The month in detail
What to expect in January
Winter in Krakow is cool (37°F during the day). Days are short (1.4h of sunshine) but the city reveals a different side. Expect rain on 27% of days — a light raincoat in the bag is recommended.
January ranks 12 out of 12 months in Krakow. Compared to December: −2°F daytime.
This month's conditions
What it's like in January
UV index
1 · low
no protection needed
Feels like
dry air
-3°
Daylight
8.3h of daylight
Air quality
fair
AQI 55
Compare
Is January the right month?
The best month in Krakow is August (8.0/10), 7.2 pts higher than January.
Book
Plan your trip
Hotels at their lowest outside peak season, highest on comfortable months. Shoulder seasons offer a good price/climate compromise.
Stay
Hotels & rentals · Krakow
Expedia →
Activities
Tours, tickets, experiences
See ↓
Flights
Multi-airline comparator
Kiwi →
🎟️ Activities & tours · Krakow
GetYourGuide selection · free cancellation
Practical info
What you need to know before you go
Three angles: the country (language, currency, safety, budget), the year-round climate, and the specifics of a city break.
Country · Poland
🗣️LanguagePolish
💶CurrencyPolish Zloty (zł)
🚗DrivingRight-hand
🛡️Safety ⓘVery safe · 1/5
💰Cost of living ⓘCheap · 2/5
🌡️ Climate
🌍Climate typeTemperate
📈Climate trend ⓘStable
🔥Hottest monthJuly · 77°F
❄️Coolest monthJanuary · 37°F
🌧️Rainiest month ⓘJuly · 38%
🏛️ City break
📅Tourist peak seasonJune → August
☔Indoor sights ⓘYear-round
🚇Public transportGood
🛂VisaSchengen · 90 days
Explore
Other destinations in January
If January doesn't convince you for this destination, compare with others.
Location
Where is Krakow ?
Global position + regional geographic context.
🌍 World
🔍 Geographic context
PolandTemperate climate with a 8.0 → 0.8 gap between best and worst month. 10 years of ERA5 data to choose by project.
50.06°N · 19.94°E
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What is the best time to visit Krakow?
August is the best month with 77°F highs, 61°F lows, 6.5h of sunshine and 32.0% rainy days. The months of August & June offer comparable conditions.
How many hours of sunshine does Krakow get in August?
Krakow averages 6.5 sunshine hours per day in August. It is the sunniest month with a climate score of 7.5/10.
What is the rainiest month in Krakow?
December is the most unfavourable month with December has the lowest climate score of the year and the lowest climate score of the year.
What are the temperatures at night in Krakow in August?
In August, overnight lows reach 61°F, while afternoon highs average 77°F.
Is Krakow good in winter?
In winter (December-February), Krakow scores 0.9/10 on average — Difficult period — prefer the peak season.. The best month overall remains August with a score of 7.5/10.
When should you avoid Krakow?
December is the most difficult month to visit Krakow, with December has the lowest climate score of the year. Climate conditions are at their lowest of the year during this period.
Do you need sun protection in Krakow in January?
The average UV index reaches 1 in January in Krakow (low), with about 8.3h of daylight. No protection needed.