Greg & Tom Beer House Hostel

Few hostels in Poland have earned a reputation quite like this one. Greg & Tom Beer House Hostel has become something of a Krakow institution — the kind of place backpackers recommend to each other on trains and in airport queues, long before they've even checked out.

History & Background

Opened in the heart of Krakow's Old Town, Greg & Tom grew from a simple budget hostel into one of the most recognisable names on the Central European backpacker trail. What set it apart wasn't just the price or the location — it was the decision to build a genuine craft beer bar directly into the hostel, turning what is usually a transactional overnight stop into a proper social hub. That single move changed the DNA of the place entirely, and the hostel's reputation has been built on word-of-mouth ever since.

What to Expect

Rooms are clean, functional, and honestly better maintained than you'd expect at this price point — dorm beds starting from around 80 PLN per night make this one of the most affordable bases in the city. But the real action happens downstairs. The in-house beer bar pours a solid selection of Polish craft beers, and most evenings you'll find a lively mix of solo travellers, groups, and long-termers swapping stories over a cold Browar Lublin or a local Małopolska brew.

The hostel runs free daily walking tours of the Old Town and organised pub crawls through Kazimierz and the surrounding streets — both are included in your stay and genuinely worth joining, especially if you've just arrived and want to get your bearings fast. The common room is sociable without being overwhelming, and staff are known for being switched-on and genuinely helpful with local recommendations.

Insider Tip

Don't skip the free walking tour just because you've been to Krakow before. The guides here tend to be young locals with strong opinions, and they'll take you down alleys and share stories that the polished commercial tours gloss over. Afterwards, ask your guide for their honest recommendation on where to eat that night — not the tourist-facing spots on Rynek Główny, but the places the staff actually go. That conversation alone is worth the price of the bed.