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 · 2 festivals or holidays
- 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 (61 °F).Mild, green and empty old towns; sea still cold at about 61 °F (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 · 4 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 · 4 festivals or holidays
- JulyMixedPeak heat and crowds; book ferries and Plitvice slots ahead, sightsee before 10:00.Peak heat and crowds; book ferries and Plitvice slots ahead, sightsee before 10:00 AM.Dalmatian coast and islands: hot · Istria and Kvarner: hot · Continental Croatia: hotCrowds: High · 1 festival or holiday
- 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 · 4 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 · 3 festivals or holidays
- 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 · 3 festivals or holidays
Compare two months
Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Croatia, side by side.
Verdict
May: Great
Jun: Great
Crowds
May: Medium
Jun: High
Prices
May: Medium
Jun: High
Festivals listed
May: 4
Jun: 4
May: One of the best months: warm days, full ferry timetables, Plitvice waterfalls at full flow.
June: Swimming starts properly; prices climb from mid-month.
Croatia: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.
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 |