June - July

The months of June and July, in addition to August, are the high season months in Poland, and you will see the longest lines for attractions and highest prices for accommodations around this time. Note that by the second half of June, all Polish children and college students will be on summer vacation, adding to the congestion at tourist sites. School doesn`t return to session until the first week in September.

Temperatures across the country will warm into the low and mid-70s for the duration of the summer, except for Zakopane, which will be a few degrees behind in the upper 60s and low 70s. Lows across the country will be pleasant, in the low and mid-50s. The rainy season will begin for most of the country by June, except for the south of the country, which will already see heavy rains by May. July is the warmest month and also the wettest one. In recent summers, temperatures have risen above 80 degrees during the day. Many hotels and tourist sites have air-conditioning but some do not; be prepared for this.

Holidays and Festivals:

Late May to early June - Krakow Film Festival, Krakow. First held in 1961, it is one of Europe`s oldest festivals dedicated to short films such as documentaries, animated shorts, and more.

Early June - Wroclaw Good Beer Festival, Wroclaw. The name of the festival is indeed truth in advertising -- some of the best beers from across Poland and around the world are available to sample during this three-day festival.

Late June - Sztuka Ulicy, Warsaw. A large festival dedicated to the arts -- both visual and performing.

Late June - Wianki Festival, Krakow. One of the largest Polish midsummer solstice festivals. The festival is named after the wreaths you will see floating on rafts down the Vistula River. The celebrations include singing, live music, and fireworks.

Late June - Lajkonik Festival, Krakow. A colorful traditional parade, the `Lajkonik` is a Krakow icon -- it is a man wearing a costume of a Tatar dressed in Mongol attire, with a hobby horse attached to the costume, as if the Lajkonik is riding a horse.

Late June to early July - Jewish Culture Festival, Krakow. One of the longest-running Jewish culture events in Europe, the festival showcases vestiges of traditional and modern Jewish culture.

Early July - Open`er Festival, Gdynia. One of the larger pop and rock music festivals in the country. Past headliners have included Oasis, Radiohead, Depeche Mode, Migos, and Grace Jones.

First week in July - Crossroads Festival, Krakow. A large world music festival held on the Main Market Square.

July–August - Jazz na Starowce, Warsaw. Free Saturday concerts on Old Town Square.

Late July to early August - Gdansk Shakespeare Festival, held at the Gdansk Shakespeare Theatre. One of the world`s largest odes to The Bard, the festival includes many performances in English).

Late July to mid-August - St. Dominic`s Fair, Gdansk. First held over 750 years ago, this street fair is one of the oldest and largest in Poland. Over 1,000 artisans and vendors set up market stalls and sell their wares over three weeks. There are also music performances and lots of revelry.