Early winter · Weather & things to do
Zakopane in December
Zakopane sees its driest month, with just 2.1 in (53 mm) of rain or snow, highs of 31°F (-1°C) and lows of 20°F (-7°C).
With a comfort score of 41/100 (12th of 12), it's one of the toughest months, held back mainly by cool days.
- Avg high
- 31°F (-1°C)
- Avg low
- 20°F (-7°C)
- Rain or snow
- 2.1 in (53 mm)
- Humidity
- 94%
- Cloud cover
- 81%
- Daylight
- ~7 h 59 min
- Comfort score
- 41/100 · Tough
What December feels like
Real cold sets in, with afternoon highs around 31°F (-1°C).
Nights drop below freezing, with an average low of 20°F (-7°C), so expect frost and ice.
Expect about 2.1 in (53 mm) of precipitation (rain or snow). Because the average temperature is below freezing, snow is likely on some days.
Expect plenty of overcast days, with cloud cover near 81%.
Only about 7 h 59 min of daylight means early sunsets.
Plan around December
December is one of the lower-scoring months here; the best are August.
- Snow becomes likely from December, so check road and trail conditions.
- Shortest days of the year, about 7 h 59 min of daylight.
- Comfort holds steady from November (42 → 41/100).
- Our Kraków & the Tatras route recommends May – Sep, so December falls outside its suggested window.
What to pack for December
- Hat, gloves and thermal base layerslows around 20°F
- Insulated, waterproof bootssnow is likely on some days
- Comfortable walking shoesmost places below are best reached on foot or with short walks
What to do in Zakopane in December
Cold days call for a roof: these picks favor sit-down and indoor stops, plus a few for drier spells.
Krupówki
Main pedestrian street of shops, wooden inns and market stalls.
Kościeliska Valley
Gentle forested valley with caves and streams, good for families.
Gubałówka
Funicular to a ridge with a full panorama of the Tatras.
Kasprowy Wierch Cable Car
Cable car to 1,987 m on the Polish-Slovak border ridge.
Morskie Oko
Glacial lake under granite peaks, the Tatras' best-known view.
Nearby in December
- Wieliczka in December~48 mi · highs 36°F, 1.6 in rain or snow · 3°C (5°F) warmer by day, about as wet
- Kraków in December~53 mi · highs 36°F, 1.6 in rain or snow · 3°C (6°F) warmer by day, about as wet
- Budapest in December~131 mi · highs 37°F, 1.7 in rain or snow · 4°C (7°F) warmer by day, about as wet
- Vienna in December~179 mi · highs 39°F, 1.7 in rain or snow · 5°C (8°F) warmer by day, about as wet
NASA POWER 2001–2025 monthly averages on a ~50 km grid. Comfort scores weigh temperature, rain, humidity and cloud: see how we score each month. Check a forecast before you go.
Zakopane in December: quick answers
Is December a good time to visit Zakopane?
It's one of the tougher months here, scoring 41/100, held back mainly by cool days. The best months are August. Expect highs of 31°F (-1°C) and 2.1 in (53 mm) of rain or snow. Our Kraków & the Tatras route recommends May – Sep, so December is outside its suggested window.
How cold is Zakopane in December?
Average highs are 31°F (-1°C) and average lows 20°F (-7°C), making it the 3rd-coldest month by daytime highs, with nights below freezing on average.
Does it snow a lot in Zakopane in December?
Not much: about 2.1 in (53 mm) of rain or snow falls across December on average, the driest month of the year. With temperatures this low, much of it may fall as snow. The annual total is about 38.5 in (978 mm).
What should I pack for Zakopane in December?
Bring hat, gloves and thermal base layers (lows around 20°F), insulated, waterproof boots (snow is likely on some days) and comfortable walking shoes (most places below are best reached on foot or with short walks).
More on Zakopane
Planning Zakopane in December?
Bring the crew into one shared trip: vote on dates, build the day-by-day plan, split costs and share one packing list.