Can you sightsee, study and eat well in Kraków without spending a fortune? Yes — and without giving up local flavours. Kraków is a university city full of milk bars, small eateries, food trucks and international spots that every Erasmus student and local student can love. This article gives concrete restaurant and bar suggestions, practical budget tips, ideas for quick meals before lectures and ways to combine a visit to Wieliczka with good food.
If you’re staying for a semester: look for places near your university (AGH, Jagiellonian University, UEK each have ‘student’ neighbourhoods) — prices and portions there are usually more student-friendly. Also check weekday lunch hours: many places offer daily menus at affordable prices.
Apps that make life easier: besides popular delivery platforms, have apps like Too Good To Go on your phone — they let you buy unsold meals at reduced prices. Follow local venues on social media — daily deals and happy hours often appear there.
When planning a trip to Wieliczka, remember transport time and the Salt Mine opening hours: the train or regional rail from Kraków to Wieliczka takes about 20–30 minutes, so you can easily combine sightseeing with a meal on the way back.
A milk bar (bar mleczny) is a quick and economical choice — Kraków still has cafeterias serving homestyle meals for little money. They are ideal for a daily warm lunch between classes.
Pierogi shops and zapiekanki stands are must-visits: pierogi at local pierogarnie come in large portions at good prices, and the iconic zapiekanki from Kazimierz work well as a cheap, quick meal after evening classes.
A few types of places often recommended by students: restaurants serving large portions at friendly prices, cafés with daily menus and quick ethnic kitchens near universities. To hit it right — look for places with good ratings and a reliable lunch menu.
Kraków is a great place to try world cuisines without spending a fortune. Popular student options include quick kebabs and vegan alternatives, cheap Asian food (e.g., pho and Vietnamese dishes), Mexican burritos and Georgian specialities.
Look for venues with solid reviews and fair prices — portions are often large, so one main can sometimes be shared. For budget-conscious visitors, lunch sets and wraps are a sensible choice.
After late nights out or long days of lectures, you’ll appreciate places open late that serve hearty snacks. In Kraków you’ll find spots selling pierogi late into the night, pizzerias and stalls with zapiekanki and burgers that are often open until late.
Pay attention to quality and reviews — not every 'late-night' place is worth recommending, but the well-rated ones offer great food at reasonable prices even in the middle of the night.
Wieliczka is easily accessible from Kraków and makes a great half-day trip. After visiting the salt mine many people look for a warm, quick meal — around the station and market you’ll find places serving homestyle lunches and regional dishes.
If you want to eat well and fast: consider a bar with a daily menu or a restaurant with tourist reviews. In the high season some places get crowded, so it’s good to have a plan B and check opening hours in advance.
Practical tip: bring a small snack for the journey — after the tour it can be easier to eat a sandwich on the train than to hunt for a free table near the busy market.
Relying too much on places around the Main Market Square — prices there are usually higher and quality doesn’t always match the price. To save money and eat better, walk a few streets away from tourist routes.
Ignoring lunch menus and promotions — many restaurants have attractive daily sets between 12:00 and 15:00; using them you can have a full meal at a reasonable price.
Not checking opening hours — especially for small local eateries: some close for an afternoon break or have shorter opening days during the week.
How much should you budget for daily meals? Rough guideline: breakfast 10–25 zł, lunch 15–40 zł (with a daily set), dinner from about 20 zł upwards depending on the place. Of course you can eat cheaper (milk bars, homestyle meals) or more expensively (restaurants).
Is it worth using delivery apps? Yes — apps often have promotions and discount codes, and they aggregate venue ratings. For students they’re a convenient way to find cheap and quick meals.
How to combine a Wieliczka visit with eating? Plan for a morning or early-afternoon trip and check eateries around Wieliczka market, or return to Kraków where you’ll find a wider variety of food options.
Milk bars - fast, homestyle lunches for little money; ideal for daily meals between lectures.
Ethnic kitchens near universities - around AGH or UEK you’ll find small restaurants with Asian, Middle Eastern and Mexican food, often at friendly prices and with big portions.
Food trucks and street food parks - great for an evening meal with friends; usually affordable and offering a wide range of flavours.
Kraków has many places that combine high quality with reasonable prices - ask local students for current recommendations, as small eateries can quickly gain a good reputation.
Many popular spots run theme days or promotions (e.g., pizza Mondays, lunch sets) — following their social profiles can save you a lot of money.
A non-obvious saving tip: share portions for larger dishes or order smaller sets — in many places portions are big enough to split.
Useful things: a transport card or an app for ticket payments, several map and restaurant-review apps, and some basic kitchen utensils if you plan to cook — this will lower your food costs.
Guide contact: if you’d like to discover Kraków in a more personal way and without organisational stress, consider booking a private guide with Małgorzata Kasprowicz - details are available on her site.
If this guide was helpful, share it with friends or on social media — it will help other Erasmus students and visitors quickly find their way around Kraków’s food scene. When you plan a guided tour, remember Małgorzata Kasprowicz - contact details can be found on the guide’s website.
