What currency is used in Kraków and do I need cash?

Kraków uses the Polish złoty (PLN), not the euro. As of mid-2026, approximately 4.2 PLN equals €1. Cards are accepted almost everywhere in the city centre — restaurants, hotels, shops, museums. Bring some cash (200–400 PLN) for markets, milk bars, and tips. Use ATMs rather than currency exchange offices for the best rates.

Kraków money and currency guide: PLN, ATMs and card payments

The Polish złoty: Poland’s currency

Poland is a member of the European Union but has not adopted the euro. The currency is the złoty (PLN — Polish Zloty), plural złote. One złoty divides into 100 groszy. Coins come in 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 groszy and 1, 2, 5 PLN. Notes come in 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500 PLN.

Exchange rate (mid-2026):

1 EUR ≈ 4.20 PLN
1 GBP ≈ 4.90 PLN
1 USD ≈ 3.85 PLN
1 CHF ≈ 4.30 PLN

These rates fluctuate — check XE.com or Google before you travel. This guide uses PLN as the primary currency with EUR as a rough reference (÷ 4.2). For a full breakdown of what things cost across budget tiers, see the Kraków budget travel guide.

ATMs: the best way to get PLN

ATMs (bankomats) are the most honest and convenient way to access local currency. They use the interbank exchange rate with only your home bank’s standard conversion fee.

Where to find them in Kraków:

Inside Galeria Krakowska (adjacent to the main train station) — multiple machines
On ul. Grodzka and ul. Floriańska (Old Town)
At KRK airport (arrivals hall)
Along ul. Krakowska and ul. Józefa in Kazimierz

Tips for using ATMs:

Decline Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC): When the ATM offers to convert to your home currency (“Do you want to be charged in EUR/GBP?”), always choose PLN. DCC locks in a rate 3–8% worse than your bank’s rate. Always, always choose PLN.
Use bank-affiliated ATMs: Prefer ATMs operated by PKO Bank Polski, Pekao, mBank, ING, or Santander Poland. Avoid “Euronet” branded standalone ATMs in tourist areas — they offer poor rates and high fixed fees (up to 20 PLN per withdrawal).
Withdrawal amount: Withdraw at least 200 PLN (≈€48) per transaction to keep fixed fees manageable. Many ATMs have a maximum single withdrawal of 1,000 PLN.
Notify your bank: Inform your bank before travelling that you’ll be making PLN withdrawals in Poland. Prevents fraud alerts blocking your card.

Revolut, Wise, or N26 cards get interbank rates on PLN withdrawals — the best possible deal. Monthly free withdrawal limits apply; check your plan.

Currency exchange offices

Kraków has many kantor (exchange office) kiosks. Some are legitimate and offer reasonable rates; others — particularly those near Rynek Główny and along tourist streets — offer spreads 5–15% worse than bank rates.

How to identify a fair kantor:

Displays a rate board showing both buy and sell rates for major currencies
The spread between buy and sell should be under 10 groszy per euro (e.g., buy 4.15, sell 4.25)
No “no commission” claim that hides a bad rate in the spread

What to avoid:

Any exchange desk inside a hotel (terrible rates, convenience premium)
Airport exchange desks (rates typically 8–12% worse than ATM)
Rynek Główny tourist-trap kantors with flashy “0% commission” signage — the rate reflects their real estate cost

Walking one block off the main tourist drag almost always finds a better rate. But in practice, the ATM is simpler and more reliable than hunting for a fair kantor.

Card payments in Kraków

Kraków is extremely card-friendly. Visa and Mastercard (debit and credit) are accepted at:

All hotels and hostels in the city centre
Restaurants and cafés (with very rare exceptions at tiny milk bars)
Museums and galleries
Supermarkets and most shops
MPK trams and buses with newer card readers (see public transport guide)
Pharmacies, petrol stations

Apple Pay and Google Pay work wherever contactless is accepted.

Where you might need cash:

Plac Nowy markets and food stalls in Kazimierz
Small milk bars (bar mleczny) like Bar Mleczny Pod Temidą (ul. Grodzka 43) or Bar Vega (ul. Krupnicza 22)
Hala Targowa market (ul. Grzegórzecka)
Tipping (cash is more personal and immediate for service staff)
Some smaller souvenir stalls in Sukiennice (Cloth Hall)
Street food vendors (zapiekanki at Plac Nowy: 12–18 PLN, cash preferred)

Carrying 200–400 PLN in cash at any time is comfortable for most visitors.

Tipping guide

Tipping in Kraków is expected but not mandatory. The culture is similar to Germany or Austria — appreciated, calculated as a round-up rather than a strict percentage.

Restaurants: 10–15% is standard and appreciated. At mid-range restaurants (main courses 35–65 PLN), rounding up to the next 20 or 50 PLN is typical. Do not add the tip on the card terminal if possible — hand cash directly to your server.

Cafés: Small tip (2–5 PLN) or nothing if you ordered at the counter.

Taxis and ride-hailing: Round up to the nearest 5 PLN. Not obligatory but appreciated.

Tour guides: If you take a guided tour — Old Town walking tour, Wieliczka, Auschwitz — a tip of 20–50 PLN per person for a good guide is appropriate. Tour guide wages are often partly tip-dependent.

Hotel housekeeping: 10–15 PLN per day left on the pillow is generous and appreciated.

Important: In Poland, confirm the tip verbally or clearly when paying. Saying “proszę” (please keep) or “reszty nie trzeba” (no change needed) signals your intent clearly.

Budget reference prices in PLN (mid-2026)

Item	PLN	Approx EUR
Tram/bus single ticket	4.60	€1.10
Coffee at a café	10–16	€2.40–3.80
Beer (0.5L at a bar)	15–22	€3.60–5.20
Milk bar main course	18–30	€4.30–7.15
Mid-range restaurant main	35–65	€8.35–15.50
Plac Nowy zapiekanki	12–18	€2.85–4.30
Obwarzanek (bread ring)	2.50–3	€0.60
Rynek Underground Museum entry	40	€9.52
Wawel State Rooms	40	€9.52
Wieliczka Salt Mine (Tourist Route)	125	€29.76
Budget hotel (dorm)	55–80/night	€13–19
Mid-range hotel (double)	250–380/night	€60–90
4-star hotel (double)	400–700/night	€95–167

For full daily budget breakdowns, see the Kraków budget travel guide.

Costs by visit type: planning your overall spend

Different Kraków trips have different cost profiles. Here’s a realistic total spend breakdown:

Weekend (2 nights, 3 days):

Mid-range accommodation (2 nights): 500–760 PLN
Meals (6 main meals): 300–450 PLN
Transport (including airport train): 50–80 PLN
Museum entries (3–4): 80–120 PLN
Miscellaneous (coffee, snacks, souvenirs): 100–200 PLN
Total estimate: 1,030–1,610 PLN (≈€245–383)

5-day family trip (4 nights, including Wieliczka day trip):

Mid-range accommodation (4 nights, 2 adults): 1,200–1,800 PLN
Meals: 800–1,200 PLN
Wieliczka Salt Mine (2 adults): 250 PLN
Museum entries (3 museums): 120–180 PLN
Transport: 120–200 PLN
Total estimate: 2,490–3,630 PLN (≈€593–864)

Solo budget trip (3 nights):

Hostel dorm (3 nights): 180–240 PLN
Meals (mostly milk bars + Plac Nowy): 270–360 PLN
Transport: 50–80 PLN
Two museum entries: 60–80 PLN
Miscellaneous: 80–120 PLN
Total estimate: 640–880 PLN (≈€152–210)

These figures cover the core visit. Auschwitz guided tours (180–260 PLN per person), Zakopane day trips (100–180 PLN per person), and guided Old Town tours (60–120 PLN per person) are additional based on your priorities.

How costs compare across Kraków’s different areas

Prices in Kraków are not uniform across the city. The same coffee or meal costs differently depending on where you’re sitting:

Rynek Główny (Old Town main square):

Coffee: 20–28 PLN (≈€4.75–6.70)
Beer: 22–30 PLN (≈€5.25–7.15)
Main course: 60–120 PLN (≈€14.30–28.60)

Off-square Old Town streets (ul. Szewska, ul. Grodzka, ul. Floriańska):

Coffee: 14–18 PLN (≈€3.35–4.30)
Beer: 16–22 PLN (≈€3.80–5.25)
Main course: 35–65 PLN (≈€8.35–15.50)

Kazimierz neighbourhood restaurants and bars:

Coffee: 12–16 PLN (≈€2.85–3.80)
Beer: 14–20 PLN (≈€3.35–4.75)
Main course: 30–55 PLN (≈€7.15–13.10)

Nowa Huta and outer districts:

Coffee: 8–14 PLN (≈€1.90–3.35)
Beer: 12–16 PLN (≈€2.85–3.80)
Main course: 25–40 PLN (≈€5.95–9.52)

The pattern is consistent: the closer to the tourist epicentre, the higher the price. For where to stay in Kraków, this means that a Kazimierz base saves money on food and drink throughout your stay compared to an Old Town base, partially offsetting any accommodation cost difference.

Costs for specific activities: what to budget

Beyond accommodation and food, the main spending categories for Kraków visitors:

Museum entries:

Rynek Underground Museum: 40 PLN (≈€9.52)
Wawel State Rooms: 40 PLN
Wawel Cathedral: 25 PLN
Dragon’s Den: 5 PLN
Czartoryski Museum (Lady with an Ermine): 30 PLN
Schindler Factory Museum: 32 PLN
MOCAK: 20 PLN (free Tuesdays)
Galicia Jewish Museum: 20 PLN
Old Synagogue Museum: 20 PLN
Nowa Huta Museum: 20 PLN

Day trips:

Wieliczka Salt Mine entry (Tourist Route): 125 PLN (≈€29.76)
Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial: Free (guided tour within the Memorial: 70–80 PLN/person)
Train to Oświęcim (for Auschwitz): 30–45 PLN each way
Bus 304 to Wieliczka: 4.60 PLN each way

Guided tours from Kraków:

Old Town walking tour: approximately 60–120 PLN per person
Auschwitz tour with hotel pickup and transport: 180–260 PLN per person
Wieliczka fast-track tour with transport: 130–200 PLN per person
Hop-on hop-off bus (1 day): approximately 100–130 PLN

Practicalities:

24-hour MPK pass: 18 PLN
Bolt/Uber (within city centre): 10–20 PLN per trip
Airport train: 9 PLN

For tour bookings, prices on GetYourGuide include all relevant components (transport, entry, guide) — compare total price against the self-guided sum of parts. See the budget travel guide for the honest comparison.

Dynamic currency conversion: the one rule to remember

Whether at an ATM, a hotel desk, or a restaurant card terminal, you may be asked: “Would you like to pay in euros/pounds?” The converted amount looks convenient — familiar currency, seems transparent. It’s not.

DCC operators add 3–8% to the exchange rate on top of their markup. Always pay in PLN. Your home bank’s conversion will be better. This is the most consistently exploited financial trap for visitors to Poland.

Emergency money situations

Lost card: Contact your bank immediately using the number on the back. Most banks have 24-hour emergency lines. Mastercard Emergency Assistance: +1-800-627-8372. Visa Emergency: +1-800-847-2911.

ATM ate your card: Report to the bank whose logo is on the machine. Staff at the branch can often retrieve cards during business hours.

Need cash urgently: Western Union and MoneyGram offices exist in Kraków. Expensive but available for emergencies.

For overall safety context including card security, see the Kraków safety guide.

Frequently asked questions about money in Kraków

Can I use euros in Kraków?

Some tourist-facing businesses (hotels, tourist shops) may accept euros as a courtesy, but they’ll give you a poor exchange rate. Legally, PLN is the only currency businesses must accept. Always pay in złoty.

Is Kraków cheap compared to western Europe?

Yes, meaningfully so. A mid-range dinner for two with wine runs 130–200 PLN (≈€31–48) in Kazimierz — what you’d pay for one person at a comparable restaurant in Vienna or Amsterdam. Beer is 15–22 PLN (≈€3.60–5.20) versus €5–7 in western cities. Hotel prices are 40–60% lower for equivalent quality. The gap is closing but remains real in 2026.

Do I need to carry a lot of cash?

Not a lot. 200–400 PLN is comfortable for most days — enough for markets, tips, and cash-only purchases. Top up from ATMs as needed rather than carrying large amounts.

Is it safe to use credit cards everywhere in Kraków?

Yes. Card fraud risk in Kraków’s tourist areas is low. Standard precautions apply: cover your PIN at ATMs, use the ATM inside the bank if possible, don’t use ATMs in isolated locations at night.

What’s the best mobile banking app for travel in Poland?

Revolut and Wise offer genuine interbank PLN rates with no markup. Both work in Poland without issues. Starling (UK) is also excellent for UK travellers. If you don’t have one of these, a regular Visa/Mastercard debit card with no foreign transaction fee is perfectly adequate.

For booking guided tours, the Old Town walking tour and other GetYourGuide activities are paid securely by card in advance — no cash needed at the meeting point.

Understanding Polish prices: honest context

Poland’s price level has risen substantially since 2019 but remains meaningfully lower than western Europe. Some context for Kraków specifically:

Where you’ll notice the savings:

Beer in a local Kazimierz bar: 15–18 PLN (≈€3.60–4.30) versus €5–7 in Berlin, €7–9 in Paris
Milk bar lunch: 18–30 PLN (≈€4.30–7.15) for a full plate, bread, and water
Tram ride: 4.60 PLN (≈€1.10) for a single journey anywhere in the city
Hotel rooms: 250–350 PLN (≈€60–83) for a solid mid-range double, versus €120–180 for equivalent quality in Vienna or Amsterdam

Where prices are approaching western levels:

International chain coffee shops (Starbucks, Costa): similar to western European prices
Tourist-facing restaurants on Rynek Główny: actively overpriced for Poland
Guided tour prices: international operators charge internationally calibrated prices (100–200 PLN per person for Auschwitz or Wieliczka tours)
Airbnb apartments in the Old Town: prices have converged with Prague and Budapest

The smart approach: eat and drink at local-facing venues (milk bars, Plac Nowy, neighbourhood cafés) and spend the savings on experiences (museum entries, guided tours, day trips).

VAT refund for non-EU visitors

Non-EU visitors spending more than 200 PLN (≈€48) at a participating shop in Poland are entitled to a VAT (tax) refund on purchases. The VAT rate on most goods is 23%.

How it works:

At participating shops (look for “Tax Free” signage), ask for a Tax Free form when making your purchase
Keep receipts and goods in original packaging
At KRK airport, get your Tax Free forms stamped by Polish customs (allow 30–45 minutes extra before departure)
Claim refund via Global Blue or Premier Tax Free kiosks at the airport

Worth it for: Amber jewellery purchases, designer goods, electronics. Generally not worth the paperwork for typical tourist spending.

Money management across a multi-day visit

For a 3–5 day Kraków visit, a practical cash strategy:

Withdraw on arrival: Get 400–600 PLN from an airport bank ATM (not Euronet). This covers the first 2 days without needing to find an ATM in the city.

Withdraw as needed: Rather than carrying large amounts, withdraw 200–400 PLN at a time from bank ATMs throughout the city (Old Town ATMs on ul. Grodzka and ul. Floriańska; Kazimierz ATMs on ul. Krakowska).

Card for everything else: Restaurants, museums, hotels, supermarkets — pay by card wherever accepted. Save your cash for markets, tips, and milk bars.

Tipping cash on arrival: If you have a tour (especially Auschwitz or Wieliczka with a guide), having 30–50 PLN in cash specifically for a tip makes the end-of-tour moment easy.

For full daily budget breakdowns across budget tiers, see the Kraków budget travel guide.

Top experiences

Bookable activities with verified prices and instant confirmation on GetYourGuide.

Krakow: Old Town guided walking tour

⏱ 3h

Krakow: city pass card with public transport & museums

⏱ 72h