Holidays by the Adriatic Sea
The Adriatic offers two contrasting seaside traditions. Along much of Croatia's coast, stone towns, islands and pebble or rocky beaches shape the holiday. Italy's northern Adriatic has long sandy shores, beach clubs and promenades. Neither description fits every beach, but the distinction is useful when choosing between a family resort and a smaller coastal base.
Sand, pebbles and the summer season
Rimini is a good example of the Italian resort style, with services close to the sand. Rovinj combines an Istrian old town with nearby swimming spots. For small children, look at the actual entry into the water and available shade, rather than choosing from the photograph alone.
Summer is the main bathing season. Comparing Adriatic sea temperatures by month helps you choose between an early-season break and a late-summer stay, but conditions at a northern resort and a southern island need not match. Spring and autumn also suit coastal walks and exploring towns when swimming is only part of the plan.
Geography at a glance
Adriatic Sea
- Location
- Southern Europe
- Part of
- Mediterranean Sea
- Coastal countries
- Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania
- Area
- ≈ 138,600 km²
- Max. depth
- ≈ 1,230 m
Locator map. Measurements are approximate and depend on the area’s definition. Fact source · Map: Natural Earth
Sea temperature by month (°C)
In October, the warmest sea is at Sveti Stefan (20.8 °C) and the coolest at Rimini (19.5 °C).
| Beach | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dubrovnik | 14.4 | 13.7 | 13.9 | 15.0 | 18.1 | 22.6 | 25.1 | 25.5 | 23.7 | 20.5 | 18.4 | 15.7 |
| Hvar | 14.5 | 13.3 | 13.4 | 14.6 | 17.9 | 22.4 | 24.9 | 25.1 | 23.4 | 20.6 | 18.7 | 16.1 |
| Pula | 12.3 | 11.3 | 11.6 | 13.3 | 17.1 | 22.5 | 25.6 | 25.7 | 23.4 | 19.9 | 17.3 | 14.2 |
| Rimini | 9.4 | 8.6 | 10.7 | 13.4 | 17.8 | 23.2 | 26.2 | 26.6 | 23.7 | 19.5 | 15.6 | 11.4 |
| Rovinj | 11.9 | 10.8 | 11.2 | 13.1 | 17.2 | 22.7 | 25.7 | 25.7 | 23.4 | 19.8 | 17.2 | 13.9 |
| Split | 13.6 | 12.3 | 12.4 | 13.9 | 17.4 | 21.9 | 24.5 | 24.5 | 22.6 | 19.8 | 17.8 | 15.0 |
| Sveti Stefan | 14.2 | 13.3 | 13.8 | 15.2 | 18.9 | 23.3 | 25.2 | 25.4 | 24.0 | 20.8 | 18.9 | 15.6 |
Average sea temperature in each month, 2021–2025 (Copernicus ERA5), at each beach. Not a forecast.
Adriatic Sea – Sea temperature today
Current estimates for the selected beaches, not an average for the whole sea. Sea: NASA MUR with an hourly adjustment; air: Apple Weather. The update time refers to this page, not a measurement taken in the water.
Last updated:
| All beaches | Sea (°C) | Air (°C) |
|---|---|---|
| Dubrovnik, Croatia | 19.5 °C | 11 °C |
| Hvar, Croatia | 19.6 °C | 15 °C |
| Pula, Croatia | 19.7 °C | 14 °C |
| Rimini, Italy | 19.5 °C | 11 °C |
| Rovinj, Croatia | 20.1 °C | 13 °C |
| Split, Croatia | 18.8 °C | 12 °C |
| Sveti Stefan, Montenegro | 20.0 °C | 12 °C |