Your December weather guide
CoolWeather in Krakow in December
Go to Krakow in December if you are happy to build a city break around cold weather and regular indoor stops. Average highs of 2°C and night-time lows of -3°C make warm clothing essential, while about 2 hours of sunshine a day leaves little scope for relying on the sun for warmth. It suits travellers comfortable with short outdoor spells, rather than anyone hoping for mild weather or long, relaxed days outside.
Long-term climate averages for Kraków, not a forecast · 1991-2020
Krakow, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for Kraków.
- Average daytime high
- 2.4°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 8°C
- Average night-time low
- -3.1°C
- coldest 10% of nights: -10°C or lower
- Compared with London
- -5.3°C
- London averages 7.7°C in December
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 2.0h
- 25% of 7.9 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 10
- 42 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 84%
- Days over 25°C
- 0%
- none over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 14.1°C
- 2006-12-09
- Record low 1991-2020
- -25.1°C
- 1996-12-28
- Flight from London
- ≈ 2 h 30 min
- 1421 km, short-haul (estimate for a direct flight)
Records are observed extremes within 1991-2020, not typical holiday conditions. Warm-day percentages are shares of days, not day counts.
How December compares
December is the 11th warmest month of the year in Krakow and ranks 134th of 134 destinations we compare for December - see where else is hot in December. Against London's average high of 7.7°C in December, Krakow is 5.3°C cooler by day and 5.8°C cooler at night.
Daytime and night-time in December
The typical December day in Krakow peaks at 2.4°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 8.2°C or more. Days over 25°C are rare. Nights average -3.1°C; one night in ten drops to -10.4°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings - it is genuinely cool after dark. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest December day here reached 14.1°C (2006-12-09) and the coldest night -25.1°C (1996-12-28).
Rain in December
Wet (more than 8 rainy days): about 10 days with 1 mm or more, 42 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest December was 2005 with 96 mm, the driest 2004 with 10 mm. Humidity averages 84%.
Sunshine and daylight
Around 2.0 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 7.9 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 07:33 and sets about 15:38 local time in mid-December. Average cloud cover is 75%.
Is December a good time to visit Krakow?
December is not the strongest month here: cool days and frequent rain. The best months for Krakow on our scoring are August, July, June.
Pack for freezing evenings, not just chilly afternoons
The main catch is that the daytime average does not tell you how cold your whole trip might feel. Milder days can reach 8°C or more, but the coldest nights fall to -10°C or below. Pack a warm coat, insulating layers, gloves and a hat, with footwear suited to cold, wet conditions. A lighter jacket might feel adequate during a mild afternoon but leave you uncomfortable after dark. Plan outdoor time around the warmer part of the day and keep your evening plans flexible. December makes more sense if you enjoy a wintry city break than if you want to spend most of your time outdoors.
Keep outdoor plans flexible and use the daylight
With about 7.9 hours of daylight, there is a limited window for daytime exploring, and sunshine fills only a small part of it. Start outdoor plans early enough to avoid leaving everything until late afternoon. About 10 rainy days mean waterproof outerwear is sensible, though rain need not dominate the whole trip. Keep indoor alternatives available rather than committing every day to being outside. The combination of cold and wet weather is the practical drawback: clothes that keep you warm but let water through are not ideal. A flexible schedule, warm breaks and realistic expectations will help more than hoping for consistently bright weather.
A little perspective
Krakow through the year
December is highlighted. See how it compares with the rest of the year.
| Month | Day | Night | Sun/day | Rain mm | Rainy days | Days 25°C+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 1.0°C | -4.9°C | 2.2 | 43 | 11 | 0% |
| February | 3.0°C | -3.9°C | 2.6 | 44 | 11 | 0% |
| March | 7.8°C | -0.9°C | 3.8 | 52 | 12 | 0% |
| April | 14.1°C | 3.8°C | 5.4 | 59 | 11 | 1% |
| May | 18.6°C | 9.0°C | 5.8 | 92 | 14 | 8% |
| Junebest | 21.7°C | 12.7°C | 6.4 | 90 | 14 | 23% |
| Julybest | 23.7°C | 14.8°C | 6.7 | 105 | 14 | 38% |
| Augustbest | 23.7°C | 14.4°C | 6.6 | 77 | 11 | 37% |
| September | 18.7°C | 10.2°C | 4.8 | 74 | 11 | 7% |
| October | 13.3°C | 5.6°C | 3.5 | 58 | 10 | 0% |
| November | 7.3°C | 1.1°C | 2.3 | 46 | 10 | 0% |
| DecemberSelected | 2.4°C | -3.1°C | 2.0 | 42 | 10 | 0% |
Day = average daytime high, night = average night-time low, 1991-2020.Sun is hours per day; rainy days count 1 mm or more.
Day, night and sea
Monthly average temperatures, 1991-2020
- Day
- Night
Best months here
On warmth, low rainfall and sunshine, start with these.
Keep exploring
Similar in December
Closest matches on daytime temperature, sea temperature and sunshine, in other countries.
A little more detail
Krakow in December FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Krakow hot in December?
Krakow is cool in December: the average daytime high is 2.4°C and nights average -3.1°C. Days over 25°C are rare in December.
How much does it rain in Krakow in December?
Krakow sees about 10 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 42 mm of rain in a typical December. The wettest December between 1991 and 2020 was 2005 (96 mm) and the driest was 2004 (10 mm).
How sunny is Krakow in December?
Krakow gets around 2.0 hours of sunshine a day in December out of 7.9 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Krakow compare with the UK in December?
Krakow is on average 5.3°C cooler than London by day in December (2.4°C against 7.7°C).
What is the hottest December on record in Krakow?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest December day in Krakow reached 14.1°C on 2006-12-09, and the coldest night dropped to -25.1°C on 1996-12-28.
How much colder is Krakow than London in December?
Krakow's average daytime high is 2.4°C, compared with 7.7°C in London - a difference of 5.3°C. That is a noticeable step down, so pack for colder conditions rather than assuming your usual London winter outfit will be enough.
Is the flight from London short enough for a brief break?
The flight from London takes about 2 h 30 min, so Krakow is a short-haul option. That makes a brief visit practical in flying-time terms, but the weather still calls for proper winter clothing and flexible outdoor plans.
When should I go instead if warmth matters?
Consider August, July or June instead if cold weather would put you off. Those are the stronger months for holiday weather in Krakow. December is better approached as a winter trip, not a chance of mild outdoor conditions.
About these averages
ERA5-Land climate reanalysis via Open-Meteo (11 km grid), 1991-2020
Averages computed from daily values at Kraków. Sunshine hours are estimated from average cloud cover.Records are the highest and lowest daily values in that 30-year period, not all-time records. These are climate averages, not a forecast for your trip. How we measure holiday weather
- Hot · 25°C+
- Warm · 20°C to below 25°C
- Mild · 15°C to below 20°C
- Cool · below 15°C