Money in Kraków — złoty, exchange offices, cards and tipping
Poland uses the Polish złoty (PLN, zł). It is one of the less obvious things for first-time western visitors to Kraków — and one of the easiest places to needlessly lose 10-15% of your money. Here is everything you should know in five minutes.
Updated: 2026-04-14
The Polish złoty — basics
The Polish złoty (ISO code PLN, symbol zł) is Poland's official currency. 1 złoty splits into 100 groszy. Banknotes in circulation: 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 zł. Coins: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 groszy plus 1, 2 and 5 zł. Poland is in the EU but not in the eurozone, with no fixed date for joining.
The National Bank of Poland (NBP) rate is official and published every business day. You can check it at nbp.pl. This is your reference point — anything more than 1-2% off this rate is a 'tourist rate'.
Kantors — yes and no
A kantor is a currency exchange office. Some are honest (rate within ~1% of NBP), others are tourist traps (rate up to ~12% off NBP). Rule of thumb: any kantor right next to the Cloth Hall, on Floriańska, on Grodzka, or at the train station is almost always a trap.
Trusted places: the InterChange kantor in Galeria Krakowska mall (level 0) and 'Kantor Euro' at Pawia 5 (both within 1-2% of NBP). Type 'kantor' into Google Maps and check the reviews — honest kantors have ratings of 4.6+, tourist traps have 3.8 and below.
ATM
Withdrawing from an ATM is often the simplest and most honest method. BUT Euronet ATMs, which are everywhere in the centre, will offer you 'dynamic currency conversion' (DCC) at a terrible rate. Full ATM guide explains how to refuse it.
Safe ATMs: PKO BP, Pekao, Santander, mBank, ING. Avoid Euronet (yellow-blue) and any standalone ATM in the centre without a real bank logo.
Card and contactless
Poland is one of the most cashless countries in Europe. Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay and Google Pay are everywhere. You can use a card for a tram ticket, a 5 zł coffee, a parking meter. In practice: if you have a card and an NFC phone, you can go weeks without touching cash.
Exceptions: some old milk bars, some obwarzanek stalls, the back rows at Stary Kleparz market — cash only. Keep 50-100 zł on you for these.
Tipping
10% in a restaurant is standard. No tipping at a bar (you may round up). In a taxi, round up. At a hairdresser, 5-10 zł. In a hotel, 5 zł for a doorman, 10-20 zł for housekeeping at the end of your stay if they cleaned daily. Tip in cash, or say 'dziękuję' (thank you) when paying by card — the waiter understands that as 'keep the change'. If you say 'dziękuję' but wanted change, quickly add 'reszta dla mnie' (change for me).
FAQ
Will I be able to pay by card everywhere in Kraków?
Effectively yes. Trams, buses, cafés, supermarkets, taxis, even most street food trucks accept contactless cards. A handful of traditional milk bars and farmers' markets are the only places where you need cash.
Are euros accepted?
In most places, no. Some hotels and tourist shops near Rynek accept euros, but at a terrible rate. Pay in złoty.
How many złoty per euro?
The NBP (official) rate is usually 4.20-4.40 PLN per 1 EUR. At a kantor outside Rynek you'll get something close to that. At a kantor on Floriańska or next to the Cloth Hall you may get 3.70-3.90 PLN — that's a 10-15% loss.