Krakow
About Krakow
You will find amazing historic and cultural landmarks, some of the craziest parties in the world and incredible cheap hostels in Krakow! And, have we mentioned that Krakow is one of the cheapest cities in Europe?! Krakow is a real gem in the heart of Europe: former capital of the Crown of the Kingdom of Poland for about five centuries, Krakow will take you on a rollercoaster of emotions among independent cafes, historical buildings and imperial squares; it will touch your soul on the nights spent sipping Polish beer and singing old songs with your new friends in one of the incredible Krakow hostels!
Hostels in Krakow are so beautiful and there are so many! They are also cheap and fun! You will have a hard time to pick the one right for you! Some of them are known for their incredible parties and pub crawls (obviously!), others for their relaxed and quite atmosphere but they are all full of colour, modern facilities, Wi-Fi and with dorms or private rooms if you are looking for some extra privacy!
There are so many areas to choose from as the city is fairly small and most of the hostels in Krakow are concentrated in the centre. The “Grzegórzki” is one of the most central parts of the cities, you will find streets full of shops and restaurants, the shopping mall and the famous Rondo Grzegózeckie. Another central area full of amazing hostels in Krakow is the so-called “Soho of Krakow”, the Kazimierz, rich with art exhibitions, museums, pubs and nightclubs!
Krakow has always been Poland's artistic and cultural centre, so your only problem will be prioritising during your visit. Here are some tips: start getting lost around the Old City, gaze at the beauty of the Wawel Cathedral (more than 900 years old), visit Europe’s largest square, the 10-acre Main Market Square and have a beer with your hostel mates!
Krakow is easy to walk around to get a full immersion into its history and modern vibes. If you feel tired or are coming back from a night out, taxis are much cheaper compared to other major European cities, or just jump on one of the buses or trams if you want to save some money and do how the locals do!
Accommodation in Krakow
There are many different options for arranging student accommodation in Poland. They vary depending on the city and higher education institution you choose. Many Polish HEIs have their own dormitories, which are usually the cheapest option available. However, most Polish students prefer to rent a room in a private apartment.
Student houses and dormitories
The pricing of the student houses depends on the particular HEI. Usually the cost of accommodation in a dormitory ranges is around EUR 60-80 monthly for a shared room and between EUR 100-150 for a single room. However, the standard of the dormitories may differ greatly even between various student houses of the same HEI, so it’s good to do some research before the final decision. What doesn’t differ is the friendly and helpful atmosphere in the student houses.
Private housing
It is quite common in Poland to rent a room in a bigger apartment. Most of the out-of-town students share flats in this way. The cost varies between cities and it depends greatly on the location of the apartment as well as the size and quality of the room. The monthly rent is usually between EUR 150 and 200. Some landlords may require a deposit of a similar amount. Don’t worry if you don’t have friends to live with. Sharing a flat with locals is an amazing opportunity: you can pay for the accommodation and get great friends for free! And if you really don’t like to share, you can find an independent apartment. The rent for the smallest, one-room apartment starts from about EUR 300 (in Warsaw).
Visa and residence card costs
This applies only to those students who come from the countries whose nationals are obliged to get a visa before coming to Poland. If you come from the European Union, you can skip visa fee charges. For those requiring it - there is no uniform fee, but it should not exceed EUR 70. When applying for a visa, please remember about other costs which are not stated directly - you need to have health insurance of at least EUR 30,000 and be in possession of sufficient funds to cover your entry, stay and departure - which is minimum PLN 543 for each month of studies and PLN 200, 300 or 2,500 for securing a return journey for people from neighbouring countries, EU countries or non-EU countries respectively.
Even if you do not need a visa to come to Poland, bear in mind that every foreigner staying in Poland for a period longer than 3 months has to apply for a temporary residence permit, so for visa holders it is also the next step to plan in their budget. The cost of issuing a temporary residence permit for students is PLN 390 in total.
