March is the month Croatia starts switching back on. The coast reaches about 15°C, Zagreb closes most of the gap at 11°C, and – the reason to come now – Plitvice is at its highest water of the year as the snowmelt comes off the highlands. Easter falls on 28 March 2027, the same day the clocks go forward.
The weather, precisely
The continental interior warms much faster than the coast in spring, so the two halves of the country converge through March. The sea does not: at 14°C it is still a winter sea, and it will not be swimmable until late May.
The bura eases but has not gone. Late-March coastal weather is genuinely variable – a week can deliver 20°C sunshine or cold rain.
Plitvice at full flow
This is March’s strongest argument and it is not widely understood. Plitvice Lakes runs on snowmelt from the surrounding highlands, and the highest water volume of the year comes in March and April. The waterfalls – including Veliki Slap, the tallest in Croatia – are at their most powerful, and the park is still nearly empty.
- Book entry online in advance even in March; Plitvice uses timed entry year-round.
- Boardwalks can be wet, icy or partially closed where water is running over them. Check which trails are open on the day.
- The boat and upper trails may still be on winter service early in the month.
- Krka, the other big waterfall park near Šibenik, is the same story – huge flow, no crowds. Swimming at Krka has not been permitted since 2021, so that is not a reason to wait for summer.
Easter, 26 to 29 March 2027
- Friday 26 March – Good Friday. Not a public holiday in Croatia, though it is widely observed.
- Sunday 28 March – Easter Sunday, and the clocks go forward.
- Monday 29 March – Easter Monday, a national public holiday. Banks and offices close; shops vary.
Easter lifts coastal accommodation prices and is the first real weekend of domestic travel. It also marks the point at which many island and coastal businesses reopen for the season.
The season restarts
- Ferries and catamarans begin moving off winter timetables through late March and April. Check the current schedule for your route rather than a summer one – the difference is large.
- Island businesses start reopening around Easter, unevenly. Hvar and Korčula town will have places open; smaller islands will not.
- Dubrovnik and Split are comfortable and still uncrowded.
- Istria comes into wild asparagus season in March and April – foraged, bitter, and on every menu in Motovun and the hill towns. It is a genuine local season rather than a tourist one.
Prices and crowds
Still low season until Easter, then rising. The first three weeks of March are among the best value of the year for coastal cities and the waterfall parks. See what a trip to Croatia costs.
What to pack
Layers and a waterproof. A windproof outer for the coast. Boots with grip for Plitvice and Krka – the boardwalks are wet and slippery at high water. Warmer clothing if Zagreb or the highlands are on the route.
The March 2027 calendar
- Through March – Plitvice and Krka at their highest water of the year on snowmelt; timed entry still required.
- March and April – wild asparagus season in Istria.
- Late March – ferries and catamarans begin moving off winter timetables; island businesses start reopening.
- Friday 26 March – Good Friday; widely observed but not a public holiday in Croatia.
- Sunday 28 March – Easter Sunday, and clocks go forward one hour.
- Monday 29 March – Easter Monday, a national public holiday.
Read alongside
- Croatia in February – Rijeka Carnival and deeper off-season.
- Croatia in April – the coast properly reopens.
- Croatia in May – the first swimmable sea.
- 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 – shoulder-season numbers.
Frequently asked
Is March a good time to visit Plitvice?
It is arguably the best. The snowmelt gives the highest water volume of the year, so the falls are at their most powerful, and the park is nearly empty. Book timed entry anyway and expect wet or partly closed boardwalks.
How warm is Croatia in March?
About 15°C by day on the Dalmatian coast and 11°C in Zagreb, with the interior catching up fast. The sea stays at 14°C and is not swimmable.
When is Easter in Croatia in 2027?
Easter Sunday is 28 March, the same day the clocks go forward. Easter Monday on the 29th is a national public holiday; Good Friday is widely observed but is not one.
Are the Croatian islands open in March?
They begin reopening around Easter, unevenly. Hvar and Korčula town will have places open; smaller islands will not. Ferries move off winter timetables through late March and April.
Can you swim in Croatia in March?
No – the Adriatic is about 14°C. It does not become comfortable until late May or June.
Can you swim at Krka waterfalls?
No. Swimming at Krka has not been permitted since 2021, so there is no reason to wait for summer to visit – March is better, with far more water and no crowds.
What is wild asparagus season?
March and April in Istria, when foraged wild asparagus appears on every menu in the hill towns – thin, bitter and usually in an omelette or with fuži pasta. A genuine local season.
Is March cheap in Croatia?
The first three weeks are among the best value of the year. Prices rise from Easter onwards.
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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.
