Dubrovnik has withstood earthquakes and sieges. Its marble flagstones and rugged partitions give this beautiful metropolis – Croatia’s hottest vacation spot – a timeless really feel.
However the seasons fluctuate massively in Dubrovnik. Your perspective to climate and the crowds will assist you select the most effective time to go to. Excessive summer season, for festivals and solar? Shoulder season, for quieter seashores? Or winter, when it might probably look like you’ve the town to your self?
What’s the climate like in Dubrovnik?
Dubrovnik is in southern Dalmatia, close to Croatia’s southern tip. The Adriatic gives swimming and water sports activities, and provides this port metropolis a maritime local weather. Summers are heat and sunny and winters damp and pretty gentle. It’s a compact place, with below 50,000 residents – making it considerably smaller than Break up and Zadar additional up the coast. Which means the picturesque previous city can get crowded – another excuse to plan your journey rigorously.
July and August’s excessive season is nice however busy
In July and August, the ocean is heat and there’s a mean of 11 hours of sunshine every day. A continuing stream of festivals focuses on classical music, theater, people and opera. Most of Croatia’s many dance music festivals are additional up the coast close to Zadar, however buses and ferries make getting round a breeze.
This all means Dubrovnik will get busy – organize lodging as early as you may. In a single day guests are joined by cruise ship passengers a number of instances a day, which might make the previous city hectic. Issues are quietest earlier than 9.30am or after 3pm, and day journeys and visits to close by islands imply you gained’t battle to fill your day.
Shoulder season can supply the most effective of each worlds
In Might, June, September and October, temperatures of 77°F (25°C) or increased are frequent, and whereas the ocean will be cool that is nonetheless time for a beach-focused vacation. The previous city can nonetheless be crowded, however with out the depth of July and August, and circumstances are good for touring the islands, mountain climbing or rafting.
You’ll see one other aspect of the town in off-season
For those who’re after a seashore break, visiting between November and April is a horrible thought. However if you happen to’re seeking to discover the town’s architectural and cultural delights in peace, you’re in luck. The previous city feels much less like a busy museum and extra like a residing metropolis, fairly a couple of bars and eating places keep open proper by means of the winter and lodge costs drop considerably.
January is chilly however quiet
January is the town’s coldest month, with daytime averages round 48°F (9°C). It’s not a time for outside actions until windy walks are your factor – Croatia’s well-known bura winds can convey robust gusts by means of winter. Most guests keep away, so chances are you’ll really feel prefer it’s simply you and the locals strolling the atmospheric streets.
Key occasions: Feast of St Blaise warm-up
February is pageant season
February means festivals. The Feast of St Blaise celebrates Dubrovnik’s patron saint with concert events and theater, whereas the Carnival packs in a dressing up parade, wine, avenue meals and children’ actions. The times are getting longer, however wrap up earlier than you hit the sights.
Key occasions: Carnival, Feast of St Blaise
March is for explorers and foodies
With common temperatures creeping as much as 54°F (12°C) and customer numbers nonetheless low, March is sweet for exploring the town partitions or day journeys to fishing villages or Trsteno Arboretum. Lodging are nonetheless cheap, though some stay closed. Wine celebration FestiWiNe ought to restart in 2023 after its pandemic closure and Ston, a brief drive up the coast, has an oyster pageant.
Key occasions: Dubrovnik FestiWiNe, Ston Oyster Competition
April means sightseeing and candy bread
April brings a definite step up in sunshine, and a shift within the metropolis’s vitality too. Easter is the normal begin of the vacationer season, and the pageant options avenue occasions and pinca sirnica, a candy Easter bread. The ocean stays chilly and the previous city is comparatively peaceable, other than some gratifying classical festivals.
Key occasions: Easter, Aklapela, Dubrovnik Musical Spring
Might is charming
Might will be critically heat, although circumstances are nonetheless unpredictable, with temperatures averaging round 64°F (18°C). It’s a good time to go to as virtually every little thing is open, with out being too busy. You possibly can breathe within the spring from pavement cafes and take (pretty bracing) dips within the sea, and it’s month for strolling (strive the Manner of the Cross, hilly Šipan or wooded Mljet).
Key occasions: Feast of St Domnius (in Break up)
June has early summer season buzz
Heat solar and early summer season buzz make June one in every of Dubrovnik’s most magical months. The seashores and coves are quieter than in mid-summer, and also you’ll discover much less congestion on the town’s well-known partitions, supplying you with extra time to understand Dubrovnik’s proud buying and selling historical past and glittering sea views. Performs and concert events add to the enjoyable.
Key occasions: Le Petit Competition, Midsummer Scene, Orlando Furioso
July is for seashores and music
Dalmatia is superb in July, with temperatures regularly exceeding 95°F (35°C). Life spills by means of the previous city, whereas festive music and theater fill the courtyards and forts. The consequence? It’s busy. Ebook lodging properly upfront, and head out early or late within the day to keep away from the worst of the crowds.
Key occasions: Dubrovnik Summer season Competition, Worldwide Opera Arias Competition Tino Pattiera
August is sunny and in style
One other peak month. The water is at its warmest, although chances are you’ll must look longer to discover a quiet spot – strive hopping on a sea kayak, or getting a ship to the car-free Elaphite Islands. Dubrovnik’s cultural blitz continues with concert events and theater (often together with Sixteenth-century playwright Marin Držić’s exuberant comedies). The warmth and excessive customer numbers imply it’s not value speeding – as an alternative, flow and take in the ambiance.
Key occasions: Dubrovnik Summer season Competition, Šipan Movie Summer season College, Dubrovnik Late Summer season Competition
September brings a mellow heat
Dubrovnik slips gently into shoulder season. Firstly of the month, classical festivals are nonetheless in full swing, the climate will be baking and the previous city is stuffed with keen guests. However as September strikes on, the issues grow to be cooler and fewer feverish. It’s a nice time to go to, with loads of sunshine however much less museum neck-craning.
Key occasions: Dubrovnik Late Summer season Competition
October is quiet however enjoyable
Your final likelihood for seashore time, and one in every of Dubrovnik’s most nice months. Some eating places and inns shut, however there’s sufficient happening for the town to nonetheless really feel vibrant, together with meals festivals and sporting occasions. Climbing and kayaking are interesting, lodging are comparatively inexpensive, and the cool waters off seashores reminiscent of Sveti Jakov and Bellevue are yours to discover.
Key occasions: Worldwide Competition of Jams & Marmalades, Dubrovnik triathlon, Good Meals Competition
November is for sightseeing and soup
The summer season season is lengthy gone, and as companies shut for winter there’s melancholy within the air. However with common temperatures reaching a excessive of round 62°F (17°C), November can beautiful. You’ll hardly ever wait in line anyplace, so can pack in museums, galleries and church buildings, in addition to close by locations reminiscent of Break up, earlier than heading inside to refill on the hearty likes of stuffed peppers and fažol (spicy bean soup).
Key occasions: Veteran Automotive Rally
December means Christmas and tradition
December is often chilly and infrequently moist, however celebrations convey spark to its darkish evenings. The Winter Competition has twinkling lights, a Christmas Honest and loads of cod dishes. On Saturdays, free guided walking tours are adopted by people performances. All this festive enjoyable means a slight uptick in guests, however charges are discounted and sights quiet.
Key occasions: Dubrovnik Winter Competition, Tisina Molim, Christmas, New Yr’s Eve
