Croatia in April 2026 - Travel Tips, Spring Showers & Events
- Jessica Cerović
- Apr 1
- 3 min read
April, or Travanj in Croatian, is a vibrant month. Flowers bloom, foliage flourishes, and seasonal foods come alive as temperatures rise. There’s so much to do in Croatia in April! Traditions and events beckon you to explore the great outdoors. For all you adrenaline junkies, there are plenty of races to choose from—whether by bicycle, rally car, or foot.
This year, Lent, or Veliki Post in Croatian, ends on April 2nd. Good Friday, or Veliki Petak, takes place on April 3rd. On Good Friday, you fast until Easter, eating only fish, beans, nuts, and fruit—no other meat until Saturday. On Saturday, we paint boiled eggs and prepare various dishes like egg, ham, lamb, leeks, and pastries. These are placed in a basket and taken to the church on Easter for a blessing. Igor's mother always adds a little bit of everything to the basket, even the salt for dipping raw leeks!
Easter, or Uskrs in Croatian, is celebrated either in March or April, depending on the calendar. It spans from Sunday through Monday and marks the end of Lent. An old tradition involves burying any scraps left after the Easter feast instead of tossing them in the trash. This is because the food is blessed, making it a holy version of composting. Eco-friendly peeps, did you catch that little pun? Wink, wink!
Lovran Asparagus Festival
April 1-30
It’s not spring in Croatia without asparagus! The town of Lovran celebrates this healthy vegetable with a massive omelette, known as fritaja, made with 1,000 eggs and 30 kilograms of asparagus and bacon. Nearby restaurants feature creative asparagus dishes on their menus. Along with the food, there’s a musical program and other cultural happenings.
Istria 100 by UTMB
April 9-12
This event is known as the greatest Croatian trail race, the 100 Miles of Istria. Several races take place over the weekend with four different courses scattered around the Istrian Peninsula. The yellow course is 41km (25 miles), the green course is 67km (42 miles), the blue course is 110km (68 miles), and the red course is 161km (100 miles). All courses offer breathtaking views of the mountains, valleys, and the Adriatic Sea in the most northwestern part of this beautiful country.
WRC Croatia Rally
April 9-12
This rally is Round 4 of the World Rally Championship. Teams compete in 20 different stages across five counties. The race begins in the capital city of Zagreb and extends to areas near the north coast, including the ski resort of Platak and the town of Ravna Gora.
Dobro World Cup
April 11-12
The FIG World Challenge Cup, or Dobro World Cup, takes place in Osijek. Since its inception in 2009, this annual gymnastics competition showcases professional athletes from around the globe as they display their talents and compete for medals.
Four Islands MTB Stage Race
April 14-18
This is a team mountain bike race spanning five days across the stunning northern islands of Krk, Cres, Lošinj, and Rab. The race totals approximately 289km (180 miles) with ascents reaching up to 6,022 meters (19,757 feet).
Rijeka Run
April 18
Known as Rijeka's Festival of Sport and Recreation, this event offers athletes a choice of competitive races, including 539 Steps, Molo Longo Run, Half Marathon, Relay Race, 10km, and 5km. There are also non-competitive races like Homo Si Teć, Dm Mići Trk, and the Milka Milinković Memorial.
Krk GranFondo
April 25
This 82-kilometer bike tour takes place on the island of Krk. It begins in the town of Punat and takes a scenic route through the towns of Baška, Vrbnik, Malinska, Omišalj, and Njivice, showcasing the area's history and unique features.
A Month Full of Adventures
So, whether you want to participate in a race or simply be a spectator at a sports event, take part in Easter traditions, or savor seasonal foods, there’s an abundance of events awaiting you in Croatia this April.
North Coast Croatia Travel Agency specializes in travel to Croatia and surrounding European countries. We provide consultations, custom itineraries, pre-designed theme itineraries, summer beach rentals, and a travel blog. We handle bookings for flights, accommodations, cruises, tours, rental cars, transfers, bus/train/ferry tickets, travel insurance, and more!
Happy Travels! Sretan Put!
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