Month guide · Split · Croatia
Split in December
What December is really like in Split: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Općina Klis, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
December is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 12°C (54°F), lows of 6°C (43°F), about 11 rainy days and roughly 9 hours of daylight. Advent fills the Riva with stalls, lights and concerts, and fritule are sold everywhere.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 12°C (54°F) / 6°C (43°F)
- Rainy days
- About 11
- Daylight
- About 9 hours
- Sea temperature
- 15°C (59°F)
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in December
December is the 11th-warmest month in Split: days average 12°C (54°F) against a yearly average high of 20°C (68°F), and nights fall to about 6°C (43°F). Rain falls on roughly 11 of its 31 days. Compared with November (16°C (61°F)), December is cooler; by January highs stay near 11°C (52°F).
- Sunrise (15 December)
- About 07:21
- Sunset (15 December)
- About 16:19
- Daylight
- About 9 hours
- Sea
- 15°C (59°F)
Winter (December–February). Mild but windy and wet at times, with Advent on the Riva and Carnival; many island services are reduced.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, December rates 2 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in July). That makes December one of the better-value months to book.
Events in December
- Advent in Split — Christmas market and events on the Riva (December)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in December
With frequent rain, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Historic site · Old Town (Diocletian's Palace)
Palace substructures (cellars)
The vaulted basement halls beneath the emperor's former apartments survive almost intact because they were used for centuries as storage and a rubbish dump.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Kids
- Architecture
Gallery · Meje
Meštrović Gallery
Combine it with a swim at Kašjuni beach, about 15 minutes' walk further west.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Rainy day
- Architecture
- Off the beaten path
- Views
Museum · North of the old town
Archaeological Museum
Founded in 1820, Croatia's oldest museum displays Roman and Greek finds from Salona and the Adriatic, including carved sarcophagi in a garden lapidarium, mosaics, coins, jewellery and pottery.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Art
Museum · Old Town (Diocletian's Palace)
Split City Museum
A short, cool stop between sights on a hot afternoon.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
What to pack
For highs near 12°C, lows near 6°C and 11 wet days: layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is December a good time to visit Split?
A quieter month with trade-offs, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, May–June and September are better overall. Compare every month.
Split in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is December a good time to visit Split?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Advent fills the Riva with stalls, lights and concerts, and fritule are sold everywhere.
+How warm is Split in December?
Average highs are around 12°C (54°F) and lows around 6°C (43°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Split in December?
Expect rain on about 11 days of the month.