The climate in little Poland (Małopolska), as the rest of Poland is influenced by the continental climate from the east and the maritime climate from the west. This results in very variable conditions with significant changes from day to day.

Little Poland is still fortunate enough to have clearly visible seasons in its weather pattern. The summertime can be very hot, all though common temperatures are between 20-25 °C. June is the month of the summer with the most rain fall. August is the safest time to travel to Poland if you are looking for warm and dry weather. Winters are normally cold, with the first snow fall from November and lasting until March or early April.

In the low lands around Krakow you never know how much or for how long there will be snow on the ground, but higher up in the mountains the weather conditions are more stable and you are almost guaranteed snow all winter. This has help developed the numerous ski center that are located to the south of Krakow. The best time for skiing would be from late December to late February even if the snow normally lies longer.

The autumn and spring weather is very unpredictable. You can have warm sunny days in April and May or your can have snow falling and cold winds blowing. This makes is hard to predict what clothing to pack, but if you are looking to spend time outside then be prepared for both sun and rain. The autumn starts mid September with often nice clear days, but very cold nights. There are more rainy days than in the summer and the day temperature is lower than the summer months. The autumn is by many looked upon as the most beautiful time to visit the mountain ranges south of Krakow and you avoid the busiest tourist season as well as the extreme heat of the summer and the heavy frost of the winter months.