The Best Budget Stays in Krakow, Poland

In Krakow’s bohemian district of Kazimierz, close to quirky shops and cosy cocktail bars, Résidence Tournet offers budget accommodation with offbeat charm. This small hotel’s simply decorated rooms come with an ensuite and either a balcony or garden-facing window. Enjoy a buffet-style breakfast at the hotel’s bicycle-themed café in the morning, and at night, wander five minutes down the road to the district’s many bars and eateries.

This central hotel from the Golden Tulip chain describes itself as a “hint of the Far East in Krakow,” as shown by the Chinese art deco design throughout. Inside, you’ll find a Chinese restaurant, fitness centre and sauna. The junior and classic suites feature a workstation and relaxation zone, along with views of the city. Budget travellers should be warned that the hotel’s breakfast and dining options are pricey, but there are other options nearby.

Based in the leafy district of Ruczaj, Vanilla’s apartments feature panoramic views of the nearby Camaldolese Hermit Monastery. Choose between the classic, a two-bed studio with a kitchenette and balcony, or the executive, offering a separate living room. Each unit is available for short- or long-term rentals. Despite its independent feel, Vanilla Aparthotel offers a few hotel perks; head to the Oregano restaurant for Polish-Italian food or the Cigar Bar for late-night whisky.

For anyone flying solo on their visit to Krakow, Hostel One Momotown is a great place to socialise and meet like-minded travellers. It offers “sociable but responsible” accommodation, including a choice of cheap, cheerful – and rather orange – private rooms and dormitories. In your free time, hang out in one of three large common areas, the kitchen or the hotel garden. The hostel also runs frequent communal dinners, city tours and pub crawls for all of its guests.

As you might deduce from its name, this hotel offers accommodation inspired by the history of automobiles. Fear not, though, as you won’t end up sleeping in a race-car bed here. The rooms are cosy and nicely furnished, with extra services such as vanity kits, snacks and laundry service available to order from the front desk. Grab some breakfast from the buffet in the morning, which is luckily included in your room price, and return to the hotel in the evening for full restaurant service.

Habitat Apartments offers beautiful accommodation in the heart of Krakow. The studios and two-bedroom apartments have modern decor, with exposed brick walls, parquet floors and bespoke wooden features. Also, each unit has a fully equipped kitchen, while common areas include a garden. These apartments are in an amazing location, with the cit=y’s main market only a short walk down the road and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Krakow (MOCAK) less than 2km (1mi) from your front door.

A regular favourite among Krakow’s backpacking crowd, the Atlantis Hostel boasts an enviable location between the city’s two top districts: Old Town and Kazimierz. Leaving behind the busy boulevard Dietla Street outside, head upstairs to the clean, contemporary dorm rooms. The hostel also has an art-filled common room and a good balcony overlooking the leafy pavements below. Unusually for a hostel, pets are welcome in private rooms.

Q Hotel Kraków is designed to make your stay easy and efficient. This three-star hotel in the northwest district of Bronowice offers modern amenities at the lowest price possible. Want to stay healthy? Opt for the dietitian-recommended menu in the restaurant. Need a place to work? Enjoy the ergonomic desk in your room. As it’s close to several transport hubs, you’re only minutes away from the Old Town or airport.

If you’re visiting Krakow for a good time, the Greg and Tom Beer House Hostel is the place to be. It’s much more than just somewhere to rest your head, offering so many activities that you’ll find it hard to leave. During the day, enjoy the video game room, pub and restaurant. When the sun goes down, throw yourself into the nightly parties, live music and events. All beds booked are in shared dormitories and have communal bathrooms.

Krakow is not a city in short supply of hostels, but Flamingo is among the best. Seconds away from the main square, this hostel features a clean, modern style befitting the area’s pricier boutique hotels. Choose a room in the heart of the action or in a separate building on a quieter side street. Book tours to the Wieliczka Salt Mine and Auschwitz-Birkenau and organise airport shuttles all through the front desk.

This quaint little hostel on the edge of the Old Town has a reputation for its super-friendly welcome. It’s also an ideal option if you’re looking for something quieter, as there’s none of the no-holes-barred partying like at some of the city’s other joints. The rooms, ranging from two- to 12-person dorms, are clean and comfortable, each with a locker attached and non-squeaky bunks. Enjoy the complimentary tea and coffee provided, and there’s a PlayStation in the common room. Kraków Główny train station is just a four-minute walk away.

If it’s a balance between style and budget that you’re after, perhaps the arty interior of the Hostel Deco will call to you. With black-and-white furnishings, pops of colour, plush sofas and retro beds with a vintage edge, the place oozes charm. Choose from a private room, sleeping up to four people, or a dorm in a four-, six- or eight-person room. It’s within easy walking distance of leafy Planty Park and the historic city centre.