May 2025 in Krakow in a nutshell - calendar of events and climate ☀️🌿

May is the month when Krakow bursts with greenery and culture at the same time. The temperature usually fluctuates between 15 and 22 °C, and the number of sunny days effectively encourages all-day strolls between the Planty and the Vistula boulevards.

Already in the first week, the city fills up with tourists as the long may weekend - this year from Thursday 1 May to Saturday 3 May - is combined with a warm Sunday holiday extension. Just a few days later, they take off juwenaliathat take over Krakow's clubs and campuses for almost two weeks, and 16 May late at night museums cities open for a symbolic zloty during the 21st Night of the Museums.

The month will culminate in 65th Krakow Film Festival (25 May - 1 June)during which more than 200 documentaries, animated films and shorts can be screened in studio cinemas and in the open air. In the background, the Tri-Mountain Arts Festival (14-16 May) and musical Festival of 4 Traditions at the Cracow Philharmonic (8 May). Such a condensed calendar requires a plan, but brings a rare opportunity to juxtapose the classic with the modern, the grand stage with an intimate courtyard, and an outdoor event with an evening of art contemplation.

May is also high season - Hotel and hostel bookings should therefore be finalised several weeks in advance.

May weekend 1-3 May 🎉

'The 20s, the 30s' - musical-retro (1 May)

A colourful performance in the style of a pre-war cabaret takes the audience into the world of Hanka Ordonna's hits. The set design is reminiscent of art-deco, and the dance performances add to the atmosphere of the era, making the event the perfect opening of May Day for vintage lovers.

May Day with Polish Cinema, Agrafka Cinema (1-4 May)

A review of domestic classics and new productions to mark the 20th anniversary of the Polish Film Institute. Each screening is preceded by a short lecture by a film expert, and selected screenings are followed by discussions with the filmmakers. A great offer for cinema goers who want a break from the open-air crowds.

Tour of the Juliusz Słowacki Theatre (1 May)

An hour-long walk through the backstage corridors of one of Europe's most beautiful theatres. Guides show you the unique mechanisms of the revolving stage, talk about the royal boxes and reveal theatrical anecdotes. Families and architecture enthusiasts can take unforgettable photos in the mirrored foyers.

Candlelight Concert: Vivaldi - "Four Seasons" (3 May, 18:00)

Lit by hundreds of candles, the "Florianka" auditorium is transformed into an intimate time capsule. An intimate string ensemble presents a baroque masterpiece, and the acoustics of the historic hall enhance the impression of a "living" spring, summer, autumn and winter. An ideal outing for couples looking for a romantic touch for May Day.

Candlelight Concert: 'Adele's greatest hits' (3 May, 20:00)

Same evening, same magical candlelight, but a different sound world - eight voices and a string quartet reinterpret Adele's ballads. The programme of 'Rolling in the Deep' and 'Someone Like You' shows how pop can sound in a classical setting.

"Spies" - pre-premiere screenings, Kino Pod Baranami (1 May)

Steven Soderbergh's thriller starring Cate Blanchett and Michael Fassbender. With its raw 1970s aesthetic, dynamic pace and star-studded cast, fans of genre cinema will start May with a thrill.

🦋 Living Butterfly Museum - an exotic break from the hustle and bustle of city life

When? daily 10:00 - 22:00
Where? 48 Grodzka Street (3 min walk from the Main Market Square)

Before you get caught up in the whirlwind of May concerts and festivals, set aside a 45 minutes in a tropical oasis hidden away in the heart of the Old Town.

What awaits inside?

• Hundreds of free-flying butterflies from Asia, Africa and South America - from blue Morpho to huge atlases.
  
• Pupae incubator - you can see the moment when the butterfly emerges from its cocoon and dries its wings.
  
• Exotic birds sneak between the plants; their presence enhances the impression of a real jungle.
  
• Relaxation area with tropical greenery and educational boards in three languages.
  

Tip for the tour: The museum lies exactly between Wawel Hill and the Cloth Hall - perfect for catching a tropical breath between a visit to the cathedral and an afternoon coffee in the Market Square.

Great festivals May 🎪

Krakow Students' Days (7-17 May)

The most vibrant student holiday has a slogan this year "City of Sounds". Individual universities - from AGH to UJ - are organising outdoor stages with rap, rock and electronica concerts. Juvenal parade (9 May) will turn the centre into a colourful fancy dress parade, and the day ticket includes access to the food areas and silent-disco until sunrise.

21st Night of the Museums (16 May)

More than 60 institutions will open the doors to their vaults from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. At the National Museum, we will see a conservation demonstration "Lady with an Ermine"and at MOCAK a sound performance responding to the movement of the audience. There will be interactive activity trails for families, and public transport will run more frequently until late at night.

Tri-Mountain Arts Festival (14-16 May)

The international event combines the exhibition "Revealing what is partly sensed". in Bunkier Sztuki, a conference on cooperation between the V4 countries at the International Cultural Centre, and a performance "Spaghetti wildness" Erik Sikora at Cricoteka. The programme highlights the dialogue of Central Europe and invites the viewer to experience contemporary art in an interactive way.

65th Krakow Film Festival (25 May - 1 June)

One of the oldest documentary film festivals in the world. Section "Sounds of Music" brings together images of unusual musical phenomena, while screenings at the Kijów Cinema and open-air projections on the banks of the Vistula create an atmosphere of cinema accessible to all. There is a film fair and script consultations for professionals, while the public can vote for their favourite film in the Polish competition.

Classical music and chamber concerts 🎻

Candlelight Vivaldi & Candlelight Adele - described above - open the classical-pop dialogue at the very beginning of May, but this is only the beginning of the musical feast.

"Red poppies" - patriotic concert (5 May, Podgórze Cultural Centre)

Soprano Edyta Piasecka conducts a musical tale of Polish fate from the Second World War to the present day. The repertoire includes soldier songs and contemporary arrangements of "Rozkwitały pąki białych róż", performed to the accompaniment of a small chamber orchestra. The concert closes with a joint singing "Rota"which makes the event highly inclusive.

Organ mornings at the Cracow Philharmonic (5 May, 9:00)

An educational series for young people and adults answers questions about the secrets of an instrument called the "king of the orchestra". The audience sits almost on the stage, observing the organist's work in a mirror placed above the playing table, while the leading musicologist illustrates the theory with extracts from Bach and Vierne.

University concerts of the Cracow Philharmonic (22 May)

In the neo-Gothic auditorium of the Collegium Novum, a string quartet of Philharmonic artists juxtaposes Mozart with works by contemporary composer Aleksandra Gryka. Each music block is preceded by a short lecture by a professor from the Jagiellonian University, building a bridge between science and art.

Festival of 4 Traditions (8 May)

Evening at the Philharmonic explores musical heritage Polish, Jewish, Armenian and Roma. Mixed choir, solo dulcimer and klezmer quartet come together in a concert whose drama ranges from melancholy to dancing ecstasy.

The "Four Seasons" concert returns once again in an abridged version during the the May dance (9 May)where an excerpt from 'Spring', arranged for violin and accordion, invites the audience to the dance floor. The intimate stage at the Podgórze Cultural Centre proves that classical music and dance can go hand in hand.

Rock, pop, hip-hop and yuletide 🎸🎤

May in Krakow also means an uncompromising dose of loud guitars and pulsating bass. The biggest momentum is going to 19 May at the Tauron Arena, where Babymetal - a metal phenomenon from Japan - will perform in Poland for the first time as headliners of an arena concert. They will be accompanied by Poppy with a cyber-pop show and a gothic outsider Bambie Thug; together they will create an evening bordering on rave and mosh-pit.

Homegrown rap fans get a final firecracker 29 May: Żabson celebrates 10 years of career with show "Hollywood Smile: X-perience", in which retrospective medleys are interspersed with premieres from the new album and invitations from unexpected guests.

A student carnival is taking place between these two giants: Krakow Students' Days (7-17 May). Campus AGH invites you to "Rock-day" with 90s guitar classics, the scene UJ-tu focuses on alt-pop and indie-folk, while Polytechnic prepares the floor "Techno by the River". A key moment is Students' Day Parade (9 May) - a colourful procession of costume clad people, which blocks the Aleje Trzech Wieszczów for a while, causing salvos of laughter from the tourists.

For those who prefer intimate clubs, almost every night ends with an afterparty: jazz-hop at the Alchemy, drum'n'bass in Krzysztofory or unplugged in Hevre. So in one month you'll hear everything from cascades of djent-metal to soul ballads and experimental lo-fi.

Theatre, musical and comedy 🎭

The May repertoire of Krakow's stages is a real journey through styles and eras.

• Musical "Six" (1 May, Variété Theatre) - Henry VIII's six wives rap, sing and fight for the right to their own narrative in an avalanche of neon lights.
  
• "Black Comedy" (1 May, STU Theatre) - when the stage lights "go out", the actors begin to see more than the spectator....
  
• "Boeing Boeing" (9 May, Kijów Cinema) - three stewardesses, one clever architect and a watch that stops working - a recipe for salvos of laughter.
  
• "The Bald Singer" (22 May) - Eugène Ionesco's grotesque, where a linguistic avalanche exposes the meaninglessness of conventions.
  
• "Scandal in the Cracovian style" (23 May, Luck Theatre) - Boy-Żeleński, Kossak and Witkacy at the same table prove that gossip is Krakow's oldest pastime.
  
• "Dziady" (5 May, Contemporary Theatre) - the rite of the All Souls' Day with the intensity of an almost cinematic horror film.
  
• "Tańcowały dwa Michały" (20 May, Groteska Theatre) - Children's joy and dance also captivate adults.

Exhibitions, museums and Museum Night 🖼️🌙

May in Krakow's galleries is a constant opportunity to immerse yourself in art - literally and figuratively.

• Museum of Living Butterflies at 48 Grodzka Street - tropical insects sit on visitors' palms and parrots allow themselves to be fed straight from the hand.

• "Revealing what is partly sensed". - exhibition at Bunkier Sztuki (from 14 May) exploring unseen aspects of perception through immersive and sound installations.
  
• 21st Night of the Museums (16 May) - the conserved "Lady with an Ermine", the organ in St Francis Church, the Town Hall tower and the game "Escape the Museum" in the Market Underground - all for a symbolic token.
  
• A series of vernissages at Fort 49 "Krzesławice" (3-20 May) - industrial walls and black-and-white portraits of Nowa Huta residents, free entry.

For families with children 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

• "Ptysio's great adventure in the Candy Land" (10 May, Czecz Manor) - The musical concluded with a workshop on creating edible decorations.
  
• "Thumbelina" (8 May, People's Theatre, 10:00) - XXL marionettes and a message about the power of small characters.
  
• "Into the Land of the Lion King" (13 May, Contemporary Theatre) - interactive singing and dancing sequences with the opportunity to get on stage.
  
• "Active Reading" (24 May, MOCAK) - Literary and art workshops for toddlers up to 6 years old.
  
• "Hansel and Gretel" (25 May, Contemporary Theatre) - a forest of recycled materials and an ecological message.
  
• Singing Kids' English Language Song Competition (21-22 May, House of Scouts) - 7 to 19 years, feedback from Music Academy lecturers.
  
• "Tańcowały dwa Michały" (20 May) - The finale of the day to the rhythms of a big band, a solid dose of energy for further sightseeing.
  

Workshops, walks and 'to do' activities 🏃‍♀️🛠️

• Hula-hop dance workshop (5 May, 19:01, KFK) - fitness + dancing to funk music, a pass for four meetings.
  
• SmartPower - smartphone consultation (6 May, 10:00, KFK) - 1:1 sessions for seniors, unhurried and in plain language.
  
• May dance for adults (9 May, 17:00, CK Podgórze) - waltz, tango, polka with live music and a national dance show.

• Cracow all round - thematic walks (start 10 May) - modernism, Kazimierz and the city walls, ending with a mini-concert by a street musician.
  
• Ethno? Logically! - family workshop (10 May, Ethnographic Museum) - hay toys, linen pouches and old ways of preserving food.
  

Practical tips: tickets, transport, accommodation 🗺️

Tickets and reservations

• Most concerts and performances offer sales online; you can buy paper tickets at the Empik chain or at the box office one hour before the event (risky on May Day).
  
• At Night of the Museums a common token at a symbolic price applies; queues to hit exhibitions can reach the street.

• Festivals sell passes Full week and one-day; students/students 20-50 % discount, seniors 10 %.
  

Transport

• Trams and buses every 5-10 min; 'N' night lines until 4:00.
  
• Rentals Wavelo bicycles and electric scooters (bolt, trafficar) allow you to bypass traffic jams.
  
• Fastest way from Balice airport to the centre by train Kraków Airport → Kraków Główny (17 min).
  

Accommodation

• Old Town - highest prices, best location.
  
• Cheaper hostels: Kazimierz, Podgórze; family suites: New Steelworks.
  
• Over the May weekend and festivals, occupancy is 95 % - book in advance.
  

City cards

• Krakow City Card 2 or 3 days = free museums + unlimited travel.
  

Ready to stay plans - 72 hours in Krakow ⏱️

Profile	Day 1 - Thursday	Day 2 - Friday	Day 3 - Saturday
Cultural connoisseur	Tour of the Slovak Theatre ➔ Musical "The 20s, the 30s"	Exhibition in Bunkier Sztuki ➔ Night of the Museums until midnight	Krakow Film Festival (Documentary block) ➔ Chamber music Mozart at Collegium Novum
Family with children	Museum of Living Butterflies ➔ Spectacle "Thumbelina"	Workshop Ethno? Logically! ➔ Vistula River boat trip	"Hansel and Gretel" ➔ Jordan Park and ice cream in Salwator
Student/partygoer	Juwenali Parade ➔ Stage AGH (rock)	Silent-disco in Kazimierz ➔ Drum & bass club night	Babymetal at the Tauron Arena ➔ After at the Alchemy
Active senior citizen	Walk "Kraków in the round" ➔ Organ morning	SmartHelp ➔ May dance	Guided tour of Nowa Huta ➔ Concert "Red Poppies"

Each plan calls for a lunch break at around 2 p.m.: the cultured can pop into the atmospheric Pod Baranem restaurant, families into the pierogarnia on Plac Wszystkich Świętych, students into the food trucks on Targ Pietruszkowy, and seniors into the cream soup at Cafe Magia. In the evening, it's worth booking a table - May crowds can fill popular venues for several rounds.

May 2025 in Krakow - final advice 🎯

May in Krakow resembles a well-composed piece of music: it begins nostalgically retro in the sounds of pre-war hits, develops in the energetic tutti of a student festival, and ends with a cinematic chord on the Vistula boulevards. Regardless of age and interests, everyone will find a piece of the score written for them - an intimate candlelit concert, a stroll through Art Nouveau façades, a family sewing linen bags or an all-night pogo in front of the stage.

The key to a successful May Day lies in the planning: tickets to the hits sell out faster than bagels in the morning, and accommodation in the centre can double in price in a week. It is also worth checking the weather forecasts - Krakow's May can be capricious and even on a sunny day an umbrella can save your sightseeing. Don't forget about public transport: night trams will take you from the Museums' Night or the Students' Night after party to your hostel without you having to pay for a taxi.

In Krakow, interesting events are organized throughout the year, the following month there is a great dragon paradeYou are cordially invited to this wonderful event!

With this guide in hand, the only thing left to do is to pick your dates, pack your comfortable shoes and open yourself up to urban adventures. Krakow in May can surprise - not only visitors, but also long-time residents - because this is a city that writes a completely new story about itself every spring. Come, listen to its rhythm and let the May sounds of the Old Town stay with you long after you have returned home. 🌟