Your reading
Four inputs that decide recommendation.
Result
A specific PM2.5 estimate + recommendation.
PM2.5 estimate
~ 95 µg/m³
Very poor — 19× WHO target. Kraków winter peak, morning heating peak.
Recommendation: N95 mask outdoors; avoid Old Town morning walks
Alternative: shift to Gdańsk or Zakopane (winter mountain air is cleaner)
PM10 estimate
~ 145 µg/m³
WHO daily target
5 µg/m³ (PM2.5), 15 µg/m³ (PM10)
Estimates are based on GIOŚ (Polish Chief Inspectorate of Environmental Protection) data 2023–2025. Live readings at powietrze.gios.gov.pl.
How to read the result
Polish air quality is a real issue, not a "well, it's smog, what can you do" cliché. Kraków is consistently in the top 5 most polluted EU cities in winter (along with Nowa Huta, Katowice, and Łódź). The cause is specific: coal-fired home heating (piece kotłowe, "kopciuch") + temperature inversion that traps the air in the valley + car exhaust.
PM2.5
Fine particulate (less than 2.5 micrometres). Penetrates deep into the lungs and bloodstream. WHO daily target: 5 µg/m³. EU limit: 25 µg/m³. Polish norm: not stricter than EU. Kraków winter typical: 50–80 µg/m³, peaks 110+.
PM10
Coarser particulate (less than 10 micrometres). Affects upper respiratory tract. WHO daily target: 15 µg/m³. EU limit: 50 µg/m³. Polish winter peaks: 100–150 µg/m³.
Why Kraków is the worst
Kraków sits in a basin. In winter, the city is often blanketed by a temperature inversion — cold air trapped below warm air, no vertical mixing. The coal smoke from ~30,000 individual home stoves (kopciuchy) accumulates. Nowa Huta (the eastern district) is the worst-affected.
Why the coast is cleaner
Gdańsk and the Tricity (Gdańsk–Sopot–Gdynia) sit on the Baltic coast. Wind is constant, dispersion is better. Even in winter, Gdańsk PM2.5 is typically 15–25 µg/m³ — well above WHO target, but ~5× better than Kraków.
Zakopane paradox
Zakopane is in a valley. In winter, with cold air inversion, the town itself can be quite polluted. But the upper Tatra slopes (Kasprowy Wierch, Morskie Oko) are usually clean — just take the cable car up. The rule: elevation helps.
Warsaw
Better than Kraków but still bad in winter. PM2.5 typically 30–50 µg/m³ in winter, occasionally 80+ on bad days. The city is flat and windier than Kraków. Summer readings ~10–15 µg/m³.
What the recommendations mean
N95 mask
For PM2.5 above ~50 µg/m³. Available at Polish pharmacies (apteka) ~5–15 zł. Filters ≥95% of fine particles. Required for outdoor exercise.
Avoid strenuous outdoor
PM2.5 above ~35 µg/m³ for asthma / child / pregnant. Reduces lung exposure. Indoor air is still 30–50% of outdoor, but much better.
Move the day
For severe episodes (>100 µg/m³ PM2.5), consider changing plans — indoor museums instead of outdoor walking, or a day trip to the Tatra mountains.
Indoor only
For asthma / child / pregnant in severe smog: stay indoors. Polish homes with closed windows are typically 30–50 µg/m³ even on bad days. An air purifier (oczyszczacz powietrza) drops it to <10 µg/m³.
Extra terrace OK
PM2.5 below ~15 µg/m³. Summer, coastal, or post-rain. Outdoor café / walking tour / bike ride fine.
Normal caution
PM2.5 15–35 µg/m³. Above WHO target but below acute concern. Healthy adults can be outdoors; sensitive groups should limit intense exercise.
Limitations of this calculator
FAQ
Where can I see live Polish air quality readings?
The official portal is powietrze.gios.gov.pl (GIOŚ, Chief Inspectorate of Environmental Protection). It shows all Polish stations, hourly updated. The "AirVisual" or "IQAir" apps aggregate global data; GIOŚ is the Polish authoritative source.
Are N95 masks easy to find in Poland?
Yes. Any apteka (pharmacy) carries them — branded as "maseczka FFP2" or "N95 / KN95". ~5 zł each. Hardware stores (Leroy Merlin, Castorama) carry them too. The post-2020 supply chain is robust.
Is Kraków doing anything about the smog?
Yes — slow progress. The "uchwała antysmogowa" (anti-smog resolution) for Małopolska voivodeship banned the worst coal stoves from 1 January 2024 for residential use. Replacement subsidies (~7,000 zł) are available from the municipality. New boiler installations must be gas, electric, or pellet. The full transition is expected by 2030.
What is a kopciuch?
A colloquial Polish term for an old, low-efficiency coal-fired home stove ("smoker"). Estimated ~30,000 still operating in Kraków. They are the largest single source of PM2.5 in the city. The 2024 anti-smog resolution targeted them first.
Related tools
Sources
- Polish Chief Inspectorate of Environmental Protection (GIOŚ) — powietrze.gios.gov.pl (2026 live data)
- WHO global air quality guidelines 2021 update — who.int
- Małopolska anti-smog resolution (uchwała antysmogowa) — powietrze.malopolska.pl (2024 update)
- European Environment Agency air quality report — eea.europa.eu (2025)