In Kraków, December brings an average high of 4 °C and a low of -1 °C, with 12 rain days spread through the month. Daylight runs to about 8 h 05 min on the 15th, shrinking toward the year's shortest day on the 21st. It is the city's least sunny month and the 11th warmest of the year, so this is a trip for travellers who want a quiet, cold, lamplit Kraków rather than long bright days — it suits those happy to layer up and spend time indoors between short outings.
December in Kraków at a glance
- Temperature
- Average high 4 °C, average low −1.2 °C — the 11th warmest month of the year.
- Rain
- 12 days with at least 1 mm, 52 mm in total — the 4th wettest month by rain days.
- Sunshine
- The least sunny month of Kraków's year (relative ranking — modelled data overstates absolute hours).
- Daylight
- 8 h 05 min on December 15 (8 h 21 min on the 1st, 8 h 08 min on the last day); the shortest day of the year is December 21 (8 h 04 min).
- Crowds
- Average: visitor nights in the region run at 0.9× an average month. Busiest month August, quietest March (Eurostat, 2022–2025).
- Verdict
- The best months for Kraków are May, June, September; December is for travellers who don't mind the cold.
- Source
- ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2016–2025 averages; daylight computed for the city's latitude; crowds from Eurostat nights spent at tourist accommodation (region by month).
What Kraków is like in December
December sits at the cold end of Kraków's year: an average high of 4 °C and a low of -1 °C, with 12 rain days bringing 52 mm of precipitation, making it the 4th wettest month by rain-day count and the least sunny. November is noticeably milder, averaging 8.2 °C with 11 rain days, while January is colder still at 2.7 °C with the same 12 rain days as December. Among nearby cities, Wrocław (4.9 °C, 11 rain days), Budapest (4.9 °C, 9 rain days), Bratislava (4.9 °C, 10 rain days) and Vienna (5.1 °C, 10 rain days) all run a touch warmer and sometimes drier than Kraków, while Warsaw is close at 3.6 °C with 12 rain days.
The city's rhythm in December centres on Christmas Eve (24th), Christmas Day (25th) and St Stephen's Day (26th), with school holidays overlapping from Germany (19 Dec–12 Jan), the Netherlands (19 Dec–3 Jan) and France (20 Dec–3 Jan) — so the run-up to and just after Christmas draws more visiting families than a typical month. Crowds overall run at 0.9× an average month, well below August's peak and above March's quiet, so Kraków still feels manageable. With short daylight and frequent rain, it's a month for museums, churches, cafés and the Main Market Square lit up in the early evening dark, rather than long days outdoors.
Flights to Kraków in December 2026
| From | Lowest fare found |
|---|---|
| London | €20 |
| Paris | €25 |
| Berlin | €48 |
| Amsterdam | €106 |
| Stockholm | €28 |
| New York | €292 |
Lowest fares found in recent flight searches (Aviasales), collected 11 November 2026. A guide to price level only — fares change daily and may not be available when you search.
Where else to go in December: warmest, driest and least crowded cities →
Where to stay in December
Holidays in December 2026
- 24 Dec
- Christmas Eve — public holiday in Poland
- 25 Dec
- Christmas Day — public holiday in Poland
- 26 Dec
- St. Stephen's Day — public holiday in Poland
- Germany
- School holidays 19 Dec – 12 Jan (dates vary by region) — expect more visitors from there.
- Netherlands
- School holidays 19 Dec – 3 Jan (dates vary by region) — expect more visitors from there.
- France
- School holidays 20 Dec – 3 Jan (dates vary by region) — expect more visitors from there.
December in nearby cities
The numbers side by side
Tips for December
- Pack a proper winter coat, hat and gloves for highs around 4 °C and lows near -1 °C, plus something waterproof for the 12 rain days.
- Daylight is short even at midmonth (about 8 h 05 min on the 15th, dropping to 8 h 04 min around the 21st), so plan outdoor sightseeing around the Main Market Square for the brightest midday hours.
- Book ahead if you're travelling over Christmas Eve, Christmas Day or St Stephen's Day, since German, Dutch and French school holidays overlap this period too.
- If you want marginally milder, drier days, Budapest or Bratislava average 4.9 °C with fewer rain days (9 and 10 respectively) than Kraków's 12.
Hotels in Kraków
See live prices and availability for stays in Kraków on a major booking site.
Frequently asked
Is Kraków worth visiting in December?
Yes, if you don't mind cold and short days — it suits travellers after a quiet, indoor-friendly city break rather than sunshine, since December isn't one of Kraków's computed best months (those are May, June and September).
How cold is Kraków in December?
Average high is 4 °C and the average low is -1 °C, making it the 11th warmest month of the year in Kraków.
Does it rain a lot in Kraków in December?
There are around 12 rain days in the month, totalling 52 mm of precipitation, which ranks it the 4th wettest month by rain-day count.
How many hours of daylight does Kraków get in December?
On December 15 there's about 8 h 05 min of daylight, narrowing toward the year's shortest day on December 21 at roughly 8 h 04 min.
More on Kraków
Sources
- Open-Meteo historical weather API — December climate normals for Kraków, 2016–2025 averages (ERA5 reanalysis, CC BY 4.0)
- NOAA solar calculation method — daylight computed for Kraków's latitude (sunrise to sunset, standard refraction)
- Nager.Date — public holidays in Poland, December 2026
- OpenHolidays API — school holidays in the main source markets, December 2026
- ReasonStay methodology — how figures are computed and checked
An independent guide to Kraków in December — every figure computed from open data, no invented numbers. Booking links are affiliate links (how we're funded).