Best time to visit · Kraków · Poland
The best time to visit Kraków
Weather, crowds, prices and events for every month, so you can pick the trip that suits you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Jennifer Boyer, CC BY 2.0
Quick answer
The best times to visit Kraków are May to June and September, when days are mild, café gardens are open and crowds are lighter than in July and August. December is popular for the Christmas market and nativity cribs. January and February are cold, often below freezing, but quiet and low priced.
Key facts
- Best months
- May–June and September
- Shoulder season
- April, July–August, October and December
- Warmest month
- July (avg high 25°C (77°F))
- Coldest month
- January (avg high 1°C (34°F))
- Rainiest month
- June (~12 rainy days)
- Lowest hotel prices
- January–March and November
Seasons
Kraków has a continental climate: cold winters with frequent sub-zero nights and occasional snow, warm summers with thunderstorms, and comfortable, changeable spring and autumn. Winter smog can occur on still, cold days.
March–May
Spring
Cold March gives way to blossom and terraces by May, with Easter fairs and student festivals.
June–August
Summer
Warm days, thunderstorms, festivals including the Jewish Culture Festival, and the biggest crowds.
September–November
Autumn
Mild September, golden October colour and candlelit cemeteries on All Saints' Day.
December–February
Winter
Cold and sometimes snowy, with a Christmas market in December and the lowest prices after New Year.
Month by month
Long-term averages (rounded). Crowds and prices are relative, 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest). Daylight is sunrise to sunset on the 15th.
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds | Prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 1°C | -5°C | 8 | 8.5 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| February | 3°C | -4°C | 7 | 10 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| March | 8°C | -1°C | 8 | 11.7 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| April | 14°C | 4°C | 8 | 13.7 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| May | 19°C | 8°C | 11 | 15.4 h | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| June | 23°C | 12°C | 12 | 16.4 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| July | 25°C | 14°C | 12 | 16 h | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| August | 24°C | 13°C | 10 | 14.5 h | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| September | 19°C | 9°C | 9 | 12.5 h | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| October | 13°C | 5°C | 8 | 10.6 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| November | 7°C | 1°C | 8 | 8.9 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| December | 2°C | -3°C | 8 | 8.1 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
Yearly events
Recurring dates shift from year to year; confirm with the organiser before you book.
| Month | Events |
|---|---|
| February | Fat Thursday — doughnut day across Poland (the Thursday before Lent, February or early March) |
| March | Easter fair on the Main Square (around Easter, March or April) |
| April | Emaus — folk fair in Zwierzyniec (Easter Monday); Misteria Paschalia — early-music festival (around Easter) |
| May | Night of Museums — late, free museum openings (usually mid-May); Juwenalia — student festival (usually May); Kraków Film Festival (usually late May or early June) |
| June | Wianki — midsummer festival with concerts by the Vistula (around the summer solstice); Lajkonik — hobby-horse parade to the Main Square (a week after Corpus Christi, usually June); Jewish Culture Festival in Kazimierz (usually late June to early July) |
| July | Summer Jazz Festival (usually July) |
| October | Conrad Festival — international literature festival (usually October); Unsound — experimental music festival (usually October) |
| November | All Saints' Day — cemeteries lit with candles (1 November); Independence Day (11 November); Christmas market on the Main Square (usually from late November) |
| December | Szopki — nativity crib competition by the Mickiewicz statue (usually first Thursday of December); Christmas market on the Main Square (usually through the Christmas period) |
Cheapest and quietest times
Hotel prices are usually lowest in January–March and November, and the sights are quietest in January–March and November.
What to pack
| Season | Pack |
|---|---|
| Spring | Layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; Shoes with good grip for icy pavements; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Summer | Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Autumn | Layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; Shoes with good grip for icy pavements; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Winter | A warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; Shoes with good grip for icy pavements; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best month to visit Kraków?
The best times to visit Kraków are May to June and September, when days are mild, café gardens are open and crowds are lighter than in July and August. December is popular for the Christmas market and nativity cribs. January and February are cold, often below freezing, but quiet and low priced.
+When are hotel prices lowest in Kraków?
Usually in January–March and November. The coldest month, often below freezing with possible snow; quiet museums and low prices.
+What is the rainiest month in Kraków?
June, with about 12 days of rain on average.
+How hot does Kraków get?
The warmest month, July, averages highs of 25°C (77°F) and lows of 14°C (57°F).