Skip to main content

When is the best time to visit Poland?

Travel advisory

The info on this page is based on historical averages and might not reflect current conditions. Check with local authorities for the latest travel advice.

Read more

The best time to visit Poland is any time between May and September. These months bring the year’s warmest and wettest weather, with the chance of rain increasing throughout the summer months.

Late spring (May toJune) has its cool days and warm days, with highs ranging from 59 to 66°F and much less rainfall than during the summer. So for lovers of the great outdoors, it’s the perfect time to visit. Poland’s most renowned areas of natural beauty include Zakopane in the foothills of the High Tatras, and Białowieża Forest on the Belarusian border, where wild bison and wolves roam free. During July and August, tourists and locals flock to the beach resorts of the Baltic coast to bask in temperatures between 68º and 75°F. There’s always a risk of rain, but on scorching days a bit of wet weather brings respite from the heat – especially if you’re visiting inland cities like Warsaw, Poznań, or Kraków.

High season is also the best time to soak up some Polish culture. Calendar highlights include Lajkonik Pageant and the Jewish Culture Festival—both starting in June in Krakow—as well as Warsaw’s International Street Arts Festival, held in July, and the Four Cultures Festival in Łódź in September.

Monthly weather and travel tips for Poland

The first weeks of the new year are very quiet in Poland. The excitement of Christmas and New Year’s Eve has been and gone – but the sub-zero winter temperatures remain, keeping people indoors as the snow falls. So, you’ll certainly need to bundle up if you plan on visiting in January, which, despite the cold, still has its merits. Down in Zakopane, for example, the ski season is in full swing. Surrounded by gleaming white mountains, you’ll be able to explore the High Tatras via Nordic cross-country skiing routes leading from resorts like Szymoszkowa and Nosal.

If you’re not into to skiing, then perhaps a wildlife safari in Bialowieza Forest would be more your thing. With fresh snow on the ground, spotting wild bison, elk, and even wolves is a lot easier – but be sure to do so with a local and licensed guide. A pair of sturdy walking boots will be essential for exploring rural areas.

34°F

High

27°F

Low

17 days

Rainfall

Poland stays ice-cold during February, with temperatures rarely pushing past 32°F. The days are short, but crisp and dry when the sun is up. As in January, the best way to make the most of the winter is to head to the south’s picturesque ski resorts. With reliable snow cover, they offer slopes for skiers of all levels from beginner to advanced. However, the slopes reach peak capacity during the winter break, so you might want to book around these dates. The south’s snow-coated Carpathian Mountains can also be explored on foot – but you’ll need snow shoes and a good guide to lead the way.

On the Thursday before the beginning of Lent, the cold weather is confronted with a calorific festival known as “Tłusty Czwartek,” or “Fat Thursday” in English. Celebrated nationwide, its purpose is simple: eat as many fatty, sugary doughnuts and pastries as possible before fasting begins.

36°F

High

25°F

Low

14 days

Rainfall

Winter’s freezing temperatures finally relent in March – but not by much. You’ll still need plenty of layers to keep warm when braving daytime highs of 32–40°F, whether you’re skiing in Zakopane or exploring the likes of Warsaw or Kraków. It’s not until the end of the month that you’ll start to notice the first tentative signs of spring, with sudden showers and thawing grass. So be prepared with a waterproof jacket and resilient footwear.

Crowds will have thinned out a bit in the southern ski resorts, so now is a good time to take advantage of off-peak rates. Alternatively, check out Warsaw for “Retro Weekend” – a 3-day swing and blues festival taking place at the beginning of the month. Poznań’s Short Waves Film Festival also takes place in March, consisting of short film screenings in cinemas all over the city.

45°F

High

30°F

Low

14 days

Rainfall

After the long winter chill, Poland wakes up to longer days, warmer weather, and sunnier skies in April. It’s a sign of good things to come in tourist hotspots like Gdańsk, Kraków, and Wrocław, which see numbers pick up as the month wears on. Down south, April signals the end of the ski season – and the beginning of a long wet period due to increasing rainfall and melting snow. Rivers in rural regions can swell in these conditions, so pack for wet weather and keep an eye on the forecasts.

Palm Sunday and the following Easter weekend are highlights of the month anywhere in Poland. Expect religious parades, egg-painting, and elaborate cakes lining the shelves of bakery windows. Other key events in April include Restaurant Week, the Cracovia Marathon, and a day of remembrance on April 19 to honor those who died during the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising of 1943.

54°F

High

37°F

Low

13 days

Rainfall

May marks the start of Poland’s peak season, but visit sooner rather than later and you should still beat the crowds. Daytime temperatures jump into the high 50s and city flowers bloom, creating vibrant scenery to admire from the outdoor terraces of restaurants, cafés, and bars. You can also find drumming woodpeckers and other migrating birds chirping throughout Poland’s forests during May, with trips to the wetlands of Biebrza Marshes in high demand. The southern regions remain very wet heading into rainy season, so it’s best to pack your waterproof gear and an umbrella.

With the spring weather comes a string of cultural celebrations across the nation, starting with Florianski Fair in Warsaw's Praga district in May. Expect live music, arts, crafts, and lots of local food. A few days later, the small city of Częstochowa brings together religious music from different faiths, while down in Kraków the Film Festival and the nationally celebrated Juvenalia carnival run back-to-back at the end of the month.

63°F

High

46°F

Low

12 days

Rainfall

You can count on June for very warm but also very wet weather through much of Poland, particularly in Zakopane and Warsaw. Temperatures can rise to the mid-80s on the hottest days, so don’t head out without sunscreen and sunglasses – and you might want to pack a raincoat too, just in case. If you’re on a city break, a good tip is to visit top attractions as early as possible before the midday crowds arrive.

The highlight of the month for many locals is Corpus Christi – considered the third most important religious celebration after Christmas and Easter. The best place to watch the festivities unfold is Łowicz, where participants circle the main square and cathedral dressed in colorful folk costumes. Other notable events include Wrocław’s Good Beer Festival, Poznań’s week-long Malta International Theater Festival, and the Jewish Culture Festival held in Kraków at the end of the month.

68°F

High

52°F

Low

14 days

Rainfall

Overall, July brings heat and intense humidity to most of Poland, with average temperatures of 71–77°F and frequent rainfall. Warsaw and Kraków can become overcrowded with visitors, so it’s best to book accommodation well in advance. Alternatively, you could join the locals on the breezier beaches of the north coast. Located between Gdynia and Gdańsk, Sopot is Poland’s most popular summer resort. For quieter beaches, head further west to Łeba, Ustka, and Międzyzdroje near Wolin National Park.

July is also the month that the music festival season kicks off. Headlined by global superstars, Gdynia’s Open'er Festival draws thousands of pop and indie music fans in the first week of the month. Meanwhile, the capital hosts the International Street Arts Festival—its largest outdoor event—plus a series of concerts for Warsaw Summer Jazz Days. And come the end of the month, Kraków’s streets ring with the sound of folk music from the Tatra Mountains during the Crossroads Traditional Music Festival.

75°F

High

57°F

Low

14 days

Rainfall

Despite the unpredictable weather in August, tourist numbers peak throughout Poland at this time of year. Each day could bring either radiant sunshine or torrential rain. As in July, your best chances of the former will be along the north coast in Baltic beach resorts like Sopot, Dębki and “Hel” – a certain misnomer when lying flat on the beach’s idyllic white sands under a clear blue sky. You could also avoid the crowds by heading to lesser-known towns like Toruń, Malbork, or Olsztyn, gateway to the rolling hills and wetlands of Warmia. But be prepared for rain.

During most of August, Gdańsk will be celebrating its centuries-old Dominican Fair – a huge event involving live music, street artists, and traditional shops and stalls. Poznań also holds a huge food celebration called Good Taste Festival in mid-August. And at the end of the month, the Sopot International Song Festival is held in a beautiful open-air arena while the Polish capital pulls out all the stops for its Singer’s Warsaw Festival.

73°F

High

55°F

Low

13 days

Rainfall

As summer winds down and schools reopen, crowds start to thin out in the major cities and average temperatures slip into a cooler range of 57–60°F. There’s still enough sunshine in the coastal resorts, so pack light and take sunscreen if you want to squeeze in a beach getaway before autumn sets in. Meanwhile, retreating rains in the south make September a great time to go hiking in the Tatra Mountains and Bieszczady National Park.

There’s also time for a few more cultural events before summer makes way for autumn. In Łódź, the Four Cultures Festival highlights its historical diversity with performing arts from Polish, Jewish, Russian, and German cultures. Down in Wrocław, locals enjoy a series of classical and folk music concerts during Wratislavia Cantans. Elsewhere, the small town of Biskupin hosts one of Europe’s largest archaeological festivals. Expect displays of ancient artefacts accompanied by medieval music, activities, and reenactments of famous battles.

64°F

High

48°F

Low

13 days

Rainfall

October is a quiet month, yet among the best to visit if you want to avoid wet weather and overcrowded hubs like Kraków, Gdańsk, and Warsaw. Full of medieval churches, castles, and squares, these cities are great for exploring in autumn before the biting cold weather arrives. However, it does start to get chilly as the weeks go by—especially after dark—so you’ll need to wear plenty of layers in the evening.

Further south, the deep autumn colors of the forests are enhanced by crisp blue skies. Rainfall is rare too, making October the perfect time to explore the hilly national parks. The High Tatras are guaranteed to impress, and it’s only a 20-minute drive from Kraków to OjcówPoland’s smallest national park and home to a historic hillside castle. Events-wise, there’s not too much going on in October, but Katowice’s Rawa Blues Festival and the Warsaw Film Festival are notable standouts.

55°F

High

41°F

Low

14 days

Rainfall

Temperatures dip below 40°F in November, and depending on where you visit, there may be quite a lot of rain too. So packing warm and waterproof clothing is essential. The only areas where rainfall isn’t so common are in the far south – at least not until the end of the month, when it begins to snow. Further north, the small town of Kazimierz Dolny is another great spot to take in the autumnal colors, particularly from high walls of its 13th-century castle.

November 1 is All Saints Day and a national holiday. What follows on November 2 is known as All Souls' Day, bringing international musicians to Kraków’s clubs, bars, and churches for Poland’s oldest jazz festival. The other national highlight of the month falls on November 11 – Poland’s Independence Day, or St. Martin’s Day, as it’s known in Poznań. Here, the locals go one step further, turning out for colorful parades and feasting on sweet St. Martin’s croissants.

46°F

High

37°F

Low

15 days

Rainfall

The merriment leading up to Christmas is the perfect distraction from the gloomy skies and freezing cold temperatures that December brings to Poland. Holiday markets light up town squares all over the country, but Warsaw’s Barbican Christmas Market is among the best. Set against a glowing red-brick rotunda, the market is packed with stalls selling traditional crafts, pastries, and mulled wine to keep you warm as you wander through.

In Kraków, December kicks off with Christmas Cribs – a competition to see who can build the most amazing Christmas crèche. There will be snow on the ground just about everywhere, so be sure to pack your warmest winter clothes and a pair of waterproof boots. Take your skis too if you’re headed further south – the winter sports resorts near Zakopane will be back open for business, with slopes for all levels and rustic mountain lodges available to rent. There’ll be parties and fireworks galore on New Year’s Eve, plus a special concert at the Kraków Philharmonic.

37°F

High

30°F

Low

17 days

Rainfall

Weather and temperature in Poland

Poland has a typical European continental climate with four distinct seasons that remain consistent throughout the country. May is generally warm and dry, attracting travelers to major destinations such as Kraków, Wrocław, and Warsaw. With minimal rainfall and thinner crowds, you can usually wander the streets of these historic cities without having to worry about getting wet or having to wait on line for the main attractions.

Summers are comparatively hot and wet, so it’s best spent in coastal towns and cities like Gdańsk and Gdynia, where the sea breeze provides welcome relief from the humidity. You could also cool off with a cruise through the Masurian Lake District in the north for spellbinding scenery and the chance to swim in freshwater lakes. The main cities can get very hot and crowded during the summer months, so they’re best avoided.

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Warsaw High 33°F 35°F 46°F 57°F 67°F 72°F 79°F 78°F 66°F 56°F 46°F 38°F
Low 25°F 25°F 30°F 39°F 49°F 54°F 59°F 58°F 50°F 41°F 37°F 29°F
Rainfall 17 days 15 days 14 days 13 days 13 days 14 days 15 days 13 days 13 days 14 days 16 days 18 days
Krakow High 35°F 37°F 47°F 58°F 66°F 71°F 78°F 77°F 66°F 57°F 48°F 39°F
Low 26°F 24°F 31°F 39°F 48°F 54°F 58°F 56°F 49°F 41°F 37°F 29°F
Rainfall 17 days 15 days 14 days 13 days 13 days 14 days 15 days 13 days 13 days 14 days 16 days 18 days
Wrocław High 38°F 39°F 49°F 59°F 67°F 72°F 79°F 79°F 68°F 59°F 49°F 43°F
Low 30°F 28°F 33°F 41°F 48°F 54°F 59°F 58°F 51°F 43°F 38°F 32°F
Rainfall 17 days 15 days 14 days 13 days 13 days 14 days 15 days 13 days 13 days 14 days 16 days 18 days
Gdańsk High 34°F 36°F 44°F 53°F 62°F 67°F 73°F 73°F 64°F 55°F 45°F 39°F
Low 27°F 27°F 32°F 38°F 46°F 52°F 58°F 57°F 50°F 43°F 38°F 31°F
Rainfall 17 days 15 days 14 days 13 days 13 days 14 days 15 days 13 days 13 days 14 days 16 days 18 days
Zakopane High 31°F 31°F 39°F 49°F 56°F 63°F 68°F 67°F 58°F 51°F 44°F 34°F
Low 20°F 17°F 25°F 33°F 41°F 47°F 51°F 50°F 43°F 36°F 32°F 23°F
Rainfall 17 days 15 days 14 days 13 days 13 days 14 days 15 days 13 days 13 days 14 days 16 days 18 days
Poznań High 35°F 38°F 47°F 58°F 67°F 70°F 78°F 77°F 67°F 57°F 47°F 40°F
Low 28°F 27°F 32°F 40°F 48°F 54°F 59°F 58°F 50°F 42°F 38°F 32°F
Rainfall 17 days 15 days 14 days 13 days 13 days 14 days 15 days 13 days 13 days 14 days 16 days 18 days

Weather data provided by Forecast.io

Cost of stay in Poland

Want to travel smart? Here you can check out the average cost of accommodations per night in Poland.

    0 44 88 132 176
  • $99 Jan
  • $101 Feb
  • $100 Mar
  • $105 Apr
  • $115 May
  • $117 Jun
  • $124 Jul
  • $124 Aug
  • $114 Sep
  • $102 Oct
  • $99 Nov
  • $117 Dec
    0 44 88 132 176
  • $69 Jan
  • $68 Feb
  • $66 Mar
  • $70 Apr
  • $82 May
  • $83 Jun
  • $104 Jul
  • $101 Aug
  • $75 Sep
  • $69 Oct
  • $67 Nov
  • $99 Dec
    0 44 88 132 176
  • $28 Jan
  • $30 Feb
  • $32 Mar
  • $34 Apr
  • $38 May
  • $38 Jun
  • $42 Jul
  • $41 Aug
  • $33 Sep
  • $30 Oct
  • $31 Nov
  • $38 Dec
    0 44 88 132 176
  • $141 Jan
  • $137 Feb
  • $128 Mar
  • $127 Apr
  • $132 May
  • $127 Jun
  • $144 Jul
  • $143 Aug
  • $109 Sep
  • $108 Oct
  • $116 Nov
  • $193 Dec
    0 44 88 132 176
  • $81 Jan
  • $78 Feb
  • $68 Mar
  • $69 Apr
  • $78 May
  • $77 Jun
  • $91 Jul
  • $91 Aug
  • $73 Sep
  • $63 Oct
  • $62 Nov
  • $96 Dec

The best places to visit in Poland

Check out some of the most popular cities, places to visit, and things to do in Poland!

What other travelers say about their trips to Poland

More inspiration for your Poland trip