The Pomeranian Voivodeship (Pomorskie) is Poland's Baltic coast region, centred on the Tricity of Gdańsk, Sopot and Gdynia. It combines Gdańsk's rebuilt Hanseatic Main Town, the Teutonic fortress of Malbork, the sandy Hel Peninsula, the moving dunes of Słowiński National Park and the lake-studded villages of Kashubia and Kociewie.
Pomeranian Voivodeship has a temperate maritime-to-continental climate: Gdańsk is classed as oceanic by some sources and humid continental by others. In the 1991-2020 period Gdańsk averaged 7.7°C over the year, about 571 mm of precipitation and about 1,726 hours of sunshine. The Baltic Sea moderates extremes, giving cool, windy summers and mild but grey winters. Rain falls on roughly half the days of the year, so a waterproof layer is useful in every season, and sea wind makes beaches feel cooler than the air temperature suggests.
Best time to visit
Best: June, July, August, September
Best Reason: June to August are the warmest months on the Baltic coast, with average highs of 20-23°C in Gdańsk and the longest days, which suit beaches, the Hel Peninsula and Łeba dunes. September keeps pleasant 18.5°C average highs with thinner crowds.
Peak Season: July and August (beach season, St. Dominic's Fair), plus December weekends (Christmas market)
Avoid: January, February, November and December
Avoid Reason: Gdańsk averages only about 32-39 hours of sunshine in December and January, with highs of 2-3°C, rain or snow on 16-18 days each month, and many seaside attractions on reduced hours.
Month-by-month weather
Typical conditions throughout the year.
January
-1.4°C/29°F avg (high 1.7°C, low -3.3°C)
The coldest month, with the least sunshine (about 39 hours), about 28 mm of precipitation and rain, sleet or snow on 17 days. Hotels are cheapest and the Main Town is quiet.
February
-0.8°C/31°F avg (high 2.9°C, low -2.7°C)
Still cold, with about 24 mm of precipitation and about 70 hours of sunshine. Days lengthen noticeably toward the end of the month.
March
1.8°C/35°F avg (high 6.6°C, low -0.4°C)
Early spring with cold mornings, about 28 mm of precipitation and 134 hours of sunshine. Beaches are empty and windy.
April
6.9°C/44°F avg (high 12.1°C, low 3.6°C)
Cool but increasingly bright, with 163 hours of sunshine. Spring blossoms appear in Oliwa Park and the Gdańsk Main Town, and crowds remain manageable.
May
11.9°C/53°F avg (high 16.8°C, low 8.1°C)
Mild with long days (244 hours of sunshine). A good month for city sightseeing, Malbork and walks on the Hel Peninsula before summer crowds arrive.
June
15.5°C/60°F avg (high 20.4°C, low 11.6°C)
The sunniest month, with 259 hours of sunshine and very long evenings. Beach season opens, though the sea is still cool.
July
17.7°C/64°F avg (high 22.6°C, low 14.2°C)
Warm and busy, with the highest rainfall of the year (79 mm) in showers and thunderstorms. Peak season for beaches, Open'er Festival and the start of St. Dominic's Fair.
August
17.3°C/63°F avg (high 22.9°C, low 13.9°C)
The warmest month with highs near 23°C, about 70 mm of precipitation and 225 hours of sunshine. Very busy; the Solidarity anniversary falls on 31 August.
September
12.9°C/55°F avg (high 18.5°C, low 10.4°C)
Calm, pleasant days with 174 hours of sunshine and thinner crowds. The Westerplatte anniversary on 1 September and the Polish film festival in Gdynia fall in this period.
October
8.0°C/46°F avg (high 12.7°C, low 5.8°C)
Cooler and wetter, with 15 days with precipitation and 105 hours of sunshine. Autumn colours in the parks, lower hotel prices, and the first storms of the season.
November
3.4°C/38°F avg (high 6.7°C, low 1.9°C)
Grey, damp and cold, with only 45 hours of sunshine. All Saints' Day on 1 November and Independence Day on 11 November are public holidays; the Christmas market starts at the end of the month.
December
0.1°C/32°F avg (high 3.1°C, low -1.6°C)
Short, dark days with about 32 hours of sunshine, but Christmas lights, the market and winter cafes bring festive atmosphere to the Main Town.
The seasons
What to expect in each part of the year.
Spring
Months: Mar-May
March and April stay cool, with Gdańsk average highs of 6.6°C and 12.1°C. May warms to 16.8°C and is the sunniest month of the spring with 244 hours of sunshine. Parks bloom and beach cafes reopen.
Summer
Months: Jun-Aug
Gdańsk average highs are 20.4°C in June, 22.6°C in July and 22.9°C in August, with 225-259 hours of sunshine a month. July is the wettest month, with 79 mm, often in short thunderstorms. Beaches and festivals peak.
Fall
Months: Sep-Nov
September averages 18.5°C highs and is calm and bright. October falls to 12.7°C with 15 rainy days, and November to 6.7°C with only 45 hours of sunshine. Autumn colours appear in Oliwa Park and the Tricity Landscape Park.
Winter
Months: Dec-Feb
Cold and grey, with average highs of 1.7-3.1°C and average lows of -2.7 to -3.3°C in Gdańsk. December has 18 days with precipitation and 32 hours of sunshine. The Christmas market and cosy cafes give the Main Town atmosphere, and storm surges can occasionally raise the Motława and coastal water levels.
Crowds & peak times
When to expect tourists and when to avoid them.
- High Season
- July-August (beach season, St. Dominic's Fair, festivals) and December weekends (Christmas market)
- Shoulder Season
- May-June and September
- Low Season
- January-March, October-November
Major events & festivals
Time your visit around what matters.
Night of Museums (Noc Muzeów)
Museums in Gdańsk, Gdynia and the region open late with free or very low-cost entry; check the current year's date locally
Open'er Festival
Large international music festival held at the Gdynia-Kosakowo airfield; hotels across the Tricity fill and rates rise
St. Dominic's Fair (Jarmark Świętego Dominika)
Gdańsk's traditional trade fair and street market, dating from 1260, spreads across the Main Town with stalls, crafts and food
Gdańsk Shakespeare Festival
Theatre festival with performances at the Gdańsk Shakespeare Theatre and other venues; check current programme
Anniversary of the August 1980 Agreements
Commemorations of the Solidarity movement at the Gdańsk Shipyard and the European Solidarity Centre
Westerplatte anniversary
Ceremonies at the Westerplatte memorial mark the beginning of the Second World War in 1939
Polish Film Festival in Gdynia
Annual festival of Polish feature films with screenings at cinemas in Gdynia; check the current year's dates
All Saints' Day
Cemeteries across the voivodeship glow with candles; many shops and restaurants close or have reduced hours
Independence Day
National holiday with official ceremonies and public gatherings in Gdańsk and Gdynia
Gdańsk Christmas Market
Seasonal market in the Main Town with lights, food stalls and crafts; confirm dates and location for the current year