Krakow is already affordable by Western European standards, but with some local knowledge, you can experience the city brilliantly on a tight budget.
ACCOMMODATION: hostels in Kazimierz (60-100 PLN/night for a dorm), budget hotels near Kleparz (150-200 PLN for a double), or apartment rentals in Podgorze (200-300 PLN for a full apartment).
FOOD (Budget day: ~60-80 PLN):
Breakfast: obwarzanek from a street cart (3-5 PLN) and coffee from a bakery (8-10 PLN).
Lunch: milk bar (bar mleczny) for pierogi, soup, and kompot (20-25 PLN total).
Snack: zapiekanka at Plac Nowy (12-18 PLN).
Dinner: Vega buffet (20-25 PLN) or a doner kebab (18-22 PLN).
ATTRACTIONS (Budget day: ~30-50 PLN):
Free: Main Square, Cloth Hall ground floor, all churches, Wawel courtyard, Planty park, Krakus Mound, Kazimierz streets, Vistula boulevards, Ghetto Heroes Square, Nowa Huta architecture.
Free days: MOCAK (Tuesday), some National Museum branches (check website).
Cheap: Dragon's Den (5 PLN), Town Hall Tower (12 PLN), churches (donations).
TRANSPORT (~15-20 PLN):
Walk everywhere in the center. Buy a 24-hour transit pass (17 PLN) only when visiting Nowa Huta or Wieliczka.
FREE ENTERTAINMENT: free walking tours (tip what you can), the Hejnal trumpet call, people-watching on the Main Square, Stary Kleparz market browsing, and exploring Kazimierz's street art.
SPLURGE WISELY: if you spend on one thing, make it Schindler's Factory (29 PLN) or the Wieliczka Salt Mine (94 PLN) — both are world-class experiences worth every zloty.
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