The second largest and one of the oldest city’s in Poland, Krakow has been a hub of Polish learning, art, and culture almost since the date of its founding in the 7th Century: no wonder it’s now so firmly on the tourist map. It’s also remarkably well preserved, despite the various wars that have swept through the Central European country during its painful history; its historic centre not only holds the honour of UNESCO world heritage status, it was one of the first ever places for that label to be bestowed on back in the 1970s.
Krakow’s hotel industry has been fast to catch up with the huge influx of visitors it has seen since the fall of communism, and there is as wide ranging a selection of places to stay here as you might find in any major European town. As with everywhere though, there are good places and there are not so good place – a truth even more pronounced if you’re shopping on a budget. Fortunately, we at TravelMag have done the hard work searching to help you make a better informed deceision.
From €7/ night
Starting off at the ultra-low budget end, this great hostel comes highly recommended from almost everyone who has stayed there. It’s clean, with friendly 24-hour staff, and boasts rooms with views out over its own private garden and the city. Obviously, you’d have to be in a sharing mood as it only shops dorm sleeping, but if you are, they don’t come much better than this.
From €73/ night
The out of town option. If you want your budget to stretch further, then why not use two-star money to book into this four-star experience a mere 10 minutes drive from Krakow’s historic centre? The hotel boasts all the things we’ve come to expect from Best Western Premieres, with excellent English-speaking staff, clean warm rooms, WiFi, and satellite TV access. There’s also an onsite restaurant and bar, giving you the option of taking it very easy during your stay.
From €101/ night
Granted, the ultra-modern luxury of Novotel Krakow Centrum may not be what you expect from a town famous for its Renaissance architecture, but the fact is that this hotel could prove the perfect antidote to a long day spent traipsing the cobbles. Complete with all the usual amenities, plus an indoor swimming pool and sauna, it may be a little more expensive than the other options on our list, but the point is that a stay in this hotel’s spaciously comfortable rooms can feel like a holiday within your holiday, and it still doesn’t exactly break the bank!
From €54/ night
Stylish in its effortless blend of the modern and traditional, this hotel is located a mere 450 metres from Krakow’s world famous old town, making it an ideal base for exploring the city on foot. And just in case ‘on foot’ isn’t your thing, the hotel also offers a bike hire service, so you can take in more history at a faster pace. There’s free WiFi throughout and satellite flat-screen TVs in every room. The building’s classic façade isn’t too shabby either!
From €96/ night
Truth be told, low cost accommodation in Krakow’s historic centre can be hard to come by. But we’ve search high and low, and managed to come back with this delightful hotel, where nightly stays start from just under 100 euros. Located within a beautiful townhouse, it specialises in offering a homely feel, though never compromising on its trendy, luxurious edge. All rooms have satellite TVs, radios, and telephones, but the place’s real selling point is that is right in the midst of everything that you will have come to Krakow to see. As we said, though, hotels with a nightly cost beneath the three-figure mark aren’t easy to come by in the Old Town, so we recommend you book this one well in advance.
