Croatia has two climates as the interior is separated from the coast by the Dinaric Mountains. The interior experiences a continental climate with hot summers and cold, snowy winters, while coastal areas have a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and short, mild and somewhat wet winters.
Weather in coastal Croatia
Average temperatures in summer (June to August) linger in the mid to high 20°Cs/82°F thanks to the proximity of the Adriatic coast, but it's not uncommon to reach 30°C+/86°F. There's hardly any rain in summer, making it the best season to experience Croatia's incredible beaches and water-based activities.
Temperatures slowly decrease as autumn (September to November) sets in, however, they're still high enough to spend long periods outside without getting too cold (think high teens to low 20°Cs/68°F). Autumn can be quite wet, and even more so as winter (December to February) approaches.
Winter temperatures along the coast lower to a mild 5°C/41°F, so it's unlikely for snow to fall in coastal areas. On some occasions, a light dusting of snow has fallen in Zadar and Split, but it's uncommon and often difficult to predict.
Weather in interior Croatia
Interior Croatia includes places like Zagreb and Slavonia. Summers can get very hot in the interior regions with temperatures often hitting the mid to high 30°Cs/high 80°Fs. However, it often feels warmer because of the lack of sea breeze. Similar to the coast, rainfall is low to none in summertime.
Winter in the interior regions is cold. Temperatures hover between -5°C and 5°C (23°F to 41°F) and moderate to heavy snowfall is common, particularly at higher elevations.
Does it snow in Croatia?
If you're travelling to Croatia for snow, then you're in luck! Interior regions get copious amounts of snow during winter, including Motovun, Gorski Kotar, Sljeme, Plitvice Lakes National Park and the Hrvatsko Zagorje region. Winter temperatures usually average 0°C/32°F so the ground is cold enough for snow to stick for an extended period. Although temperatures are conducive to frequent snowfall, it's unlikely to be extremely heavy, so if you're interested in skiing or snowboarding, travel to the ski resorts in the height of winter (January) to enjoy the best powder.
Average temperatures in Croatia
Month |
Average high |
Average low |
March to May |
18°C/64°F |
9°C/48°F |
June to August |
28°C/82°F |
18°C/64°F |
September to November |
17°C/62°F |
10°C/50°F |
December to February |
7°C/45°F |
1°C/33°F |
Learn about the best time to visit Croatia
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