Winter
Dec → Feb12 to 13°
nights 4 to 7°
- 12 rainy days · 223 mm
- 6.8 h of sun
- sea 16°
When is the best time to visit Croatia?
In short: May to October on the Adriatic coast, with June and September as the best months: 26 to 27 °C in the afternoon in Dubrovnik, a warm sea and fewer people than in high summer. July and August remain the season for the islands and open-air festivals, but also the time when visitor numbers peak.
- Swimming in Dalmatia: From June to September, with 26 to 31 °C in the afternoon in Dubrovnik and very little rain in July (26 mm over 3 days).
- Dubrovnik and Split without the crush: In May, June, September and October: the heat eases, the crowds thin out markedly after summer, and the city walls are easier to walk.
- Plitvice Lakes: From April to October: the upper lakes normally open in early April, weather permitting, whereas in winter only the lower lakes can be visited.
- Summer festivals: In July and August, open-air concerts and performances liven up the coastal towns, including the Dubrovnik Summer Festival in the old town.
- A taste of autumn: In September and October, seasonal produce reaches the tables, temperatures drop and visitors become scarcer.
Best avoided: November to February on the coast: Dubrovnik gets its heaviest rain (303 mm in November, 283 mm in December), stays at 12 to 17 °C in the afternoon, and some of the seasonal places on the islands are closed.
Sources: croatia.hr, croatia.hr, np-plitvicka-jezera.hr
- Jan12°not recommended
- Feb13°not recommended
- Mar14°fair
- Apr17°fair
- May22°recommended
- Jun27°recommended
- Jul31°fair
- Aug30°fair
- Sep26°recommended
- Oct22°recommended
- Nov17°not recommended
- Dec13°not recommended
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in Croatia, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Sunshine | Rainfall | Rainy days | Sea | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 12° | 4° | 6.5 h | 222 mm | 13 d | 16° | |
| February | 13° | 5° | 7.7 h | 164 mm | 9 d | 15° | |
| March | 14° | 6° | 9 h | 152 mm | 12 d | 15° | |
| April | 17° | 9° | 10.7 h | 138 mm | 11 d | 16° | |
| May | 22° | 14° | 11.8 h | 133 mm | 12 d | 19° | ✓ |
| June | 27° | 19° | 13.2 h | 68 mm | 7 d | 24° | ✓ |
| July | 31° | 22° | 13.8 h | 26 mm | 3 d | 27° | |
| August | 30° | 22° | 13 h | 75 mm | 7 d | 27° | |
| September | 26° | 18° | 10.7 h | 177 mm | 8 d | 25° | ✓ |
| October | 22° | 13° | 9 h | 203 mm | 10 d | 23° | ✓ |
| November | 17° | 9° | 6.5 h | 303 mm | 13 d | 20° | |
| December | 13° | 7° | 6.2 h | 283 mm | 15 d | 17° |
The four seasons in Croatia, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Dubrovnik) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Spring
Mar → May14 to 22°
nights 6 to 14°
- 12 rainy days · 141 mm
- 10.5 h of sun
- sea 17°
Summer
Jun → Aug27 to 31°
nights 19 to 22°
- 6 rainy days · 56 mm
- 13.3 h of sun
- sea 26°
Autumn
Sep → Nov17 to 26°
nights 9 to 18°
- 10 rainy days · 228 mm
- 8.7 h of sun
- sea 23°
Book early for May to June and September to October
The timing is right, so it is right for everyone: in these months the best places to stay and the small-group tours go first. Here is where to start.
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Daylight in Croatia, month by month
The time between sunrise and sunset, from shortest to longest. Not to be confused with the sunshine hours in the table above, which count clear skies. In June there are 15h18 of daylight, in December 9h03, a difference of 6h14.
9h22Jan
10h29Feb
11h48Mar
13h20Apr
14h36May
15h18Jun
15h01Jul
13h54Aug
12h25Sep
10h58Oct
9h41Nov
9h03Dec
Calculated for the latitude of the reference point "Dubrovnik" (42.65°). Values on the 15th of each month, local solar time.
What to do in Croatia, month by month
| Activity | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hiking | ||||||||||||
| Beach & swimming | ||||||||||||
| Towns & culture | ||||||||||||
| Diving & snorkelling | ||||||||||||
| Long days | ||||||||||||
| Events | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
EventsDubrovnik Summer FestivalJuly to AugustRijeka CarnivalFebruary to MarchSinjska AlkaAugustDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
- Hiking: February, June, September
- Beach & swimming: June, July, August, September
- Towns & culture: February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October
- Diving & snorkelling: July, August, September
- Long days: May, June, July
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall, sea), not from an opinion.
What's on in Croatia, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. One of these events fills the hotels and pushes prices up: something to aim for or to avoid, depending on what you want.
- July to AugustDubrovnik Summer Festival big crowds
Theatre, music and dance take over the squares and fortresses of the old town for six weeks.
- February to MarchRijeka Carnival
Rijeka parades in masks for several weeks, with the zvončari, bell ringers clad in sheepskin.
- AugustSinjska Alka
In Sinj, in inland Dalmatia, riders in costume charge on horseback to spear a ring with a lance, in early August.
Travelling off-peak
When to visit Croatia, region by region
A country's best time is an average, and it hides big differences. Here is what the records say for each area, month by month: ✓ for a recommended month, ~ for a fair one, a dot for a month to avoid. Hover over a cell for the temperature.
| Area | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇭🇷 Dubrovnik | · | · | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | ~ | ✓ | ~ | · | · |
| 🇭🇷 Split | · | · | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · |
| 🇭🇷 Hvar | · | · | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · |
| 🇭🇷 Istria | · | · | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · |
| 🇭🇷 Plitvice Lakes | · | · | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · |
Month by month, in detail
January
Not recommended12°4° at night
- 222 mm · 13 d
- 6.5 h
- sea 16°
Low season, lower prices
February
Not recommended13°5° at night
- 164 mm · 9 d
- 7.7 h
- sea 15°
Low season, lower prices
March
Fair14°6° at night
- 152 mm · 12 d
- 9 h
- sea 15°
Low season, lower prices
April
Fair17°9° at night
- 138 mm · 11 d
- 10.7 h
- sea 16°
Low season, lower prices
May
Recommended22°14° at night
- 133 mm · 12 d
- 11.8 h
- sea 19°
Busy, without the crush
June
Recommended27°19° at night
- 68 mm · 7 d
- 13.2 h
- sea 24°
Busy, without the crush
July
Fair31°22° at night
- 26 mm · 3 d
- 13.8 h
- sea 27°
High season, book early
August
Fair30°22° at night
- 75 mm · 7 d
- 13 h
- sea 27°
High season, book early
September
Recommended26°18° at night
- 177 mm · 8 d
- 10.7 h
- sea 25°
Busy, without the crush
October
Recommended22°13° at night
- 203 mm · 10 d
- 9 h
- sea 23°
Busy, without the crush
November
Not recommended17°9° at night
- 303 mm · 13 d
- 6.5 h
- sea 20°
Low season, lower prices
December
Not recommended13°7° at night
- 283 mm · 15 d
- 6.2 h
- sea 17°
Quiet, then the holidays
Read the twelve months in detail
January. Cool: 12 °C at best, 4 °C at night. Expect 13 days of rain in the month (222 mm). Expect 6.5 h of sunshine a day. Sea at 16 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
February. Cool: 13 °C at best, 5 °C at night. Expect 9 days of rain in the month (164 mm). Expect 7.7 h of sunshine a day. Sea at 15 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
March. Cool: 14 °C at best, 6 °C at night. Expect 12 days of rain in the month (152 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 9 h a day on average. Sea at 15 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
April. Cool: 17 °C at best, 9 °C at night. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (138 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 10.7 h a day on average. Sea at 16 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
May. Mild, 22 °C in the afternoon and 14 °C early in the morning. Expect 12 days of rain in the month (133 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 11.8 h a day on average. Cool sea (19 °C), for the brave. Busy season, without the crush.
June. 27 °C in the afternoon and 19 °C at night. Rain stays light: 68 mm over 7 days. Plenty of sunshine: 13.2 h a day on average. The sea is at 24 °C: pleasant swimming. Busy season, without the crush.
July. 31 °C in the afternoon and 22 °C at night. Hardly any rain (26 mm over 3 days). Plenty of sunshine: 13.8 h a day on average. The sea is at 27 °C, a proper swim. High season: book early.
August. 30 °C in the afternoon and 22 °C at night. Rain stays light: 75 mm over 7 days. Plenty of sunshine: 13 h a day on average. The sea is at 27 °C, a proper swim. High season: book early.
September. 26 °C in the afternoon and 18 °C at night. Expect 8 days of rain in the month (177 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 10.7 h a day on average. The sea is at 25 °C: pleasant swimming. Busy season, without the crush.
October. Mild, 22 °C in the afternoon and 13 °C early in the morning. Expect 10 days of rain in the month (203 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 9 h a day on average. The sea is at 23 °C: pleasant swimming. Busy season, without the crush.
November. Cool: 17 °C at best, 9 °C at night. Expect 13 days of rain in the month (303 mm). Expect 6.5 h of sunshine a day. Cool sea (20 °C), for the brave. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
December. Cool: 13 °C at best, 7 °C at night. A very wet month, 283 mm of rain over 15 days. Expect 6.2 h of sunshine a day. Sea at 17 °C, too cold to swim. Quiet at the start of the month, then busier as the holidays approach.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Croatia?
May to October on the Adriatic coast, with June and September as the best months: 26 to 27 °C in the afternoon in Dubrovnik, a warm sea and fewer people than in high summer. July and August remain the season for the islands and open-air festivals, but also the time when visitor numbers peak.
Which month should you avoid in Croatia?
November to February on the coast: Dubrovnik gets its heaviest rain (303 mm in November, 283 mm in December), stays at 12 to 17 °C in the afternoon, and some of the seasonal places on the islands are closed.
What is the hottest month in Croatia?
July, with 31 °C on average in the afternoon and 22 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Dubrovnik).
What is the coldest month in Croatia?
January, with 12 °C at best during the day and 4 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Dubrovnik).
What is the driest month in Croatia?
July: 26 mm over 3 days of rain, against 303 mm in November, the wettest month.
Which month has the most sunshine in Croatia?
July, with 13.8 h of sunshine a day on average. Note that this counts clear skies, not the length of the day.
When can you swim in Croatia?
The water reaches 22 °C or more in June, July, August, September, October (warmest 27 °C in July), measured in 2023-2024 on the nearest coast (Dubrovnik).
When is the best time to hike in Croatia?
February, June, September: highs between 12 and 29 °C and no more than 9 days of rain a month according to 2015-2024 records (Dubrovnik), the safest windows for walking.
When to go diving or snorkelling in Croatia?
July, August, September: the sea is above 25 °C, warm enough to stay in a long time without a thick wetsuit. 2023-2024 records on the nearest coast (Dubrovnik).
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable Croatia guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→
🗓️ Best time to visit: all our destinations→
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