The Best Time to Visit Croatia (When to Go and Avoid!)

👉 Jump to: Best Time to Visit Croatia | Travel Seasons | Weather Events | FAQ

The best time to visit Croatia is during May, June, September, or October. These are the months when all the tour operators and hotels are open, the weather is warm and pleasant, and the crowds are manageable.

I visited Croatia over the entire month of June and found it to be the perfect time to travel to Croatia. The weather was great, the tourist rush of July and August hadn’t hit yet, most of the attractions in Croatia were in full swing, and it was easy on the wallet.

But, what was perfect for me may not be the right choice for you. In this article, I’ll go over all the factors you should consider before booking your trip to Croatia. Let’s dive in!

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When is the Best Time to Visit Croatia?

The author Taylor Herperger, posing at the trail with scenic ocean view in the background in Mljet Island, Croatia — *Me on a June hike to Odysseus Cave on Mljet Island, Croatia*

Alright, let’s cut straight to the chase. You’re planning your visit to Europe and you just want to know: when is the best time to visit Croatia?

The most popular time to visit Croatia for international visitors is summer (July-August). However, the shoulder seasons (May-June, September-October) offer milder weather, fewer crowds, and cheaper activities and accommodations.

Croatia’s summer months are full of sunshine and parties yet can get unbearably hot, while the shoulder seasons tend to be less expensive with more variety for accommodation and activities. Meanwhile, Croatian winters, while decidedly calmer, colder, and wetter, can bring their own unique charm to the table.

Now, a lot depends on your travel preferences and why you are visiting Croatia. So, next, we’ll dive into when to go for different situations. Click these links to jump straight to the section most applicable to you:

💰 When to Go to Croatia On a Budget
⛵ When to Visit Croatia for Water Activities
🎉 When to Go to Croatia for Partying
⛰️ When to Visit Northern Croatia
🌳 Best Time to Go to Croatia National Parks
📅 Best Time to Go to Croatia Events and Festivals

When to Go to Croatia On a Budget

The view of Downtown Split, Croatia from Parka Suma Marjan — A view of downtown Split from Parka Suma Marjan

If traveling Croatia on a shoestring is most important to you, then I recommend visiting Croatia in early spring or late fall.

May-June and October-November may not be the peak times of year in Croatia, but they still offer ample amenities and are easy on the wallet. Keep in mind though that not all activities, restaurants, and accommodations will be open (especially in October and November) and your options will be slightly limited.

For the record, while I wasn’t on a shoestring budget, I was able to travel to Croatia in June affordably and comfortably. Check out my tips for traveling to Croatia to learn how.

When to Visit Croatia for Water Activities

Two people hang from a balloon while parasailing in Cavtat, Croatia at sunset — My friend and I sunset parasailing in Cavtat, Croatia

You should plan your Croatia trip during the summer (June – September) if you plan on swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, sailing, and doing other water-based activities.

Though accommodations will be more expensive and you’ll have to battle other travelers for activity slots, there’s nothing like spending a warm Croatian summer on the beach or a sailboat. Thanks to peer-to-peer rental sites like Sailo, it’s more affordable to rent a private yacht than you might think!

Of course, if you want to save on cost but still get the sunshine benefit, then the shoulder seasons will be perfect.

When to Go to Croatia for Nightlife

A small boat is docked in the harbor of Hvar Island, Croatia — Hvar is a top island for partying in Croatia

The best time to go to Croatia for parties is summer. Specifically, the last three weeks in July light up with travelers looking to get their nightlife on. If this sounds like something you’d be interested in, then look up the party scenes in Pag, Hvar, Brac, Dubrovnik, and Split.

When to Visit Northern Croatia

Taylor stands in front of waterfalls, turquoise lakes and green foliage at Krka National Park, Croatia in June — Me at Krka National Park, Croatia!

Destinations in northern Croatia experience much more diverse weather than you’ll find on the Adriatic coast. The winter months in this region do tend to get some snow while summer is a few degrees cooler than elsewhere in the country.

If long, sunny days are what you aim for, then the best time to visit Northern Croatia is in the summer. If you don’t mind milder days, then the shoulder seasons are great too.

👉 Pro Tip: Croatia is the perfect road trip destination, but transportation and your Croatia driving itinerary are best figured out ahead of time. To stay safe on the road, check out my 10 tips for driving in Croatia!

The Best Time to Go to Croatia’s National Parks

Taylor sits on wooden steps over a waterfall in Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia — Me at Plitvice Lakes National Park — one of the most scenic locations in the country

Though beautiful year-round, Spring (May-June) is the best time to go to a Croatian national park. The snow runoff means that the lakes and waterfalls are at their fullest, and because this is outside of Croatia’s peak tourist season, there will be fewer visitors to contend with.

While Croatia is home to many beautiful parks, I recommend you experience Plitvice Lakes, Krka, and Mljet national parks.

The Best Time to Experience Croatia Events and Festivals

One of the main buildings in Dubrovnik's Old Town in Croatia — Virgin Mary Ascension Cathedral in Dubrovnik, Croatia

Like every other country, events and festivals happen year-round in Croatia. However, the peak time to experience music, wine, and cultural festivals is from May through September. Look into the Nights of Diocletian, Festival of Flowers, Dubrovnik Summer Festival, and Zagreb Design Week for cultural events.

If you want to experience a Croatian music festival, look into INmusic Festival, Hideout Festival, Sonus Festival, and Outlook Festival.

Croatia’s Travel Seasons

High Season (July – August)

An aerial shot of downtown Dubrovnik, Croatia, surrounded by the Adriatic Sea — An aerial view of Dubrovnik, Croatia in the summertime

Croatia’s peak season, July through August, is the height of summer.

Traveling to Croatia in the summer means contending with crowds of other visitors, and for that reason, I suggest booking all of your accommodations, activities and travel as early as possible.

This is the time during which vacancies are at their lowest, and access to the top sites may be limited.

If activities such as exploring the national parks, strolling the Old Town of Dubrovnik, and island hopping via ferry are high on your list, then I recommend doing these as early in the day as possible.

Try to beat the afternoon rush, and look up cruise ship schedules so you can avoid the throngs that disembark and flood the sites. In the summer, you can expect the temperatures to hover from 25°- 35°C (77°-95°F).

Shoulder Season (May – June, September – October)

The waterfalls of Plitvice National Park in Croatia surrounded by Autumn foliage — The waterfalls of Plitvice National Park in Croatia

Croatia’s shoulder seasons run from early May through mid-June and September through mid-October. These times of year offer up the best of both high season and low.

In my opinion, this is the best time for Croatia travel throughout the country.

During these times, most businesses and activities are open, there are notably fewer visitors than in summer, accommodation is cheaper, the weather is still warm enough for activities, and transportation is easy to come by.

Of course, the shoulder season doesn’t have as consistently beautiful weather, but if you’re looking to beat the crowds, stay on a budget, and still be able to enjoy the Adriatic coast, then this is the time in which to do it.

During this time of year, the temperatures stay around 15°C-27°C (59°F-80°F).

Low Season (November – April)

Taylor sits on the walls of the Spanjola Fortress in Hvar, Croatia, with the Adriatic Sea, islands, and sailboats in the background. — Me sitting on the walls of Spanjola Fortress in Hvar

Low Season in Croatia runs from November through April and sees the least amount of visitors. Due to the drop-off in activity, many businesses close their doors for these months, and options for accommodation, sites, and activities are lacking.

If you plan on visiting Croatia at this time, I recommend doing so with a specific plan in mind or basing your trip around an activity that you can only do in the winter.

Weather-wise, this time tends to be cold and wet with temperatures dipping to below freezing in some areas. Coastal areas receive quite a bit of rain in these months, with 139mm on average over 2 weeks.

In general, the temperatures hover between 5°C-15°C (41°F-59°F) although this varies by area.

Croatia Weather Events

Taylor stands in front of a turquoise lake and waterfall at Krka National Park, Croatia — Me in Krka National Park, Croatia

Though Croatia is not a dangerous place to travel, it’s still prone to a few natural weather events, which is one reason many visitors opt to get insurance for their Croatian trip.

Wondering what seasons are most likely for natural disasters? Let’s break it down:

🌍 Earthquakes – Throughout the country, Croatia experiences earthquakes. These small tremors happen several times a month and are mostly without consequence. However, there have been instances of higher-magnitude quakes.

Due to the nature of earthquakes, these can happen any time of year.

🌲 Forest Fires – Most prevalent during summer, forest fires happen yearly in Croatia, and usually during heat waves when the country receives little rainfall. I recommend making a brief note of the weather while you’re in Croatia to see if there are any areas you should avoid.

🌊 Floods – Though Croatia has made the news in recent years for flash floods, they’re generally sporadic and mostly due to mismanaged water systems rather than natural occurrences. As a visitor, this isn’t something you’ll generally have to worry about.

FAQs About Croatia Travel

Is there a rainy season in Croatia?

The Croatian climate is definitively Mediterranean with warm, dry summers and wet, yet mild, winters on the coast. Meaning, winter along the coast could be classified as a rainy season.

What is the holiday season in Croatia?

The most popular months to go on holiday in Croatia are July and August. That said, late December and new years are also beautiful and cultural times to visit, especially if you celebrate the more traditional holidays.

Is Croatia expensive to visit?

While it’s certainly more expensive than its Balkan neighbors, it’s decidedly less expensive than Western Europe in general.

How many days in Croatia is enough?

7 days in Croatia will be enough to give you a feel for the country, though Croatia is truly a place where you could spend longer and not run out of new things to see and do.

What currency do they use in Croatia?

As of 2023, Croatia runs on the Euro. One Euro equates to roughly $1.10USD.

What are the cheapest months to go to Croatia?

The cheapest months to go to Croatia are November, December, January, February, and March. This is the low season in Croatia which sees relatively few visitors. The weather is cold during this time and not all activities are running.

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That’s it for the guide to best time to visit Croatia! Though best visited in the warmer months, Croatia is truly beautiful all year long, and there can be benefits to visiting at any time. For more articles on Croatia travel, check out all my Croatia travel blogs.

Have fun deciding when to visit Croatia!