An A-OK hostel in Cracow!…read more Location: Area is quiet, but is within very reasonable distance from the main bus, train, and tram stations. It is also close to an area I can only describe as "Downtown", where all the shops are, as well as some other places of historical significance. Some other things are a little more or a walk or a tram ride away (like the Jewish Quarter or Schindler's factory). Beds: Beds were clean. The mattress is extremely thin, unless you are a bag of feathers, you will likely find it a bit uncomfortable. Also, some of the beds are a little creaky, so when people in the room toss or turn, (esp. on a top bunk) you will likely hear it. Also, while my sheets were fine, one other person in my room had a torn sheet, and another (who had two mattresses) had sheets that refused to stay on the mattress. The blanket was very thin. In my room, we two windows. One had a very sheer curtain that didn't completely cover the window, another had no curtain at all. If you, like me, wake up when it gets sunny, keep this in mind. internet Speed: Slow internet is not an issue at this hostel. One of the few hostels I have been with fast internet (despite the whole hostel being booked by exchange students, one of which is me) To those of you who understand, I just tested the speed... ~33Mbps upload, ~5Mbps download. Security: Have to ring a bell to get into the hostel. While technically anyone can ring in, it adds another layer of security, preventing anyone from just randomly walking in. There are spacious lockers available, and I believe you can rent/borrow locks from reception. Bathroom facilities: This is one of the negatives of this hostel. Among the many beds in this place (over 30, likely around 60) there are 5 showers, and three toilets (one male, one female, one unisex). Not all shower heads are mounted, in some cases, you have to hold it in your hand. Breakfast: It's free, so who am I to complain. But the breakfast is very simple and very small. You are given coffee and tea, bread, jam, butter, cheese, ham, milk, and cereal. That's it. Prices: Compared to other hostels in Europe (esp. Italy) the prices here are not only reasonable, but they are very cheap! Because this was a group booking, I did not have the option of shopping around. Still, the prices they indicate are very cheap. Maybe these prices are normal in Cracow Other notes: There are laundry facilities on site, so if you want or need to wash your clothes, you don't have to go hunting for a laundromat, We were a group of exchange students who booked up the entire place, so I can't say for sure. However, it seems that this is what you call a "Party Hostel", based on the bar inside. (Bar did not operate when our group was there).

When I stayed at Hostel Giraffe in summer 2009, I was very impressed! I always thought of hostels…read moreas being kind of sketchy in a "you get what you paid for" sort of way. Hostel Giraffe totally changed my mind. I went with 4 friends and we stayed in one of the rooms that held 12 (6 bunk beds). Pros: --not far from the train station --there is free WiFi, free washer/dryer, and free toast in the morning --there is a bar IN the hostel. One of the nights we spent in Krakow was very rainy and it was great not to have to go out in the rain, but still be able to hang out and have fun at a bar. --rooms were very cleanly, as were the bathrooms and showers --they have a cabinet/cupboard (that locks) for each person staying in the multi-person rooms --staff was very friendly and helpful. The front desk had maps of Krakow for free -- along with maps for other major European cities. I wound up taking a couple and used them later when I went to Berlin with friends. Cons: --a 10-15 minute walk to the main square and 20-25 minute walk to Wawel Castle. I am sure there are hostels closer to these two points of interest (or in between them), but if you dont mind a bit of walking, Hostel Giraffe is wonderful. It is also probably cheaper than some of the closer options.

Outstanding hostel (1 of the best I have ever stayed at) with very comfortable beds, a clean…read moreenvironment, excellent customer service with employees who spoke English very well, very good location (about a 10 minute walk to middle of Old Town) and right by a tram station and grocery market across the street, wi-fi that worked very well, 2 desktop computers with free use and internet, excellent customer service at the front desk with free maps, free lockers and the best free breakfast I have ever had at a hostel with good bread, meat, deviled eggs, vegetables and cheese for sandwiches and free coffee (food that required some preparation and much better than usual toast, cereal and oatmeal at most hostels for breakfast). One of the best hostels I have been to and would stay at again to if I ever go back to Krakow.

I stayed here in November 20, 2015. Originally booked as a weekend getaway from Kraków, I ended up…read morestaying here 2.5 weeks. The hostel is located in a village Kościelisko Nędzówka, close to Tatra National Park and within walking distance to hikes of all levels. Unfortunately in mid to late-November, I only got one sunny day to do a long-ish hike to a mountain peak as the rest of the days were rainy and then the area was covered in snow. Michał and Ana, the hosts really make the hostel so homey. You'll see Ana's father (always in good spirits, it seems) taking care of their cute boy all around the hostel. Ana often bakes and brought us tasty goodies. I also met some cool guests while staying there. I stayed in the 8-bed dorm room which didn't feel too crowded since there weren't many staying at the time. There are two kitchens, so super convenient! But the lounge area was the best. It was big with a lot of seating and a fireplace! It was relaxing lounging there, reading a book or watching a movie on the laptop with a cup of tea with milk and some chocolate biscuits (a habit I picked up in UK & Ireland). One time I was hanging around and got invited to a vegetarian dinner by the host's extended family which included folks from Poland, Macedonia and Calabria (Italy!). Local cheese, pickled vegetables from Calabria, fresh salad and some other foods I forgot. Was amazingly delicious! Getting here, you can take a cheap bus from Kraków bus station to Zakopane (at the time it was 15 złoty or $3.75). There'll be at least one or two buses every hour so just take whatever bus happens to be there. It'll take about 2.5 hours to get to Zakopane. Once at the Zakopane bus station (or coach station as the British would say), you will have to go across the street to the local bus station next to the train station. This was confusing for me since I was trying to follow online instructions from the hostel. I asked for information at the coach station, but the lady didn't speak English. Luckily, a couple behind me translated for me and told me to go across the street. Once there, I asked around basically just showing the name of the bus stop "Kościelisko Nędzówka Sklep" on my iPhone (my Polish pronunciation needs work) and eventually got pointed to the right bus. I believe the bus fare was only 4 złoty. I tracked the bus using GPS on my phone. I'd recommend downloading the MAPS.ME app, an offline map that shows where the hostel is and bus stops. *TIP* You may want to do some grocery shopping while you're in Zakopane. There is a small grocery store (they're called "sklep" in Polish) across the street from the hostel but has limited selection and a 24-hour gas station convenience store that offers mostly snacks and drinks. There is also another slightly larger sklep about 20 minutes walk from the hostel with a bigger selection. Both sklep's met my needs fine. Nearby restaurants, I was told, aren't too good. You can, however, have a pizza delivered to you. Also another tip...book directly with the hostel for cheaper rates than HostelWorld's. Unfortunately their website is in Polish, but you can email them directly or send a message through Facebook for reservations. If you stay long enough, they may even give you a discount and throw in free laundry as they did for me. They have an electric dryer so no need to hang your clothes to dry! I really hated leaving the place. It was so peaceful and quiet especially after coming from Kraków. But my 90 days in Schengen was approaching and had to move on.

Good place. Wifi is…read morefree No linen charge Not bad price Nice rooms-bunks Lockers free (not rucksack sized) 24/7 access Nice cooking area Nice bathrooms communal and dotted about the building. Cheap vendors Clean beds Access of computers for free Offers pub crawl with hour of free drink and entry shot at each pun for £5,€4 must be paid in PLN tho (50). No noise past 10.00. Is enforced but not too strict, and road is so so noisy at night. I like it alot tho. Nice kitchen. Nice communal area nd table for pre-drinks. Well recommended because if the above and the location. :)

From the owner: Pink Panther's Hostel Kraków Doskonała lokalizacja zaledwie…read morekilka kroków od Rynku Głównego i kilka minut od dworca kolejowego. Gwarantuje pobyt w niezapomnianej atmosferze krakowskiego Starego Miasta. Unikalne miejsce na relaks i spotkania z innymi gośćmi. Salon i kuchnia są centrum społecznym i sercem hostelu. Hostel posiada darmową sieć bezprzewodową i oferuję szeroką gamę przeróżnych zajęć, takich jak degustacja wódki i szampana, czy wieczorne kolacje ze spaghetti. Personel Hostelu zawsze służy pomocą. Pink Panther's Hostel posiada 8 pokoi (jeden z dwoma łóżkami pojedynczymi, oraz 7 wieloosobowych), 3 nowoczesne łazienki i wyposażoną kuchnię dla gości. Mamy też salon, gdzie można odpocząć lub po prostu porozmawiać z innymi podróżnikami. Dbając o dobre samopoczucie naszych gości, codziennie organizujemy darmowe eventy: degustacje, gry zespołowe, karaoke czy wieczory filmowe. Poza tym, zapraszamy naszych gości na Royal Tram Party oraz Royal Pub Crawl. Zapraszamy serdecznie!