The best time to visit Kraków is May, June and September, when comfortable warmth and long, sunny days line up nicely around the Main Market Square. June brings an average high of 24.1 °C with 11 rain days and 12.1 hours of sunshine a day, while September settles to a milder 20.3 °C with 12 rain days. July and August are peak season, busiest with school-holiday crowds despite warm 24.8 °C and 24.9 °C highs. Winter is the quiet low season — January and February hover near 2.7 °C and 5.9 °C with short, grey days.
Best months MayJuneSeptember
Kraków month by month
Average highs and lows (°C), 2016–2025. Highlighted bars are the best months.
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Sun / day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 2.7 °C | -3.2 °C | 12 | 4.1 h |
| February | 5.9 °C | -1.4 °C | 12 | 5 h |
| March | 9.9 °C | 0.4 °C | 11 | 7.5 h |
| April | 14.5 °C | 4.4 °C | 12 | 9 h |
| May | 18.7 °C | 8.8 °C | 14 | 10.7 h |
| June | 24.1 °C | 14.2 °C | 11 | 12.1 h |
| July | 24.8 °C | 15.5 °C | 15 | 11.8 h |
| August | 24.9 °C | 15.3 °C | 12 | 10.8 h |
| September | 20.3 °C | 11.4 °C | 12 | 8.6 h |
| October | 14.8 °C | 6.6 °C | 11 | 6.6 h |
| November | 8.2 °C | 2 °C | 11 | 4.5 h |
| December | 4 °C | -1.2 °C | 12 | 3.1 h |
How the months are picked.A month qualifies when its average high sits in the comfortable 20–28 °C band (scored down towards 9 °C and 37 °C), rain days are few and sunshine hours are high — at least 78 % of the city's best-scoring month. July and August are then set aside as peak season (school-holiday crowds and prices) whenever at least three other months qualify; where summer is the only comfortable window they stay. Figures are ten-year averages (2016-01-01 to 2025-12-31) from ERA5 reanalysis data via Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0) for the city centre coordinates.
When to go, and what to expect
Spring (Mar–May)
Fresh, green and lively — one of the best windows for sightseeing.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
June is superb; July and August suit those who don't mind busy squares.
Autumn (Sep–Nov)
September is a top pick — warm, golden and far less crowded.
Winter (Dec–Feb)
Best for the festive markets and low-season calm if you'll brave the chill.
Notable events
- December
- Kraków Christmas Market on the Main Market Square
- June
- Wianki (Midsummer / St John's Night) by the Vistula
- Summer (late June–July)
- Jewish Culture Festival in Kazimierz
- Late spring (May–June)
- Corpus Christi processions
Frequently asked
Is Kraków too hot in August?
No. August highs average 24.9 °C — comfortably warm rather than sweltering — with 12 rain days and 10.8 hours of sunshine a day. Crowds, not heat, are the reason it's classed as peak season.
What is the rainiest month in Kraków?
July records the most wet days at 15, with May close behind at 14 rain days. Most months otherwise sit around 11 or 12 rain days, so showers are possible year-round but rarely all-day.
Is winter worth visiting?
Winter is cold and dim — January highs of 2.7 °C and just 4.1 hours of sunshine a day, dropping to 3.1 hours in December. It's worth it mainly for the Christmas market and quiet, atmospheric streets.
Know when to go? Now decide where to stay — our Kraków area guide →
Areas of Kraków
Best time to visit near here
Sources
- Open-Meteo historical weather API — monthly climate normals, 2016–2025 (CC BY 4.0)
- ERA5 reanalysis (ECMWF / Copernicus) — the underlying temperature, precipitation and sunshine data
- ReasonStay methodology — how the best months are computed and checked
An independent guide to Kraków — honest, verified, no invented data. Climate figures: ERA5 via Open-Meteo, 2016–2025 averages; the best months are computed from them, not opinion.