twlk

Hi all,

I'm planning a trip to two weeks trip to Croatia, either starting end of September or early October. I plan on taking the ferry from Split to Dubrovnik, stopping over at the islands along the way. Does this itinerary look good or too much? I googled the distances between the cities and parks. The drive is roughly 1-3 hours max, which doesn't look too bad. Am I underestimating the traffic and should I stay in smaller towns in between the drive? Any advice and suggestions will be extremely helpful!! I have a few questions about the islands as well.

- How much time should we allocate for Hvar island?
- What are some other island recommendations- Vis, Mrac, Korcula?

Day 1 - Arrive in Zagreb in afternoon or evening depending on flight

Day 2 - Zagreb

Day 3 - Plitvice National park (rent car from Zagreb to get here), drive to Zadar

4 - Zadar

5 - Zadar

6 - Krka, drive to Split

7 - Split (return rental car)

8 - Split

9 - Split to Hvar by ferry

10 - Hvar

11 - Hvar to a neighbouring island by ferry? Suggestions?

12 - Island to Dubrovnik by ferry

13 - Dubrovnik

14 - Montenegro day tour

15 - leave


Thanks in advance!

Andrew

Looks doable even if a bit rushed. I wouldn't need three(?) nights in Zadar myself, maybe not even two nights, though I know you are arriving late from Plitvice, so not much of a first day. I'd probably add it to Dubrovnik given your day trip to Montenegro. Put a day trip to say Mostar on your agenda too from Dubrovnik - but if you have enough to do in Dubrovnik, skip Mostar.

Plitvice shouldn't be that busy at that time of year, but you're still going to be there mid-day so expect plenty of people in the park, even in the fall. Staying over a night in Plitvice gives you the opportunity to enter the park first thing in the morning when it should be pretty empty in September - and it would also break up that long day of driving between Zagreb and Zadar. On the other hand, there's nothing to do at Plitvice in the evening and not many restaurant options.

Shouldn't be much road traffic in late September / early October. Know that by October some excursions go away for the season. Islands really start to slow down as the season is winding down. You have fewer options for things like trips to Montenegro. Not that it's a bad time to go - I had great, warm weather in Dubrovnik on my first trip in early October, but as I was leaving (for Korcula) the weather turned rainy and colder the rest of the trip. Weather is always a guessing game, playing the odds, but I'd prefer to be ending my trip near the end of September or very early in October.

It's easy to stop a night in Korcula via the catamaran between Hvar and Dubrovnik. If you can't find a good ferry option between Korcula and Dubrovnik for some reason, there is also a direct daily bus.

kja

How much time to devote to Hvar Island really depends on your preferences. Two nights were enough for me (I got there very late one evening and left in the morning of the day after that); other people want a week.

I’m very glad a spent a night in the Plitvice Lakes area. I didn’t feel the need for nightlife, and the meal that was included with my lodging was extraordinary. My mouth still waters when I think of it! Staying in the area also gives you the chance to enter the park when it suits YOU. I’m not a morning person, and so simply waited until the tour groups had entered the park, which they generally do at about 10 a.m. And since they moved more quickly than I, I had a lot of quiet moments in the park even during a busy season. Weather permitting, try to make a single, long loop through the park -- something on the order of 6 hours or more (including time for the boat that connects the lower and upper lakes), and by all means, start at the lowest part of the park so you are facing the falls as you proceed.

I enjoyed Zadar, but 3 nights in Zadar would be a night too many for my tastes, again, it depends on what you want to do.

By Krka, can we assume you mean the Krka National Park?

I enjoyed Korcula, which is between Hvar and Dubrovnik, but I’m not sure what it would be like as late in the season as you plan to travel, and you will need to check ferry schedules carefully to make sure it works within your plan.

I don’t see enough time in your schedule to add Mostar, but again, it depends on what you want to see and do. And if you do add Mostar, I would strongly encourage you to include an overnight stay there. It is one of those places that had an entirely different feeling after day-trippers have left.

Hope that helps!