Poland: average cost of a meal and souvenirs in zloty

Hi there

I’d like to know how much a meal costs on average in zloty in Poland (Warsaw, Kraków, Częstochowa, Wadowice), and also the price of souvenirs like postcards and magnets—so I don’t end up with too many zlotys left after my 5-day trip to Poland?

Hi there,

I was in Kraków and Warsaw a year ago, and I don’t remember the exact prices, but meals are cheaper than in France.

I recommend checking out milk bars (*bar mleczny*). These are restaurants that, during the communist era, offered low-cost meals. Even today, the food is very affordable, and it’s a great opportunity to try Polish specialties for next to nothing. In some milk bars, the menus are in English, while in others, they’re only in Polish and Ukrainian. You go to the counter to place your order, and they give you a number to wait for before picking up your tray.

I also went to Ukrainian and Georgian restaurants, as well as more upscale Polish specialty restaurants (compared to milk bars), and everything was still cheaper than in France.

For magnets, I think the prices are around 4 €.

Hi there,

I’d say a dish usually costs around 30 PLN, more if it’s a proper restaurant—up to 60 PLN—or less in small Asian eateries. Either way, you’ll pay by card almost everywhere, unless you go to a really basic canteen. No idea about the price of magnets or postcards, but cards work just fine for those too. Still, bring a few PLN for fun—it’s always nice to handle cash, and it’s part of the cultural experience of traveling.

Michel

Hi there, Thanks for your reply—I’ll try the *bars mleczny* (for lunches) because in traditional Polish restaurants, dishes based on cabbage or dumplings don’t really appeal to me. I’ll give those a try when I have an included dinner.

Hi,

What you *don’t* want to eat is exactly what you’ll find in *bars mleczny*... *Żurek*, *pierogi*, cabbage, potato pancakes. Milk bars don’t actually serve milk.

Michel

Hi there,

I know that "milk bars" don’t actually serve milk. I’ll be having placki and naleśniki, and most importantly, a hearty breakfast.