Weather in Poland by month – the best time to visit and what to pack

The climate in a nutshell

Poland has a temperate climate with influences from both the Atlantic and the continent. In practice that means four clear seasons: cold, often grey winters; short, changeable springs; warm summers with occasional thunderstorms; and autumns that start golden and end damp and dark.

• The coldest month is January, with daytime highs around 1–2 °C and nights below freezing.
• The warmest month is July, with typical highs of about 23–25 °C – but heatwaves above 30 °C are increasingly common.
• The wettest months are the summer ones, when rain often comes as short, heavy showers or thunderstorms.
• The south (Kraków, the mountains) is wetter than the north and has more snow; the coast is milder in winter and cooler in summer.
• Daylight changes a lot: in December it is dark by about 4 pm, while in June it stays light until after 9 pm.

Month by month

Average daytime high / night-time low in °C, 1991–2020.

Month	Warsaw	Kraków	Gdańsk	What to expect
January	1 / −4	2 / −5	2 / −3	Coldest month; frost, some snow, short days
February	3 / −3	4 / −4	3 / −3	Still winter; ski season in the mountains
March	7 / −1	8 / −1	7 / 0	Thaw, mixed sun, rain and late snow
April	15 / 4	15 / 4	12 / 4	Spring arrives; weather changes by the day
May	20 / 9	20 / 9	17 / 8	Green and pleasant; one of the best months
June	23 / 12	23 / 12	20 / 12	Long days, warm, first thunderstorms
July	25 / 15	25 / 14	23 / 14	Warmest and busiest; showers and heatwaves
August	25 / 14	25 / 13	23 / 14	Summer holidays; best month for the Baltic
September	19 / 10	20 / 9	19 / 10	Mild, fewer crowds; a favourite with visitors
October	13 / 5	14 / 5	13 / 6	Golden autumn early on, then cooler and wetter
November	7 / 1	8 / 1	7 / 2	Grey, damp and dark; the quietest month
December	2 / −3	3 / −3	3 / −2	Christmas markets; cold, sometimes snowy

The best time to visit

• For cities: May–June and September are the sweet spot – warm enough for walking, fewer crowds than in July and August.
• For the Baltic coast: July and August. The sea stays cool even in high summer, so it suits hardy swimmers.
• For hiking in the Tatras: late June to September; snow can linger on high trails into June.
• For skiing: December to March, with the most reliable snow in January and February.
• For Christmas markets: late November to December (Kraków, Wrocław, Gdańsk and Warsaw have the best-known ones).

What to pack

Winter (December–February)

• A warm, windproof coat, hat, scarf and gloves
• Waterproof shoes or boots with a good grip – pavements can be icy
• Thermal layers if you plan to spend long days outside or go to the mountains
• Lip balm and hand cream: the air is dry indoors, where heating is strong

Spring (March–May)

• Layers you can add and remove: T-shirt, jumper, light jacket
• A compact umbrella or rain jacket
• Comfortable walking shoes; old towns are paved with cobblestones

Summer (June–August)

• Light, breathable clothes, sunglasses, sun cream and a hat
• A light jacket or jumper for cool evenings, especially by the sea and in the mountains
• A rain jacket for sudden thunderstorms
• Insect repellent if you are going to the lakes or forests

Autumn (September–November)

• A warm jacket and layers; by November you will want a proper coat
• Waterproof shoes and an umbrella
• Something smarter for evenings out: Poles tend to dress up a little for theatres, concerts and good restaurants

All year

• Clothing that covers shoulders and knees if you want to visit churches
• A plug adapter for Type E sockets (230 V) if you come from outside continental Europe
• Comfortable shoes – you will walk more than you expect

Weather forecasts

The official Polish weather service is IMGW. For the mountains, check the forecast and avalanche warnings before every hike – conditions in the Tatras can change within an hour.

Sources

• Climate normals 1991–2020 for Warsaw, Kraków and Gdańsk, compiled by BlueGreen Atlas from national weather service data