Best time to visit Zadar
Re-score for me — drag the dial — every chart recolours live for your heat & sea limits 27°C · sea 29°C
Default 27 °C is the upper edge of the Holiday Climate Index "ideal comfort" band (Scott, Rutty, Amelung & Tang, 2016). Above this, most warm-tourism travellers report measurable discomfort.
Default 29 °C is the Beach Climate Index "bathtub" line (Morgan et al.) — where the sea stops being refreshing and starts feeling like a warm bath.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
How is this scored? HCI / Steadman / CCI gate — full methodology and citations below.
Compare with another destination
Add as many as you like — stacked below the main strips above. Each row is just the recent-window score strip and (for beach destinations) sea-temperature strip.
Tours in Zadar
30 top-rated tours via Viator. Booking links earn this site a commission at no cost to you. Map locations are approximate (centred on Zadar).
- 1
Zadar City Tour 120min Walk - 2
Zadar to Sakarun Beach Tour, Shipwreck Dive & Tunnel - 4,5hr - 3
Private Sailing Tours in Zadar Archipelago - 4
Zadar to Plitvice lakes: Guided tour with pre-booked tickets - 5
From Zadar Plitvice Lakes Guided Day Tour with Tickets - 6
Zadar: Luxury Island Boat Tour, Snorkeling & Unlimited Wine - 7
Zadar: Dugi Otok Hot Spots - Sandy Lagoon, Shipwreck & Tunnel - 8
Private Boat Tour To Pakleni Islands and Red Rocks - 9
Zadar Highlights: Old Town, Sea Organ & Local Tastings - 10
Zadar: Half Day Island Hopping Tour & Old Town Panoramic Cruise - 11
Zadar: Romantic Luxury Sunset Boat Tour with Aperol Spritz - 12
National Park KORNATI ISLANDS Boat Tour,Small Group, Half-day,Snorkeling,Beach - 13
Discover the Old Town of Zadar Through Food, Wine & History - 14
Zadar Food Tour: Local Dishes & City Stories - 15
Zadar: 4-Stop Island Speedboat Tour, Swim,Snokel & Wine - 16
Zadar Walking Tour - 17
Zadar: Zrmanja River Kayaking, with optional transfer from Zadar - 18
Zadar: Small Group Island Boat Tour with Drinks & Snorkeling - 19
Plitvice Lakes Day Trip from Zadar - 20
Panorama guided Zadar Eco Tuk Tuk tour - 21
Plitvice Lakes - Day Tour with Boat Ride - TICKETS RESERVED - 22
Zadar Boat Tour to the Nearby Islands - 23
Dugi Otok - half day kayak adventure - 24
Quad Tour the Hidden Trails of Dalmatia from Zadar - 25
Hidden Gems of Zadar Eco tuk tuk Tour - 26
Zadar: The Best of Dugi Otok - Shipwreck, Sandy Beach & Sea Cave - 27
From Zadar: Plitvice Lakes Guided Day Tour with Tickets - 28
Experience Zadar Cabrio Guided Tour from Cruise Port - 29
Zadar: Panoramic Cabrio Bus Sightseeing Tour - 30
Krka Waterfalls & Skradin Afternoon Tour Entrance Ticket Included
Last refreshed 2026-10-24.
Similar climatesSplit97% · Šibenik97% · Hvar96%
Other destinations with the most-alike year-round climate to Zadar (apparent temperature, rain hours, sunshine — matched within the same trip-profile). The ±N chip compares each match's typical score for the current month against Zadar's. Based on the 2020-2024 climatology, not this year's actual weather.
Month-by-month
| Month | Temp °C | Feels °C | Rain days | Rain h | Rain h/day | Humidity | Wind km/h | Sun h | UV | Interest | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 4–11 | 8 | 10 | 132 | 13.2 | 70% | 21 | 158 | 1 | Quiet | 6 |
| Feb | 5–13 | 9 | 8 | 97 | 12.1 | 68% | 21 | 169 | 2 | Quiet | 7 |
| Mar | 6–14 | 11 | 9 | 92 | 10.2 | 61% | 22 | 223 | 3 | Quiet | 8 |
| Apr | 8–17 | 14 | 9 | 97 | 10.8 | 60% | 21 | 241 | 5 | Quiet | 8 |
| May | 14–22 | 21 | 8 | 94 | 11.8 | 61% | 21 | 277 | 6 | Moderate | 9 |
| Jun | 19–27 | 27 | 6 | 54 | 9.0 | 57% | 18 | 295 | 7 | Busy | 10 |
| Jul | 21–30 | 30 | 4 | 23 | 5.8 | 47% | 21 | 315 | 8 | Peak | 8 |
| Aug | 21–30 | 31 | 5 | 45 | 9.0 | 47% | 21 | 294 | 7 | Peak | 8 |
| Sep | 17–25 | 25 | 9 | 94 | 10.4 | 56% | 20 | 234 | 5 | Moderate | 9 |
| Oct | 13–21 | 20 | 9 | 95 | 10.6 | 68% | 19 | 205 | 3 | Quiet | 8 |
| Nov | 9–16 | 13 | 12 | 149 | 12.4 | 70% | 20 | 143 | 2 | Quiet | 6 |
| Dec | 6–12 | 10 | 16 | 203 | 12.7 | 73% | 20 | 122 | 1 | Quiet | 5 |
UV Index in Zadar by Month
UV index in Zadar peaks at 8 (high) in July, dropping to 1 (low) in January. May, June, July, August have high UV — SPF 30+ and sunglasses recommended.
Best months in detail
June
10/1019–27°C · 6 rain days (54h) · 295 sun hours · 57% humidity · Busy crowd · UV 7 (high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 9 (very high)
September
9/1017–25°C · 9 rain days (94h) · 234 sun hours · 56% humidity · Moderate crowd · UV 5 (moderate) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 6 (high)
May
9/1014–22°C (feels 21°C) · 8 rain days (94h) · 277 sun hours · 61% humidity · Moderate crowd · UV 6 (high)
Every month
Show the other 9 months in detail
January
6/104–11°C (feels 8°C) · 10 rain days (132h) · 158 sun hours · 70% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 1 (low)
February
7/105–13°C (feels 9°C) · 8 rain days (97h) · 169 sun hours · 68% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 2 (low)
March
8/106–14°C (feels 11°C) · 9 rain days (92h) · 223 sun hours · 61% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 3 (moderate)
April
8/108–17°C (feels 14°C) · 9 rain days (97h) · 241 sun hours · 60% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 5 (moderate) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 6 (high)
July
8/1021–30°C · 4 rain days (23h) · 315 sun hours · 47% humidity · Peak crowd · UV 8 (high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 9 (very high)
August
8/1021–30°C · 5 rain days (45h) · 294 sun hours · 47% humidity · Peak crowd · UV 7 (high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 8 (very high)
October
8/1013–21°C · 9 rain days (95h) · 205 sun hours · 68% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 3 (moderate)
November
6/109–16°C (feels 13°C) · 12 rain days (149h) · 143 sun hours · 70% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 2 (low)
December
5/106–12°C (feels 10°C) · 16 rain days (203h) · 122 sun hours · 73% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 1 (low)
Frequently asked questions about visiting Zadar
When is the best time to visit Zadar?
June is the highest-scoring month (10/10 on the Holiday Climate Index). Typical conditions: 19–27°C (6 rainy days). The top three months by score are June, September, May.
What is the worst time to visit Zadar?
December is the lowest-scoring month (5/10). Typical conditions: 6–12°C (16 rainy days).
Is Zadar too hot in summer?
2 months (July, August) trip the heat deal-breaker in our scoring: apparent temperature crosses the comfort cap, so even with clear skies and low rain the score is held down. Plan around it if heat tolerance is low.
When are crowds lowest in Zadar?
Search-interest seasonality (Google Trends 2021-2025) is lowest in December and peaks in July. Interest tracks both in-trip visitors and lead-time planners, so treat it as a "destination is on people's minds" signal rather than literal arrivals.
Which months in Zadar have good weather but fewer tourists?
May (climate 9/10, crowd index 45) and September (climate 9/10, crowd index 46) — shoulder months with above-average climate and below-median search-interest. Often the best value-for-weather trade.
What is the UV index in Zadar by month?
UV peaks at 8 (high) in July and is lowest in January at 1 (low). Monthly peak values: Jan 1, Feb 2, Mar 3, Apr 5, May 6, Jun 7, Jul 8, Aug 7, Sep 5, Oct 3, Nov 2, Dec 1.
What is the UV index in Zadar in July?
July is the peak UV month in Zadar, with a daily-peak UV index of 8 (high). Apply SPF 30+, wear sunglasses, and seek shade during midday hours.
How high can UV get in Zadar on the sunniest days?
Most days look like the monthly average, but on the sunniest ~1 in 10 days UV climbs higher than the mean suggests. July is the worst case: typical days average UV 8 (high), but the top 10% of days reach UV 9 (very high) — and even higher. Months where the sunniest days routinely exceed the typical reading: April, June, July, August, September. Plan sun protection for the worst case, not the average.
Is air quality in Zadar bad for travelers?
PM2.5 (fine-particle pollution) exceeds the WHO sensitive-group guideline (15 µg/m³) in 5 months: January, February, March, October, December. The worst month is February with a typical-day mean of 13 µg/m³ (moderate); on the worst 10% of days PM2.5 reaches 21 µg/m³ (unhealthy for sensitive) and higher. People with asthma, heart conditions, or sensitive children may want to avoid these months or limit outdoor activity. Source: CAMS via Open-Meteo.