Het weer in Hvar (Hvar Island) in december

Forum posters call December genuinely hit-or-miss on the Dalmatian coast - it could be a mild, sunny 15C day, or cold, rainy and windy; the coast's notorious 'bora' wind can turn nasty, with Split once recording the strongest bora ever measured at 176 km/h. Smaller coastal towns and villages get very quiet with many restaurants and hotels closed for the season, but Split itself, as Croatia's second-largest city and main ferry port, stays lively with people passing through regardless of season. The city does run Christmas market events and nativity displays like the rest of Europe, giving visitors something festive even on the grayer days.

Regulars are specific this island claims the title of sunniest place in Croatia, among the most sunshine-rich spots in all of Europe, though even here you genuinely can't know in advance whether a given day turns out rainy or sunny. Our row backs that mild, genuinely wet read, 23.2C over 15.8C nights feeling 14C, with a substantial 58mm of rain across 7.9 days and a real 24.5 kph wind. Regulars are consistent late May specifically marks the practical start of summer season here, meaningfully less crowded and cheaper than the months ahead, the scent of blooming herbs and lemon trees a real seasonal marker locals point to. The sea sits at 18.4C. The record: 12.2 hours of sun, humidity 76 percent and AQI 53.

Hvar-forum threads on November weather are consistent that this is deep into the island's low season - most restaurants shuttered for winter, and the town running quiet enough that regulars call it worth a visit only if the forecast actually cooperates. On a clear day the Riva promenade still draws people out to sit in the sun, and the Fortica fortress above town stays open for anyone wanting the view. Posters describe the November-through-March stretch broadly as unlikely to turn harshly wintry but genuinely prone to rain and wind, day to day a real toss-up. Evenings cool fast enough that a proper coat is non-negotiable, especially since much of what's still open leans on outdoor seating even this late in the year. Regulars frame it plainly: check the week's forecast before committing. The record: 18.3C days feeling like 16C, 11.7C nights, a notably high 212mm across 14.8 days, a 19.3C sea and wind averaging 30 km/h.

Hvar-forum threads comparing August to September land decisively on September: still warm enough to swim without August's mid-to-high-30s intensity, noticeably fewer tourists, and cheaper accommodation with less of a crush getting the catamaran over. Posters call it the best month outright rather than just a compromise - streets and bars stay lively without the overcrowding, and the sea holds its warmth right through. The one caveat worth flagging: an odd year has seen the weather turn abruptly mid-month, one specific account describing torrential rain and flooding, though everyone agrees that's the exception rather than what to expect. The record: 27.3C days feeling like 29C, 19.3C nights, 85mm across 6.8 days, a 24.5C sea, 72 percent humidity and 10.5 hours of sun.

August on Hvar is crowded and hot, and regulars split on whether that is a reason to come or to wait. The case against: 35C days turn up, several say September is simply the better month with the crowds gone and the sea still warm, and nobody recommends August for anything strenuous like a cycling holiday. The case for: the island empties in the middle of the day, so the bars and the town are surprisingly peaceful between late morning and late afternoon, and from about the 25th it noticeably quietens as the season winds down. Our row's 30.5C reads as 34C, over a 22.8C night. The record: 3.3 precipitation days carrying 31.1mm, 12.4 hours of sun and a 26.3C sea.