From delicious pierogi to picturesque castles, colorful traditional houses, and stunning nature, it’s no wonder why Poland is quickly becoming one of the most popular destinations in Europe.
While the country is already fairly budget-friendly, there are still plenty of ways that you can travel Poland on a budget — which is exactly why I wrote this post!
If you’re planning a trip to Poland, be sure to keep these tips in mind. I’ll go over some of my best ways to save money in Poland, from finding deals on transportation to snagging budget-friendly accommodations, eating delicious (and cheap!) food, and much more.
All of these tips will help stretch your dollar zloty and make it go further — let’s check them out!
Food & Drink
Eat at ‘Milk Bars’
Although the name might suggest otherwise, these are not bars for cats — nor do they serve milk. 
These canteen-style restaurants serve traditional Polish cuisine like żurek soup, pierogi dumplings, various meats, potatoes, crepes with jam or meat, and much more. For drinks, you can order kompot (a delicious fruit-based drink), tea, soda, or water.
Milk bars are excellent places to eat for three reasons: you’ll get to know the local cuisine, the food is always fresh (thanks to high turnover), and you can save a nice chunk of change by eating here! In fact, going to milk bars is especially great for dinner, as there is usually a discount on the entire menu after 6pm or so.
My favorites are Różowa Krowa (above) and Krówka bar in Wroclaw; Milkbar Tomasza in Krakow; and Jagienka in Bydgoszcz.
—
Go Grocery Shopping at Biedronka
If you’re planning to stay in a city for more than a few days and have booked an apartment with a kitchen, then this trick is especially useful. :)
You can save a ton of money on groceries if you go shopping at a Biedronka supermarket (the one with the cheerful ladybug logo). During our two-month travels around Poland, we constantly stocked up on food at Biedronka and were surprised at how budget-friendly our grocery trips ended up being! For the two of us, it ended up being around 250 PLN per week ($60 USD / $55 EUR), and that’s with a bunch of extras — we love to try local chocolates and drinks when traveling.
—
Walk Away From the Main Square (and Save 30%!)
What if I told you that you can save 30% on restaurants by doing one simple little travel hack?
No, this isn’t the start of an infomercial (although it might sound like it) 
The trick to avoiding overpriced tourist traps is to simply walk about 3 blocks away from the Market Square (which can be found in almost every Polish city) and, therefore, getting out of that dreaded ‘tourist zone.’
The prices in restaurants around the Tourist Zone are inflated for a variety of reasons, from higher rent, tons of unsuspecting tourists, convenience, and more.
To save money, take a relaxing stroll (or pull out Google Maps) and you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how fast the prices go down — for the same (or better!) quality of food.
—
Avoid Zabka
(Unless it’s Sunday and you forgot!)
If you’re not a fan of cooking, then you can buy pre-made meals at Zabka stores. While this definitely shouldn’t be an option for every day (Zabka stores are built around convenience and cost about 10 ~ 15% more than other stores), it’s still cheaper and quicker than dining out at a restaurant.
Zabka has a nice selection of food, including salads, pancakes, paninis, pierogi, soups, pasta, sandwiches, and their famous hot dogs. My favorite part is that each food has a Nutri-Score, which is a scale of how healthy the food is (A is best, E is worst).
Best of all, Zabka is literally on every street corner and a good majority don’t close on Sundays.
—
Street Food: Cheap and Filling
Each country has its own unique street food, and Poland is no exception. The local street food scene boasts both European-style street food (doner, shawarma, hot dogs, sandwiches, etc) and local dishes.
Popular Polish street food dishes include Zapiekanki (huge open-faced sandwich with different fillings and a lot of cheese), Nalesniki (pancakes that can be both sweet and salty), and Pierogi (dumplings with various fillings).
Attractions & Things to do
Take Advantage of Free Museum Days…
If you love museums as much as I do, let me tell you a little travel hack on how to visit them without spending a penny: free museum days!
Most major museums have free days, usually once a week or once a month. You can find this information on the museums’ respective websites (under ‘Visiting’ or ‘Tickets’) or at tourist information offices.
For example, Krakow offers free entry to the Schindler Factory Museum every Monday, the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCAK) on Thursdays, and the National Museum on Tuesday (in addition to many others!)
—
… And Add Some Budget-Friendly Attractions to Your Itinerary
You don’t have to splash a ton of cash zloty to have fun in Poland — there are tons of free things to do no matter where you go!
For example, how about going on a hunt for the 350+ gnomes scattered around Wroclaw? Or looking in awe at the beautiful designs on each building in Poznan’s Old Town? Perhaps you fancy a stroll along the Royal Route along the most spectacular parts of Warsaw?
Of course, don’t forget to check out the scenery on Mill Island in Bydgoszcz, the colorful houses of Dlugi Targ in Gdansk, or go hiking in Zakopane… as well as dozens of other activities that don’t cost a penny ;)
—
Check Out City Passes & Cards
Did you know that some of Poland’s biggest cities have their own tourist pass? For example, Krakow has the Krakow City Card, which comes in 1-, 2-, and 3-day variants. You’ll get access to 36 museums, as well as the option to add unlimited public transportation during those days.
Depending on what you want to see, it might be a good idea to buy one of these city passes — just make sure to price it out and see if it’s worth it!
Click here to check out more information & buy the Krakow City Card
—
Plan Your Visits to Popular Attractions in Advance
Some popular places in Poland, such as Auschwitz, have limited admission and require advance booking. By booking tickets online in advance, you can often secure lower prices and avoid long lines.
This tip isn’t limited to tourist attractions either — by booking accommodations at least a month in advance, you’ll get the best prices (and the most in-demand places before they’re sold out!)
Transportation
Polish trams: Cute and convenient :)
Use Public Transportation
Poland is one of those countries that easily boasts a developed public transport network in all of its major cities. Thanks to a reliable network of buses, trams, metro, and light rail, you can quickly and conveniently get to any point in the city without spending a lot of money!
Why worry about the cost of a taxi or rental car when you can get anywhere in the city quickly and for only a few zloty?
Another plus is the super convenient and easy Jakdojade application. On the app, you can instantly buy tickets, plan your trip with the built-in route planner, and even see where your bus is in real time! Best of all, there are 50+ cities on the app, including all major cities. :)
You can download the Jakdojade app from the App Store or Play Market.
—
Consider a Daily Pass
Speaking of the Jakdojade app…
If you’re planning to do a lot of sightseeing in one day, it might be worthwhile to purchase a 24-hour ticket. These tickets are sold near metro stations and bus stops, in some kiosks, and on mobile applications (like Jakdojade).
These ‘daily tickets’ are super convenient because you can save time and money — you don’t need to buy a new ticket each time, and you can travel across all types of public transport (buses, trams, trolleys, etc). Just be sure to read the terms and conditions, as some metropolitan cities, like Warsaw, are split into zones and you might need to choose the correct ticket. :)
Best of all, the tickets are very budget-friendly. At the time of writing, a 24 hour ticket in Krakow costs 17 PLN; 15 PLN in Warsaw; and 12 PLN in Katowice. For the price of a latte, the entire city is in your hands!
In case you’re planning a longer trip (or a trip with your family), there are also 7-day ‘subscription tickets’ or multi-people tickets (up to 10 people on a single ticket).
—
Skip the Plane and Take a Train!
Like many other European countries, traveling by train in Poland is one of the best ways to get around thanks to its convenience, speed, and budget-friendliness.
Poland has an extensive railway network that connects many cities and regions of the country, which means you can easily reach popular tourist destinations like Warsaw, Krakow, Gdansk, Wroclaw, and others.
Conveniently, most train stations are located near the center, meaning you can walk or take public transport to your accommodation.
Another advantage of traveling in Poland by train is comfort. Most Polish trains are equipped with comfortable seats, sockets for charging gadgets, and free Wi-Fi.
Finally, the major Polish train operators (yes, there’s more than one company
—
… Or a Bus :)
If the Polish train timetables don’t work for you (or don’t go to a specific city), another great option is Flixbus.
Flixbus has routes to more than 250 cities across Poland, including major metropolitan areas (Warsaw, Krakow, Wroclaw, the Tricity area), as well as mid-size and smaller cities.
We’ve used Flixbus in Poland extensively (including an international trip from Berlin to Szczecin) and were pleasantly surprised at the price-quality ratio. Although the buses might run a few minutes late, the seats were comfortable, the drivers were all very friendly, and the prices were reasonable.
Click here to see all of the cities in Poland that are serviced by Flixbus and buy tickets. https://global.flixbus.com/bus/poland <AFF LINK>
Other Budget Travel Tips
Visit During the Off-Season
If you want to get the lowest prices for accommodation and tours, the best option is to visit Poland in the off-season. The ‘low season’ is the period from November to March, with the exception of the Christmas holidays (the period from December 20 ~ January 7 is a bit more expensive!)
Another advantage of traveling to Poland during the off season is that there are fewer crowds. This means you can stroll around the main square, visit historical sites, and go to museums without having to wait in line or push through the crowds of people.
—
Opt For Budget-Friendly Accommodations
On any trip, one of the most expensive aspects is typically accommodation. Thankfully, there are tons of budget accommodation options in Poland that will allow you to save some money and have a comfortable stay. :)
One of the best budget accommodations in Poland is none other than hostels. There are dozens of stylish and comfortable hostels in Poland, with many having private rooms in addition to the typical dorm-style rooms.
Some popular options include Kapsuła Hostel (Warsaw), Mundo Hostel (Krakow), and the super stylish Hart Hostel & Art Gallery (Wroclaw). Likewise, most hostels are located near the city center, which is convenient if you plan to go sightseeing.
Click here to see all hostels in Poland
—
No Need to Exchange Banknotes
The biggest thing that surprised me during our month-long trip is that Poland is very credit card-friendly! In fact, I had no idea what a Polish banknote looked like until I Googled it during our train ride out of the country.
When looking at hotels on Booking.com, some even had a ‘No Cash’ sign under Payments, which just goes to show that Poland is moving towards digital payments.
What I’m saying is, you don’t have to spend time (and commission payments) to exchange your money into Polish zloty, as the majority of places accept cards. Just be sure to use a credit card that has no foreign transaction fees!
—
Look For Free Walking Tours
Free walking tours are one of the most budget-friendly and informative ways to explore a city, and Poland is no exception. Major Polish cities like Warsaw, Krakow, Gdansk, and Wroclaw offer free walking tours that showcase their unique charms.
The guides will tell you fascinating stories, share interesting facts, and reveal secrets about places that seem ordinary at first glance. You’ll be able to better understand the culture, architecture, and significance of each historical site you visit.
Most free walking tours operate on a tip basis, and you get to choose how much you want to pay for the tour.
Photo credits: Polish banknotes – Pawel Czerwinski (Unsplash)