Updated 16 Sep 2026 · recomputed nightly
Is September 2026 a good month to visit Dubrovnik?
Busy — the typical September day in Dubrovnik is busier than 74% of its year.
If you are coming for something that only happens in September, that is the trade. If not, December is quieter.
Calm · Lively · Busy · Packed rank a day against Dubrovnik's own year — not a headcount.
September is one of Dubrovnik's busiest months: warm and showery, around 26°C / 79°F with rain on about 8 days, and Busy on 8 of 15 days. (Our forecast covers 16–30 September — the rest of September is beyond the current window.)
It depends. The typical September day in Dubrovnik is Busy, and 11 of the 15 days in our window run Busy or Packed, so most days feel crowded. Expect around 26 °C by day, with rain on about 8 days. Public holidays in Germany add to it. Cruise ships call on 14 of the 15 days, 6 at once on Thursday 24 September. For similar weather with fewer people, come in May or November. The crush is at the Pile gate and the Stradun; the quiet is at Lokrum. The calmest day is Saturday 26 September, the busiest Wednesday 30 September.
In short, worth it for the peak buzz, if you can take the crowds.
Among the 12 months we forecast for Dubrovnik, September ranks 3rd for crowd pressure. Its heaviest day is Wed 30 Sep, busier than 92% of the year; its lightest is Sat 26 Sep at 52%.
Preparing pays off in a month like this: timed-entry tickets and pre-booked tours turn the queue time into sightseeing time. see the options →
Nothing extreme to plan around — rain on 8 of 30 days.
The one thing you wear all day, every day of the trip.
See walking shoes →
A folding one lives in the day bag and weighs nothing.
See umbrellas →
How busy is Dubrovnik in September?
The busiest days are the 24th, 28th, 29th and 30th, and 7 more. Away from those, most days sit Lively.
Cruise ships are in port on 14 of 15 days; the heaviest is Thu 24 Sep, 6 ships in at once. Those mornings fill the squares first — start early, or save them for indoors.
The month is not one thing: its lightest day sits at 52% of the year and its heaviest at 92%, so where you land inside it matters. All three Wednesdays run Busy or Packed. Daylight runs about 12 hours.
Either side of it, August is busier still and October is a little calmer.
The calmest days are the 22nd, 26th and 27th — aim for those if your dates can flex.
Wed 16 Sep Busy busier than 74% of days here · ⚓2
- Mein Schiff 4 — guest capacity 2,506 07:00–22:00
- Seven Seas Navigator — guest capacity 490 10:00–19:00
Record Dubrovnik on Wed 16 Sep 2026 is forecast Busy. 2 cruise ships scheduled, at least 2,996 guests at double occupancy; ships in port 07:00–22:00. Nearest calmer day: Sat 19 Sep (Lively). Ship-by-ship detail for the day, the year at a glance, and what's worth booking ahead: https://avoid-crowds.com/dubrovnik/#d-2026-09-16 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 16 Sep 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Thu 17 Sep Busy busier than 79% of days here · ⚓4
- Costa Deliziosa — guest capacity 2,260 12:00–20:00
- Marella Explorer 2 — guest capacity 1,814 04:00–20:00
- Ritz Carlton Ilma — guest capacity 448 08:00–23:00
- ms La Belle de lAdriatique — guest capacity 99 18:00–14:00
Record Dubrovnik on Thu 17 Sep 2026 is forecast Busy. 4 cruise ships scheduled, at least 4,621 guests at double occupancy; ships in port 04:00–23:00. Nearest calmer day: Sat 19 Sep (Lively). Ship-by-ship detail for the day, the year at a glance, and what's worth booking ahead: https://avoid-crowds.com/dubrovnik/#d-2026-09-17 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 16 Sep 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Fri 18 Sep Busy busier than 71% of days here · ⚓2
- Enchanted Princess — guest capacity 3,660 07:00–17:00
- Oceania Nautica Aurelia — guest capacity 698 08:00–17:00
Record Dubrovnik on Fri 18 Sep 2026 is forecast Busy. 2 cruise ships scheduled, at least 4,358 guests at double occupancy; ships in port 07:00–17:00. Nearest calmer day: Sat 19 Sep (Lively). Ship-by-ship detail for the day, the year at a glance, and what's worth booking ahead: https://avoid-crowds.com/dubrovnik/#d-2026-09-18 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 16 Sep 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Sat 19 Sep Lively busier than 63% of days here · ⚓1
- ms Oosterdam — guest capacity 1,916 08:00–21:00
Record Dubrovnik on Sat 19 Sep 2026 is forecast Lively. 1 cruise ship scheduled, at least 1,916 guests at double occupancy; ships in port 08:00–21:00. The day in full, the year at a glance, and how this day compares: https://avoid-crowds.com/dubrovnik/#d-2026-09-19 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 16 Sep 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Sun 20 Sep Busy busier than 69% of days here · ⚓1 · Germany public holiday
- Explorer Of The Seas — guest capacity 3,286 10:00–20:00
Record Dubrovnik on Sun 20 Sep 2026 is forecast Busy. 1 cruise ship scheduled, at least 3,286 guests at double occupancy; ships in port 10:00–20:00. Why: Germany public holiday. Nearest calmer day: Sat 19 Sep (Lively). Ship-by-ship detail for the day, the year at a glance, and what's worth booking ahead: https://avoid-crowds.com/dubrovnik/#d-2026-09-20 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 16 Sep 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Mon 21 Sep Busy busier than 78% of days here · ⚓3
- Norwegian Pearl — guest capacity 2,394 10:00–23:00
- Silver Muse — guest capacity 612 08:00–22:00
- Viking Star — guest capacity 930
Record Dubrovnik on Mon 21 Sep 2026 is forecast Busy. 3 cruise ships scheduled, at least 3,936 guests at double occupancy. Nearest calmer day: Tue 22 Sep (Lively). Ship-by-ship detail for the day, the year at a glance, and what's worth booking ahead: https://avoid-crowds.com/dubrovnik/#d-2026-09-21 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 16 Sep 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Tue 22 Sep Lively busier than 62% of days here · ⚓1
- MSC Armonia — guest capacity 1,950 07:00–19:00
Record Dubrovnik on Tue 22 Sep 2026 is forecast Lively. 1 cruise ship scheduled, at least 1,950 guests at double occupancy; ships in port 07:00–19:00. The day in full, the year at a glance, and how this day compares: https://avoid-crowds.com/dubrovnik/#d-2026-09-22 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 16 Sep 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Wed 23 Sep Busy busier than 80% of days here · ⚓3
- Celebrity Ascent — guest capacity 3,260 08:00–20:00
- MSC Explora 2 — guest capacity 922 12:00–23:00
- Wind Surf — guest capacity 342 08:00–17:00
Record Dubrovnik on Wed 23 Sep 2026 is forecast Busy. 3 cruise ships scheduled, at least 4,524 guests at double occupancy; ships in port 08:00–23:00. Nearest calmer day: Tue 22 Sep (Lively). Ship-by-ship detail for the day, the year at a glance, and what's worth booking ahead: https://avoid-crowds.com/dubrovnik/#d-2026-09-23 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 16 Sep 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Thu 24 Sep Packed busier than 87% of days here · ⚓6
- Brilliance Of The Seas — guest capacity 2,112 08:00–18:00
- Douglas Mawson — guest capacity 154
- Marella Explorer 2 — guest capacity 1,814 04:00–21:00
- Marella Voyager — guest capacity 1,814 08:00–16:00
- Ritz Carlton Ilma — guest capacity 448 09:00–23:00
- ms La Belle de lAdriatique — guest capacity 99 17:00–21:00
Record Dubrovnik on Thu 24 Sep 2026 is forecast Packed. 6 cruise ships scheduled, at least 6,441 guests at double occupancy. Nearest calmer day: Wed 23 Sep (Busy). Ship-by-ship detail for the day, the year at a glance, and what's worth booking ahead: https://avoid-crowds.com/dubrovnik/#d-2026-09-24 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 16 Sep 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Fri 25 Sep Busy busier than 69% of days here · ⚓2
- Celebrity Eclipse — guest capacity 2,850 08:00–20:00
- Emerald Kaia — guest capacity 128 02:00–?
Record Dubrovnik on Fri 25 Sep 2026 is forecast Busy. 2 cruise ships scheduled, at least 2,978 guests at double occupancy. Nearest calmer day: Sat 26 Sep (Lively). Ship-by-ship detail for the day, the year at a glance, and what's worth booking ahead: https://avoid-crowds.com/dubrovnik/#d-2026-09-25 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 16 Sep 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Sat 26 Sep Lively busier than 52% of days here
Record Dubrovnik on Sat 26 Sep 2026 is forecast Lively. The day in full, the year at a glance, and how this day compares: https://avoid-crowds.com/dubrovnik/#d-2026-09-26 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 16 Sep 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Sun 27 Sep Lively busier than 57% of days here · ⚓3
- Emerald Kaia — guest capacity 128
- Seabourn Quest — guest capacity 458 07:00–17:00
- Viking Star — guest capacity 930
Record Dubrovnik on Sun 27 Sep 2026 is forecast Lively. 3 cruise ships scheduled, at least 1,516 guests at double occupancy. The day in full, the year at a glance, and how this day compares: https://avoid-crowds.com/dubrovnik/#d-2026-09-27 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 16 Sep 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Mon 28 Sep Packed busier than 88% of days here · ⚓3
- Azamara Quest — guest capacity 722 08:00–22:00
- Celebrity Constellation — guest capacity 2,130 07:00–20:00
- Norwegian Gem — guest capacity 2,394 09:00–23:00
Record Dubrovnik on Mon 28 Sep 2026 is forecast Packed. 3 cruise ships scheduled, at least 5,246 guests at double occupancy; ships in port 07:00–23:00. Nearest calmer day: Sun 27 Sep (Lively). Ship-by-ship detail for the day, the year at a glance, and what's worth booking ahead: https://avoid-crowds.com/dubrovnik/#d-2026-09-28 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 16 Sep 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Tue 29 Sep Busy busier than 82% of days here · ⚓3
- Azura — guest capacity 3,100
- MSC Armonia — guest capacity 1,950 07:00–19:00
- ms Europa — guest capacity 408 07:00–?
Record Dubrovnik on Tue 29 Sep 2026 is forecast Busy. 3 cruise ships scheduled, at least 5,458 guests at double occupancy. Nearest calmer day: Sun 27 Sep (Lively). Ship-by-ship detail for the day, the year at a glance, and what's worth booking ahead: https://avoid-crowds.com/dubrovnik/#d-2026-09-29 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 16 Sep 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Wed 30 Sep Packed busier than 92% of days here · ⚓4
- Azamara Onward — guest capacity 684 08:00–22:00
- Celebrity Eclipse — guest capacity 2,850 07:00–20:00
- Mein Schiff 4 — guest capacity 2,506 07:00–22:00
- ms La Belle de lAdriatique — guest capacity 99 20:00–09:00
Record Dubrovnik on Wed 30 Sep 2026 is forecast Packed. 4 cruise ships scheduled, at least 6,139 guests at double occupancy; ships in port 07:00–22:00. Nearest calmer day: Tue 29 Sep (Busy). Ship-by-ship detail for the day, the year at a glance, and what's worth booking ahead: https://avoid-crowds.com/dubrovnik/#d-2026-09-30 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 16 Sep 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Can't move the dates? How to avoid the worst crowds
- The heaviest port day is Thu 24 Sep — 6 ships in at once. See the marquee sights on a lighter day, or be there for opening time.
- On the busy days, the walk-up queues for the big sights are the biggest time-sink — a timed-entry ticket skips them, which is where a busy month is won or lost.
Travelling on a busy day?
Timed-entry and skip-the-line tickets turn queue time into sightseeing time — sort them before you fly.
September weather in Dubrovnik
Comfortably warm — around 26°C / 79°F, easy shirtsleeve weather, with rain on about 8 days, so keep a layer handy.
Book beds and the big-ticket sights well ahead, and start your days by eight — in a month this full, the early hours are the only uncrowded ones.
More about Dubrovnik in September
Based on: Croatia's public holidays · school vacations across France, Germany, the Netherlands and Poland · the season pattern from official overnight stays · five years of weather records (2019–2023) · confirmed event dates · the published cruise schedule
Every figure is recomputed nightly from real cruise schedules, public and school holidays, and long-run climate normals. Gaps are shown, not filled.
