Season guide · Kraków · Poland
Kraków in winter
December–February: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Sebastian Münster, Public domain
Quick answer
Cold and sometimes snowy, with a Christmas market in December and the lowest prices after New Year. Expect highs up to 3°C (37°F) and lows around -5°C (23°F), with about 23 rainy days across December–February.
Key facts
- Months
- December–February
- Temperatures
- -5°C (23°F) to 3°C (37°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 23
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in winter
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 1°C (34°F) | -5°C (23°F) | 8 | 8.5 h | 2/5 |
| February | 3°C (37°F) | -4°C (25°F) | 7 | 10 h | 2/5 |
| December | 2°C (36°F) | -3°C (27°F) | 8 | 8.1 h | 3/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 2°C (36°F) against a yearly 13°C (55°F), and 23 of the year's roughly 109 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 2/5 and hotel prices 2/5 on average.
What's on in winter
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- February: Fat Thursday — doughnut day across Poland (the Thursday before Lent, February or early March)
- December: Szopki — nativity crib competition by the Mickiewicz statue (usually first Thursday of December)
- December: Christmas market on the Main Square (usually through the Christmas period)
Good choices for winter
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
Museum · Old Town
Rynek Underground
It is a good choice for a rainy afternoon; buy a timed ticket early in the day, as slots fill up.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
- Kids
Day trips in winter
- Ojców National Park (About 40 minutes by car or bus) — Poland's smallest national park protects a limestone valley of rock pillars, caves and castle ruins, including the Renaissance Pieskowa Skała castle and the Hercules' Club rock formation.
- Tyniec Abbey (About 30–40 minutes by bus, or an hour by bike) — A Benedictine abbey founded in the 11th century on a limestone cliff above the Vistula, still home to monks who run a small museum and shop.
What to pack
- A warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers
- Shoes with good grip for icy pavements
- A packable rain jacket for showers
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is winter a good time to visit Kraków?
It is a trade-off: Cold and sometimes snowy, with a Christmas market in December and the lowest prices after New Year. The best months overall are May–June and September.
+What is the weather like in Kraków in winter?
Highs of up to 3°C (37°F) and lows around -5°C (23°F), with about 23 rainy days over the season.