What's the best time to visit Dubrovnik?
The best time to visit Dubrovnik varies depending on your preferences. For most travelers, May to August is ideal, offering warm and dry weather, but it’s also the peak season with higher prices and crowds. To save money, consider visiting from November to March during the rainy winter season.
September and October are good for lower prices and fewer crowds while still enjoying warm weather. Avoid visiting from October to December due to heavy rainfall and limited options.
Find the best time to visit Dubrovnik for your trip goals, whether it’s great weather, low prices, or small crowds. We’ll also show you the worst time to visit so you can enjoy the best this historic city has to offer!
The Overall Best Time to Visit Dubrovnik
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The overall best time to visit Dubrovnik is from May to August, the peak summer season. Weather, beaches, attractions, and more are at their best this time of year.
May through August is the peak tourism season in Dubrovnik. It’s easy to see why – Dubrovnik is at its best during the warm summer season. In May, the spring rains begin to subside and temperatures warm to around 70F.
The drier months – June, July, and August – see temperatures rise to 77F, 84F, and 82F. These are perfect conditions for days spent at the many beaches in Dubrovnik and islands just off the coast.
You’ll find walking through the city, boat tours, and sightseeing at their best this time of year. Festivals are excellent entertainment options from May to August, when there’s a nonstop lineup of events centered around theater, music, film, and dance.
While this period is the busy high season, you’ll find that May and June offer fewer crowds and slightly lower prices than the more-visited months of July through August.
Hotel prices aren’t at their lowest this time of year, but that’s expected for peak season. Rates are much lower in May and June before rising in July and August.
Here’s how much you can expect to pay per night for a hotel in Dubrovnik from May to August:
- May: $56-$148/night
- June: $66-$174/night
- July: $82-$217/night
- August: $85-$224/night
May and June are more affordable and mild. July and August are much hotter, drier, and more expensive for a visit, but the weather conditions are great for a beach trip.
Cheapest Time to Visit Dubrovnik
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The cheapest time to visit Dubrovnik is in the low season, from November to March. During this time, rainfall and cooler temperatures keep tourists away, leading to lower prices on hotels.
Between November and March, Dubrovnik hotels drop their prices drastically as tourism slows to a halt. It’s the chilly temperatures and increased rainfall that lead to lower visitor numbers.
November is slightly warm (low 60s) with lots of rain – the most of the year – and December sees a slight temperature drop (57F) with a little less rain.
January, the coldest month in Dubrovnik (54F), is wet, but the heaviest rains will have passed by the end of December. In February and March, rainfall totals fall to 4-5 inches and temperatures warm back up to nearly 60F.
While you’ll find the lowest prices of the year in November and December, you’ll probably find it’s worth it wait until the comparably-affordable months of February and March.
Here’s a look at average hotel prices in Dubrovnik from Google Hotels:
- November: $42-$112/night
- December: $37-$98/night
- January: $50-$131/night
- February: $46-$122/night
- March: $45-$118/night
Visiting during the winter doesn’t mean there’s nothing to do in Dubrovnik. Some attractions and hotels will be closed, but festival season starts swinging again in February. Check out the wild and costumed Carnival, Feast of St. Blaise, and Festival of Lights in February and March.
Least Busy Time to Visit Dubrovnik
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The least busy time to visit Dubrovnik is during September and October. Summer crowds dissipate and leave the city less crowded with hotels beginning to lower their rates.
In September and October, you’ll be able to enjoy the sights and scenery of Dubrovnik without the hassle of big crowds of tourists everywhere you go. The fall shoulder season is much less crowded and more laid-back than the peak summer season.
Warm temperatures from 70F to 77F, better hotel and flight availability, and lower prices make this a great time to visit. But September and October are not without their downfalls.
September is when the rainy season begins (about 4″ of rain) and it gets much wetter come October (6″). Love it or hate it, this increased rainfall is what keeps many tourists away and makes this fall period the least busy time of year to visit.
It rains often, but not daily, during this time. That means lounging on the beach, hiking, sightseeing, and festivals are still very much in play when the weather cooperates.
September is the tail end of the peak summer season, so you’ll find music and cultural festivals going on at the start of the month. October is less busy and a little cooler. Prices are average to affordable during this short shoulder season, with October hotel prices being lower than September.
Here’s how much hotels cost in Dubrovnik during this time, according to data from Google Hotels:
- September: $64-$170/night
- October: $47-$125/night
This laid-back fall period is a great time to avoid the crowds while getting to enjoy the final warmth and activities of the summer season in Dubrovnik.
Worst Time to Visit Dubrovnik
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The worst time to visit Dubrovnik is from October to December. It’s the wettest part of the year and many attractions and hotels close down for the season.
During the late fall and early winter, Dubrovnik experiences a lot of rainfall and cooler temperatures than the rest of the year. It’s the wettest period and each month can see up to 7.8″ of rain.
The wet weather can be a major problem when visiting Dubrovnik because so many of the best activities and attractions are outdoors. In addition to the rain, you’ll be dealing with cooler temperatures in November (63F) and December (57F) that make it harder to enjoy the beaches.
However, it’s not a bad time of year to sightsee and head indoors for shelter from the rain. Dubrovnik has some excellent galleries, museums, shops, and restaurants to fill your time on rainy days.
Excellent prices are another potential bonus to visiting during the rainiest part of the year. Hotels are at their cheapest during this period:
- October: $47-$125/night
- November: $42-$112/night
- December: $37-$98/night
You can really score a bargain by coming to Dubrovnik in December, but like October and November, it’s a very wet month and less enjoyable for touring the city.
Things to Consider
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What else should you know before you start planning a visit to Dubrovnik? Here are some helpful travel tips to keep in mind as you start researching ahead of your stay.
- It’s a popular cruise ship port. Dubrovnik is the most-visited cruise port in Croatia. The disembarking passengers flood the small city between 9:30am and 3pm, putting a strain on local restaurants, beaches, and museums. Plan your day outside of these hours to cut down on time spent standing in line.
- Locals speak Croatian and English. Standard Croatian is the native and official tongue of most locals here, but English is also widely spoken. You’ll find that most people, from airport staff to bellhops and waitstaff, will be able to converse with you in English. That makes communication much easier for English-speaking travelers.
- Euros are the official currency in Croatia. Croatia recently changed its official currency from the kuna to the euro in January 2023. It’s very simple to exchange your currency for euros upon arrival, but you’ll find that some shops and restaurants in tourist areas will accept other currency, like the U.S. dollar and British pound.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Travelers tend to have a lot of questions about the best time to visit Dubrovnik – what’s the best month overall for a visit, how many days should you spend here, and what’s the rainiest month?
Take a look at the most frequently asked questions below to learn more as you start planning your visit.
When is the best time to visit Dubrovnik?
The best time to visit Dubrovnik is during the summer months from June to August. During this period, you can enjoy warm and sunny weather, making it perfect for beach activities, sightseeing, and exploring the city's historic sites.
What is the shoulder season in Dubrovnik?
Dubrovnik's shoulder season is in May and September, offering pleasant weather with fewer crowds.
When should I avoid Dubrovnik due to weather or crowds?
Avoid visiting Dubrovnik in the winter (December to February) for limited tourist activities and during the crowded peak summer months (July and August).
When is the best time for outdoor activities in Dubrovnik?
The best time for outdoor activities in Dubrovnik is in spring (April to June) and early autumn (September to October) when the weather is pleasant with fewer tourists.
So, What’s the Best Time to Visit Dubrovnik?
If you can, plan your stay during the best time to visit Dubrovnik – May through August, when the weather is warm and dry. The city is bustling with festivals and activities this time of year and prices can be surprisingly affordable in the early part of the season.
Dubrovnik is full of storied history and architecture, stunning beaches, interesting shops and restaurants, and beautiful islands to visit just off the coast.
Even if you need to go during the “worst” time of year in the rainy season, Dubrovnik will amaze you with its ties to history, from medieval to recent, and the natural beauty along its shores.