Best time to visit Zakopane
Re-score for me — drag the dial — every chart on the page recolours live for your heat limit 27°C
Default 27 °C is the upper edge of the Holiday Climate Index "ideal comfort" band (Scott, Rutty, Amelung & Tang, 2016). Above this, most warm-tourism travellers report measurable discomfort.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
How is this scored? HCI / Steadman / CCI gate — full methodology and citations below.
Compare with another destination
Add as many as you like — stacked below the main strips above. Each row is just the recent-window score strip and (for beach destinations) sea-temperature strip.
Similar climatesGstaad87% · Grindelwald84% · Zermatt82%
Other destinations with the most-alike year-round climate to Zakopane (apparent temperature, rain hours, sunshine — matched within the same trip-profile). The ±N chip compares each match's typical score for the current month against Zakopane's. Based on the 2020-2024 climatology, not this year's actual weather.
Month-by-month
| Month | Temp °C | Feels °C | Rain days | Rain h | Rain h/day | Humidity | Wind km/h | Sun h | UV | Interest | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | -4–2 | -3 | 16 | 235 | 14.7 | 72% | 18 | 93 | 1 | Quiet | 6 |
| Feb | -3–4 | -1 | 18 | 256 | 14.2 | 69% | 20 | 105 | 1 | Quiet | 6 |
| Mar | -2–7 | 3 | 14 | 181 | 12.9 | 57% | 16 | 182 | 2 | Quiet | 7 |
| Apr | 1–10 | 6 | 16 | 215 | 13.4 | 58% | 16 | 195 | 3 | Quiet | 6 |
| May | 6–15 | 13 | 16 | 210 | 13.1 | 59% | 15 | 244 | 4 | Quiet | 3 |
| Jun | 11–20 | 19 | 16 | 196 | 12.3 | 62% | 14 | 259 | 5 | Quiet | 2 |
| Jul | 13–22 | 21 | 16 | 197 | 12.3 | 62% | 13 | 278 | 5 | Moderate | 1 |
| Aug | 13–22 | 21 | 15 | 182 | 12.1 | 64% | 13 | 244 | 5 | Peak | 1 |
| Sep | 9–17 | 16 | 14 | 176 | 12.6 | 65% | 14 | 192 | 3 | Moderate | 3 |
| Oct | 5–13 | 11 | 10 | 140 | 14.0 | 67% | 15 | 169 | 2 | Moderate | 6 |
| Nov | 0–6 | 3 | 11 | 153 | 13.9 | 74% | 15 | 116 | 1 | Peak | 7 |
| Dec | -4–2 | -2 | 13 | 200 | 15.4 | 77% | 15 | 81 | 1 | Peak | 6 |
UV Index in Zakopane by Month
UV index in Zakopane peaks at 5 (moderate) in June, dropping to 1 (low) in December.
Best months in detail
November
7/100–6°C (feels 3°C) · 11 rain days (153h) · 116 sun hours · 74% humidity · Peak crowd · UV 1 (low)
March
7/10-2–7°C (feels 3°C) · 14 rain days (181h) · 182 sun hours · 57% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 2 (low) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 4 (moderate)
December
6/10-4–2°C (feels -2°C) · 13 rain days (200h) · 81 sun hours · 77% humidity · Peak crowd · UV 1 (low)
Every month
Show the other 9 months in detail
January
6/10-4–2°C (feels -3°C) · 16 rain days (235h) · 93 sun hours · 72% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 1 (low)
February
6/10-3–4°C (feels -1°C) · 18 rain days (256h) · 105 sun hours · 69% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 1 (low)
April
6/101–10°C (feels 6°C) · 16 rain days (215h) · 195 sun hours · 58% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 3 (moderate) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 5 (moderate)
May
3/106–15°C (feels 13°C) · 16 rain days (210h) · 244 sun hours · 59% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 4 (moderate) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 6 (high)
June
2/1011–20°C · 16 rain days (196h) · 259 sun hours · 62% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 5 (moderate) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 7 (high)
July
1/1013–22°C · 16 rain days (197h) · 278 sun hours · 62% humidity · Moderate crowd · UV 5 (moderate) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 7 (high)
August
1/1013–22°C · 15 rain days (182h) · 244 sun hours · 64% humidity · Peak crowd · UV 5 (moderate) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 7 (high)
September
3/109–17°C (feels 16°C) · 14 rain days (176h) · 192 sun hours · 65% humidity · Moderate crowd · UV 3 (moderate) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 5 (moderate)
October
6/105–13°C (feels 11°C) · 10 rain days (140h) · 169 sun hours · 67% humidity · Moderate crowd · UV 2 (low)
Frequently asked questions about visiting Zakopane
When is the best time to visit Zakopane?
November is the highest-scoring month (7/10 on the Holiday Climate Index). Typical conditions: 0–6°C (11 rainy days). The top three months by score are November, March, December.
What is the worst time to visit Zakopane?
July is the lowest-scoring month (1/10, capped by extreme heat). Typical conditions: 13–22°C (16 rainy days).
Is Zakopane too hot in summer?
5 months (May, June, July, August, September) trip the heat deal-breaker in our scoring: apparent temperature crosses the comfort cap, so even with clear skies and low rain the score is held down. Plan around it if heat tolerance is low.
When are crowds lowest in Zakopane?
Search-interest seasonality (Google Trends 2021-2025) is lowest in March and peaks in December. Interest tracks both in-trip visitors and lead-time planners, so treat it as a "destination is on people's minds" signal rather than literal arrivals.
Which months in Zakopane have good weather but fewer tourists?
March (climate 7/10, crowd index 0) and January (climate 6/10, crowd index 32) — shoulder months with above-average climate and below-median search-interest. Often the best value-for-weather trade.
What is the UV index in Zakopane by month?
UV peaks at 5 (moderate) in June and is lowest in December at 1 (low). Monthly peak values: Jan 1, Feb 1, Mar 2, Apr 3, May 4, Jun 5, Jul 5, Aug 5, Sep 3, Oct 2, Nov 1, Dec 1.
What is the UV index in Zakopane in June?
June is the peak UV month in Zakopane, with a daily-peak UV index of 5 (moderate). Standard sun protection — sunglasses and light SPF — is recommended.
How high can UV get in Zakopane on the sunniest days?
Most days look like the monthly average, but on the sunniest ~1 in 10 days UV climbs higher than the mean suggests. July is the worst case: typical days average UV 5 (moderate), but the top 10% of days reach UV 7 (high) — and even higher. Months where the sunniest days routinely exceed the typical reading: March, April, May, June, July, August, September. Plan sun protection for the worst case, not the average.
Is air quality in Zakopane bad for travelers?
PM2.5 (fine-particle pollution) exceeds the WHO sensitive-group guideline (15 µg/m³) in 3 months: February, March, December. The worst month is March with a typical-day mean of 11 µg/m³ (moderate); on the worst 10% of days PM2.5 reaches 16 µg/m³ (unhealthy for sensitive) and higher. People with asthma, heart conditions, or sensitive children may want to avoid these months or limit outdoor activity. Source: CAMS via Open-Meteo.