Month guide · Kraków · Poland
Kraków in May
What May is really like in Kraków: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Zygmunt Put, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
May is one of the best months to visit Kraków. Expect average highs of 19°C (66°F), lows of 8°C (46°F), about 11 rainy days and roughly 15.4 hours of daylight. Warm, green and lively, with student festivals and terraces full; one of the best months to visit.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 19°C (66°F) / 8°C (46°F)
- Rainy days
- About 11
- Daylight
- About 15.4 hours
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in May
May is the 4th-warmest month in Kraków: days average 19°C (66°F) against a yearly average high of 13°C (55°F), and nights fall to about 8°C (46°F). Rain falls on roughly 11 of its 31 days. Compared with April (14°C (57°F)), May is warmer; by June highs climb to around 23°C (73°F).
- Sunrise (15 May)
- About 04:54
- Sunset (15 May)
- About 20:19
- Daylight
- About 15.4 hours
Spring (March–May). Cold March gives way to blossom and terraces by May, with Easter fairs and student festivals.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, May rates 4 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in June). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in 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)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in May
With frequent rain, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Museum · Podgórze
Oskar Schindler's Enamel Factory
Allow at least two hours; the exhibition is dense and moving, and it pairs naturally with Ghetto Heroes Square nearby.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Museum · Old Town
Collegium Maius
The oldest building of the Jagiellonian University, where Copernicus studied, is a 15th-century Gothic college around an arcaded courtyard.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Architecture
- Off the beaten path
- Rainy day
Museum · Old Town
Czartoryski Museum
Go early or late in the day to spend a few quiet minutes with the Leonardo.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Rainy day
- History
Gallery · Podgórze
MOCAK – Museum of Contemporary Art
Built into the former workshops of Schindler's factory complex, MOCAK shows Polish and international contemporary art in changing exhibitions and a permanent collection, with a good café and bookshop.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
What to pack
For highs near 19°C, lows near 8°C and 11 wet days: layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is May a good time to visit Kraków?
One of the best months to visit Kraków, with 3 notable events on the calendar. The other best months are June and September. Compare every month.
Kraków in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is May a good time to visit Kraków?
It is one of the best months to visit Kraków. Warm, green and lively, with student festivals and terraces full; one of the best months to visit.
+How warm is Kraków in May?
Average highs are around 19°C (66°F) and lows around 8°C (46°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Kraków in May?
Expect rain on about 11 days of the month.