The Fall or Autumn season in Croatian is called Jesen, lasting from September through November. If you are traveling to Croatia during this time of year, you will notice the change of the seasons in the wind. Although there is a greater chance of rain in autumn, more comfortable temperatures are definitely an upside to your stay. Tourist locations are less crowded and you can find great deals on accommodations and flights. With more mild weather, the country is full of fall festivals to enjoy outside that take on less of a beach vibe and more of an autumn theme.
Fall in Croatia begins in September, where it can still be very warm at times, but you will begin to see cooler days as well, especially in the northern and more mountainous parts of the country. This month is also one of the main months for grape and olive harvesting throughout the country's vast amount of wineries and groves. In October the season's food becomes the highlight and it is a gorgeous time of year for outdoor activities as much of the foliage changes from green to red, yellow and orange. Temperatures are cooler but it is refreshing and comfortable. By November certain parts of the country probably already feel like winter and there might even be snow on top of the tallest mountains. You might still take a walk on the beach, but only the wild would jump in the sea. Bundle up and you can still enjoy the outdoors and the many activities and events going on.
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Fall Activities
Boat Tours - take a guided day trip to the islands on a boat, yacht or catamaran, experience local cuisine, historical sights and stunning beaches.
Water Sports - kayaking, rafting and paddle boarding/stand up paddle (SUP). I highly suggest Metta Float in Pula for SUP and sea kayaking or Gorski Tok in Brod Na Kupi for river rafting and kayaking.
Hiking Routes, Cycling Trails & Rock Climbing - climb mountains reaching heights of 4,000 feet, see castle ruins and lookout points (great photo opportunities) and more.
Paragliding & Parachuting - fly like a bird as you jump off Croatia's largest mountain, Velebit, and land in the Vinodol Valley.
Camping - choose from many different camp sites throughout Croatia whether you want to be by the sea or in the mountains and which style of camping you prefer, whether that's "roughing it" or more luxury "glam-ping."
National Parks - Plitvice Lakes, Risnjak, Brijuni, Paklenica and Krka are some of our favorites.
HERE is how we did a day trip to Plitvice Lakes National Park!
Fall Festivals & Events
Mjesec Plave Ribe/Blue Fish Month in Crikvenica
Also called "Oily Fish Month" this event runs from mid-September to mid-October and brings together local restaurants and hotels from the Crikvenica Riviera featuring oily fish dishes on their menus. Other festivities include art workshops for children, cooking shows, wine tastings, live music performances and more.
Learn all about quality honey products and the importance of bees in the environment. Taste different honeys and make your own honey products while listening to live music by local musicians.
Vinkovačke Jeseni/Vinkovci Autumn in Vinkovci
This event marks the official beginning of autumn rewarding Slavonians the most for their hard work. It is considered one of the most important festivals in Croatia and the goal is to get more tourists to understand the culture of the Slavonian people with traditional clothing, music, dialects and other customs.
Međunarodni festival čipke/International Lace Making Festival in Lepoglava
This festival includes a parade through the main street of town with a brass band, woodwind orchestra and several cultural and artistic groups participating. There will be workshops, exhibitions, lectures and cultural and entertainment events all focused around this ethnographic skill.
Festival Visualia and Pula X Race in Pula
This was the first festival of lights in Croatia beginning in 2013. The festival received the Guinness World Record in the Arena colosseum for the largest photography of people forming a light sign, called the "Light Postcard" in 2015. Installations are set up all around the city and on the last night the Pula X Race (night race) takes place. Runners have a choice of completing a 5k or a 10k.
Dani u Vali/Days In The Bay in Stari Grad, Hvar Island
An international festival of the sea and seamen with traditional boats from Istria to Neretva. This event includes workshops, presentations, lectures, music, food and drink and a nighttime boat parade called, The Dance of Sails and Lights.
For more specific details about each month of fall in Croatia
This event is for all nautical enthusiasts, boaters, sailors and fishermen. Exhibitors will display their assortment of vessels, boat engines and equipment.
A 300 kilometers cycling race beginning and ending in the Istrian town of Poreč. There are also route options of 235 and 155 kilometers.
This food festival takes place every autumn to honor the Maruni chestnut. The town of Lovran is named after the laurel plant and here they grow this specific kind of chestnut, which due to the climate of the nearby mountains and sea have a distinct sweet taste, very popular throughout Europe. Along with many different ways to taste these chestnuts, there will also be live music and performances.
A festival that presents, promotes and preserves Mediterranean food, gastronomy and domestic products, as well as Mediterranean cultural heritage and Mediterranean way of life. Featuring the best foreign and Croatian chefs, all with Michelin stars, food producers, winemakers and other experts from the field of gastronomy, sustainable tourism, agriculture and fishing. Professional workshops, lectures, panels, masterclasses by world culinary stars, wine tastings and dinners from the best Split restaurants also take place during the festival.
A festival for food lovers and wine drinkers full of different workshops, including a Dalmatian Brunch and a Healthy Food Fair. The main event of the festival is the Dubrovnik Table that stretches along the entire Stradun (main pedestrian street) displaying food from the best restaurants in the city.
This triathlon has a 1.9 kilometer swim, a 90 kilometer bike ride, and a 21.1 kilometer run and takes place in the Istrian town of Poreč. There is an IronKids running race the day before.
This ultimate trail race takes place along five mountains, Biokovo, Mosor, Omiška Dinara, Primorska Kosa and Kozjak, three rivers, Cetina, Žrnovnica and Jadro, as well as historical and cultural hotspots, like Fortica and Klis fortresses and remains of the ancient city Salona. Reenactments of pirate attacks, medieval battles and peasant life take place along the way for entertainment.
Baška Outdoor Festival in Baška, Krk Island
An open air sports and recreation festival with five featured sporting events including trekking, mountain biking, hiking and rock climbing as well as lectures and entertainment.
This is the largest boat show in all of Central Europe due to Croatia being one of the most popular sailing destinations and having some of the most impressive facilities. Several hundreds of exhibitors and boats, as well as many lectures and seminars. Partnering in the event is the Kornati Marina and the Illirija Resort hotels, restaurants and entertainment.
A sweet festival of chocolate takes over the town of Opatija by offering the best local and international chocolate brands and presenting some unique and even hard to find chocolate delicacies. Chocolate will be featured on the menus of many restaurants and cafes throughout the town and even seen on the specialty treatment menus of some spas. Other festivities include musical performances, workshops, exhibitions, lectures and chocolate sculptures.
A street race with thousands of participants as well as entertainment and music throughout the route. Run in Rijeka’s half-marathon, the Hendi Cup and the Ciciban Cup.
CROFISH - International Fisheries Fair in Poreč, Istria
This event is a gathering for everyone involved in fishing. Several economic topics to be discussed in lectures and meetings during the fair are: strengthening the position of fishery products in the local diet, regulation of the markets, construction of fishing infrastructure, business cooperation and access to fisheries, production, exports and competition of fishermen.
This is one of the greatest rally shows in Eastern Europe located in a town just west of Zagreb. Over 100 crews with their top drivers from around the world guarantee an impressive show due to the ideal location combining gravel, mud and sometimes even snow.
IstraVirgin in Vodnjan, Istria
Vodnjan is well-known for it's extra virgin olive oil being one of the best in quality and taste in the world. This festival is also known as the Days of Young Olive Oil. Visitors will have the opportunity to experience a full schedule of cultural and culinary happenings with over 100 producers sharing their olive oil.
Saint Martin's Day (Sveti Martin or Martinje)
This national holiday is also known as the Blessing of the Wine. St. Martin is known as the protector of vineyards and its farmers. This is the traditional day the vineyards and wine are blessed by a priest and the new wine is ready to drink. Many villages, towns and cities have ceremonies and other festivities on this day to celebrate.
There is still time in early autumn to get your last layer of a tan and maybe a few more swims in the sea. Fall in Croatia may be cooler but that doesn't halt the many outdoor activities and events to participate in. If you are looking for something more simple or relaxing then just take a seat at an outdoor cafe, drink your coffee and people watch. With less tourists during this season, you may get more opportunities to experience Croatia like the locals do.
North Coast Croatia Travel Agency specializes in travel to Croatia and surrounding European countries. Providing consultations, custom itineraries, pre-designed theme itineraries, summer beach rentals and a travel blog. Booking flights, accommodations, cruises, tours, rental cars, transfers, bus/train/ferry tickets, travel insurance and more!
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Happy Travels! Sretan Put!
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