What to take to study in Krakow? The Ultimate Student Packing List 2026/27

Clothing and textiles – preparation for the Krakow aura

Krakow is characterized by high air humidity and specific terrain, which affects the perception of temperature. The list of clothes must take into account sudden changes in the weather.

• Sturdy Rainwear: Autumn in Krakow can be rainy and windy. A lightweight, but waterproof coat with a hood is more practical than an umbrella, which often loses to the wind in open spaces near the Grunwaldzki roundabout.
• Shoes with waterproof soles: The cobbled streets of the Old Town and Kazimierz become slippery and full of puddles after the rain.
• Warm layers (the “onion” method): University buildings have different thermal characteristics. It can be hot in modern auditoriums at the CUE, while the old exercise rooms of the Jagiellonian University are sometimes underheated.
• Formal attire: For exams and ceremonies (e.g. Gaudeamus), classic clothing is required. Pack it in a pouch to avoid creases in transport.
• Warm slippers and thick bathrobe: Crucial in tenement houses with high ceilings. The floors in such apartments are usually very cold during the heating season.

Room Furnishings & Home Accessories

Regardless of whether you choose a dormitory or a room in a block of flats in Czyżyny, you need to take care of the ergonomics and hygiene of the space.

• Own bedding and sheets: Dorms offer standard sets, but having your own cotton bedding significantly increases your sleep comfort. 
• Desk organizer and bed boxes: Space in student rooms is limited. Storage systems will allow you to keep your notes and seasonal clothing organized.
• Desk lamp with light color adjustment: Book nights require lighting that doesn’t strain your eyes, especially when you’re sharing a room with another person.
• Earplugs and blindfold: Essential if your windows overlook noisy thoroughfares or when your roommate has a different circadian schedule.
• Moisture absorber: Very useful in old buildings in the vicinity of the Old Town, where ventilation can be inefficient, which promotes dampness of clothes.

Health and clean air – the specificity of Krakow

The issue of air quality in Krakow, although systematically improved, still requires attention in the winter months.

• Personal Air Purifier: If you rent a room in the center and suffer from allergies or respiratory problems, a compact purifier will improve the quality of your sleep.
• Water Filter Jug: Krakow tap water is drinkable, but very hard. Filtration will protect your kettle from deposits and improve the taste of your drinks.
• Basic First Aid Kit: A thermometer, painkillers, abrasion patches (important after long walks between departments) and supplements (vitamin D is crucial in the autumn and winter period).
• Anti-smog mask with HEPA filter: It is worth having it in your luggage if you plan to move on foot or by bike on days with increased concentrations of particulate matter.

Kitchen & Provisions Survival Kit

Cooking on your own in Krakow is the most effective way to save money. Taking basic tools will allow you to get off to a quick start without looking for stores in a foreign city.

• Set of dishes and cutlery: One deep plate, one flat plate, a mug (preferably thermal – it will be useful for lectures) and a set of cutlery.
• Pot and small pan: Choose cookware with a non-stick coating. If you live in a dormitory, opt for equipment that is easy to wash in the shared kitchen.
• Lunch boxes: Preparing take-away meals is a standard for AGH UST or Jagiellonian University students who spend all day on campuses.
• Basic provisions “for the start”: Coffee, tea, salt, sugar, pasta, rice and a few jars of home-cooked meals. You will spend the first days on formalities, so ready-made food will be salutary.

Transport accessories and mobility

Krakow is a city of bicycles and scooters. MPK Kraków’s logistics are efficient, but require appropriate equipment preparation.

• Krakow Card (activation on ELS): You don’t need to bring a physical ticket, but make sure you have the mKK app.
• U-Lock bicycle padlock: If you plan to take your bike, don’t skimp on security. Attaching a bicycle under the AGH UST buildings or in Kazimierz requires a solid blockade.
• Small umbrella for handbag/backpack: The weather in the vicinity of Zakrzówek or Wisła can change within a quarter of an hour.

Specific practical tips:

• Limit the number of summer clothes: October in Krakow can be treacherous. Focus on transitional and winter clothing. You can deliver summer things on the occasion of your first visit home.
• Do not buy textbooks in stock: Most of the materials can be found in the Jagiellonian Library or faculty libraries. Take only notebooks and your favorite stationery.
• Check the type of hob: Before buying pots, find out if your new apartment has induction or gas. This is the most common mistake when completing kitchen equipment.
• Pack in soft bags/suitcases: After unpacking, it is easier to hide them under the bed or on the wardrobe in a small room. Rigid suitcases take up too much valuable space.
• Buy a starter from a local operator (if you are a foreigner): Stable mobile Internet is necessary to operate maps and the USOS/mObywatel application.

Specific scientific instruments

Equipment requirements vary depending on whether your destination is the AGH UST Main Building, the Faculty of Law of the Jagiellonian University at Bracka Street, or the modern laboratories of the Cracow University of Technology in Czyżyny. Preparing a list of things must take into account the specifics of the course.

• Technical faculties (AGH, PK): In addition to a laptop, a scientific calculator with complex number function and statistics is essential. For technical drawing or descriptive geometry classes, pack a set of compasses with interchangeable tips and professional technical fineliners. Students of construction and architecture should take a tube for drawings with a diameter of at least 10 cm, which will protect the projects from moisture during transfers at the Mogilskie roundabout.
• Humanities and Legal Studies (Jagiellonian University, UP): The key here is to organize a huge amount of text. Take highlighters with highlighters and a set of flashcards. Due to the specificity of working in reading rooms (e.g. in the Jagiellonian Library at Mickiewicza Street), pack a lightweight, foldable book or tablet stand that will relieve your spine during many hours of study sessions.
• Artistic Studies (Academy of Fine Arts): Krakow is a city of specific materials. Although you can buy many things at Matejko Square, take a basic set of brushes, putty and your favorite media with you. Also pack a professional B1 folder, which is essential for the safe transport of work between departments scattered around the Old Town.

What to pack on the tram and on the bike?

Moving around Krakow in the 2026/27 season is based on rail transport and micro-mobility. Your to-do list needs to make it easier to move between the Campus and the city center every day.

• RFID Protection Case for ELS: The Krakow student card serves as a carrier of MPK season tickets. A protective case will prevent accidental readings and mechanical damage to the chip, which is a common cause of problems during ticket control on tram lines 18 or 50.
• Robust U-Lock or Hardened Chain: If you plan to get around by bike, forget about the links. Krakow, despite the large number of paths, struggles with thefts under buildings such as the MIM of the Jagiellonian University in Ruczaj. Your protection should weigh at least 1.5 kg and have a certified lock.
• High Power Bike Light (USB Charged): Parks such as Planty or Jordan Park are sometimes poorly lit after dark. A set of lamps with a power of min. 400 lumens will keep you safe when returning from evening lectures.
• Thin, compression windstopper jacket: The specificity of Krakow lies in strong drafts in the tunnels under the Main Railway Station and the wind from the Vistula River. Such a jacket takes up as much space as an apple, and will protect you from cooling down while waiting for a transfer.

Health and beauty in Krakow

Krakow is a city with very hard water and specific air. Not having the right products in your luggage can result in skin and hair problems after the first month of college.

• Chelating and highly moisturizing cosmetics: Hard water in Krakow’s pipelines (especially in Krowodrzy and Podgórze) makes it difficult to wash off products and dries out the skin. Pack a chelating shampoo to remove mineral deposits from your hair, and rich creams with ceramides.
• Nasal softener (irrigator) and seawater: Dry air in heated tenement houses combined with the quality of the outside air dries out the mucous membrane. Regular nasal hygiene is the most effective way to avoid the “Krakow cough” during the heating season.
• Copper or Stainless Steel Thermal Bottle: Avoid plastic. In Krakow, drinking tap water is promoted, and a solid bottle will save you about PLN 150 per month, which you would otherwise spend on bottled water in stores such as Żabka.

Equipment for student life

Studying in Krakow also means social life in clubs at Dolnych Młynów Street, in Kazimierz or in the AGH UST Student Campus. Your list must include this aspect.

• Comfortable sneakers with dark soles: Krakow’s streets are paved with cobblestones and limestone, which dusts and stains light-colored shoes. A dark sole and durable material are the basis for surviving night returns from Kazimierz.
• Comfortable sneakers with dark soles: Krakow’s streets are paved with cobblestones and limestone, which dusts and stains light-colored shoes. A dark sole and durable material are the basis for surviving night returns from Kazimierz.
• AZS or ISIC membership card: If you plan to use swimming pools (e.g. at AGH UST or UEK), take a physical card. It often gives greater discounts than the student ID card itself.

What to take to study in Krakow 2026/27?

What kitchen utensils are absolutely necessary in a Krakow dormitory?

Most of Krakow’s dormitories (Jagiellonian University, AGH) have shared kitchens, which forces a specific selection of equipment. Take a 2 liter pot with a thick bottom (suitable for everything from pasta to soup) and a 24 cm pan with a detachable handle for easy storage in a small cabinet. A chef’s knife (sharp and with a cover) is also necessary – nothing is more irritating than blunt knives that are generally available. Also, pack your own dishwashing liquid and sponge in an airtight container so you can easily move them between the room and the kitchen.

Is it worth taking your own monitor to a student room?

If you are studying Computer Science at AGH, Graphics at the Academy of Fine Arts or Architecture at PK, an additional monitor is the basis of ergonomics. In Krakow apartments for rent (e.g. in Krowodrzy), desks are usually small, so choose a model with a VESA-type mount that you can screw to the edge of the tabletop, saving space for notes. In a dorm, however, the monitor can be a hassle due to the risk of damage during events – consider a portable monitor that plugs into USB-C.

What to pack to cope with low temperatures in Krakow’s tenement houses?

Living in a tenement house in the Old Town or Kazimierz has its charm, but in winter it can be a challenge. Take a hot water bottle in a thick cover – it’s the cheapest way to warm up your bed before bed. Also pack thermal underwear (leggings and a long-sleeved T-shirt), which you will be able to wear under normal clothes on cold days, waiting for the tram at the “Dworzec Główny Tunel” stop. Thick, woolen socks are also important, because floors in tenement houses are usually devoid of thermal insulation.

What set of medicines should be in a student’s first aid kit in Krakow?

Due to hard water and dust, your first aid kit needs to be expanded. Apart from the standard (Paracetamol, Ibuprofen), take sparkling lime and antihistamines (even if you are not allergic – Krakow can be allergic). Pack Icelandic lichen lozenges, which are best at dealing with dry throats caused by city air. Don’t forget about vitamin B complex and magnesium, which will help you survive a session at the Jagiellonian University or CUE, and a supply of bladder patches (Compeed), essential for intensive walking between faculties.

Should I take my own vacuum cleaner or iron?

In 90% of cases – no. In private apartments, a vacuum cleaner is standard. In a dormitory (e.g. DS on Bydgoska Street) you can rent it free of charge at the concierge office. Instead of a traditional iron, take a clothes steamer. It’s safer in small rooms, doesn’t require an ironing board, and is great for refreshing clothes that have soaked in the smells of the city or the food from the shared kitchen.

What electronic accessories are specific to the Krakow student 2026?

Take the Bluetooth adapter to the AUX jack (if you have older speakers) and the headphone splitter. Watching movies together or studying in the AGH UST Main Library with another person requires discretion. An Ethernet cable with a length of at least 5 meters is also crucial – in many dormitories, Wi-Fi can be overloaded, and the power outlet is located in the least expected place under the window. With the cable, you will gain a stable connection during online exams.

What to take to keep a small room clean?

Krakow’s dust settles instantly. Pack a few microfiber cloths and a clothes cleaning roller (essential for a gala outfit). It is also worth having a small gel air freshener and vacuum bags for seasonal clothes. Storing a winter jacket in a vacuum bag will allow you to gain an additional shelf in your closet, which is priceless in the conditions of an apartment for four people on Mazowiecka Street.

Your list of things to study in Krakow 2026/27 must be flexible and adapted to the specifics of the city. Before you close your suitcase, make sure you have:

• Laptop with charger and mouse.
• A power bank and a phone cable (USB-C is becoming standard).
• ELS card (or receipt confirmation).
• A set of bed linen and towels.
• ANC headphones.
• A rain jacket and sturdy shoes.
• Filter bottle.
• Hot water bottle (if you live in a tenement house).
• Moisturizing cosmetics.
• A set of “Krakow” drugs (throat, allergy).

Be strategic: Don’t pack the entire room. Krakow has a well-developed network of large-format stores (IKEA, Castorama) and numerous shopping centers (Bonarka, Galeria Krakowska, Serenada), where you can buy the missing elements if necessary. Focus on what will allow you to survive the first 48 hours without stress and unnecessary running around the city.