Kraków is one of Poland’s most popular tourist cities for backpackers. With a huge amount of hostels now gracing the city, it can be a challenge to know which one to choose. Going for the cheapest one is not always the best option. To help you out, these are seven of the best hostels in Kraków that will give you a great base to start exploring this historic and charming city.
The city of Kraków is awash in hostels, with new ones cropping up all the time, so it can be tough to choose. Mosquito Hostel is one of the most popular and well known. It is a clean, cosy hostel near the centre with a free breakfast, fast Wi-Fi and easily organised tours to Auschwitz and Wieliczka Salt Mines. The Mosquito Hostel has a bright orange interior and welcoming staff. There is a great social vibe and nightly events including pub crawls, communal eating and drinking games. This is a great hostel for solo travellers, too, as you will easily make new friends here, and even the staff socialise with the guests on some very exciting nights out.
Named after a cartoon hero, themed on a party atmosphere and located in the Old Town of Kraków, Pink Panther’s Hostel is one of the best hostels in town. There are nightly events held in the cosy common room, and these range from drinking games to movie nights to karaoke to fancy dress parties. Staff mingle with the guests to ensure your stay is a memorable one. The hostel has free Wi-Fi and free breakfast, served from 8–10am every morning. Rooms are typical dorms – clean, cosy and compact. This is one of the most sociable hostels in the city – it’s a very easy place to meet people and make new friends.
Flamingo has long been a mainstay of budget accommodation choices, located in the middle of Kraków’s Old Town. Fusing its fine location on the edge of Market Square with large common rooms and well-equipped kitchen spaces, the place continues to host thousands of backpackers each year. Patrons also have a chance to join vodka tasting tours and other organised events. The rooms are also a lot more modern, cosy and stylish than many other hostel options in the city. There are also private rooms for a slightly higher price, which are great for couples or groups. The hostel has free Wi-Fi throughout.
With its handy location, Tutti Frutti makes for an ideal location, just a few minutes’ walk from the Old Town square. Tutti Frutti Hostel is located inside a beautiful 17th-century tenement house and has bright, airy rooms. There are dorm rooms and private rooms available, and most require guests to use shared bathrooms. Linens are provided, and there is free Wi-Fi. Breakfast is free every morning, and tea and coffee are complimentary all day. Communal areas include a homey kitchen, a sociable games room and a chilled-out, cozy TV lounge with a DVD player and a library.
The Secret Garden Hostel is a little treat of a place, located in Krakow’s Kazimierz district, which is one of the oldest and most beautiful parts of the city. There are economy rooms for those on a budget and standard rooms. For those who want to have a bit more luxury, the Secret Garden also offers studio apartments. Each of the rooms has a unique name associated with The Secret Garden. The reception is open 24 hours, a breakfast buffet is free every morning, and there is free Wi-Fi. The kitchen is available for every guest to use, and it includes tea, coffee, milk and water for no extra charge.
The Old Walls Hostel is another excellent city centre option in Kraków, situated on Ambrożego Grabowskiego and just a short walk from the Old Town square. You can choose from a ten-bed mixed dorm, six-bed mixed dorm, four-bed mixed dorm, a private twin with an ensuite or an apartment. This is a great budget option, as the price includes bed linens, a towel, a secure locker, free Wi-Fi, luggage storage, free tea and coffee, washing machine use and all kitchen equipment use. The Old Walls Hostel can help you organise tours, trips and excursions within the city. It is also well located for bars, cafés and restaurants.
For those wanting to stay a little outside the city centre, Apart Ginger Hostel offers a more calm and relaxing budget hostel option. There are six-, eight- or twelve-bed dorms available, or separate apartments. It’s well worth the stay here, as the rooms are very clean, comfortable and modern. All rooms are furnished with new beds and desks, with an open-plan style and bright walls. The spacious rooms all have free Wi-Fi, a television and access to a bathroom. The hostel holds regular events and has a common room where you can mingle and make new friends. It’s just on the edge of the city centre, and for speed you can get a tram to the Old Town.
