Life in Krakow, Poland by Alexander

Why did you choose to go to Krakow, Poland?

As a Jewish coming from the promised land, which is mostly surrounded by sand, palm trees and very warm temperatures. I wanted to change my lifestyle of riding camels, hence, my decision to come to Krakow and pursue my higher education in a European country such as Poland. In addition, my great-grandfather is of Polish origin, henceforth, my peculiar aspiration to go to Krakow, however, I believe that every single personae possesses his own reason.

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What is the student lifestyle like in Krakow?

The student lifestyle in Krakow is both exciting and dynamic, mainly due to the fact that you can literally meet people from all over the world in one place!

Coming from a rather hot country such as Israel one might think that all we do is think about money and ride on camels, but when I first came into Krakow, it was like a breath of fresh air, which made me fall in love with the scenery and the aesthetic lifestyle in Krakow.

Krakow is undoubtedly one of the most dynamic cities in Europe, which will most certainly keep you on edge 24/7.

Would you recommend the city and the University of Krakow to other students?

Most certainly would!

What is the food like?

The variety of dishes in Krakow is beyond imagination.

In addition, there are way too many types of delicious cuisines to be able to pick a favorite from, but some of the most noticeable dishes in my opinion was the Red Barsch and the Pierogi, which are basically dumplings filled with various types of fillings inside.

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Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Krakow?

Beware exaggerated charges often applied by agents. Look out for inflated credit reference fees, inventory fees, insurance fees, checking-out fees and cleaning fees. You might think that you have no choice but to pay up – but you do. Always ask the agency for a full list of costs upfront to avoid surprises.

An even better solution would be to avoid such "helping" hand at the first place and use accommodation websites such as: Gumtree or OLX.

How much does it cost to live in Krakow?

Prices vary heavily on the location you will begin your search in. For instance, accommodation located within the city-center would cost you significantly more.

Personally, I found that the most convenient price for accommodation that most students in the area settle for is around 500~700 (Polish Zloty), which is an equivalent of around 120~150 Euro's.

As a guy who adopted a healthy lifestyle. I spend around 200~350 (PLN) on food as well, most certainly, you must bare in mind that prices on food, also vary heavily on the location that you choose to conduct your shopping in.

For instance, if you are looking for an affordable supermarket to shop in, yet with a benevolent variety. I would settle for Auchan or Carrefour.

Now that we have a semi-list we mustn't forget about the goodies, right? If you are indeed looking for a good time to spend in Krakow, I would recommend visiting the heart of the town, which is also known as 'Stare Miasto' or the so-called 'Jewish district'.

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Is the language easy to get to grips with? Are there language courses available at the University?

The Polish language is of Slavic origins with few verb tenses with no articles at all! A huge chunk of its vocabulary has Latin roots.

The Alphabet is very simple and is 90% phonetic! The best thing about Polish is that word order is mostly unimportant.

Personally for me it took a bit over 3 months of pure communication to get a firm grip of the language, and to be able to adept to the Polish scene in a sociological context.

At the University in which I currently pursue my higher education, yes, there are language courses available, but I am most certain that most Universities in Krakow offer such services.

What's the easiest or most economical way to travel to Krakow from your city?

As a student coming from Israel, I can't really say such way exists.

However, if you are in fact looking for a rather cheap way to travel to such whereabouts. I would recommend using the 'Wizz' air service or BlaBlaCar.

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Where would you recommend to go on a night out in Krakow?

Stare Miasto most certainly!

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

One of the places I enjoyed visiting most was the Schindler's factory and the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum, but there are many breathtaking tourist attractions which you can encounter at very attractive prices as well!

In Krakow there are many tour guide companies who offer a nice trip around town to all the newcomers who are willing to see the true colors of Krakow.

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Is there any other advice that you could give to students going to Krakow in the future?

As soon as you arrive at Krakow I firmly recommend to every newcomer to apply for the Polish Karta Pobytu, which is a temporary stay and work permit.

In addition use Krakow Jakdojade to get a grip of the Polish commute system and remember to have a good time and stay safe!