Rijeka has a mild Mediterranean climate: warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters. The best times to visit are May to June and September to October, when temperatures are comfortable (18–25°C), the crowds are thin, and the light on the Kvarner Gulf is at its most beautiful.
The Rijeka Carnival, held each February in the weeks before Lent, is one of the largest in Europe — a week of parades, masquerade balls, and street events that transforms the city. The zvončari (bell-ringers) parade, featuring groups of men in sheepskin costumes and enormous cowbells from villages across the Kvarner hinterland, is the strangest and most memorable event. July and August bring tourists from the coast and prices rise accordingly; the city is busier but the waterfront has more life.