Krakow in May: a seasonal travel plan
Krakow, Poland. In may, the average daytime high is 18.4 °C and the night-time low is 8.1 °C. Plan the main route in daylight and add an extra layer for early and late hours.
Choose a month
Selected month: May
Temperatures by month
Air temperature: Krakow
Contents
Weather at a glance
- Daytime high
- 18.4 °C
- Nighttime low
- 8.1 °C
- Monthly precipitation
- 91.7 mm
- Days with at least 1 mm
- 15.1
- Daylight
- 15.4 h
2015–2024 averages. Daytime temperature is the average daily maximum; nighttime temperature is the average daily minimum.
Early, middle and late month
| Period | Daytime high, °C | Nighttime low, °C | Days with at least 1 mm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Days 1–10 | 17.2 | 6.6 | 4.6 |
| Days 11–20 | 18.3 | 7.8 | 4.1 |
| From day 21 | 19.6 | 9.9 | 6.4 |
What this month is like
Krakow, Poland. In may, the average daytime high is 18.4 °C and the night-time low is 8.1 °C. Plan the main route in daylight and add an extra layer for early and late hours.
There are 15.1 wet days on average, with about 91.7 mm of precipitation. Keep an indoor backup route and a compact rain jacket in your day bag.
How to plan the day
Plan the main route in daylight and add an extra layer for early and late hours.
Average daylight is 15.4 hours, so put longer routes in the brighter part of the day.
What to pack
Pack a jacket or jumper, long trousers and closed shoes. Keep an indoor backup route and a compact rain jacket in your day bag.
Precipitation and an alternative plan
Precipitation is frequent. Keep several indoor activities in your plans and fit longer walks between them.
What to pack
Bring light daytime clothes, comfortable shoes and an extra layer for cooler hours. The day-to-night temperature difference is noticeable, so dressing in layers is practical. Add a waterproof outer layer and shoes that dry quickly.
Compared with neighbouring months
Average daytime high: previous month — 13.5 °C, May — 18.4 °C, next month — 23.8 °C. Days with at least 1 mm of precipitation: 11.7, 15.1 and 13.3.
Things to do
Krakow fits into a ring around the Main Market Square: the Old Town with St Mary's Basilica and Wawel, Kazimierz with its synagogues and cafés to the south, Podgórze beyond. The historic centre is walkable, and trams and trains reach the salt mine and the station.
Market Square and Wawel
The Cloth Hall and St Mary's Basilica with the Veit Stoss altar stand on the Rynek. Follow the Royal Route to Wawel, see the castle and cathedral, and come back to the square in the evening.
Kazimierz
Kazimierz keeps synagogues, courtyards and cafés along Szeroka street. Walk from the Old Synagogue to Nowy Square, eat in one of the small places and listen to klezmer music later in the evening.
The Wieliczka salt mine
The mine tour passes corridors, chapels and underground lakes, with the Chapel of St Kinga on the route. The train from the main station takes about half an hour; bring a warm layer, it is cool below ground.
Where to stay
Old Town
The Old Town keeps the Rynek, Wawel and the station within reach. It is busy and expensive by day, but everything sits at the door in the evening and trams leave in all directions.
Kazimierz
Kazimierz suits anyone who wants bars, cafés and old synagogues around the corner. The quarter stays loud at night, and the Rynek is ten minutes on foot.
Podgórze
Podgórze is quieter and cheaper, with Schindler's Factory and the Ghetto Heroes Square. The centre is twenty minutes on foot or a few tram stops away.
Getting to and around Krakow
Kraków-Balice airport connects to the main station by train in about twenty minutes. The historic centre is walkable, while trams and buses reach Podgórze, Nowa Huta and the mine at Wieliczka. Leave the car outside the centre: streets are narrow and parking is paid. Cycle paths follow the Vistula, while traffic in the centre is heavy.
Three days in Krakow
Market Square and Wawel
Begin on the Rynek with the Cloth Hall and St Mary's Basilica, follow Grodzka street up to Wawel. The afternoon belongs to the castle and cathedral, the evening back on the square.
Kazimierz and Podgórze
Morning in Kazimierz: the Old Synagogue, Szeroka street and Nowy Square. Cross the river to Podgórze and Schindler's Factory after lunch, then klezmer music in the evening.
Wieliczka
Take the train to Wieliczka for the first mine tour, with the Chapel of St Kinga and the underground lakes. Return to Kraków in the evening and eat in Kazimierz.
Weather throughout the year
| Month | Daytime high, °C | Nighttime low, °C | Precipitation, mm | Days with at least 1 mm | Daylight, h |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 1.5 | -4.7 | 47.1 | 11.7 | 8.6 |
| February | 4.4 | -2.9 | 49.6 | 11.3 | 10.0 |
| March | 8.8 | -0.6 | 37.0 | 10.0 | 11.9 |
| April | 13.5 | 3.2 | 60.0 | 11.7 | 13.7 |
| May | 18.4 | 8.1 | 91.7 | 15.1 | 15.4 |
| June | 23.8 | 13.2 | 71.1 | 13.3 | 16.3 |
| July | 25.8 | 14.8 | 99.7 | 15.2 | 15.9 |
| August | 26.5 | 15.2 | 83.0 | 12.7 | 14.5 |
| September | 21.2 | 10.5 | 88.5 | 11.8 | 12.7 |
| October | 15.1 | 5.5 | 64.5 | 9.7 | 10.8 |
| November | 8.1 | 0.8 | 45.4 | 10.3 | 9.1 |
| December | 3.1 | -2.5 | 45.1 | 12.1 | 8.2 |
Frequently asked questions
Krakow: what is the temperature in May?
The average daytime high is 18.4 °C and the night-time low is 8.1 °C. Daytime is suitable for a longer walk around the city. Leave time for breaks and lunch along the way.
How many days with precipitation are there in May?
On average, there are 15.1 days with at least 1 mm of precipitation; the monthly total is 91.7 mm. Precipitation is frequent. Keep several indoor activities in your plans and fit longer walks between them.
What should I pack for walks in May?
Bring light daytime clothes, comfortable shoes and an extra layer for cooler hours. The day-to-night temperature difference is noticeable, so dressing in layers is practical. Add a waterproof outer layer and shoes that dry quickly.
How does the weather change from the start to the end of the month?
Average daytime highs by part of the month: 1–10 — 17.2 °C; 11–20 — 18.3 °C; 21 to month-end — 19.6 °C.
How many daylight hours are there in May?
The average is 15.4 hours. Long daylight hours make it easy to split a walk between morning and evening, with a longer break in between.
Is Krakow worth visiting in May?
The climate suits a trip if daytime temperatures around 18.4 °C and nights around 8.1 °C work for you. Plan the main route in daylight and add an extra layer for early and late hours.
What can I do in Krakow on a wet day in May?
Keep an indoor backup route and a compact rain jacket in your day bag. Keep a museum, market, café or another indoor route near your accommodation.
What should I pack for Krakow in May?
Pack a jacket or jumper, long trousers and closed shoes. Average daylight is 15.4 hours.