Taste Vodka Krakow: Is It Really Krakow’s Best Vodka Tour?

Taste Vodka Krakow is reputed to be the best vodka tour in the city and one of the best of its kind worldwide. But is it really? Exploring the culture and flavors of Polish vodka is a must for anyone visiting Krakow. So, we decided to give it a try and see if it lives up to the hype. Here’s how it went!

Krakow is one of the best cities in the world for vodka tasting and undoubtedly the best place to sample the world-renowned Polish vodkas. In this context, Taste Vodka Krakow has established itself over the years as the city’s premier vodka tour and one of the best overall, according to TripAdvisor. It has been ranked within the top 1% of activities worldwide and has earned the prestigious Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best award.

So, it seems that joining one of the famous vodka tours offered by Taste Vodka Krakow is a must for anyone visiting the city—whether you’re a seasoned connoisseur of vodka or a newcomer to Polish spirits. But what is the secret recipe behind its success? And is it really as unmissable as they say? Our mission is to uncover the very best of Krakow, so we decided to give it a try and see (and taste) for ourselves. Oh, and yes… we did drink a bit, but we wrote this review sober. Promise.

Taste Vodka Krakow: the Most Popular Vodka Tour in Krakow

In Poland, vodka is not just a drink: it’s a cultural institution. In fact, vodka originated in the regions around Krakow and over the centuries has become an integral part of local culture, with its own traditions and social rituals. So, when visiting Poland, it’s worth trying at least a few shots of authentic Polish vodka, as it offers a great way to learn more about the country’s customs and traditions.

But it’s not that simple: Krakow is also full of tourist traps selling awful, overpriced vodka that has nothing to do with the real, high-quality Polish vodkas. Even the few genuine vodka bars fall short when it comes to giving you a real glimpse into the local culture, or explaining what you’re drinking and what truly makes it unique. You’d likely just end up drunk without learning a thing, missing out on the real Polish vodka experience—an experience that must be enjoyed with a local.

If you’ve ever been to a wine tasting in a wine-producing country, you can picture what a proper vodka tasting is like. The main goal isn’t to get drunk (though you may end up pleasantly tipsy by the end), but to savor a curated selection of high-quality vodkas and liquors, each with its own story and heritage.

In fact, there are many stereotypes and misconceptions about vodka, and most of the finest vodkas don’t come from the big-name brands but are instead hidden local gems. A few are still homemade by local grandmothers, remaining untouched treasures, safe from mass tourism—for now. So, unless you’re a vodka connoisseur or a local, the best way to discover these vodkas, along with the culture, traditions, and rituals that surround them, is by joining a vodka tasting tour.

In this arena, Taste Vodka Krakow claims to be the best. And, judging by the reviews from travelers who’ve experienced it over the years, that claim isn’t far-fetched. They consistently earn top ratings across all review platforms, from Google and TripAdvisor to Facebook and experience sites like GetYourGuide. It almost seems too good to be true!

Their award-winning vodka tour consistently garners top accolades and is ranked as Krakow’s number one nightlife activity on TripAdvisor, even considered one of the best tasting tours worldwide. The concept is straightforward: a three-hour walking tour through the Old Town, during which you visit several authentic venues and sample at least seven types of Polish vodka, ranging from crystal-clear, pure vodkas to more creative, handcrafted liquors from the region. As tradition dictates, the experience is accompanied by local food and snacks.

The selection of venues and vodkas can vary, making each tour a unique experience. It’s not a pre-packaged affair: much depends on the individual preferences of the participants. In fact, you’ll have the opportunity to choose from nearly a hundred different flavors, all authentic and of the highest quality.

Taste Vodka Krakow tours are conducted in small groups, led by English-speaking expert local guides. The experience aims to introduce you, in a fun and engaging way, to the captivating world of Polish spirits through guided tastings, stories, anecdotes, and tips on how to savor each type of vodka. By the end, you should just become a mini-expert on Polish vodkas. Will that really be the case? Let’s find out!

Our Experience: Vodka, Grandma’s Liquors and a Few Hidden Gems

It’s often said that some of the best things in Krakow happen at sunset, and the Taste Vodka Krakow tour is no exception. What better time for a guided vodka tasting than at the end of a day of sightseeing? Frankly, our expectations are high, as we’ve heard great things about this tour from many friends. Plus, we’re not exactly novices when it comes to Polish vodka and its culture, having sampled plenty of it throughout the country, on many occasions.

The meeting point for our vodka tour is a cozy cocktail bar on a side street, just steps away from the Main Market Square. The place is intimate, quiet, and relaxed—the perfect setting for a vodka tasting. We are immediately greeted by Magda, our guide for the evening, an energetic and delightful young woman with excellent English who instantly makes us feel at ease.

A table laden with a feast of local delicacies awaits us, and we’ve already made friends with our fellow adventurers—about ten of us in total. The atmosphere quickly turns cheerful and convivial, as though we’ve known each other for ages, despite coming from all corners of the globe. Word spreads that one of us is here celebrating a birthday, so Magda pours the first shot, and we kick off with a traditional Polish toast.

This immediately sets the right mood for the evening. We start off easy, but with something far from ordinary—in fact, it’s a pleasant surprise right from the beginning. Taste Vodka Krakow tours go beyond just pure vodka (technically a distilled spirit) and offer a fascinating overview of traditional Polish liqueurs. These liqueurs are a blend of vodka, fruits, herbs, and spices, made using mixed techniques that often involve infusion or maceration, rather than pure distillation.

We begin with Saska Pigwa, a unique Polish tincture made from quince, inspired by those once enjoyed in the noble courts of Poland, with an alcohol content of around 30%. Its rich taste and pleasantly fruity aroma delight everyone and give Magda the perfect opening to share stories about local culture and traditions tied to vodka.

Meanwhile, it’s almost obligatory to pair our drinks with the abundance of snacks laid before us. The spread features a variety of local products, from several types of kiełbasa, the popular Polish sausages, to a selection of cheeses, including the traditional oscypek, a smoked mountain cheese made from sheep’s milk, perfectly complemented by homemade jam and a fabulous horseradish sauce. There’s also ham, artisanal bread, a delicious local pâté, and the indispensable pickles, a must-have when drinking vodka.

We won’t spoil the many stories and fascinating tidbits Magda shared with us throughout the evening, as we don’t want to take away the joy of discovery for those who might follow in our footsteps and join one of their vodka tours. Plus, the stories the guide tells aren’t just facts or rehearsed anecdotes. Magda shared many personal stories tied to her family, her home village, and the most authentic local traditions, including those related to engagements, weddings, family life, and holidays like Christmas. It all feels intimate, and it can vary from guide to guide, making each experience unique.

Between stories, we smoothly transitioned to the official start of our vodka tasting. We kicked things off in style with a J.A. Baczewski Vodka Monopolowa, considered one of the best vodkas in the world and one of the finest pure Polish vodkas. It’s an authentic potato vodka, crystal-clear, with a perfect 40% alcohol content. Our guide walked us through how to properly taste it, explaining what to look for during the process. This vodka delivers bold, spicy notes with distinct aromatic undertones.

Magda then gave us an interesting overview of Polish clear vodkas, detailing the differences between potato, rye, and wheat vodkas, as well as the many anecdotes tied to their history and economic and cultural significance, even during the communist era. Next, we had the chance to compare this potato vodka with another iconic Polish brand: Wyborowa, a pure rye vodka with a century-old history.

Here, we were on familiar ground—its distinctive, spicy flavor is a familiar aroma for us, as this is one of the most popular vodkas on Polish tables, especially during special occasions. It’s the one you often drink with your Polish friends. Despite its popularity, it remains a vodka of the highest quality, and it truly shines when properly tasted.

The first shots set an even more cheerful mood, so we took a stroll through the Old Town to another venue. Here, we dove into something even more authentic and relatively unknown, especially to tourists: the marvelous world of nalewki—traditional tinctures made by infusing fruits, herbs, or spices in vodka.

Our guide led us to a place that felt like an alchemist’s lab, with dozens of colorful flasks filled with delicious tinctures, with alcohol content typically starting at 20% and averaging around 40%. We were already familiar with the spot and, to be honest, it’s one of our favorites. But experiencing it as part of a guided tasting revealed many interesting facts we didn’t know and opened our eyes to new flavors we hadn’t considered before.

Historically, these tinctures were considered medicinal, and in some rural Polish villages, they still are. Here, every nalewka is handcrafted by an elderly lady, and Magda played the role of a personal pharmacist, recommending the perfect “grandmother’s remedy” to satisfy both our curiosity and craving for vodka.

Folks, this is the place to learn and explore! You’ll be tempted to try them all, and if you’re at least a pair, you’ve got the advantage: you can order different ones and share, doubling the tasting experience. But don’t worry, jot down the guide’s tips on the various types available, so you can return in the coming days to try more—or maybe even take a bottle home as a unique souvenir!

From here, we moved on to another beloved local vodka bar, known for its impressive selection of Polish vodkas, nalewki, and other artisanal spirits of the highest quality. You’ll be spoiled for choice, with probably hundreds of different spirits to choose from, each with its own unique story and flavor. But once again, Magda came to our rescue, recommending a curated selection of intriguing options, many of which were new discoveries, even for seasoned enthusiasts like us.

We opted for Sosna & Szyszka, an intriguing artisanal liquor made by macerating young pine shoots and green pine cones—a flavor far from the ordinary. Despite its robust vodka base with a 35% alcohol content, the taste was pleasantly aromatic and resinous, truly unique. We paired it with a more classic choice: Myśliwska, an herbal tincture with a bitter, aromatic flavor and a strong 40% proof.

At this point, Magda suggested something a bit extreme, and since we were a brave group, we all accepted without hesitation: a shot of the legendary Śliwowica Podbeskidzka, a plum-based fruit vodka boasting a staggering 72% alcohol content. Half of our group wasn’t used to drinking such strong spirits, and naturally, some were a little intimidated. But with Magda’s encouragement and expert tasting tips, everyone was more than happy to give Śliwowica a try!

The alcohol was starting to take effect, and smiles and laughter were abundant. This was further enhanced by the fact that our tour continued to a traditional pierogarnia, a restaurant specializing in handmade pierogi. I’m sure you already know what these legendary Polish dumplings are, but here, you’ll get to taste at least three or four different kinds, both savory and sweet, all crafted by hand.

We were thrilled to find that Taste Vodka Krakow offers more than just a vodka tour—it’s a truly enjoyable evening spent in the company of people from all over the world. There’s plenty of fun, new things to learn, and excellent food to share. This is what can really turn a night in Krakow into a memorable experience. Plus, the tour is suitable for anyone, even those who aren’t used to drinking alcohol. There’s always plenty of food and water available, which makes it easy to handle the shots and enjoy the experience without getting too drunk—or fearing a massive hangover the next morning.

After the pierogi, we made our way to another venue, this time more trendy and sophisticated. Here, we sampled one of the best fruit vodkas you’ll find in Poland: cherry vodka. You’ve probably seen a few places selling or serving these colorful bottles around the Old Town, but you need to dig a little deeper to find the best ones.

Here, it’s crafted artisanally using cherries from Polish orchards to create a spirit with a delicate, sweet flavor and a mild 16% alcohol content. But beware: in each glass, you’ll find at least one plump, juicy cherry, which has been soaking in the vodka and packs a punch of around 40%. Definitely worth a try!

Three hours flew by amidst laughter, stories, and countless tips and recommendations, all set against the beautiful backdrop of Krakow’s Old Town, illuminated by the evening lights. We wished the tour would never end, but alas, we reached the final stop: one of Krakow’s most popular drinking spots. Yes, we’re talking about Pijalnia Wódki i Piwa, a place beloved by locals, students, and tourists alike for its great drinks at affordable prices.

So many memories tied to this place! And even though it’s now a franchise with over 30 bars across Poland, it’s one of the few that carries on the legacy of Poland’s popular communist-era bars, serving simple yet good drinks and snacks. Many don’t know that their lemon vodka is truly legendary! Naturally, this is what we tried, though we couldn’t quite guess their secret recipe.

The tour ended here, and we said goodbye to our guide with a touch of melancholy, having enjoyed ourselves so much during these three hours. So, we consoled ourselves by sticking around to have a few more vodka shots with our new friends, sharing even more stories and adventures, as often happens in that intimate and hidden Krakow that never ceases to amaze and win hearts.

Our Opinion: Is the Taste Vodka Krakow Tour Really Worth It?

Now we can say it loud and clear: the Taste Vodka Krakow tours are fantastic! This is an experience truly worth every penny, offering you a fun and unique evening in the heart of the Old Town, tasting a wide variety of top-quality Polish vodkas and spirits, many of which are handcrafted and nearly impossible to find elsewhere.

When in Krakow, trying Polish vodka is a must! It’s part of the local experience. If you skip it, you’re missing an important piece of the city’s food culture. Joining one of the Taste Vodka Krakow tours is the perfect way to dive into the world of Polish spirits, all while steering clear of the many tourist traps scattered around the city that offer subpar vodkas disguised as premium products, often at inflated prices.

It really feels like going around with a local friend: the guides are incredibly friendly, know their stuff, and you can talk to them about pretty much anything—vodka, culture, or local life. They’re also a treasure trove of recommendations for great places to grab a drink, eat, or visit hidden gems.

After the tour, our guide Magda sent us a message to thank us and provided an additional list of recommendations on where to go and what to do, all of which we found to be spot on and authentic. We also loved the laid-back, friendly atmosphere: this wasn’t a pub crawl, but rather an intimate, culturally enriching experience, exactly what we were looking for.

So, if you’re looking for an authentic experience and want to spend an unforgettable evening with a local guide leading you through some of the best vodkas you’ll ever taste, then you shouldn’t hesitate to book one of the Taste Vodka Krakow tours. In our opinion, they’re truly the best in Krakow, and we couldn’t recommend them more!