How to spend the Easter Holidays in Croatia - an aerial view of Dubrovnik Old Town

How to spend the Easter Holidays in Croatia

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The Easter break is fast approaching, with less than a couple of weeks left of the school Spring term! (Sorry to surprise you if you weren’t already aware.) Whilst I’m sure many of you will have already booked your holidays, some travellers may be seeking alternative arrangements to planned breaks or perhaps booking last-minute deals. And be thinking…is Croatia suitable for an Easter holiday? Well, you’re on the right page to find out! Here’s how you can spend the Easter Holidays in Croatia.

How to spend the Easter Holidays in Croatia - an aerial view of Dubrovnik Old Town
Dubrovnik would be an ideal location for an Easter Holidy break!

Wait a minute, when’s Easter again?

Easter Sunday is fairly early this year, on 5th April. Do be aware that Easter Monday is also a public holiday in Croatia, but the Friday before is not – but will still be commemorated as part of the Easter weekend. As a Catholic country, Easter is understandably a rather religious affair for many here. In fact, Easter is probably the most religious of all the holidays during the year. Mass on Easter Sunday is a very well-attended affair at churches all over Croatia.

Because of its status as a religious holiday, most establishments will be shut on both the Sunday and Monday. That includes shops, cafes, restaurants, many attractions (but not all) and similar, so do be aware of this.

If you would like to witness a traditional religious Easter procession, you may like to head to the island of Hvar. The 500-year-old Easter tradition, Za Krizen, sees six parishes follow a cross on an overnight journey all around the island. This journey begins on the Thursday before Easter (Maundy Thursday) into Good Friday.

Of course, the Easter Holidays – as far as schools and similar institutions go – are always a two-week-long holiday. If you are concerned that spending Easter in Croatia will disrupt your enjoyment (I mean, it shouldn’t, but for some it might), consider holidaying in the second week.

But what about the weather?

Okay, this is bound to be a big consideration for many travellers if you’re thinking about spending the Easter Holidays in Croatia. It’s too early in the year to have summer weather, that’s for sure – you definitely won’t get temperatures in the high 20s Celsius (high 70s/low 80s Fahrenheit) and endless stretches of very hot sun. Sunbathing on a beach is unlikely and swimming in the Adriatic is a no-go…unless you’re very brave.

Having said that, it is too early to be looking at weather forecasts to see what the weather will actually be like for the first two weeks of April. Generally, however, you can expect coastal areas to be sunny and hopefully reaching around 20ºC (or perhaps a few degrees higher). The further south along the coast you are, understandably, the better/warmer the weather should be. So opt for Dubrovnik and the surrounding area to try and get the best of the weather if you really, really need to have the best weather possible.

Once we get closer to April, take a look at the forecasts on the Croatian Meteorological Service, or a weather app of your choosing to find out what will actually be forecast.

Flights to Croatia for the Easter Holidays

The end of March is a time when many airlines start their “seasonal” services, and that’s certainly the case for flights to Croatia. Whilst not every single route starts operating at this time of year, you can certainly make use of an incredibly high number of flights from the UK and Ireland to Croatia during the Easter Holidays. Such as:

I’ll be honest with you, before I started writing out this list, I didn’t expect it to be quite so long! That’s 28 (28!) routes you can make use of if you’re heading to Croatia during the Easter Holidays.

As ever, head to Visit Croatia’s guide to Flights to Croatia from the UK & Ireland 2026 to see days of operation and actual start dates.

Getting to and from Split Airport
Split Airport

Get a deal on a package holiday to Croatia during Easter

If I’ve managed to persuade you to spend your Easter holidays in Croatia, why not consider a package break? At this time of year, you’ll very likely enjoy some very good deals indeed because it’s quite early in the season. Seeing as Jet2 have commenced their flights to Dubrovnik, let’s take a look at some of Jet2Holidays‘ packages to this city.

For example, you can take advantage of 7 nights (departing Sunday 5th April) at the very comfortable 4-star Grand Hotel Park for £1,380 for two people. Close to restaurants and a bus journey away from the Old Town, this hotel has an indoor pool, so you can enjoy some swim time whatever the weather.

For luxury at a relative steal, 7 nights at the 5-star Royal Blue Lapad for the same dates costs £1,744 for two people. Or you could opt for 7 nights at the 5-star Hotel Croatia in genteel Cavtat for £1,408 for two people.

For something super upscale, you could enjoy 7 nights at the 5-star Hotel Excelsior – one of Dubrovnik’s most famous hotels – departing London Stansted on Sunday 5th April for £2,660 for two people. Pricey, yes, but I found the same package offered for over £5,000 for two people for dates in June.

Other types of holidays in Croatia

City breaks galore

Okay, so given it’s not exactly beach weather in Croatia during early April, how about considering another type of holiday? A city break to Zagreb would really be ideal for this time of year. Springtime in Croatia’s capital city is wonderful, with the pleasant weather providing a cheerful air and the perfect setting for days spent in cafes (although, really, the Zagrepčani have no problem doing that all year round) with gentle strolls through the Upper and Lower Towns, taking in many of the museums and sights.

Easter Holidays in Croatia - Springtime in Zagreb
Springtime in Zagreb

Or, what about a coastal city for a city break? Glorious springtime offers much for visitors in cities such as Pula, Zadar or Split.

Who doesn’t love a road trip?

April may be the perfect month to undertake a road trip in Croatia. The roads won’t be busy with summer “commuters”, and you won’t have to suffer through sweltering temperatures as you slog down the coastal road. (Scratch that – the coastal road is anything but a slog, whatever the outside temperature.)

That very coastal road, with its spectacular views, would be the top choice for a road trip. Get the full experience of Dalmatia by starting in Zadar (to where you can fly) and then making the drive all the way down to Dubrovnik. Or, if you have more time, start in Pula in Istria! And of course, doing the reverse of either of these is possible.

For a mix of inland treasures and coastal delights, start in Zagreb and then head down to the Plitvice Lakes to enjoy a couple of days here in the spring sunshine. Then head down in the direction of Zadar and further down the coast, as above.

Island life

Croatia’s islands are waking up in springtime, but are still relatively quiet locations when it comes to holidaying at this time of year. But that’s what you might be looking for! Even the larger and most popular of Croatia’s islands – Hvar and Brac, for example – still have low numbers. Not all accommodation may be fully available to you, but for a peaceful and relaxing stay, consider some time on an island during the Easter Holidays.

How to spend the Easter Holidays in Croatia - A pretty view on the island of Hvar
A peaceful Spring moment on the island of Hvar

What’s on in Croatia during the Easter Holidays?

Look out for Easter-related events wherever you are, often involving child-focused happenings. (Such as Easter egg hunts, for example.) One of the best Easter-related events is the display of giant Easter eggs in the northern Croatian town of Koprivnica. These eggs – labelled Easter Eggs from the Heart – are hand-painted in naive art style, typical for the region.

Non-Easter events

Around 3,000 competitors are expected for the Istria 100 (9th – 12th April), which actually covers five different race distances, the longest being 100 miles in length…hence the name. The competition is sold out, but you can certainly watch the racers whizz by in Central Istria.

If you’re more into cars and less into…er, people…the Croatia Rally takes place on the exact same dates (9th – 12th April). This official FIA World Championship event is held on roads in Istria, Gorski Kotar, Lika and Karlovac counties this year.

The first concert of Dubrovnik Musical Spring, a wonderful classical music event featuring the Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra, will take place at Revelin Fortress on 10th April.

April is asparagus month, and if you’re a fan of this woody vegetable, you must head to Lovran in Istria! The whole month celebrates the Asparagus Festival, with local restaurants offering special menus. The highlight of the festival takes place on 11th April when a giant fritaja (similar to an omelette) is made with 1,000 eggs and 30 kilograms of asparagus and bacon. That’ll be quite some party!

The UCI Gran Fondo cycling race will be taking to the roads in and around Umag on 11th April.

On the evening of 11th April, the Zadar Night Run will see competitors race on routes (5km, 10km or 21km) at night. Most of the routes run right by the sea. A super sweet kids’ night run takes place the day before at 6pm, with kids running down Siroka ulica in the centre of the Old Town.

On Fridays in April (10th, 17th and 24th), head to Kvaternik Square from 6pm to enjoy the street food event Place. With good vibes and great music too, you can enjoy a tasty dish from a street food stall.

All in all, there’s lots to enjoy if you’re spending the Easter Holidays in Croatia!

Top 5 Things to Do in Croatia in Spring

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Now that we’re fully into Spring, it’s time to take a look at some of the best things you can do when visiting Croatia this season. Springtime is often one of the nicest times to visit Croatia. As we emerge from the depths of winter, the weather has changed to be warmer and far sunnier (although swimming in the sea is off the cards – unless you’re very brave!) which is ideal for so many activities and adventures in the country. Here, I’ll suggest the top 5 things to do in Croatia in spring.

Firstly…what’s the weather like?

When I first set out to write this post, I had also intended to say “…oh and by the way, it’s 25C in Croatia right now”! which a) was 100% true and b) would surely delight many of you. Unfortunately, slightly cooler temperatures are sweeping in as I write this post, but I’m sure they’ll creep up again soon enough. Keep an eye on the Croatian Meteorological Service website for up-to-date forecasts.

Croatia in Spring – Be at one with nature

What could be better in springtime than a wonderful nature setting filled with flora and fauna? When you think of “nature” and “Croatia” you surely think of one of Croatia’s eight national parks or one of the twelve nature parks – which means you’ve got a very fine selection of parks to choose from.

My suggestion would be to explore one of the lesser-known nature parks in the country to see some stunning scenery beyond the popular lakes and waterfalls in the most popular locations. If you’re on the coast, consider Vransko Lake Nature Park in North Dalmatia which is home to the largest natural lake in Croatia and a special ornithological reserve as well as a large wetland area. It’s an idea place to do some gentle walking, hiking or even cycling.

Croatia in Spring - Vransko Lake Nature Park
Vransko Lake Nature Park

Inland, I’d suggest heading east – properly east – to Kopacki rit Nature Park near Osijek. It is here that the Drava and Danube rivers meet and the Park is part of one of the largest wetland areas in Europe. Exploring by boat (the park offers a 40-minute guided boat tour) is one of the top experiences here.

If you’re after something more intense to go along with nature, opt for one of the hiking trails in the highly forested Ucka Nature Park in the northern part of the Croatian coast.

Croatia in Spring – Explore the country’s fortresses and castles

On the 10th May 2024 a special event called The Night of the Fortresses takes place. Actually held in Montenegro, Bosnia and Hercegovina, Serbia and Croatia at the same time (although most venues are in Croatia), the event aims to promote the cultural heritage of these fine fortresses and castle structures – most of which are very impressive indeed.

Some of the venues in Croatia you will have heard about – such as Revelin and Lovrijenac Fortresses in Dubrovnik or Kamerlengo Fortress in Trogir. Others you may not have and now’s the perfect time to explore these – places such as the 17th century Kotisina Castle near Makarska; the defensive fortifications in Omis; Fortress Nehaj in Senj; Brod Fortress in Slavonski Brod; Veliki Tabor Castle; and Trakoscan Castle.

Croatia in Spring - Veliki Tabor Castle
Veliki Tabor Castle

These venues will offer free entry and some may also offer free guided tours or other educational provisions. Examine the Night of the Fortresses website to see all the venues taking place and what particular offers each one will have.

Take a look at our Events in Croatia 2024 page to see what else is taking place all around the country over the next few months.

Croatia in Spring – Adventure time

Croatia allows for many an adventure, it has to be said! And by adventure, I mean activity – from hiking and cycling to white water rafting, ziplining, canyoning and more.

But one adventure that combines “fun activity” with “sightseeing” is sea kayaking. This is an unusual way of seeing some of Croatia’s most famous spots from a different perspective – from the sea!

Sea kayaking takes place in many locations all along the Croatian coast, and you can also time these outings so they coincide with – for example – sunset.

Why not try some sea kayaking in Split to explore the Marjan Hill area of the city?

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Croatia in Spring – Sightseeing without the crowds

Now’s the perfect opportunity to visit some of Croatia’s top sights without the crowds – and also without the soaring temperatures that can often make walking around in the hot summer sun a tough ask.

Take your pick for what you consider to be the top sight that you’d like to explore at this time of year. If you ask me, however, I’d go for Dubrovnik’s Old Town Walls. Walking the walls can be chock-a-block full in the peak summer season, made even more difficult when temperatures are in the 30s Celsius as they usually are in July and August.

Two Days in Dubrovnik - Old Town Walls
Walking the Old Town walls

Start your leisurely stroll on the Walls in mid-morning and spend a good couple of hours exploring all aspects of the walls themselves and the Old Town. We have a guide to Dubrovnik’s Old Town Walls that points out interesting things to see. You could also consider a guided tour if you really want to learn all there is to know about this spectacular setting.

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Another option would be to head to one of Croatia’s most popular national parks (see the nature entry above) such as Plitvice or Krka National Park. Again, these parks get incredibly busy during the summer months, so visiting them in spring is a great idea. Spring is also when all areas of the parks are fully open and accessible as well, so you can really explore to your heart’s content.

Croatia in Spring – See what quieter island life is like

Croatia’s stunning islands (and islets) are a big draw for many visitors to the country – and that’s no surprise. But whilst the summer months draw in the island fanatics on ferries, catamarans, small boat cruises and private yachts, springtime is a great time of year to see what island life is like when there are fewer people around.

Opt for any of the Dalmatian Islands – Hvar and Brac would probably be top picks as two of the most popular islands and the ones that have the most to provide visitors (in terms of amenities, accommodation, restaurants and so on) at the time of year. Or if you want your springtime island adventure to be a bit more on the quiet side, consider lovely Vis.

The view from Vidova Gora, the highest point on the island of Brac

Kapetan Luka‘s Split to Dubrovnik coastal catamaran has started operating for the season on 1st April 2024. This catamaran departs Split in the morning and stops on Brac (at Milna), Hvar, Korcula, Mljet (Pomana) and then reaches Dubrovnik at 12.30pm. (The return journey takes place in the mid/late afternoon.) It would be ideal to use for doing a spot of gentle “island-hopping”.

Getting to Croatia

Late March and April is when a good number of flight routes to Croatia from the UK, Ireland and elsewhere in Europe start. So getting to Croatia at this time of year couldn’t be easier! Take a look at our Flights from the UK & Ireland page for details as well as Getting to Split, Getting to Dubrovnik, Getting to North Dalmatia, Getting to Istria and Getting to the Kvarner Rivera.

Outdoor Easter in Rijeka

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The following is a lovely write-up from John Clayton, a UK citizen who has been living in the coastal city of Rijeka for 15 years. John talks about some of the wonderful outdoor activities that can be enjoyed during Easter in Rijeka.

The clocks are on summertime and the winter is over. Easter marks the time when we can start to plan bigger and better outdoor adventures in Rijeka. Jenny and I make the most of the winter, but this largely means grabbing opportunities on the days without “Bura”, the gale-force cold wind from the north, or the “Jugo”, the more destructive warm and wet wind from the south.

I’ll share here a few of our outdoor favourites at this time of year. As Croatia is rightly famous for its beaches this is the obvious place to start. We’re lucky to live just five minutes’ walk from the most beautiful beach in Rijeka, Sablićevo (don’t even try to pronounce it). It is also within walking distance from the town centre, or take the number 1 bus. The beach is surrounded by high cliffs creating a perfect sun trap. Even in the middle of winter, on a sunny day it’s possible to be down there in a just a T-shirt. By spring sunbathing is certainly an option and without the summer crowds.  With a wetsuit, there is also the option of swimming the 1.5km from Grčevo beach, past Sablićevo, to the dog beach right by the port. This is an amazing swim in crystal clear, often glass-smooth, water. At this time of year, there is even the small possibility that you’ll be swimming with dolphins.

Outdoor Easter in Rijeka - Sablicevo Beach in Rijeka
Sablicevo Beach in Rijeka

This morning, before writing this, we did the ten-mile mountain bike loop which is the most accessible mountain biking area from Rijeka. It starts with a slightly boring climb up through Kostrena, the fanciest suburb of Rijeka. The reward comes quickly in the form of single-track riding through the forest, opening out to views across the mountains of Gorski Kotar on the right and the islands of Cres and Krk on the left – all this before breakfast.

Rijeka keeps its last secret well hidden yet almost in plain sight. Rijeka is the third largest city in Croatia and, unlike many coastal towns in Croatia, is still industrial, with a busy port, shipbuilding, and a refinery. However, almost in the centre of the city is a steep-sided, wild, overgrown canyon, full of deep pools and cliffs. It is certainly not obvious from the town that it is there and even most locals seem unaware of its existence as it’s rare to see anyone else in there. Our favourite trail run starts at the castle of Trsat, scrambles down steeply into the canyon, past the abandoned water mills, and across the river. From here it climbs back steeply up the peak above Trsat before joining the road down to Rijeka.

After all this exercise you probably deserve a beer. As a Rijekan, I’d love to suggest one of the local craft beers, of which there are plenty to try (Tarsa, Morčić, etc.) but I have to be honest and admit that in my opinion, the best beer in Croatia, and possibly the world, is Fifth Element IPA. It’s from Daruvar and best enjoyed on draft in Pivnica Cont, on Tito Square, right on the old border between the first Yugoslavia and Italy. Just drinking a beer there is a history lesson in itself.

Thank you so much to John for suggesting some excellent outdoor adventures for Easter in Rijeka! Much appreciated. John has also previously filmed a great Easter in Rijeka video, which really gives a feel for the kinds of things that can be enjoyed at this time of year. Take a look:

To see more of what John enjoys in this part of Croatia, take a look at his Swimming in Rijeka video.