Your May weather guide
MildWeather in Krakow in May
May is a good time for Krakow if you prefer mild weather for exploring on foot, but it is not a reliable choice for sunshine. Average daytime highs are around 19°C, falling to 9°C at night, so layers matter more than summer clothes. With about 14 rainy days, you should expect to adjust some plans. Go for comfortable daytime temperatures and long daylight, rather than warmth that lasts into the evening.
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
- 18.6°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 24°C
- Average night-time low
- 9.0°C
- coldest 10% of nights: 5°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +2.0°C
- London averages 16.6°C in May
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 5.8h
- 38% of 15.2 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 14
- 92 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 73%
- Days over 25°C
- 8%
- none over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 29.7°C
- 2005-05-30
- Record low 1991-2020
- -0.6°C
- 2011-05-04
- 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 May compares
May is the 5th warmest month of the year in Krakow and ranks 133rd of 134 destinations we compare for May - see where else is hot in May. Against London's average high of 16.6°C in May, Krakow is 2.0°C warmer by day and 0.7°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in May
The typical May day in Krakow peaks at 18.6°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 24.4°C or more. Roughly 1 in 13 days top 25°C. Nights average 9.0°C; one night in ten drops to 4.9°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings - it is genuinely cool after dark. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest May day here reached 29.7°C (2005-05-30) and the coldest night -0.6°C (2011-05-04).
Rain in May
Wet (more than 8 rainy days): about 14 days with 1 mm or more, 92 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest May was 2010 with 309 mm, the driest 2012 with 35 mm. Humidity averages 73%.
Sunshine and daylight
Around 5.8 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 15.2 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 04:54 and sets about 20:19 local time in mid-May. Average cloud cover is 62%.
Is May a good time to visit Krakow?
May is not the strongest month here: mild days and frequent rain. The best months for Krakow on our scoring are August, July, June.
Comfortable afternoons, cool evenings
The daytime average suits walking without persistent heat, although May can feel quite different from day to day. The warmest days reach around 24°C or more, making a lighter top useful when the weather warms up. At the colder end, nights can fall to around 5°C or below, so a jumper and jacket are sensible even if the afternoon feels pleasant. Pack clothes you can add or remove rather than relying on a heavy coat alone. Outdoor meals will be more comfortable in mild daytime weather than late in the evening. This is a better fit for travellers who like spring temperatures than those wanting consistently warm days.
Long daylight, but keep wet-weather plans flexible
Rain is the main catch in May. About 14 days have measurable rain, so a waterproof jacket and shoes that cope with wet pavements deserve space in your bag. That does not mean every rainy day is a complete washout, but it does make a fully outdoor itinerary a gamble. There are about 5.8 hours of sunshine within 15.2 hours of daylight, giving you a long window for making use of brighter spells without promising clear skies throughout. Keep indoor time flexible rather than assigning it all in advance. May works best if you are happy to change the order of your plans when the weather turns.
A little perspective
Krakow through the year
May 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% |
| MaySelected | 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% |
| December | 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 May
Closest matches on daytime temperature, sea temperature and sunshine, in other countries.
A little more detail
Krakow in May FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Krakow hot in May?
Krakow is mild in May: the average daytime high is 18.6°C and nights average 9.0°C. Roughly 1 in 13 May days reach 25°C.
How much does it rain in Krakow in May?
Krakow sees about 14 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 92 mm of rain in a typical May. The wettest May between 1991 and 2020 was 2010 (309 mm) and the driest was 2012 (35 mm).
How sunny is Krakow in May?
Krakow gets around 5.8 hours of sunshine a day in May out of 15.2 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Krakow compare with the UK in May?
Krakow is on average 2.0°C warmer than London by day in May (18.6°C against 16.6°C).
What is the hottest May on record in Krakow?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest May day in Krakow reached 29.7°C on 2005-05-30, and the coldest night dropped to -0.6°C on 2011-05-04.
Is Krakow warmer than London in May?
Yes, but the difference is modest. Krakow's average daytime high is 18.6°C, compared with London's 16.6°C, a difference of 2°C. Expect a little more daytime warmth rather than a change to summer conditions, and still pack for cool evenings.
Should I choose May or go later in summer?
Choose May if mild daytime weather suits you and you can accept frequent rain. August, July and June rate better overall for weather. May is a reasonable spring option, but less suited to a trip built around dependable warmth.
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