January in Krakow averages highs of 2 °C (36 °F) and lows of -4 °C (26 °F), with about 8 rainy days and 8 h 31 min of daylight.
January weather in Krakow at a glance
average high to low each dot ≈ 3 rainy days
Is January a good time to visit Krakow?
Tough month: cold and some rain. January is usually shoulder season in Krakow: fewer crowds than peak months, with prices often a little lower.
Our rule: a month scores 2 points for comfortable average highs of 18–28 °C (1 point for 14–18 or 28–32 °C) and 2 points for 5 or fewer rainy days (1 point for 6–10). Average highs above 35 °C or below 8 °C make it a tough month whatever the rain. A rainy day here means 2 mm of rain or more. 4 points = great, 3 = good, 2 = mixed, 0–1 = tough.
Holidays and events in January 2026
- Thu 1 Jan: New Year's Day (Nowy Rok) public holiday
- Tue 6 Jan: Epiphany (Święto Trzech Króli) public holiday
Banks and many shops close on public holidays, and museums may change their hours, so check before you go.
Things to do in Krakow in January
With cold days in January, here are the indoor picks first, then the outdoor ones for drier spells.
- Wawel Castle and Cathedral indoors
- Schindler's Factory — book ahead indoors
- Wieliczka Salt Mine — half a day indoors
- Main Market Square and Cloth Hall outdoors
- Kazimierz — the old Jewish quarter outdoors
- Auschwitz-Birkenau memorial — book a guided entry outdoors
Where to stay: Old Town for sights; Kazimierz for food and bars; Podgórze for quiet and value.
What to pack for Krakow in January
- A warm winter coat, hat and gloves: it rarely gets above 2 °C (36 °F).
- An umbrella or a light waterproof: about 8 days this month see real rain.
- Comfortable walking shoes.
What a day in Krakow costs
| Budget traveller | Mid-range | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical total per person, per day | €35–80 | €90–200 |
Excluding flights. January is usually shoulder season in Krakow: fewer crowds than peak months, with prices often a little lower.
January in nearby cities
| City | High / low | Rainy days | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budapest | 4° / -2° | 7 | Tough month |
| Vienna | 4° / -2° | 7 | Tough month |
| Prague | 4° / -2° | 8 | Tough month |
Want the whole trip planned? Join the Journey waitlist: tell it where, when and your budget, and it plans every day hour by hour.
FAQ
Is January a good time to visit Krakow?
By the numbers, January is a tough month: cold and some rain, with average highs of 2 °C (36 °F) and about 8 rainy days. January is usually shoulder season in Krakow: fewer crowds than peak months, with prices often a little lower. The best months for weather are May, June, August, September.
How warm is Krakow in January?
Average highs are 2 °C (36 °F) and lows -4 °C (26 °F) (2015–2024 averages).
Does it rain a lot in Krakow in January?
Expect about 8 days with 2 mm of rain or more, about 49 mm in total. It is the 5th driest month of the year in Krakow.
Sources: climate averages from Open-Meteo historical weather (ERA5 reanalysis, 2015–2024); sea temperatures from the Open-Meteo marine API (2023–2024); public holidays from Nager.Date. Daylight is calculated for the 15th of the month. Averages are a guide, not a forecast. Costs are typical ranges per person per day, excluding flights.