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Zakopane Weather: What Is It Like Each Month?
Zakopane weather runs from a -6.6°C January low to a 20.4°C July high, so the right month depends on whether you want snow, trails or thermal baths.
Quick answer Climate by season in four lines
Zakopane is coldest from December to March, when highs sit between -0.2°C and 4.6°C and the town is built for skiing and thermal baths. June to August is warmest at 18.8°C to 20.4°C but also wettest, with 15.0 to 18.5 rain days a month. October and November are quiet shoulder months with highs of 11.5°C and 5.8°C.
Key takeaways
- Winter is the snow season, and a sleigh ride with a bonfire is a 3-hour way to enjoy it.
- Summer is warm but rainy, so a day with cable car and baths included is a safe plan when clouds sit on the peaks.
- November is the gap month: the Gubałówka funicular and Termy Zakopiańskie are closed for maintenance, and zakopane tours shows what still runs.
- Pack for the mountain, not the town: the top of the cable car day is far colder than the streets of Zakopane.
What is the weather in Zakopane each month?
Zakopane averages -0.2°C in the January daytime and 20.4°C in July and August, and it never has a dry month.
The table below gives the 1995-2024 averages for every month. Precipitation is rain or snow counted as water, and wet days are days with 1 mm or more.
Monthly averages for Zakopane
Fahrenheit figures are in brackets because many forecast sites print them first.
| Month | Average high | Average low | Precipitation | Wet days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | -0.2°C (32°F) | -6.6°C (20°F) | 59 mm | 12.1 |
| February | 1.5°C (35°F) | -5.6°C (22°F) | 62 mm | 13.0 |
| March | 4.6°C (40°F) | -3.2°C (26°F) | 63 mm | 13.4 |
| April | 10.0°C (50°F) | 1.4°C (35°F) | 84 mm | 14.4 |
| May | 15.4°C (60°F) | 6.5°C (44°F) | 130 mm | 17.2 |
| June | 18.8°C (66°F) | 10.4°C (51°F) | 142 mm | 17.8 |
| July | 20.4°C (69°F) | 12.3°C (54°F) | 152 mm | 18.5 |
| August | 20.4°C (69°F) | 12.2°C (54°F) | 117 mm | 15.0 |
| September | 15.8°C (60°F) | 8.2°C (47°F) | 104 mm | 13.7 |
| October | 11.5°C (53°F) | 4.1°C (39°F) | 73 mm | 11.1 |
| November | 5.8°C (42°F) | -0.4°C (31°F) | 56 mm | 11.1 |
| December | 0.9°C (34°F) | -5.1°C (23°F) | 53 mm | 11.4 |
What the numbers mean for a trip
Only January has an average daytime high below freezing. The rainy season is May to July, with 17.2 to 18.5 wet days a month. October and November have the fewest wet days, 11.1 each.
Source: Copernicus Climate Data Store.
Villa Monte Rosa and Giewont mountain in Zakopane in spring. Photo: Marsilar, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
What is the best time to visit Zakopane?
Visit from December to March for snow and skiing, or in August and September for the warmest trail weather with fewer rain days than June and July.
There are two good seasons and each asks for a different plan.
Winter, December to March
Highs run from -0.2°C to 4.6°C, so snow stays on the ground and the Kasprowy Wierch ski area is the draw. A sleigh trip such as Zakopane: Chochołowska Valley Sleigh Ride with Bonfire (3 hours, $90 per person, free cancellation 24h) fits this season. Thermal baths feel best in the cold.
Chochołowskie Termy keep their pools at 32 to 38 degrees and open 9:00 to 22:00 Sunday to Thursday.
Summer, June to September
August has 15.0 wet days against 17.8 in June and 18.5 in July, and highs stay at 20.4°C. September is cooler at 15.8°C with 13.7 wet days. TANAP closes Slovak trails above the mountain huts from 1 November to 31 May. Tatra National Park bans walking its trails between dusk and dawn from 1 March to 30 November, so finish in daylight.
Spring and autumn
April has a 1.4°C low and 84 mm of precipitation, so expect rain and late snow. October is the calmest autumn month with an 11.5°C high and 73 mm. Mroźna Cave is closed from 1 November to 25 April to protect hibernating bats.
Sources: Copernicus Climate Data Store, Tatra National Park, Chochołowskie Termy.
Tours That Fit
Two trips that suit cold days and wet days alike.
from $90
Most reviewed
Zakopane: Chochołowska Valley Sleigh Ride with Bonfire
A 1-hour sleigh ride plus a 1-hour bonfire with sausages and tea, with carriages instead if snow is short.
Check Availability
from $24
Most reviewed
Krakow-Zakopane: Cable Car, Chocholow Baths, Cheese and Vodka
Funicular, 3-hour baths ticket and cheese and vodka tasting all included, with 2 hours free in Zakopane.
Check AvailabilityWhat is the snowiest month in Zakopane?
The data counts precipitation as water, and the heaviest cold-season months are March at 63 mm, February at 62 mm and January at 59 mm.
No snow-depth figure is published for the town, so the months that are both cold and wet are the best guide.
Cold and wet: January to March
In January the daytime high is -0.2°C, so most of the 59 mm falls as snow. In February the high rises to 1.5°C and 62 mm falls over 13.0 days. March has the most precipitation of the three at 63 mm over 13.4 days, with a 4.6°C high, so the snow is wetter and heavier.
December is lighter at 53 mm over 11.4 days, but its high of 0.9°C and low of -5.1°C still keep snow on the ground.
Why the mountain differs
The figures describe the town. The high Tatras are colder, so snow arrives sooner and lasts longer. Tatra National Park warns of snow, ice and avalanche danger, and advises crampons and trekking poles.
Sources: Copernicus Climate Data Store, Tatra National Park.
How much snow is in Zakopane now?
The Kasprowy Wierch summit shows 17 cm of snow, and all its ski runs and the Gąsienicowa and Goryczkowa chairlifts are closed.
For snow, the cable car operator PKL posts the summit reading and the lift status.
What is open and what is closed
The Kasprowy Wierch cable car was running again after its autumn inspection. Strong wind can stop it, and a Tourpass can be returned for a full refund if wind stops the car. The Gubałówka funicular is closed from 16 to 27 November, with replacement buses 9:30 to 19:00 at 34 PLN one way.
Termy Zakopiańskie are closed from 16 November to 7 December. Chochołowskie Termy stay open as the indoor alternative.
Getting to Morskie Oko in snow
TPN electric buses on the Morskie Oko road have been suspended until further notice because of snow on the road. Horse carts only go as far as Wodogrzmoty Mickiewicza, about 2.9 km from Palenica Białczańska.
Sources: PKL, PKL Gubałówka, Aquapark Zakopane, Tatra National Park.
What is Zakopane weather in November, December and January?
Highs fall from 5.8°C in November to 0.9°C in December and -0.2°C in January, and lows drop from -0.4°C to -6.6°C.
These are the months people search for most, because they decide whether to bring skis or a raincoat.
Month by month
November sits around freezing at night (-0.4°C, 31°F) with 56 mm of precipitation over 11.1 days. December is 0.9°C (34°F) by day and -5.1°C (23°F) at night. January is the coldest month, with a -6.6°C (20°F) low and 59 mm of precipitation over 12.1 days.
| Month | High | Low | Precipitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| November | 5.8°C (42°F) | -0.4°C (31°F) | 56 mm |
| December | 0.9°C (34°F) | -5.1°C (23°F) | 53 mm |
| January | -0.2°C (32°F) | -6.6°C (20°F) | 59 mm |
Source: Copernicus Climate Data Store.
What should you pack for Zakopane in each season?
Pack for the mountain, with crampons and poles in winter and a rain jacket from May to July.
Follow where you will walk, because the high Tatras are harsher than the town.
Packing by season
Match the kit to the month.
| Season | Bring | Why |
|---|---|---|
| December to March | Warm layers, waterproof boots, crampons, poles | Highs between -0.2°C and 4.6°C and icy trails |
| April and May | Waterproof jacket, layers, boots | 84 mm and 130 mm of precipitation, 14.4 and 17.2 wet days |
| June to August | Rain jacket, light layers, sun cover | Highs of 18.8°C to 20.4°C, 15.0 to 18.5 wet days |
| September and October | Fleece, light waterproof, boots | Highs of 15.8°C and 11.5°C and lows of 8.2°C and 4.1°C |
The high Tatras in winter
Tatra National Park advises against trips to the higher Tatras in winter conditions without avalanche kit (detector, probe, shovel), crampons, ice axe and helmet. A cable car day such as Krakow-Zakopane: Cable Car, Chocholow Baths, Cheese and Vodka ($24 per person, 11 hours) reaches 1,987 m, so bring a warm layer even in summer. Drones, camping, open fires and smoking are banned in the park.
Sources: Tatra National Park, PKL, Copernicus Climate Data Store.
Is it cheap in Zakopane?
Getting here and walking are cheap, but lifts and thermal baths are where the money goes.
Prices below come from the operators themselves and from the park.
What common costs look like
Chochołowskie Termy cost 95 PLN for 3 hours Monday to Thursday and 115 PLN Friday to Sunday, so a weekday visit saves money. A Kasprowy Wierch return is 99 to 165 PLN online in the high season.
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Train, Krakow to Zakopane | 26.50 PLN |
| Bus, Krakow to Zakopane | 37 PLN |
| Tatra National Park entry, normal | 11 PLN |
| Gubałówka return, online, low season | 37 PLN |
| Kasprowy Wierch return, online, low season | 129 PLN |
| Chochołowskie Termy, 3 hours, Monday to Thursday | 95 PLN |
Sources: Koleje Małopolskie, Szwagropol, Tatra National Park, PKL, Chochołowskie Termy.
Where can you check the 14 day Zakopane forecast?
AccuWeather, weather.com, BBC Weather, Wunderground and timeanddate all publish a Zakopane forecast.
Climate averages plan the trip and a live forecast plans the day.
What each forecast offers
AccuWeather gives a 10-day forecast with hourly, sun and moon and air quality pages, and shows rain and sleet in the morning with a 70% chance of rain late. weather.com has a 10-day forecast with snow and ice warnings. BBC Weather has day by day and hour by hour forecasts with sunrise and sunset. timeanddate has an extended 14 day forecast. For a mountain trip also check the TPN tourist bulletin and the PKL status page, since wind and avalanche danger decide what runs.
Giewont in the Tatras on a September morning. Photo: Jakub Hałun, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Zakopane Weather FAQ
Is Zakopane weather cold in January?
January is the coldest month, with a -0.2°C high and a -6.6°C low. A sleigh ride with a bonfire is the classic way to enjoy it.
Does it snow in Zakopane in November?
November averages a 5.8°C high and a -0.4°C low with 56 mm of precipitation, so the town may be wet and the summit can be snowy, with 17 cm shown at Kasprowy Wierch. A sleigh ride with a bonfire works when snow is down.
Zakopane weather in Fahrenheit?
January averages 32°F by day and 20°F at night, and July averages 69°F by day and 54°F at night. A cable car and baths day suits both.
Is Zakopane weather good for skiing in December?
December has a 0.9°C high and a -5.1°C low over 11.4 wet days. See zakopane tours for winter options.
What are the wettest months in Zakopane?
July is wettest with 152 mm over 18.5 days, then June with 142 mm over 17.8 days. A rainy day with baths and a cable car is the usual plan.
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