Krakow weather by month

When to go to Krakow

For beach weather, look at months where the daytime average clears 25°C and rainy days stay low: none reach a 25°C average here, so Krakow suits city breaks and walking more than beach holidays; the warmest is July. July is the wettest month (105 mm, about 14 rainy days) and December the driest (42 mm).

Getting there

A direct flight from London Gatwick to Kraków John Paul II International Airport (KRK, 11 km from Kraków) takes roughly 2 h 30 min - short-haul (up to 4.5 h) by UK standards. Time-zone: Europe/Warsaw.

Records and extremes, 1991-2020

The hottest day recorded in Krakow between 1991 and 2020 reached 35.2°C on 8 August 2013; the coldest fell to -29.1°C on 23 January 2006. In July one day in ten tops 28.9°C and about 7% of days pass 30°C; in January one night in ten drops to -13.7°C or below. The wettest single month of the period was May 2010 with 309 mm, against a May average of 92 mm.

Spring: a cold start, then comfortable walking weather

March is still a chilly choice for spending much of the day outside: afternoons average 8°C and nights remain below freezing. Bring a warm coat rather than relying on lighter spring clothes. April is a more comfortable compromise, reaching 14°C by day, though its 4°C nights mean an extra layer remains useful after dark. May feels warmer at 19°C, making it a good fit for long walks without summer temperatures. The catch is rain: May has 14 rain days compared with April's 11. Keep waterproof clothing handy, and plan some flexibility rather than expecting a reliably dry spring visit.

Summer: the warmest choice, but keep a rain plan

June brings daytime averages of 22°C, warm enough for lighter clothing while still leaving a reason to pack a layer for evenings. July and August both round to 24°C by day and offer 7 hours of sunshine, making them the strongest choices if warmth matters most. August has the practical edge for rain frequency, with 11 rain days against July's 14. July is also the wettest month, so sunshine and rain need to be part of the same packing plan. Nights average 13°C to 15°C across summer: pleasant for being out, but not a reason to leave every warmer layer at home.

Autumn and winter: mild September, then a sharper chill

September is the autumn choice for comfortable outdoor time, with 19°C afternoons and 10°C nights. October drops to 13°C by day, so a jacket becomes more useful throughout the day rather than just after dark. By November, the daytime average is 7°C and sunshine falls to 2 hours: plan shorter outdoor stretches and somewhere indoors to warm up. December and January are firmly cold-weather trips, with daytime averages close to freezing and nights below it. February improves only slightly, reaching 3°C by day and -4°C at night. Warm layers, gloves and a substantial coat make more sense than travelling light. December may be the driest month, but that does not make it the most comfortable for being outside; cold is the bigger constraint.