Dubrovnik in Winter

These are long-term seasonal averages, not a forecast. December and January are the coolest and wettest months, with average daytime highs around 11-13°C and overnight lows around 5-7°C. February is similar, sometimes a touch milder by the end of the month as spring approaches. Rain falls on roughly 10-13 days a month, and a spell of strong bura wind — sometimes strong enough to close the cable car or ferries for a day — is a normal part of the season.

Snow in Dubrovnik itself is rare, though the surrounding hills occasionally get a light dusting. The sea holds at around 14-16°C, too cold for swimming for almost everyone. Daylight is short, with sunset around 4:30pm at the December low point.

The City Walls stay open every day of the year, but on much shorter winter hours — often closing by mid-afternoon. The cable car also runs reduced hours and occasionally closes for the day in high wind, so build in flexibility if it's a must-do.

Virtually all beach clubs and seasonal beach bars are closed until spring. Restaurant coverage stays good overall, though some smaller family-run places close for a private winter break, especially in January and early February — worth checking opening hours before a special trip out. Ferry and catamaran timetables to the islands run on a skeleton winter schedule, with far fewer daily sailings than summer and some smaller routes paused entirely.

December brings the Dubrovnik Christmas market — stalls, mulled wine, and live music spread across several Old Town squares from late November into early January, and it's genuinely worth timing a visit around.

Cruise ships are essentially absent through winter, and the Old Town is at its calmest all year, Christmas market weekends aside. Our cruise schedule confirms this if you want to check before booking.

Accommodation and transfer prices are at their annual low, with the notable exception of a few nights around Christmas and New Year, which spike locally due to demand from Croatian and regional visitors. See current figures on the Dubrovnik Price Index.

• A warm, waterproof coat

  This is the one month a serious coat earns its suitcase space — wind off the sea makes it feel colder than the thermometer suggests.

• Layers you can add and remove

  Sunny winter days can feel mild by early afternoon even if the morning was cold.

• Solid, grippy footwear

  Wet limestone stairs and Stradun paving are genuinely slippery in winter rain.

• A hat and gloves for windy days

  The bura wind can be sharp, particularly along the Stradun and up on the Walls.

Museums, galleries and long lunches are the local's winter routine — the Rector's Palace, War Photo Limited, the Franciscan and Dominican monasteries, and the Cathedral Treasury all stay open. Day trips to Mostar and Kotor still run and are quiet and pleasant, though island boat trips depend heavily on the weather and sea state this time of year. Plan transport with getting around and book airport transfers ahead, since winter flight schedules are much thinner and last-minute options are limited.

Planning a winter visit? I'll tell you exactly what's realistically open on your dates.