You and your bad knees can take your bad self wherever you choose to go.

Take a cane/walking stick, and you'll be offered assistance more than if you don't (if you want it). "Lifts" or elevators are tucked into a lot more spots than you'd think -- even one leg of the Arc de Triomphe (built by Napoleon) has had one installed. I didn't know this until we approached the steps with someone with a cane, and suddenly it was available for our use!

My aunt has very bad knees and just spend 8 days with us in Paris. She took it slow, tried to minimize steps and stairs, and sometimes had to rest more than others, but it was quite do-able. In her case, she took a bunch of Advil with her, and kept taking it to pre-empt any soreness and keep the irritation down.

I always think "If my knees/back/ whatever don't get any better, than this is what I have to deal with, so I better do it now!"

Happy travels,

Jules

I've never been to Croatia. But depending on what's wrong with your knees and just how bad, maybe you can do physical therapy and get your leg muscles strong enough so that there won't be too much stress on the knees themselves. Then plan your trip so that you do less difficult walking at the beginning of the trip, working up to the more difficult. As you probably know, even though uphill is more strenuous and more aerobically challenging, downhill/downstairs is usually much more stressful and harmful for the knees.

You can go wherever you want and just "adapt". Some places have more steps than others...but most places are doable, though you may forfit a few things. HOWEVER you will see plenty and experience LOTS!
I have one fairly new replaced knee and one needing replacaement badly...(and a shoulder with a possible R T Tear...but I figure if we wait till we are l00% we'd never go anyplace!!! (and that's no fun!)
I try to avoid LOTS of steps. We've stayed in plenty of B&B's over the years, but most the better rooms are upstairs, so now we opt for hotels, sometimes small ones with breakfast etc, but those that have elevators.
And yes it's true , as another poster said....most all museums have elevators tucked away and with your walking stick or cane, or even if not, the guards will let you use them.
Travel and have fun, watch your step, and take it all in. YOu will have a wonderful trip to Croatia...I understand it is beautiful.
(Your knees may not like Croatia, but YOU WILL!)

It's not just the steps, which can be managed with help and by going slowly: it's the cobblestones, which make you unbalanced and really stress the knees. Again, go slowly and use a cane to compensate. Those are my lessons from Austria and Germany last month, and I have "only" one bad knee. Also, take cabs as much as possible when dealing with routes that go uphill.

I, too, had bad knees, hips, and ankles. When my wife and I both lost 30 useless pounds, the pains disappeared. This took about 12 months, and we have been watching our weight ever since. So far, success. Could this apply to you?

Ditto, USNR. On my first visit to Dubrovnik I was in no shape to climb the wall. A year later after physical therapy and weight loss it was a piece of cake. I'm in even better shape now since I got orthotics to cope with my fallen arches. (which, it appears, were more the cause of my knee problems than the age related arthritis.)