February is still deep off-season in Croatia – islands closed, coast quiet, Zagreb cold – with one enormous exception. Rijeka Carnival, one of the largest in Europe, takes over the northern Adriatic, and its main parade falls on Sunday 7 February 2027. It is the single best reason to be in Croatia in winter.
The weather, precisely
February is the Adriatic’s coldest month at about 13°C – the sea lags the air by roughly two months, so it bottoms out now rather than in January. The coast creeps up to around 12°C by day, Zagreb to 6°C, and the bura is still very much in season.
Rijeka Carnival
Croatia’s biggest winter event, and one of the largest carnivals in Europe. It runs for weeks from the raising of the Carnival flag in mid-January to Ash Wednesday, and centres on Rijeka on the Kvarner coast, about two hours from Zagreb.
- The International Carnival Parade is the centrepiece, held on the Sunday before Lent – 7 February in 2027. Well over a hundred groups and tens of thousands of participants move through the city over several hours.
- The zvončari are the reason it matters. Bell-ringers from the villages around Rijeka, wearing sheepskins and animal-head masks with enormous cowbells at the waist, walk in processions to drive off winter. The practice is on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list, and it is genuinely old rather than staged.
- The Pust effigy is tried, condemned for the year’s misfortunes and burned at the end.
- Book accommodation in Rijeka months ahead for parade weekend, or stay in Opatija nearby.
Samobor, half an hour from Zagreb, runs the other well-known Croatian carnival – smaller, sweeter and famous for its cream cake, the kremšnita.
What is open
- Zagreb – fully functional, cheap and genuinely enjoyable. The museums (the Museum of Broken Relationships, the Mimara, the Naive Art gallery) and the cafe culture are the point.
- Split and Dubrovnik – open, mild and empty. Dubrovnik’s walls without cruise passengers are worth the trip on their own.
- Plitvice – open, partly frozen, spectacular. Upper trails and the boat may be closed; the boardwalks are icy.
- The islands – still shut. Reduced ferries, closed hotels and restaurants. Wait for May.
- Istria – quieter but workable, and this is truffle country; the winter white truffle season has ended but black truffles continue.
Prices and crowds
Among the cheapest months, with Rijeka carnival weekend the single exception. Coastal hotels that stay open discount hard. See what a trip to Croatia costs.
What to pack
For Zagreb and the interior, a proper winter coat, hat and gloves. For the coast, layers plus a genuinely windproof outer – the bura is the deciding factor in how cold Dalmatia feels. Boots with grip for Plitvice. If you are going to the carnival, something warm you can stand still in for three hours.
The February 2027 calendar
- Through early February – Rijeka Carnival season; zvončari processions through the villages around Rijeka and Kastav.
- Sunday 7 February – the International Carnival Parade in Rijeka, the largest single event of the Croatian winter.
- Tuesday 9 February – the burning of Pust; Ash Wednesday follows on the 10th.
- Through February – the Adriatic at its annual coldest, about 13°C; bura season continues.
- Through February – islands still closed; Zagreb, Split, Dubrovnik, Rijeka and Plitvice open.
- No national public holidays fall in February in Croatia.
Read alongside
- Croatia in January – colder inland, equally quiet.
- Croatia in March – the first signs of the season restarting.
- Croatia in May – the coast reopens properly.
- Best time to visit Croatia – all twelve months compared.
- Croatia in 10 days – how the regions connect.
- Croatia travel guide – coast, islands and interior.
- Trip to Croatia cost – low-season numbers.
Frequently asked
When is Rijeka Carnival in 2027?
The season runs from mid-January to Ash Wednesday, with the main International Carnival Parade on the Sunday before Lent – 7 February 2027. Book Rijeka accommodation months ahead for that weekend.
What are the zvončari?
Bell-ringers from the villages around Rijeka who process in sheepskins and animal-head masks with large cowbells at the waist, to drive off winter. The tradition is on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list.
How cold is Croatia in February?
About 12°C by day on the Dalmatian coast and 6°C in Zagreb. The Adriatic is at its annual coldest, roughly 13°C, because the sea lags the air by about two months.
Are the Croatian islands open in February?
No. Ferries run winter timetables and most island businesses are closed until spring. Stick to the mainland.
Is Plitvice open in February?
Yes, and it is spectacular partly frozen. Expect some upper trails and the boat to be closed, and icy boardwalks – take boots with grip.
Is February a good time to visit Croatia?
For Rijeka Carnival, Zagreb, frozen Plitvice and an empty Dubrovnik at low prices, yes. For islands, beaches or swimming, no.
What is the bura in February?
The cold downslope wind off the Velebit range, still in full season. It can close ferry routes and coastal bridges for a day or two at a time.
Where else has a carnival in Croatia?
Samobor, half an hour from Zagreb, runs the best-known alternative – smaller and gentler, and famous for its kremšnita cream cake.
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Written by
John Morrison is the founder and lead travel writer at Packzup. Over the past decade he has explored destinations across Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Oceania — always self-funded, never on a press trip.
