The most common tourist scams in Kraków
Kraków is a very safe city — street violence is rare and pickpocketing is less common than in Barcelona or Paris. But there are classic tourist scams that still work because they rely on unfamiliarity with local prices and procedures. Here are all the ones worth knowing about.
Updated: 2026-04-14
1. The '0% commission' kantor near the Cloth Hall
Mechanics: the kantor displays a 'BUY' and 'SELL' rate on its electronic board. For €100 you see an offer of 380 zł instead of 430 zł. The 0% commission claim is true — they make money on a huge spread instead. You lose 12-15% on the transaction. Several locations on Floriańska, Grodzka and around the Cloth Hall.
Defence: exchange in Galeria Krakowska mall or at 'Kantor Euro' (Pawia 5). Check Google Maps reviews before exchanging.
2. Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) at ATMs and card terminals
An ATM (usually Euronet) or a restaurant card terminal asks: 'Pay in EUR or PLN?'. Choosing EUR means the local bank (not yours) sets the rate — with a 5-12% markup. Always choose PLN.
3. The menu swap
A restaurant on Rynek has two menus: one cheaper, one more expensive (30-50% difference). Polish customers get the cheap one, foreign customers get the expensive one. Sometimes the trick is that the foreign menu has no portion sizes, only 'price per 100g'.
Defence: check Google Reviews for the actual prices before ordering. If you see two different menus — leave.
4. The 'per 100g' price
Classic for fish, pierogi, pork knuckle and larger meat dishes in tourist restaurants. 'Pierogi: 18 zł' looks reasonable until you notice it's '18 zł / 100 g' and the portion weighs 280 g. On the bill: 50 zł instead of 18.
Defence: always ask 'is this per portion or per 100 grams?'. Honest restaurants list the full portion price.
5. Taxi meter on 'tariff 4'
Kraków taxi meters have four tariffs: 1 (day, city), 2 (night, city), 3 (day, out of town), 4 (night, out of town). Some drivers switch on tariff 4 even on a daytime city ride — at double the rate. If you see '4' on the meter on a Saturday at 2 PM in central Kraków, it's a scam.
Defence: use Bolt instead of street taxis.
6. The 80 zł 'tourist' SIM card
Kiosks near Rynek with 'TOURIST SIM CARD HERE' signs sell regular Orange / Play cards for 60-80 zł instead of 25. Not theft — just a 200% markup because you don't know what it should cost.
Defence: buy an eSIM before you fly, or visit a Play / Orange shop in Galeria Krakowska.
7. 'Free' walking tours that aren't
The 'free walking tour' model is tip-based — the tour is formally free, but the guide expects a 50-80 zł tip per person at the end. Not a scam if you go in with that knowledge. Some local outfits combine the 'free' model with aggressive upselling of commercial add-ons (a jacuzzi-bus to Auschwitz, a tavern dinner) on commission to the guide.
Defence: go in knowing the real cost is ~60 zł. If the guide is pushing add-ons hard, pick a different one.