums about money – from currency exchanges to whether or not to tip. Let’s clear up a few things: Poland’s currency is the złoty (PLN), and prices are typically quoted in złoty.
This might sound basic, but you’d be surprised how many visitors expect euros to be accepted everywhere. In tourist hubs, some businesses do take euros, but often at poor exchange rates.
It’s best (and easy) to use the local currency. At the time of my trip, 1 złoty was worth around $0.25 USD, so a quick mental math was to divide prices by 4 for a rough dollar equivalent.
This conversion trick helped me avoid a common pitfall: sometimes the higher numbers in złoty can psychologically make things seem “expensive” if you’re not used to it. I met a traveler who hesitated to buy a 40 złoty jacket in a market until someone pointed out it was only about €8!
When it comes to exchanging money, Poland taught me an important lesson. In Kraków, I saw numerous kantor exchange booths in the old town advertising “0% commission” – yet some had abysmal rates hidden in fine print. I nearly got fleeced by one offering 3 złoty per euro (when the real rate was about 4.5) because I was drawn in by the no commission sign.
Thankfully, I double-checked and walked out. The rule I learned: be cautious of currency exchange offices in tourist areas, as they often offer poor rates. A far better method was simply withdrawing cash from ATMs. ATMs are widespread, and if your home bank card has low foreign fees, this is usually the most straightforward way to get złoty.
One crucial tip: when the ATM asks if you want to be charged in your home currency (with a “guaranteed” conversion rate), always decline and choose local currency (PLN). This avoids the infamous dynamic currency conversion markup, which can cost you anywhere from 3% to 15% extra. By always choosing to be charged in złoty and letting my bank do the conversion, I saved a chunk of money.
The same goes for credit card payments: if a card reader in a shop or restaurant offers to charge you in dollars/euros instead of złoty, say “no” and stick to the local currency. It’s a well-known trick that preys on those unfamiliar with the system.
Now, about tipping – a topic that confuses many visitors (myself included at first). Tipping in Poland is not as obligatory as in, say, the United States, but it is appreciated for good service.
A Polish friend explained to me that tipping was rare in her parents’ generation, but our generation does tip at restaurants if the service is good. In general, a 10% tip at a sit-down restaurant is a common courtesy for good service, and up to 15% for excellent service.
If you’re extremely happy, you might leave 20%, but that’s relatively high by local standards. The key is it’s your call – you won’t find waiters aggressively chasing you for a tip as can happen in some other countries. In cafes or for small bills, many locals simply round up a bit of loose change as a tip.
For instance, if a coffee is 9.5 PLN, you might give 10 and say “dziękuję” (thank you) and consider it fine. It’s also worth noting where tips are not expected. You generally don’t tip for counter service (like at a milk bar or fast-food stall) and not for things like taxis or haircuts in any obligatory way – though you can round up a taxi fare if the driver was helpful.
Hotels may add a small service charge, but if not, leaving a bit for housekeeping (e.g. 10 PLN for a several-night stay) is a kind gesture.
One thing that initially confused me was how to tip, especially since I often paid by card. In Poland, the card machines typically do not have a tipping option where you can add a percentage.
This is different from the US. If you want to tip and you’re paying by card, the best practice is to hand over cash for the tip. I got into the habit of keeping some small banknotes for this purpose. On one occasion, I awkwardly sat waiting for a bill in a casual eatery, not realizing that at some places you’re expected to go up to the counter to pay (nobody brings the check to your table unless you ask).
The server thought I was waiting for change and nearly kept a big tip by accident! So here’s a handy tip for fellow travelers: in Poland, flag your server or go to the counter to ask for the bill when you’re ready – otherwise, you might be waiting a long time.
Once you pay, leave your tip on the table in cash. A smile and a “dziękuję!” to the staff will also go a long way.
Tourist Traps to Avoid
Every country has its tourist traps, and Poland is no exception. As a budget-conscious traveler, I was keen to avoid the common pitfalls that lead visitors to overspend or feel ripped off.
I’ve touched on a few already – like multi-language “traditional” restaurants in prime tourist spots (guaranteed markup), and dodgy currency exchange kiosks – but let’s round up a few others I encountered or heard about:
Overpriced Souvenirs & Markets
In the heart of Kraków’s Cloth Hall and some stalls around Old Town squares, I saw pretty trinkets – amber jewelry, wood carvings, folklore dolls – with pretty steep price tags.
Some local friends rolled their eyes, saying these places often charge tourists extra. As one Poland travel site cautions, vendors sometimes sell inauthentic souvenirs “at higher prices just because you don’t speak Polish”. The workaround I found was to shop where locals shop.
In Gdańsk, instead of buying amber on the tourist street, I visited a neighborhood gallery recommended by a local – the prices were visibly lower for similar pieces. In Zakopane, rather than the souvenir stalls by the bus station, I went to the local market a bit further down and snagged beautifully handcrafted wooden ornaments for a bargain (after some friendly haggling, which is acceptable in markets).
Polish craft markets and bazaars are goldmines for authentic gifts at fair prices – and you’ll often get to meet the artisan or farmer who made the item, which beats a souvenir chain store any day.
Taxi Scams & “Private” Rides
We discussed taxis earlier, but it bears repeating here: the biggest scam risk in Polish cities is an unlicensed taxi preying on clueless tourists. They often lurk near airports or major stations.
They might approach you with “taxi?” and no official taxi markings. If you hop in, you could be hit with an extortionate fare. One common scenario: a driver quotes “150” for a ride that should cost 50, hoping you won’t know the difference.
To avoid this, use official taxi stands (look for taxis with company names and phone numbers on top), or better yet, use an app. Warsaw’s airport, for example, has labeled taxi stands for different reputable companies – sticking to those, I never had an issue.
Also, as noted, always confirm the approximate fare or make sure the meter is running on the standard rate. A little vigilance here can save a lot of money and trouble.
Tours You Don’t Need
Poland’s tourism boom means there’s a tour for everything – not all of them good value. I nearly booked a “Communism Tour” in a retro Trabant car in Kraków out of curiosity, until I realized it was quite expensive for essentially driving around Nowa Huta district (which I could do via tram for a few złoty).
The truth is, many of the “experiences” sold to tourists can be done DIY. If you’re a confident traveler, consider exploring on your own with a map or audio guide.
However, I will say some paid tours are worth it if they cover complicated logistics or truly enrich the experience (for instance, a guided tour at Auschwitz or the Warsaw Uprising Museum can add deep insight).
The trick is to pick tours selectively and not assume you need a tour for everything. Often, a free walking tour plus your own exploration is more rewarding and certainly cheaper.
Restaurants with Trick Pricing
While most Polish eateries are honest, I encountered one gimmick to watch for: menu items priced by weight. In some traditional restaurants or countryside taverns, especially for meat or fish, the price might be per 100 grams – and your portion could be 300g.
A traveler I met got caught by this with a fish dish and was shocked when the bill was triple what he expected. Always read menus carefully (look for “/100g” in fine print). A
lso, note that Poland doesn’t generally do the sneaky cover charges or bread fees that some countries do, but if anything is unclear on your bill, you can politely ask the waiter for a breakdown.
In tourist zones, it’s not unheard of for a bill to arrive with an optional service fee already added – you are not obligated to pay an unannounced service charge, so query it if you see it.
In general, Poland is not a high-scam environment – I found people very honest – but tourists, as everywhere, should keep their wits about them. The good news is that by following the “travel like a local” mantra, you naturally avoid 90% of tourist traps.
Eat where locals eat, shop where they shop, use the transport they use, and you’ll seldom feel overcharged. In my experience, Poles take pride in giving visitors a good impression of their country; a little awareness on our part is all it takes to ensure we’re spending our money smartly and respectfully.
Conclusion
After weeks traveling from Poland’s big cities to its quiet villages, I came away with my budget intact and a wealth of memories – proving that the country can live up to its affordable reputation, so long as you navigate wisely.
The common misunderstandings about Polish prices – that everything is unbelievably cheap, or conversely that any high price is a scam – fade away once you’re on the ground.
The truth lies in between: Poland offers tremendous value, but not usually in the slick tourist centers or convenience traps.
Instead, the best bargains often come hand-in-hand with authentic experiences: a $4 meal in a no-frills milk bar that tastes like grandma’s cooking, a $10 train ride through the countryside, or a free sunset view from Gdańsk’s harbor pier.
In the end, I left Poland not just pleasantly surprised at how affordable it was (just as that forum poster promised), but also grateful – because spending less meant I could stay longer and dive deeper into this fascinating country. And that, to me, is the ultimate travel bargain.
