#1Warm
Split
- Day
- 21.7°C
- Sea
- 17.8°C
- Sun
- 7.8h
- Rain days
- 9
Your May weather guide
Weather in Croatia in May
May is a good month for Croatia if you want comfortable days outdoors rather than a holiday built around swimming. Country averages of 21°C by day and 15°C at night favour light daytime clothing with a layer for evenings. The catch is the sea: at 18°C, it is likely to feel chilly rather than inviting for long swims. Choose your destination around the balance of daytime warmth, sea temperature and rain.
Long-term climate averages, not a forecast · 1991-2020
- Average daytime high
- 21.0°Cacross 4 destinations
- Average night-time low
- 14.6°Cafter dark
- Sea temperature
- 18.1°Cbracing
- Rainy days
- 9days1 mm or more
Croatia, month by month
Turn up the warmth
Warmest places in Croatia in May
Ranked by average daytime high. The full comparison is in the table below.
Croatia destinations ranked for May
All 4 places we track in Croatia, ordered by daytime high.
Scroll sideways for more weather, down for more places. Click a heading to sort.
| # | Destination | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Split | 21.7°C | 13.9°C | 17.8°C | 7.8 h | 9 | 2 h 36 min |
| 2 | Dubrovnik | 21.5°C | 14.6°C | 18.6°C | 7.5 h | 10 | 2 h 48 min |
| 3 | Cavtat | 20.8°C | 14.6°C | 18.7°C | 7.9 h | 8 | 2 h 54 min |
| 4 | Pula | 20.0°C | 15.2°C | 17.3°C | 7.3 h | 10 | 2 h 18 min |
4 destinations shownClimate averages, not a forecast.
May climate overview
Daytime highs across Croatia in May run from 20.0°C (Pula) to 21.7°C (Split). Even in Split only 14% of days reach 25°C. Nights average 14.6°C; the coldest 10% of nights in Pula fall to 12°C or below.
Rainfall in May
Expect around 9 rainy days (1 mm or more) in May, with Cavtat the driest (8 days) and Pula the wettest (10 days). The wettest May at Split between 1991 and 2020 was 2019 with 238 mm; the driest was 2003 with 12 mm.
Sea temperature
The sea averages 18.1°C around Croatia in May - warmest at Cavtat (18.7°C). That is bracing: fine for a dip, cool for long swims.
Sunshine and daylight
Around 7.6 hours of sunshine a day on average, out of 14.5 hours of daylight (sunshine estimated from cloud cover).
May against the rest of the year in Croatia
May is the 5th warmest month of the twelve in Croatia. It is 4.4°C warmer than April and 4.2°C warmer in June. The hottest month here is August (28°C) and the coolest January (10°C).
Which part of Croatia in May?
- Most sunshine: Cavtat, 7.9 h a day.
- Driest: Cavtat, about 8 rainy days.
- Warmest sea: Cavtat, 19°C.
- Hottest: Split, 22°C by day.
- Coolest (better for walking and cities): Pula, 20°C.
What to pack for Croatia in May
Based on the averages: light layers - warm in the sun, cooler in the shade; a light jumper for evenings (15°C at night); a rain jacket - roughly 9 wet days; swimwear if you do not mind a bracing 18°C sea.
Similar weather elsewhere in May
Within 1.5°C of Croatia's May daytime average: Algarve (23°C, sea 17°C), La Gomera (23°C, sea 20°C), Madrid (23°C), Rome (22°C, sea 18°C), Salou (22°C, sea 18°C). See the full ranking for May.
Which part of Croatia should you choose?
Split and Dubrovnik offer the warmest average days at 22°C, so they are sensible choices if daytime warmth matters most. Split has slightly cooler nights at 14°C and an 18°C sea, while Dubrovnik has 15°C nights and a 19°C sea. Cavtat offers a useful compromise: days average 21°C, the sea matches Dubrovnik at 19°C, and its 8 rainy days compare with Dubrovnik's 10. That makes Cavtat worth considering if you want relatively mild water without choosing the rainiest option here. Pula is coolest by day at 20°C and has the coolest sea at 17°C. It suits travellers who prefer milder daytime temperatures and do not make swimming the priority.
What to pack and how to plan your days
Pack light clothes for daytime, a jumper or light jacket for evenings, and a waterproof layer rather than assuming May will stay dry. Croatia averages 9 rainy days, so leave room to rearrange outdoor plans instead of tying everything to a fixed day. Average sunshine of 7.6 hours gives May plenty of appeal for spending time outside, but it is not a promise of clear skies throughout your stay. Midday heat is usually less of a concern than finding comfortable layers as temperatures change: even in Split, only 14% of days exceed 25°C. Keep sun protection handy, and treat swimming as an optional part of the holiday rather than the measure of a successful trip.
A little more detail
Croatia in May FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Where is the hottest place in Croatia in May?
Split is the warmest of the 4 places we track in Croatia in May with an average high of 21.7°C; Pula is the coolest at 20.0°C.
Is the sea warm in Croatia in May?
Not really: the warmest sea we track in Croatia in May is 18.7°C at Cavtat, below the 22°C most people find comfortable.
Is the sea warm enough to swim in May?
It depends on your tolerance for cool water. Dubrovnik and Cavtat have the warmest sea averages here at 19°C, followed by Split at 18°C and Pula at 17°C. Short dips may appeal, but do not expect warm water for lingering.
Is Croatia warmer than London in May?
Yes. Croatia averages 21°C by day, compared with London's 17°C. Split and Dubrovnik are warmer still at 22°C, while Pula averages 20°C. That favours lighter daytime clothing, though Croatia's average 15°C nights still call for a layer.
Which destination has the fewest rainy days?
Cavtat has the fewest rainy days among these destinations, averaging 8 in May. Split has 9, while Dubrovnik and Pula each have 10. Cavtat is therefore a reasonable choice if avoiding rain is a priority, but dry weather is not guaranteed.
About these averages
ERA5-Land climate reanalysis via Open-Meteo (11 km grid), 1991-2020
Averages computed from daily values at 4 destination points.Records are the highest and lowest daily values in that 30-year period, not all-time records. These are climate averages, not a forecast for your trip. How we measure holiday weather
- Hot · 25°C+
- Warm · 20°C to below 25°C
- Mild · 15°C to below 20°C
- Cool · below 15°C