The Benefits of Travelling to Croatia in Winter

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People tend to rule out regular sightseeing trips when it comes to winter in Europe. That’s certainly true for somewhere like Croatia, where summer is king. I mean, if you’re going to Croatia, you’re going to want to visit when it’s warm and you can sunbathe and swim, right? The idea of visiting Croatia in winter probably doesn’t even cross their minds. I have to say, I was the same way, that is until my visit last winter.

After some successful winter trips to other European countries, I decided to visit Croatia in early March. I managed to time my trip perfectly, as the day I left for Zagreb a huge blizzard swept over Europe. It was the dreaded “Beast from the East“. And yet, I had a great time traipsing through Croatia and seeing another side to the country. I mean, is winter the best time to visit Croatia? Probably not, but it’s also not something that needs to be avoided either. Let’s take a look at what you can expect.

Croatia Weather in Winter

Whenever thought turns to the idea of travel during winter, probably your first concern is going to be the weather. While it may not be as sunny and perfect as you’d find in summer, in Croatia weather during winter isn’t that bad either. There were times where I was greeted with bright blue skies and it felt pleasant to be walking around, particularly on the coast. But as I mentioned, I arrived in Zagreb right after a blizzard had gone through and there was snow everywhere. Yes, it can snow in Croatia, who’d have thought it!

I’d like to point out that when I visited Croatia and Zagreb the first time during summer, it was late July and so stupidly hot and windy that it made sightseeing downright rough. Compared to that, I’ll take visiting Croatia in February even if it only gets to 7°C in Zagreb and double that on the coast. To give you a balanced view on winter weather, all the photos included in this article are from March, showing the range that you might get.

It’s important to remember that the weather varies quite a bit in Croatia. After all, it’s unusually shaped and is home to multiple climates, with both mountains and coast. So it’s no surprise that the coast is always going to be more temperate than Croatia’s inland area.

But the weather can even be more localised, like when I visited Samobor. Coming from Zagreb where the snow had melted, I was suddenly freezing again and surrounded by snow. Ultimately, factor in what parts of the country you’re going to when trying to work out what kind of weather to expect.

Low Season in Croatia

The common concern when visiting places in the off-season is that things like attractions and restaurants will be shut or undergoing renovations. With the exception of maybe a few restaurants in Rovinj, the area around the Roman Theatre in Pula and access to the Upper Lakes at Plitvice that was never a problem for me visiting Croatia in March. I was still able to get about with public transport, find nice places to stay and see the things I came to see.

Sustainable Travel in Croatia

When talk turns to overtourism in Europe, it’s quite common to hear Croatia brought up in the conversation. That’s because when summer rolls around and it is high season, droves of tourists come to the country, vastly outnumbering the local population. According to a recent report by Intrepid, Croatia saw 57 million tourists in 2016 compared to the country’s population of 4 million. No wonder cities like Dubrovnik struggle to cope when it’s summer. But see, that intensity simply doesn’t follow over to winter, Croatia’s low season.

Multiple locals and business owners I talked to during winter last year commented on just how quiet things are at this time of year. Easy to believe when you only see the odd tour group about when sightseeing.

That huge difference between low season and high season means they can really only afford to have temporary staff in summer as there’s simply nothing for them to do come winter. That’s really not ideal, nor sustainable for that matter. So if you’re interested in making your travels more sustainable and want to visit Croatia, then the low season is the time do it.

Winter Activities

Given that so many people come to Croatia to visit the beach and sail the coast, you might be wondering what there is to do when visiting Croatia in winter. You’re not going to get beach weather visiting Croatia in January now are you? Thing is, tourism in Croatia has always been more than just those two things. Croatia is a fascinating destination whatever way you look at it, be it the people, culture, history, nature, cuisine etc. All that doesn’t stop because it’s no longer warm and sunny.

So if you’re ok visiting Croatia and not spending time in the water or on the sand, you’ve got plenty of options of things to do. Visit amazing waterfalls like the ones at Plitvice Lakes and Rastoke. Eat fantastic seafood in cities like Rovinj and Trogir. Delve into complex history, be it the Roman ruins in Pula and Split or something more medieval with Dubrovnik. Best of all, you won’t have to share any of it with many people.

All of these things can be enjoyed in winter, even with the odd bad weather. And if you’re stuck inside, simply eat more Croatian food, washing it down with honey rakija and craft beer. You really can’t go wrong with Croatia.

Have you ever considered travelling to Croatia in winter before? Do you prefer cold winters or escaping to warmer weather when you can? Please share your thoughts and questions in the comments below.