Base in Split or Trogir (with no car!)
Jun 16th, 2014, 11:24 AM
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Base in Split or Trogir (with no car!)
Hi, I've read some topics on this but I was wondering if folks can help me decide, based on my situation. It is first visit to Croatia. We are going for about 10 days. Without car, can someone let me know if it's best to base our 10 days in Split or Trogir
We are traveling with children, so taking it easy, and not trying to do too much. So far, these are the places we would like to go Is it easier based in Split or Trogir?
1. Split
2. Trogir
3. Dubrovnik
4. Korcula
5. Zadar
We would like to go to Plitvic Lake, if possible, and easier to go to
We are traveling with children, so taking it easy, and not trying to do too much. So far, these are the places we would like to go Is it easier based in Split or Trogir?
1. Split
2. Trogir
3. Dubrovnik
4. Korcula
5. Zadar
We would like to go to Plitvic Lake, if possible, and easier to go to
Jun 16th, 2014, 12:43 PM
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Only Zadar is close enough for a day trip.
See travel times at http://www.jadrolinija.hr/ for (most) ferries.
http://www.ak-split.hr/EN/ for the bus timetables.
There are some excursions on offer from most tourist agencies.
I would skip Dubrovnik and do Split with day trips and Korcula (because it is easily reached and you identified it, but there are many islands closer to Split).
Also important is what month this trip will occur.
See travel times at http://www.jadrolinija.hr/ for (most) ferries.
http://www.ak-split.hr/EN/ for the bus timetables.
There are some excursions on offer from most tourist agencies.
I would skip Dubrovnik and do Split with day trips and Korcula (because it is easily reached and you identified it, but there are many islands closer to Split).
Also important is what month this trip will occur.
Jun 16th, 2014, 01:26 PM
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I am planning to go in July and planning to take the bus or ferry.
I saw that there is a 4 hour ferry from Split to Dubrovnik?
http://www.krilo.hr/images/Sailing_s..._DUBROVNIK.pdf
Wouldn't this allow me to have a short visit to Dubrovnik?
I saw that there is a 4 hour ferry from Split to Dubrovnik?
http://www.krilo.hr/images/Sailing_s..._DUBROVNIK.pdf
Wouldn't this allow me to have a short visit to Dubrovnik?
Jun 16th, 2014, 02:12 PM
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While Dubrovnik is certainly small and easily seen in a short period of time, and this is all up to you, but 4 hrs there and 4 hrs back, with children in tow--no way could I recommend it!
Remember also it will be hot and crowded. Dubrovnik is best in early morning and evening.
If your heart is set on Dubrovnik, I suggest you spend a couple nights there. If you just want a leisurely trip, there is no crime in not seeing it. All of Croatia is beautiful.
Remember also it will be hot and crowded. Dubrovnik is best in early morning and evening.
If your heart is set on Dubrovnik, I suggest you spend a couple nights there. If you just want a leisurely trip, there is no crime in not seeing it. All of Croatia is beautiful.
Jun 16th, 2014, 05:31 PM
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I agree with yorkshire -- it isn't just that you would spend 8+ hours in transit to see Dubrovnik from Split/Trogir, you would need to get to the walled city from the ferry port in Dubrovnik, and then you would need to get back in plenty of time to be sure to get on the ferry (not to mention time getting to/from the ferry in Split), leaving you with at most 2 or 3 hours in Dubrovnik at its most unlikeable moments (midday when jammed with daytrippers) -- AND you would be giving up a day that you could very spend very enjoyably elsewhere. That said, it's your trip.
Try to spend at least one night in the magnificent Plitvice Lakes and plan on up to 6 hours in the park. (The middle section is on a steamer, so you would have time to rest part way through.) One way to visit these lakes is to rent a car on your way out of Split (not sooner -- it would be an encumbrance while in Split or anywhere else you mention visiting), reach the lakes in time for dinner, spend as much of the next day as you can in the park, and then return the car to Split. One can get there and back by bus, but from what I've read (and my information could easily be out-of-date), it can be difficult to get the bus from Plitvice Lakes onward. Another option would be to visit by an organized day-trip out of Split.
As for the choice between Split and Trogir, you are deciding between apples and oranges! Split is a vibrant, dynamic, energetic city that has a lot for tourists to enjoy and a good infrastructure for tourism, but which is not dependent on tourists for its survival. I loved Split; many people are less thrilled with it. Trogir is a tiny little place, with stunning stonework, that can be fully explored in a half day and that can be surprisingly quiet after day trippers leave. They are only about 1/2 hour apart by bus, so you can visit either easily from the other.
Zadar is a do-able day trip from either Split or Trogir -- about 2 hours by bus, plus time to get to Zadar's Old Town and back.
If you are determined to base in a single location for your entire trip, either Split or Trogir would probably serve you better than any of the other locations you mention. If you do that, you might want to consider deferring your time in Korcula until you go back to visit Dubrovnik. Any decent guidebook should cover a variety of other options for day trips from Split/Trogir.
It's a beautiful part of the world -- enjoy!
Try to spend at least one night in the magnificent Plitvice Lakes and plan on up to 6 hours in the park. (The middle section is on a steamer, so you would have time to rest part way through.) One way to visit these lakes is to rent a car on your way out of Split (not sooner -- it would be an encumbrance while in Split or anywhere else you mention visiting), reach the lakes in time for dinner, spend as much of the next day as you can in the park, and then return the car to Split. One can get there and back by bus, but from what I've read (and my information could easily be out-of-date), it can be difficult to get the bus from Plitvice Lakes onward. Another option would be to visit by an organized day-trip out of Split.
As for the choice between Split and Trogir, you are deciding between apples and oranges! Split is a vibrant, dynamic, energetic city that has a lot for tourists to enjoy and a good infrastructure for tourism, but which is not dependent on tourists for its survival. I loved Split; many people are less thrilled with it. Trogir is a tiny little place, with stunning stonework, that can be fully explored in a half day and that can be surprisingly quiet after day trippers leave. They are only about 1/2 hour apart by bus, so you can visit either easily from the other.
Zadar is a do-able day trip from either Split or Trogir -- about 2 hours by bus, plus time to get to Zadar's Old Town and back.
If you are determined to base in a single location for your entire trip, either Split or Trogir would probably serve you better than any of the other locations you mention. If you do that, you might want to consider deferring your time in Korcula until you go back to visit Dubrovnik. Any decent guidebook should cover a variety of other options for day trips from Split/Trogir.
It's a beautiful part of the world -- enjoy!
Jun 16th, 2014, 06:57 PM
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I would definitely not base myself in Split for an entire 10-day trip. Rather, I'd move around and island hop, spending a couple of days in each place I wanted to visit. I suspect your list is a bit long, but you can certainly see several of these places in 10 days, just not all of them.
Jun 16th, 2014, 07:49 PM
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@ doug -- "I would definitely not base myself in Split for an entire 10-day trip+" -- I wouldn't necessarily do so under ideal circumstances (let's be clear -- I opted for mostly 1 and 2 night stays in this area!), but I would consider an extended stay in the Split area if traveling a bit off season with children, and so I am surprised at the vehemence of your objection.
With 10 days, based in Split, and with children, I would think that the OP should be able to visit the Plitvice Lakes, Zadar, Sibenik, Hvar (including Hvar Town and Stari Grad, perhaps on different day trips), Vis, and maybe the Krka National Park, Mostar ....
Are the current options for island hopping really that good in late Sept/ early Oct?
With 10 days, based in Split, and with children, I would think that the OP should be able to visit the Plitvice Lakes, Zadar, Sibenik, Hvar (including Hvar Town and Stari Grad, perhaps on different day trips), Vis, and maybe the Krka National Park, Mostar ....
Are the current options for island hopping really that good in late Sept/ early Oct?
Jun 17th, 2014, 05:11 AM
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I'm not particularly trying to be "vehement" but I wouldn't follow this plan. I do get why the OP thinks staying put is a good idea. Kids and all. And I think it really depends on the kids and how young and resilient they are, and only the OP knows that.
But to me, taking a 2- to 4-hour trip by ferry or bus, dropping off luggage, and then sightseeing beats doing all that, then getting back on the bus or ferry for another 2 to 4 hours with tired, cranky children. So I still advocate doing a bit of island or city hopping and seeing fewer places. But it's really the OP's decision.
Regardless, staying in Split for 10 days means missing out on something ... mostly likely Dubrovnik.
But to me, taking a 2- to 4-hour trip by ferry or bus, dropping off luggage, and then sightseeing beats doing all that, then getting back on the bus or ferry for another 2 to 4 hours with tired, cranky children. So I still advocate doing a bit of island or city hopping and seeing fewer places. But it's really the OP's decision.
Regardless, staying in Split for 10 days means missing out on something ... mostly likely Dubrovnik.
Jun 17th, 2014, 07:04 AM
#11
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Thanks so much for your all feedback! It is very helpful!
The reason why we like to stay put in one place is with children in tow, the repacking and lugging around everything is a pain. For those with children, you know how hard it is to get in and out ferries/buses, then look for your hotel in the blazing sun while pushing a stroller in one hand, pulling multiple luggage with another hand, balancing the car seat with your third hand
, while holding onto the other kid with your fourth hand so they don't run out into traffic. it's hard enough juggling this in the US, but in a foreign country!
We'd rather stay in one place, and take day trips. Don't get us wrong, before we had children, we traveled everywhere and easily hopped from city to city, even country to country without a thought! Things change, when you are traveling with young children.
The reason why we like to stay put in one place is with children in tow, the repacking and lugging around everything is a pain. For those with children, you know how hard it is to get in and out ferries/buses, then look for your hotel in the blazing sun while pushing a stroller in one hand, pulling multiple luggage with another hand, balancing the car seat with your third hand
, while holding onto the other kid with your fourth hand so they don't run out into traffic. it's hard enough juggling this in the US, but in a foreign country! We'd rather stay in one place, and take day trips. Don't get us wrong, before we had children, we traveled everywhere and easily hopped from city to city, even country to country without a thought! Things change, when you are traveling with young children.
