SeasonMapPlitvice Lakes (Plitvice) weather in January
Croatia
January in Plitvice Lakes: freezing, rainy, with clean air — a fair time to visit.
#12 of 12 months in Plitvice Lakes · #988 of 1383 destinations to visit in January · comfort 58/100 (tier D)
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
Traveller notes on Plitvice Lakes in January
Other months in Plitvice Lakes
Plitvice's forum calls June generally good, with real crowds not building until mid-July. Regulars note the park's weather can still turn changeable — one visitor's June trip brought torrential rain that had actually been falling in the mountains for days, which made the waterfalls especially dramatic rather than ruining the visit, and the lakes reportedly carry more water in June than later in summer.
Add your own note from Plitvice Lakes's card on the map.
Plitvice Lakes climate normals — January
| Daytime high | 3°C / 38°F | 🥶 freezing |
|---|---|---|
| Nighttime low | -4°C / 25°F | |
| Feels like (high) | -1°C / 30°F | |
| Rainfall | 121 mm / 4.8 in | 🌧 rainy |
| Rainy days | 14 days | |
| Humidity | 85% | 💦 very humid |
| Dew point | -3°C / 26°F | |
| Sunshine | 5.5 h/day | |
| Daylight | 9.2 h | |
| Wind | 13 km/h / 8 mph | |
| Snowfall | 46.1 cm / 18.1 in | |
| Air quality (US AQI) | 30 | 🍃 good |
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Plitvice Lakes in January
How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.
BusyWinter (Christmas) holidays in Croatia, school holidays in 7 of the markets that fill it(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Plitvice Lakes's weather
Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).
Toughest weatherPlitvice Lakes's best weather comes in June, July and September — separate windows, not one continuous season.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Plitvice Lakes in January
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Closure
Upper Lakes closed
1 Nov – 31 Mar · usuallyIn winter the park runs on the Lower Lakes only: the upper boardwalks and the Kozjak boat stop, one entrance closes and the ticket drops to a quarter of the summer price. Frozen falls in exchange for half a park. Source ↗
- Season
Snow season
Ski seasonAbout 46 cm of snow falls in the month.
from the climate normals
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Plitvice Lakes — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Plitvice Lakes?
Plitvice Lakes in January — FAQ
- Is January a good time to visit Plitvice Lakes?
- January in Plitvice Lakes: freezing, rainy, with clean air — a fair time to visit. It ranks #12 of 12 months for Plitvice Lakes on SeasonMap's comfort score (58/100).
- What is the weather like in Plitvice Lakes in January?
- In January, Plitvice Lakes averages a daily high of 3.1°C and a low of -4°C, with about 121.1 mm of rain over roughly 14.2 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Plitvice Lakes in January?
- Plitvice Lakes has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 30 in January.
- Does it snow in Plitvice Lakes in January?
- Plitvice Lakes sees roughly 46.1 cm of snowfall in January.
Other months in Plitvice Lakes
Compare Plitvice Lakes in January
Warmer or cooler than Plitvice Lakes in January
Similar destinations in Southeast Europe — January
Within 300 km: Zagreb's Advent in Zagreb on 28 Nov – 7 Jan, and Venice's Carnevale on 31 Jan – 17 Feb.