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Krakow is quickly becoming one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe. That may leave you wondering is Krakow safe for solo female travellers.
A lot of people have misconceptions about Poland and think that it is unsafe, and that simply isn’t true. I’ve been to Poland three times and Krakow twice.
As a solo traveller, I can confidently say that Krakow is safe for solo female travellers.
But, just because I feel that Krakow is safe doesn’t mean there aren’t things you need to look out for. I’m an experienced solo traveller and know how to navigate travelling alone better than most people.
Not only are we going to be answering the question is Krakow safe for solo travellers in this post, but we’re also going to talk about safety tips you need to know before visiting Krakow.
Because a destination is only as safe as you make it.
Meaning that if you’re reckless and break the law, you’re at a higher risk of being unsafe no matter where in the world you’re travelling. Even if you’re visiting the safest cities in the world.
Which while Krakow is safe, I wouldn’t call it one of the safest cities in the world.
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Table of Contents
Is Krakow Safe?
Just in case you skimmed the introduction to this article, I just want to reiterate that Krakow is safe.
As long as you take normal, reasonable safety precautions, you shouldn’t run into any issues when travelling to Krakow alone.
Even though Polish people aren’t the most chatty and tend to leave tourists alone, I’ve always found them to be super helpful if I’m in a pinch and need help.
Krakow Safety Tips
I know that I’ve said repeatedly that Krakow is safe, but there are still things you need to be aware of when travelling to Krakow alone.
Using common sense will make Krakow safe for you, but here are a few additional safety tips you’ll want to know when visiting Krakow.
None of them are too serious and are more things to be aware of rather than super serious important safety tips.
Currency Exchange Scams are Very Common
Probably the biggest scam and safety issue you can encounter in Krakow is currency exchange scams.
They’re quite common and people fall for them all the time, unfortunately.
This scam happens when you choose to exchange your money somewhere that isn’t a reputable bank or ATM machine.
It could be someone at your hotel or hostel offering to exchange your money. It could be someone at a local shop or tourist booth offering to exchange your money. Or it could be a random person on the street who is having some sort of issue and asks to exchange money with you because their having issues with the bank.
No matter the situation, it all comes down to you not going through a reputable bank/ATM and getting ripped off.
You can either be charged a very bad exchange rate and not be given as much złoty as you deserve.
Or even worse you could be given counterfeit złoty that won’t be accepted anywhere.
The moral of the story is to always exchange currency at a reputable bank, ATM, or currency exchange location.
No matter where you’re travelling.
It is never, ever worth the risk of not using a reputable currency exchange place.
Be Internet Safe
Being internet safe is such an important part of overall safety when travelling but so few people talk about it.
You rely on public wifi networks when travelling. They’re super convenient, but they also put you at high risk of having your personal and private online information stolen.
Including your banking information.
That is a headache you don’t want to have to deal wtih when travelling. Especially when travelling alone.
You may think a public wifi network is safe to use because it has a password, but that isn’t true. Even public wifi networks with passwords put your online information at risk.
Pretty much anybody can access the password and hack your devices.
The only way to stay safe when using public wifi networks when travelling is by installing a VPN on your devices.
A VPN puts an invisible forcefield around your devices that makes it impossible for people to access your online data.
It makes using public wifi just as safe as using your home wifi where you’re the only person who knows the password.
Using a VPN on your devices is a super small, simple step you should take before any trip. The peace of mind and confidence it gives you when travelling is worth every single penny.
My Favourite VPN
I’ve used a lot of different VPNs over my years of travel.
Most of them, honestly, are junk. They slow your devices down to the point where they’re basically unusable, and you end up turning off your VPN and putting yourself at risk because you can’t handle how slow they make your devices.
Or at least you do if you’re like me.
The only VPN I’ve every enjoyed using is NordVPN. In fact, I recently renewed by subscription with them- the first time I’ve ever renewed a VPN subscription.
The reason I love NordVPN and recommend them to friends, family, and you is because they’re the fastest VPN on the market.
The need for speedy internet when travelling cannot be overstated.
I can’t really notice any difference when using my phone with my VPN active than when it isn’t turned on.
You can protect up to six devices with a single NordVPN subscription, so you can keep all your devices safe from prying eyes for one low cost.
In fact, the price per month for a two-year subscription is less than the price of a single Starbucks latte!
My philosophy is that if you can afford to travel, you can afford to protect your private online information with a VPN.
Don’t Forget to Install an Esim on Your Phone!
Esims are a relatively new technology that makes accessing the internet on your phone while abroad so much easier!
All you have to do is purchase an esim on the website or app and install it on your phone. Once installed, you can use your phone data just like you normally would without incurring any roaming charges.
Esims are the most convenient way to use data on your phone while travelling. You don’t have to incur large roaming fees from your home phone provider. And you don’t have to purchase a physical sim card every time you visit a new country.
You get to use your home phone number for texting still as well. Esims are super convenient and absolutely a must when travelling.
I personally use Airalo every time I purchase an esim.
They offer esims in the most countries compared to other esim companies. They are also super affordable and provide reliable data. Airalo also offers regional esims. You can purchase a single Europe esim and use it in every country you visit on your European vacation.
If you don’t use much data, you may want to look into Drimsim. They charge you per MB used rather than you pre-purchasing a certain amount of data like Airalo.
If you choose to use Drimsim, make sure you turn off your data while not using it. This will prevent data from accidentally being used in the background and costing you more money than you were planning on spending.
Even though Drimsim only charges you per MB you use, I still prefer Airalo when I don’t plan on using much data when I travel. Plans for 1GB of data through Airalo normally costs just a few dollars, so it is super affordable as well.
Plus you know exactly how much you’re spending on data and won’t have any surprises after your holiday.
Don’t Drink on the Streets
Krakow can be a bit of a party city. Especially if you’re staying at a hostel.
You may feel like the party never ends, but it does.
It is illegal to drink on the streets in Poland so keep your drinking indoors.
Pretty much the only thing that can change the answer to the question is Krakow safe from yes to no is if you start doing illegal stuff. Like drinking on the streets.
You could face fines at a minimum and even possibly have to go to court or even go to jail.
Admittedly, the likelihood of you going to jail for drinking on the streets is very rare, but it isn’t a risk you should take.
So, keep the party indoors and finish your drink before you leave the hostel or bar.
Dress Appropriately
Okay. This isn’t so much a safety tip but a general thing you need to know as a woman travelling to Poland.
Poland is a conservative country, and while times are quickly changing, and women are free to wear what they want (more or less), there is one major exception to that.
If you’re entering a church or any religious site, you need to be sure your shoulders, knees, and chest are covered.
If you’re not wearing clothing that covers your shoulders and chest, you can always pack a scarf or pashmina in your bag and wrap it around you when you get to the church.
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Taxi Scams are Quite Common
The last thing we need to talk about are taxi scams. Taxi scams are common in many cities around the world, and Krakow is no exception.
In most cases, the taxi scam involves the taxi driving saying the meter is broken and overcharging you for the ride.
The best way to avoid this is to either insist that the meter is started or agree on a price for the ride before getting in the car.
Once you’re in the car, it’s very difficult to get out, and you’re more or less trapped in the scam. So, make sure you communicate with the taxi driver before getting in the car and agree to something you’re comfortable with.
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Conclusion
As you can tell by this article, Krakow is very safe for solo female travellers. And any traveller, really.
There isn’t much you need to be aware of that is outside of common sense and normal travel decorum.
I hope this article has helped you answer the question is Krakow safe.
If you were holding off on booking a trip to Krakow because you thought it wasn’t safe, you don’t have to! You can book a solo trip to Krakow with confidence knowing you will be safe.
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