Best time and season to visit Croatia: Complete guide

Croatia is a small but beautiful Eastern European country located between Austria and Turkey. If you're looking for a great getaway from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, this gorgeous country should be at the top of your list. Wondering when's the best time to visit Croatia? In this article, we'll explore the best time to visit Croatia so you can enjoy all it has to offer without worrying about overcrowded tourist traps or extreme weather conditions.

When is the best time to visit Croatia?

The best time to visit Croatia is from June to August.  Croatia is filled with artful cities, plenty of waterfalls, and winding vineyards, but the most glorious of all is its coastline which follows its route along with the Adriatic coasts. You will find picturesque islands with decent ports and plenty of ferries to carry you around. High season brings you plenty of hot sun and a fun vibe during the summer months, especially to the Dalmatian coast along with Hvar Town's classy waterfront, whereas winter brings snow activities and cultural festivities at relatively lower prices in the capital city, Zagreb. Croatia lies in the Mediterranean and has a Continental Climate with a variety of temperatures in the mountains, plains, and coastal areas. It experiences the summers as the most pleasant season, and it is considered the best time to visit Croatia. Although a few travellers love to go and experience skiing and snowboarding in the chilly winter. The most famous Dinara mountains in Croatia have an alpine climate, and this place is ideal for visiting in the summer, probably for hiking. Wear appropriate clothes, as this is not the usual sweaty hiking place. You will feel the visible temperature differences in the mountains and the coastal areas once you are there for hiking. The winter is usually cold and chilly, with most hotels closed due to snow and fewer visitors, yet you can enjoy the snow and the fun of snow games. So, whatever your preferences are, you can get the best of each season during your visit to Croatia.

When is the best season to visit Croatia?

The best season to visit Croatia is their summer season, which is also the peak tourist season. Here are the details. 

Peak Season

Peak season, which is July through August, sees a lot of visitors due to pleasant weather, which ranges from 25°- 35°C. Remember to book your hotels way ahead of time to save yourself last-minute rushing to beat the crowds, due to low hotel vacancies. You may wish to have the ferry ride in the pleasant sunny weather, but do that in the early hours of the day to avoid the afternoon rush. Better to plan the same morning time for leisure strolling through the streets of Old Town Dubrovnik. June to August is considered the peak tourist season and hottest months to visit Croatia, especially for the beach-lovers and people looking for plenty of water sports and outdoor activities on the Adriatic Coast. The weather during this time is warm and sunny, perfect for swimming and enjoying nature. Due to the high crowds, summer is the peak season and the most expensive time to visit Croatia.

Shoulder Season

Starting from May and running till the first half of June, the whole month of September is marked as the shoulder season to visit Croatia. The weather starts to warm up, but not like the Summer months which is the peak season, still, you have two benefits in one: relatively lower rates and lesser crowds. Shoulder season does not have the ideal weather for swimming or other beach fun activities. Yet, a few activities are easily approachable, including the Adriatic coast access with less waiting time and lesser prices, Plitvice Lakes, and visits to the National Parks. So shoulder season might be the best time to visit Croatia if you are looking to save money.

Off-season

Running from November through April is the off-season for Croatia, which sees fewer visitors. If you plan to visit Croatia during the low season to enjoy the snow activities and other cultural events, book accommodation in advance because many businesses close during extreme cold climates.

A month-by-month guide to travel in Croatia

This section is all about month-wise travel details related to Croatia tourism. 

Croatia in January

January in Croatia means you expect few visitors and the lowest temperatures. During January, you may expect many attractions closed to the visitor's access due to low temperatures, rainy season, and heavy snow. But if the attractions are open, you can enjoy them all. Still, you can enjoy a few cultural events in the middle of January.

• Temperature range to expect: -2 Degrees Celsius to 3 Degrees Celsius

• Events: Carnival in Rijeka, Maskare

Croatia in February

Lower temperatures continue with the rainy season following but the festivals start to increase during February. Still, there are fewer visitors, but February is better than January for visiting Croatia. For people who are lovers of art and cultures, including parades in costumes, then February is your month to visit Croatia, enjoy the Maskare in major areas of the country, and the Dubrovnik's Feast of St. Blaise.

• Temperature range to expect: 0 Degrees Celsius to 6 Degrees Celsius

• Events: Feast of St. Blaise, Maskare, or Carnivals

Croatia in March

Croatia has a cold winter, and spring springs bloom with colourful patterns erasing the traces of winter throughout the National Parks. Festivals and feasts start to show up, with pretty lighting installed throughout the major cities, to welcome the rebirth of spring.

• Temperature range to expect: 3 Degrees Celsius to 11 Degrees Celsius

• Events: Zagreb Festival of Lights, Festival of Oysters

Croatia in April

April is the time to travel throughout Croatia to enjoy Easter and many people from European countries also come to celebrate the official presence of Spring. Depending on the days of Easter, Rovinij hosts an Easter Food Fest, you can enjoy that with other musical performances which are traditional brass music to brighten up the cultural festivals.

• Temperature range to expect: 8 Degrees Celsius to 16 Degrees Celsius

• Events: Gast Fair, Easter, Food Fest

Croatia in May

We can feel a drastic change in the first half of May and the second half of May, with the former having spring and the latter basking in the beauty of summer. A high visitor influx is seen, and there is a spike in hotel and ferry ride prices. Adriatic coastal lines and coastal towns are the ideal places to visit. Along with the cultural attractions, party scenes at the beaches make Croatian vacation during the popular months a feast to the international visitors.

• Temperature range to expect: 12 Degrees Celsius to 21 Degrees Celsius

• Events: Festival of St. Domnius, Split's patron saint

Croatia in June

The official start of the summer steps through June throughout Croatia. You may expect crowds to swell up as the temperature rises.  June hosts several dance and music events along with the coasts. You can also go to national parks, or the Plitvice lakes to maximise your summer visit. Festivals in summers give the visitors a touch of local culture and traditional music. Now the cultural music is replaced by the electronic music festivals to have a feel of jazz music. A visit to Dubrovnik, the walled city, which is one of the architectural masterpieces, is a must during the summer months.

• Temperature range to expect: 14 Degrees Celsius to 24 Degrees Celsius

• Events: Sword Dance Festival

Croatia in July

So visiting Croatia during July means arranging for accommodations and finding a place to sunbathe, well in advance. Otherwise, you will have to face rejections by the hotels due to lower vacancies. If you want to enjoy the quietness and the serenity, visit Kornati island or you may explore the hilly areas and the dwindling vineyards. Blue waters along the coastal cities and on the Croatian Island call visitors to have a look at the cruise ship schedules or the boat trips to either Pag Island or a simple beach trip to enjoy the holiday season.  Do visit Split during your Croatian trip to visit Diocletian's palace which is considered the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

• Temperature range to expect: 20 Degrees Celsius to 28 Degrees Celsius

• Events: Dubrovnik Summer Festival, Full Moon Festival

Croatia in August

Expect beaches swamped by the crowd as international visitors and domestic travellers enjoy sunbathing throughout the coastal areas. Again due to high demand, the supply of accommodation is lower, and obviously, the prices of even the smallest food stalls are sky-rocketing throughout August. Croatian festivals bring you the option to enjoy milder weather in traditional costumes which is quite a wonderful experience. Escape to Hvar Island to enjoy serenity and sunshine.

• Temperature range to expect: 22 Degrees Celsius to 29 Degrees Celsius

• Events: Sonus Festival, Fair of Krk, Annual Film Festival, Špancirfest

Croatia in September

After the extreme hustle and bustle on the beaches, things seem to quieten up during the autumn months, which is ideal for budget travellers. Still, you can find ferries running through the islands, especially the Dalmatian beach, or you can have the cultural events which are still high on the show. It is better to hire a travel guide though. You can even visit various national parks in the coastal towns including the Krka national park and Plitvice lakes national park.

• Temperature range to expect: 16 Degrees Celsius to 25 Degrees Celsius

• Events: World Theatre Festival, Diocletian Nights

Croatia in October

Kids are back to school, ferry services are coming to a halt, and the hotels are getting less accommodation demand. Still, the coastal area is a bit warm during the day, followed by cool evenings with a pleasant breeze. Apart from the temperatures dropping off you still have the opportunity to enjoy all the activities available in peak season including the visits to Dalmatian Coast and the Krka National Park. October is one of the rainiest months in Croatia with average temperatures lowering to 13 degrees centigrades in the daytime.

Temperature range to expect: 14 Degrees Celsius to 21 Degrees Celsius

Events: Zagreb Film Festival.

Croatia in November

The temperatures are further dropped with a few hotel and ferry services closed. Expect shorter queues at festivals to enjoy a wonderful time with classical music and a good ambience. It is an excellent time to enjoy classical music in the cafes and enjoy the wines during mild winters of November.

• Temperature range to expect: 11 Degrees Celsius to 16 Degrees Celsius

• Events: Feast of St Martin

Croatia in December

By now, many of the summer businesses have shut down, and the snow starts to settle high. Enjoy the art and galleries with ample cafes and bar lounges. Expect a full snow show on the streets of Croatia. 

Temperature range to expect: 8 Degrees Celsius to 15 Degrees Celsius

Events: Christmas, New Year’s Eve

When is the cheapest time to visit Croatia?

Visiting Croatia on a budget means visiting during the shoulder season. If you are on a tight budget, better to get your plan during the winter, which is the perfect time to enjoy off-season rates to travel. Off-season ( December to February) is always the cheapest time to visit Croatia.

When is the most expensive time to visit Croatia?

Peak Season, having summer temperatures that start from the second half of May till August, is the most expensive time to visit Croatia. Droves of people visit the place. 

Which is the best month to visit Croatia for your honeymoon?

Ideally, May to June and September to October may be great months for a honeymoon visit as they offer pleasant weather and do not attract a lot of people. 

When is the best season for diving in Croatia?

Summer is the best season for diving in Croatia, with the water warming up to 26 degrees Celsius. Seaside towns are the best tourist attractions that showcase Croatia as a beautiful country having ideal daytime temperatures.

Why you must get travel insurance when visiting Croatia

Vacationing abroad doesn’t always go smoothly. There are plenty of things that can go wrong, and they often catch us unaware. Besides the mental trauma of being stuck abroad and feeling helpless, incidents such as medical emergencies, loss of baggage, and flight delays can leave a big dent in your pocket. So in order to eliminate the uncertainty, it's best to buy travel insurance before your trip to Croatia.

This section highlights some common questions and their answers about Croatia tourism.

Which is the best month to visit Croatia?

The best month to visit Croatia is September. The weather is warm enough for swimming in the sea and enjoying the beaches, and there is plenty of sunshine. The tourist season starts at the beginning of May and runs through September, but the months of May and June or September and October are ideal for a pleasant and sunny vacation.

What is the tourist season in Croatia?

The tourist season in Croatia is from mid-June to mid-September. This is the high season for tourists, with peak travel time occurring in July and August. Visitors can expect warm, sunny weather and plenty of activities to enjoy, from boat parties to mediaeval fairs.

How many days are just enough to cover Croatia?

Generally, 10 days is the ideal amount of time to get a good taste of Croatia's beauty, culture and activities. However, there are so many attractions in this country that if you have more time, three weeks would provide plenty of opportunities to take in all the wonders that Croatia has to offer!

Which is the rainiest month in Croatia?

If you are trying to find out what the rainiest month is in Croatia, the answer is August. This is the wettest month of the year in Croatia, with an average of 5.4 days of rainfall per month. 

Should I visit Split or Dubrovnik?

Dubrovnik is perfect if you're looking for the ultimate culinary experience. It has an amazing Old Town and plenty of top-notch restaurants for foodies. On the other hand, if you're looking for great nightlife and day trip options, then Split is the spot for you. Generally speaking, it tends to be a bit cheaper than Dubrovnik as well! Of course, both destinations offer excellent beaches, so no matter which one you choose you can look forward to having some fun in the sun!

Which are the hottest months in Croatia?

If you're looking for the hottest time of year in Croatia, then that would be July and August. These months are when temperatures soar in this Mediterranean paradise and attract tourists from all around the world.

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Disclaimer: The content on this page is generic and shared only for informational and explanatory purposes. It is based on industry experience and several secondary sources on the internet, and is subject to changes.

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