With hearty dishes, legendary street snacks and price tags that won’t blow your budget, Krakow is a frugal foodie's dream. Ready to chomp your way around the city for under £50 a day? Let’s dive into the tastiest (and cheapest) bites... 

Breakfast – fuel up without forking out (£2-5) 

Start your day the Krakow way – cheap, cheerful and carb-filled. For a quick and easy breakfast, grab an obwarzanek from a street vendor. These chewy, bagel-like rings can be found on most corners across the Old Town. The best bit? They’re usually less than five zloty (about £1). Pair it with a takeaway coffee from a local chain like Żabka Café and you’ll be all set for sightseeing! 

Lunch – dine like a local at a bar mleczny (£4-6) 

These no-frills, cafeteria-style eateries are your best bet for a savvy lunch spread. They serve up traditional home-cooked meals for a fraction of restaurant prices. You can expect dishes like pierogi ruskie (dumplings with potato and cheese) and kotlet schabowy (breaded pork chop). Bar Mleczny Gornik, Bar Smak and Pod Temida are all popular spots. Look out for Zestaw Dnia or Obiad Dnia too – lunch specials that give you a soup and a main for a discounted, set price. 

Tick-tock, it’s snack o’clock (£2-5) 

You’ll be racking up the kilometres on a city break here, so snacks are key! Zapiekanka is a must-taste – the halved baguette is topped with mushrooms, cheese and garlic sauce, then grilled to perfection. They’ll usually set you back around £3, depending on the size and toppings. Got more of a sweet tooth? Opt for a paczek (a polish doughnut) filled with jam or custard. 

Dinner – feast without the fuss (£15-20) 

Dinner’s your chance to splash out, if you want to. Even mid-range restaurants in Krakow are very affordable compared to the UK. Gospoda Koka is a cult-fave for a reason, with its huge portions of Polish classics (plus a free soup starter)! Think roasted chicken and potato pancakes, all for under a tenner. On a quest for pierogi perfection? Say hello to Przystanek Pierogarnia. Fried or boiled, sweet or savoury, you can try it all. And a full plate costs a fiver!  

Drinks – sip don’t splurge (£2-5) 

Poland is known for its crisp, refreshing lagers, and Krakow's bars and pubs offer local brews for just £2 a pint. Hit up Kazimierz for a lively atmosphere, without the tourist prices. 

Top tips 

Mix and match: Do a cheap lunch and swankier dinner or street food and bakery combo. 

Head off the beaten path: Restaurants just a few streets from the Main Square are often a lot cheaper. 

Supermarkets = budget gold: Stock up on snacks and breakfast bits or plan a picnic if the weather is nice