2 weeks in Croatia, Slovenia, Montenegro, Bosnia
Jun 6th, 2016, 06:43 AM
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2 weeks in Croatia, Slovenia, Montenegro, Bosnia
Fairly active couple in our 30's from NYC, considering the following itinerary for 2 weeks in the Balkans in the summer. We like beautiful towns with cafes and beaches as well as hiking, historical sightseeing. Any suggestions to the below trip?
Day 1: Arrive in Zagreb, jetleg, walk around, (sleep in Zagreb)
Day 2: rent a car and drive up to Ljubljana, explore the town (sleep in Ljub)
Dat 3: day trip up to Lake Bled, returning to Ljubljana (Ljub)
Day 4: drive down to Plitvice Lakes (sleep near the lakes somewhere)
Day 5: drive down to Split, return the car, visit the palace, explore the town (sleep in Split)
Day 6-8: Ferry over to Hvar, 3 days relaxing and exploring (Hvar)
Day 9-13: Ferry to over to Dubrovnik, 3 days relaxing, 2 side trips; Kotor and Mostar
Day 14: fly home from Dubrovnik
Day 1: Arrive in Zagreb, jetleg, walk around, (sleep in Zagreb)
Day 2: rent a car and drive up to Ljubljana, explore the town (sleep in Ljub)
Dat 3: day trip up to Lake Bled, returning to Ljubljana (Ljub)
Day 4: drive down to Plitvice Lakes (sleep near the lakes somewhere)
Day 5: drive down to Split, return the car, visit the palace, explore the town (sleep in Split)
Day 6-8: Ferry over to Hvar, 3 days relaxing and exploring (Hvar)
Day 9-13: Ferry to over to Dubrovnik, 3 days relaxing, 2 side trips; Kotor and Mostar
Day 14: fly home from Dubrovnik
Jun 6th, 2016, 07:51 AM
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Sounds fine, except that with day trips to both Kotor and Mostar, two of those days in Dubrovnik won't be very relaxing. (Do you mean three nights or four nights in Dubrovnik? Three nights means two full days, one for each day trip, and no single day of "relaxing" - so do that in Hvar!) You'll be on a bus for hours each day back and forth aside from walking around exploring on those day trips. Still, Dubrovnik itself doesn't require much time and is a great place to come back to at night, after the cruise ship mobs of tourists have left.
Also, summer is high season in Croatia. I understand it gets very crowded. (I have been there only on the shoulders, in May and October.)
Have you checked arrival/departure into Zagreb / out of Dubrovnik? Sometimes that isn't an easy flight itinerary and staging in some other city in Europe for a night or two makes it easier.
Also, summer is high season in Croatia. I understand it gets very crowded. (I have been there only on the shoulders, in May and October.)
Have you checked arrival/departure into Zagreb / out of Dubrovnik? Sometimes that isn't an easy flight itinerary and staging in some other city in Europe for a night or two makes it easier.
Jun 6th, 2016, 07:59 AM
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It's all subjective of course, but I would not like all those one-night stops in the beginning--but those are all places that can be easily enjoyed in one day. The only place I would want the car is while on Hvar and for the day trips from Dubrovnik (alternative is private tours, as I don't think the bus will accommodate day trips).
If by summer you mean June or early July, no worries. If August, I would not stay in Hvar town. At any time of year, check when cruise ships will be docking in Dubrovnik so you can do your day trips on those days. (God forbid it's daily--they are such a scourge.)
I think the only direct boat from Hvar to Dubrovnik is the catamaran operated by Krilo.
If by summer you mean June or early July, no worries. If August, I would not stay in Hvar town. At any time of year, check when cruise ships will be docking in Dubrovnik so you can do your day trips on those days. (God forbid it's daily--they are such a scourge.)
I think the only direct boat from Hvar to Dubrovnik is the catamaran operated by Krilo.
Jun 6th, 2016, 08:07 AM
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-To clarify, I am planning 5 days in Dubrovnik, 2 of which would be dedicated to day trips. This would still leave us 3 days of relaxing in DBK.
-Great point about cruise ships! I didn't even think of this.
-We were planning July or August. I guess July will be better?
-The other option is on day 1, rent a car and go straight from the Zagreb airport to Ljubljana, skipping Zagreb all-together and giving us a little more time in LJ.
-I was not thinking that we would need a car in Hvar. Assumed everyone gets around by boat, taxi?
-I didn't consider having a car in Dubrovnik because to be honest, I am not 100% convinced driving to/from and doing border controls in either Bosnia and/or Montenegro was a good idea. Is it totally safe/non-problematic?
-Great point about cruise ships! I didn't even think of this.
-We were planning July or August. I guess July will be better?
-The other option is on day 1, rent a car and go straight from the Zagreb airport to Ljubljana, skipping Zagreb all-together and giving us a little more time in LJ.
-I was not thinking that we would need a car in Hvar. Assumed everyone gets around by boat, taxi?
-I didn't consider having a car in Dubrovnik because to be honest, I am not 100% convinced driving to/from and doing border controls in either Bosnia and/or Montenegro was a good idea. Is it totally safe/non-problematic?
Jun 6th, 2016, 08:25 AM
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It is totally safe and non-problematic to cross borders between Croatia, Bosnia, and Montenegro, if you have a valid passport and no visa requirements (e.g. US passport), except that in the summer the border crossings, as I understand it, can get quite backed up. If you wind up driving to Montenegro, note that there's an alternative border crossing (Konfin) that is less crowded because tour buses aren't allowed to use it.
The other issue with crossing borders is rental car insurance. Now that Croatia is in the EU, when you drive into Bosnia or Montenegro, you are leaving the EU so extra insurance applies, probably a fee that varies by rental car company. At least find out the cost ahead of time so you know what to expect.
Five nights is a really long time to spend in Dubrovnik. As much as I hate one night hotel stays, I too might opt for a car so you can stay over a night in both Mostar and Kotor (or somewhere else in Montenegro). Tiny Mostar gets mobbed with tour groups during the day but is quiet at night. Kotor gets cruise ships too.
So maybe you could keep the car and take it to Hvar via ferry...or drop one car in Split and pick up another when you get back from Hvar...or park the car for a few days in Split while you ferry to Hvar without it. Then stop a night each in Mostar and Montenegro and drop it in Dubrovnik, where you probably don't want it anyway. Not sure which is the most practical approach, but sometimes short car rentals aren't cheap. Keeping it a few extra days may not cost that much more.
The other issue with crossing borders is rental car insurance. Now that Croatia is in the EU, when you drive into Bosnia or Montenegro, you are leaving the EU so extra insurance applies, probably a fee that varies by rental car company. At least find out the cost ahead of time so you know what to expect.
Five nights is a really long time to spend in Dubrovnik. As much as I hate one night hotel stays, I too might opt for a car so you can stay over a night in both Mostar and Kotor (or somewhere else in Montenegro). Tiny Mostar gets mobbed with tour groups during the day but is quiet at night. Kotor gets cruise ships too.
So maybe you could keep the car and take it to Hvar via ferry...or drop one car in Split and pick up another when you get back from Hvar...or park the car for a few days in Split while you ferry to Hvar without it. Then stop a night each in Mostar and Montenegro and drop it in Dubrovnik, where you probably don't want it anyway. Not sure which is the most practical approach, but sometimes short car rentals aren't cheap. Keeping it a few extra days may not cost that much more.
Jun 6th, 2016, 08:59 AM
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Unless late (very end) August, I'd opt for July.
If you are just relaxing/taking boat trips, no car on Hvar will be fine. I just meant that versus getting place to place where it is so easy via train and bus (Zag-Lbj-LB-Plitvice-Split--except you'd have to transit through Zagreb before Plitvice), having a car on Hvar to explore the island would be appealing. You can always do a day rental if this appeals.
This adds another one-nighter, but Dubrovnik does not need 5 days: For Mostar, you might consider stopping over between Split and Dubrovnik (bus easy for both routes), then you could see Mostar after the day trippers depart, which is reputed to be quite nice.
I don't recommend driving with jet lag, but I don't think the drive from Zagreb to Ljubljana is very long.
If you are just relaxing/taking boat trips, no car on Hvar will be fine. I just meant that versus getting place to place where it is so easy via train and bus (Zag-Lbj-LB-Plitvice-Split--except you'd have to transit through Zagreb before Plitvice), having a car on Hvar to explore the island would be appealing. You can always do a day rental if this appeals.
This adds another one-nighter, but Dubrovnik does not need 5 days: For Mostar, you might consider stopping over between Split and Dubrovnik (bus easy for both routes), then you could see Mostar after the day trippers depart, which is reputed to be quite nice.
I don't recommend driving with jet lag, but I don't think the drive from Zagreb to Ljubljana is very long.
Jun 6th, 2016, 10:39 AM
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The reason that I was giving myself more time in Dubrovnik and Hvar was so that is more relaxed. We did 3 days each in Santorini and Mykonos, so assumed it would be a similar type of place to Greek Isls.
Jun 6th, 2016, 11:00 AM
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Is this better?
day 1 Arrive AM in Zagreb, drive to Ljubljana
day 2 Ljubljaba
day 3 Lake Bled Day Trip, back to Ljubljana
day 4 Plitvice Lakes
day 5 Split
day 6 Mostar Day Trip, back to Split
day 7 Ferry to Hvar
day 8 Hvar
day 9 Hvar
day 10 Ferry to Dubrovnik
day 11 Dubrovnik
day 12 Kotor Day Trip, back to Dubrovnik
day 13 Dubrovnik
day 14 fly home
this way, first 3 nights in Ljubljana, then 1 night in Plitvice, then 2 nights in Split, 3 in Hvar and ending with 4 nights in Dubrovnik
day 1 Arrive AM in Zagreb, drive to Ljubljana
day 2 Ljubljaba
day 3 Lake Bled Day Trip, back to Ljubljana
day 4 Plitvice Lakes
day 5 Split
day 6 Mostar Day Trip, back to Split
day 7 Ferry to Hvar
day 8 Hvar
day 9 Hvar
day 10 Ferry to Dubrovnik
day 11 Dubrovnik
day 12 Kotor Day Trip, back to Dubrovnik
day 13 Dubrovnik
day 14 fly home
this way, first 3 nights in Ljubljana, then 1 night in Plitvice, then 2 nights in Split, 3 in Hvar and ending with 4 nights in Dubrovnik
Jun 6th, 2016, 11:07 AM
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In Bled, do not miss the Vintgar Gorge and/or Lake Bohinj, a 30-minute drive further into the National Park. It's perfect for hiking, although I appreciate your time there will be limited.
Leave for Plitvice quite early in the morning to beat some of the crowds at Plitvice. Also, try to avoid doing this drive during the weekend, the traffic will be heavier, you'll have to wait longer to cross the border and Plitvice will be busiest then. If day 4 does fall on a Saturday or Sunday, though, you can at least be comforted by knowing you'll be in Ljubljana in time to catch the Open Kitchen food market on Friday
Some people are underwhelmed by Zagreb, others find it charming. I'm biased as I live in Ljubljana so I can't really recommend either option. If you decide on skipping ZG though, you could use this extra time to explore LJ and Bled better and this would also give you the opportunity to leave for Plitvice in the late afternoon on Day 3, spend the night there and wake up fresh, have the whole day to explore Plitvice and then leave for Split again in the late afternoon.
Consider keeping the car on Hvar and for the day trips from Dubrovnik, it will make getting around much easier and enable you to find less crowded beaches further out of town, plus you won't have to return to Split to continue to Dubrovnik, you can use the Sucuraj-Drvenik ferry to shorten the drive. Then again, it will make the ferries more expensive. However, it will also make it possible to find cheaper accommodation options than you could if you relied on public transport or will save you plenty of money in taxi fares.
In August, there will be masses of Italian tourists (most numerous visitors after Germans and Slovenes) on top of everyone else due to Ferragosto, so go in July if you can.
Leave for Plitvice quite early in the morning to beat some of the crowds at Plitvice. Also, try to avoid doing this drive during the weekend, the traffic will be heavier, you'll have to wait longer to cross the border and Plitvice will be busiest then. If day 4 does fall on a Saturday or Sunday, though, you can at least be comforted by knowing you'll be in Ljubljana in time to catch the Open Kitchen food market on Friday
Some people are underwhelmed by Zagreb, others find it charming. I'm biased as I live in Ljubljana so I can't really recommend either option. If you decide on skipping ZG though, you could use this extra time to explore LJ and Bled better and this would also give you the opportunity to leave for Plitvice in the late afternoon on Day 3, spend the night there and wake up fresh, have the whole day to explore Plitvice and then leave for Split again in the late afternoon.
Consider keeping the car on Hvar and for the day trips from Dubrovnik, it will make getting around much easier and enable you to find less crowded beaches further out of town, plus you won't have to return to Split to continue to Dubrovnik, you can use the Sucuraj-Drvenik ferry to shorten the drive. Then again, it will make the ferries more expensive. However, it will also make it possible to find cheaper accommodation options than you could if you relied on public transport or will save you plenty of money in taxi fares.
In August, there will be masses of Italian tourists (most numerous visitors after Germans and Slovenes) on top of everyone else due to Ferragosto, so go in July if you can.
Jun 6th, 2016, 11:10 AM
#10
Go here to check the cruise ship schedules:
http://www.portdubrovnik.hr/girica1.php
I, too, would limit time in Dubrovnik. And Hvar, for that matter, but I don't like crowds. If you're going to Mostar I would consider continuing on to Sarajevo, which I really enjoyed.
http://www.portdubrovnik.hr/girica1.php
I, too, would limit time in Dubrovnik. And Hvar, for that matter, but I don't like crowds. If you're going to Mostar I would consider continuing on to Sarajevo, which I really enjoyed.
Jun 7th, 2016, 06:57 AM
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I think that allotment of days sounds much more pleasant. Enjoy!
I recommend booking accommodation well in advance for Hvar and Dubrovnik.
Depending on how you plan to schedule the car drop-off, you may want the bus schedule for Split - Mostar http://www.ak-split.hr/EN/.
I recommend booking accommodation well in advance for Hvar and Dubrovnik.
Depending on how you plan to schedule the car drop-off, you may want the bus schedule for Split - Mostar http://www.ak-split.hr/EN/.
Jun 10th, 2016, 07:02 PM
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I’m chiming in a bit late here, and so (sorry) am responding to your first itinerary, even though I see that you have a revised one. I hope you can translate my comments into useful info nonetheles!
“Day 2: rent a car and drive up to Ljubljana”
Consider using public transporation instead – it shouldn’t be very expensive, would give you a bit longer to recover from jet lag (a major cause of car accidents), and would preclude the need to find parking in Ljubljana and Bled. For your options, consult rome2rio.com
Your time in Ljubljana could easily be sufficient for your interests, but would not have been enough for mine! I spent 3 full and very busy days seeing just what I considered the highlights of Ljubljana and Bled. So make sure you have thought about your priorities in advance.
The Plitvice Lakes National Park is, IMO, the single most un-missable of Croatia's many splendors. Not only are the lakes connected by travertine waterfall formations, each lake has unique microbiota, and as a result, the lakes are different colors. The best way to see that is 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.
How to allocate one’s time is always a challenge, but I must admit that 3 days in Dubrovnik (not counting your side trips) would be at least 1, if not 2, days too many for me – especially after 3 days on Hvar, and especially after the headlong dash through Slovenia with which you begin your trip. You might consider shifting a day from Dubrovnik to Ljubljana (or Bled) or to Split/Trogir. Just a thought!
FWIW, I thought Mostar far more enjoyable after daytrippers left. I, personally, would happily add an extra change of hotels to watch the sun set from a seat with a view of Stari Most; I’m sure others would disagree.
“The other option is on day 1, rent a car and go straight from the Zagreb airport to Ljubljana”
Please do <u>not</u> pursue this option if there is ANY chance that you will experience jet lag! Although few people are aware of the mounting evidence, driving with jet lag is as dangerous--for you and for others--as driving drunk. Distance and time are irrelevant. It takes only microseconds for an accident to occur, and there is no known way to avoid those very brief, but potentially fatal, lapses in attention (not even caffeine.
).
Hope that helps!
“Day 2: rent a car and drive up to Ljubljana”
Consider using public transporation instead – it shouldn’t be very expensive, would give you a bit longer to recover from jet lag (a major cause of car accidents), and would preclude the need to find parking in Ljubljana and Bled. For your options, consult rome2rio.com
Your time in Ljubljana could easily be sufficient for your interests, but would not have been enough for mine! I spent 3 full and very busy days seeing just what I considered the highlights of Ljubljana and Bled. So make sure you have thought about your priorities in advance.
The Plitvice Lakes National Park is, IMO, the single most un-missable of Croatia's many splendors. Not only are the lakes connected by travertine waterfall formations, each lake has unique microbiota, and as a result, the lakes are different colors. The best way to see that is 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.
How to allocate one’s time is always a challenge, but I must admit that 3 days in Dubrovnik (not counting your side trips) would be at least 1, if not 2, days too many for me – especially after 3 days on Hvar, and especially after the headlong dash through Slovenia with which you begin your trip. You might consider shifting a day from Dubrovnik to Ljubljana (or Bled) or to Split/Trogir. Just a thought!
FWIW, I thought Mostar far more enjoyable after daytrippers left. I, personally, would happily add an extra change of hotels to watch the sun set from a seat with a view of Stari Most; I’m sure others would disagree.
“The other option is on day 1, rent a car and go straight from the Zagreb airport to Ljubljana”
Please do <u>not</u> pursue this option if there is ANY chance that you will experience jet lag! Although few people are aware of the mounting evidence, driving with jet lag is as dangerous--for you and for others--as driving drunk. Distance and time are irrelevant. It takes only microseconds for an accident to occur, and there is no known way to avoid those very brief, but potentially fatal, lapses in attention (not even caffeine.
).Hope that helps!
