Is the air quality good in Kraków?
On January 14, 2026, at 7:04 AM Pacific Time (PT), Kraków, Poland is breathing poor quality air as a result of stagnant weather and local pollutant sources, including coal-burning. The AQI is 160, classified as "unhealthy" with PM2.5 concentrations dominating.
Air quality is dynamic and, like the weather, can change frequently. Kraków ranked 10th among the most polluted cities in the world on Wednesday morning, with nearby cities like Warsaw, Bratislava, Slovakia, Brno, Czech Republic, and Vienna, Austria also affected.
Click here for a real-time air quality map of Kraków.
While the air quality conditions today are unusually poor, it is important to keep in mind that the average PM2.5 concentration in 2024 for Kraków was 17.7 µg/m³. This corresponds to an AQI of 62, which falls into the moderate category and was 3.9 times the WHO annual guideline.
Kraków, Poland ranked as the 10th most polluted major city on January 14, 2026. Source: IQAir.
When will air quality improve in Kraków?
Kraków's air quality may improve by Thursday evening. Air quality is forecast to improve to moderate levels as weather conditions shift, allowing pollutants to disperse more effectively.
Hourly air quality forecast for Kraków, Poland on January 14, 2026. Source: IQAir.
Air quality map of Kraków, Poland on January 14, 2026. Source: IQAir.
In winter, poor air quality can be a common phenomenon in Eastern, Southeastern, and parts of Central Europe. Temperature inversions paired with industrial activity and wide-spread use of coal for heating can significantly elevate PM2.5 concentrations across some of these regions, in particular in Southeastern Europe.
Air quality map of Eastern, Central, and Southeastern Europe on January 14, 2026. Source: IQAir.
What is causing poor air quality in Kraków?
Kraków’s air pollution is primarily caused by elevated levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), especially during the heating season (1).
While the city has banned solid fuels, emissions persist from nearby municipalities, where coal and wood-burning boilers—as well as older, inefficient stoves—remain in use. Under stagnant weather conditions, these pollutants accumulate and drift into Kraków, significantly worsening PM2.5 levels and overall air quality (2).
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How can I protect myself from poor air quality?
- Get a free air quality app for real-time air quality alerts and forecasts.
- Shut doors and windows and set the HVAC to recirculate mode.
- Contribute to your community’s outdoor air quality data.
- Stay indoors when air quality is poor; if you do need to go outdoors, wear a KN95/FFP2 mask.
- Run a high-performance air purifier to filter particles, gases, and other pollutants.
