Best time to visit · Croatia
The best time to visit Croatia
Croatia's seasons differ by place. Here is the best time for each destination, month by month.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Zysko serhii, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
May–June and September–October suit most of Croatia. Dubrovnik is at its best in May–June and September–October; Split is at its best in May–June and September; Zagreb is at its best in May–June, September–October and December.
Key facts
- Best months overall
- May–June and September–October
- Destinations compared
- 4
Best months by destination
| Destination | Best months | Warmest month | Wettest month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubrovnik | May–June and September–October | July (29°C) | November (13 days) |
| Split | May–June and September | July (31°C) | December (11 days) |
| Zagreb | May–June, September–October and December | July (28°C) | May (13 days) |
| Hvar | May–June and September | July (30°C) | January (11 days) |
Croatia month by month
What the seasons are like
- Dubrovnik: Dubrovnik has a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers, mild but wet winters and a warm sea from June to October.
- Split: Split has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate: long, dry, sunny summers with highs around 30 °C and mild, wet winters.
- Zagreb: Zagreb has a continental climate with warm summers often reaching 28°C or more, cold winters around freezing with occasional snow, and rain spread through the year with thunderstorms in late spring and summer.
- Hvar: Hvar has a sunny Mediterranean climate, often promoted as one of the sunniest places in Croatia, with hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters.
Crowds and hotel prices
Relative levels from our destination research: when each place is busiest, and when rooms usually cost least.
| Destination | Busiest | Quietest | Lowest hotel prices | Warm & dry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dubrovnik | June | February | January | July |
| Split | July | February | January | July |
| Zagreb | December | February | February | August |
| Hvar | July | February | January | July |
Events worth timing a trip around
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- Dubrovnik, February: Feast of St Blaise — processions and celebrations for the patron saint (3 February)
- Dubrovnik, July: Dubrovnik Summer Festival — theatre and classical music in forts and squares (usually mid-July to late August)
- Split, February: Carnival parades (February or early March)
- Split, April: Easter (March or April)
- Zagreb, February: Samobor Carnival (usually February)
- Zagreb, March: Festival of Lights — light installations across the centre (usually March)
- Hvar, February: Carnival celebrations in island villages (usually February)
- Hvar, March: Za Križen — overnight Holy Week procession in six villages (Holy Thursday, March or April)
Questions travellers ask
+When is Croatia cheapest and quietest?
Dubrovnik: January; Split: January; Zagreb: February; Hvar: January.
+What is the best month to visit Croatia?
May, when 4 of the 4 destinations in this guide are at their best.