When to go · Croatia
Croatia, month by month
The best months for Croatia: May, Jun, Sep.
Month by month
- JanuaryMixedCoast shut down and windy; Zagreb and Plitvice in snow are quiet and cheap.Dalmatian coast and islands: cool · Istria and Kvarner: cool · Continental Croatia: coolCrowds: Low · 1 festival or holiday
- FebruaryMixedCarnival in Rijeka; otherwise off-season, island ferries on winter timetables.Dalmatian coast and islands: cool · Istria and Kvarner: cool · Continental Croatia: coolCrowds: Low
- MarchMixedCoast wakes up late in the month; Easter dates decide when hotels open.Dalmatian coast and islands: fine · Istria and Kvarner: fine · Continental Croatia: coolCrowds: Low · 1 festival or holiday
- AprilGoodMild, green and empty old towns; sea still cold at about 16 °C.Dalmatian coast and islands: fine · Istria and Kvarner: fine · Continental Croatia: fineCrowds: Medium · 1 festival or holiday
- MayGreatOne of the best months: warm days, full ferry timetables, Plitvice waterfalls at full flow.Dalmatian coast and islands: best weather · Istria and Kvarner: best weather · Continental Croatia: best weatherCrowds: Medium · 3 festivals or holidays
- JuneGreatSwimming starts properly; prices climb from mid-month.Dalmatian coast and islands: best weather · Istria and Kvarner: best weather · Continental Croatia: best weatherCrowds: High · 2 festivals or holidays
- JulyMixedPeak heat and crowds; book ferries and Plitvice slots ahead, sightsee before 10:00.Dalmatian coast and islands: hot · Istria and Kvarner: hot · Continental Croatia: hotCrowds: High
- AugustMixedHottest and busiest; 5 and 15 August holidays jam the coast roads.Dalmatian coast and islands: hot · Istria and Kvarner: hot · Continental Croatia: hotCrowds: High · 2 festivals or holidays
- SeptemberGreatBest month overall: warm sea, thinner crowds, grape harvest.Dalmatian coast and islands: best weather · Istria and Kvarner: best weather · Continental Croatia: best weatherCrowds: Medium
- OctoberGoodSea swimmable early in the month; Plitvice autumn colours; some island hotels close.Dalmatian coast and islands: fine · Istria and Kvarner: fine · Continental Croatia: best weatherCrowds: Low
- NovemberMixedRainy and quiet; Istrian truffles and Zagreb museums are the draw.Dalmatian coast and islands: rainy · Istria and Kvarner: rainy · Continental Croatia: coolCrowds: Low · 1 festival or holiday
- DecemberMixedAdvent in Zagreb fills the capital; the coast is closed for winter.Dalmatian coast and islands: rainy · Istria and Kvarner: rainy · Continental Croatia: coolCrowds: Medium · 1 festival or holiday
Weather by region
How each climate zone rates each month.
| Region | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dalmatian coast and islandsSplit, Hvar, Korčula, Dubrovnik, Zadar | Cool | Cool | OK | OK | Best | Best | Hot | Hot | Best | OK | Wet | Wet |
| Istria and KvarnerRovinj, Pula, Opatija, Rijeka | Cool | Cool | OK | OK | Best | Best | Hot | Hot | Best | OK | Wet | Wet |
| Continental CroatiaZagreb, Plitvice, Slavonia | Cool | Cool | Cool | OK | Best | Best | Hot | Hot | Best | Best | Cool | Cool |