Krakow Weather

Legend has it that Krakow was founded after the defeat of a dragon centuries ago. Krakow is known for its beautiful medieval buildings, castles, lively bars and restaurants, ancient Gothic churches, ruins, nature reserves and Europe's largest market square. The old town has been declared a UNESCO world heritage site. The city is also home to Oskar Schindler's Factory Museum, and is the nearest city to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum and Memorial.  A visit to Poland's second largest city is essential to anybody looking for a rich cultural and historical experience. 

Krakow weather averages and climate

Average daily max (°C)

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
0	1	7	13	20	22	24	23	19	14	6	3	13

Average relative humidity (%)

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
81	78	71	60	56	60	61	63	66	71	82	85	70

Average rainfall (mm)

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
28	28	35	46	46	94	111	91	62	49	37	36	663

Average daily sunshine (hrs)

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
2	2	4	5	7	7	7	6	5	3	2	1	4

When is the best time to go to Krakow?

Spring

There is a large swing in conditions between March and May. The beginning of spring is typically rather chilly, with average daily highs of 7 Celsius, and overnight lows of -1, and shorter days with around 4 hours of sunshine. March tends to have around 12 wet days in the month with snow and ice fairly common, especially at the start of the month. By late May the average daily highs will be closer to 22 Celsius, falling overnight to around 9. Late spring is an ideal time to visit the city with a daily average of 7 hours of sunshine, and 12 wet days per month it is often drier than the summer months. 

Summer

While the days are longer and the temperatures rise, Krakow is known for being rather wet through the summer months. Daily highs rise to an average of 24 Celsius in July, the warmest month, although it can often be much hotter with record temperatures of 35. Overnight lows of 15 and 16 wet days on average make Krakow's summer rather humid. 

Autumn

September is an ideal time to visit this beautiful city as it is drier then the summer months, whilst still being pleasantly warm with average highs of 19 Celsius and 10 Celsius overnight. As the leaves begin to turn, Poland is also known for its golden Autumn foliage. October and November start to bring shorter days and lower temperatures, so by the end of the season the daily highs are closer to a chilly 6 Celsius. On a crisp day with clear blue skies, the late autumn can bring a great opportunity to enjoy the city before the harsh winter sets in. 

Winter

Winters in southern Poland can be changeable like the rest of Europe, but prolonged spells of one type of weather are most likely. Krakow can experience some harsh conditions with deep freezes and snow. During the shorter days temperatures through December and January can stay well below freezing. The average high in January is 0 Celsius, with the record minimum an icy -23! A visit to the ancient city in winter can also be rather charming if you wrap up warm, and during these months there is a good chance of remaining dry.