January is the quietest month of the year. The coast is mild but changeable, inland it is cold, and many hotels and restaurants on the islands are closed.
Sea 11 to 14 °C · temperature -2 to 9 °C · sun 2 to 4 h a day
No real swimming weather yet: the sea is 11 to 14 °C.
A walled old town on the sea, with marble streets and fortresses. Walk the city walls early in the morning, before the cruise ships arrive.
A city that lives inside Emperor Diocletian's palace. The ideal base for ferries to Brač, Hvar and Vis.
Roman ruins, the Sea Organ and the coast's most famous sunset. Close to Krka National Park and the Kornati islands too.
Local festivals and traditions worth planning your trip around.
From mid-January to Ash Wednesday; the big parade is on the Sunday before
Next: Sunday, 7 February 2027
Croatia's biggest carnival. During the international parade more than ten thousand costumed participants march through the city, watched by up to 150,000 people. At the end come the zvončari: men in sheepskins with big bells and horned masks, who chase away the winter with their noise. The bell ringers' pageant from the Kastav area is on the UNESCO list.
Dates and programmes can change from year to year. Check the official website shortly before you travel.
| Destination | Temp. | Sea | Sun | Rain | Crowds | Prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dubrovnik | 9° | 14° cold | 4 h | 12 | Quiet | Low |
| Split | 8° | 14° cold | 4 h | 11 | Quiet | Low |
| Zadar | 7° | 13° cold | 4 h | 10 | Quiet | Low |
| Rijeka | 6° | 11° cold | 4 h | 10 | Quiet | Low |
| Rovinj | 5° | 11° cold | 3 h | 9 | Quiet | Low |
| Pula | 5° | 11° cold | 3 h | 9 | Quiet | Low |
| Zagreb | 1° | – | 2 h | 7 | Quiet | Low |
| Plitvice | -2° | – | 2 h | 8 | Quiet | Low |
| Hvar | 9° | 14° cold | 4 h | 10 | Quietmany places closed | Low |
| Korčula | 9° | 14° cold | 4 h | 10 | Quietmany places closed | Low |
Temperature is the average over day and night; during the day it is a few degrees warmer. Crowds and prices are an estimate.