Day trips: which ones are must-do?

Old Apr 25th, 2017, 11:32 PM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 110
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Day trips: which ones are must-do?

Hello,

Our Croatia itinerary is shaping up well, thanks to the trip reports and all the advice on this forum.
We would be staying in Zagreb, Plitvice, Split, Hvar, Vis and Dubrovnik during our 2 weeks here. More time spent in islands because of our 6 year old and thus missing out on istria, but thats ok.

I would appreciate your subjective views on some of the day trips that we can take (i know its my call, but would like a view from someone who has been there)-

1. Zagreb: We have an extra day in Zagreb and were thinking of a day trip to Motovun. Worth it, to get a quick flavour of istria? Any other hill town that you would recommend instead of Motovun. Any great restaurant recommendation for lunch? We would have a car for this.

2. Split: We have a full day in Split (apart from the day spent in exploring all the usual sights in and around Diocletian palace). Would you recommend a day trip to krka falls and Sibenik? We would have already visited Plitvice before coming to Split, so would krka become another checkbox? Or should we explore more of Split, perhaps Marjan hill? Any tour operator recommended for visit to sibenik and krka? (we would have given up the car by now)

3. Dubrovnik: After exploring the old town for a full day, I was wondering whether we should spend the next day doing a trip to Bay of Kotor? We dont want to visit another island, having spent 6 days at Hvar and Vis. Any local tour operator for Bay of kotor?

Thanks,
Shweta
shwets is offline  
Old Apr 26th, 2017, 12:33 AM
  #2  
kja
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,089
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
IMO, there is no such thing as a “must do” – EVERYthing depends on your interests and preferences.

1. Whether Motovun is a worthy day trip into Isria depends on how much time you have in Zagreb (which I think is greatly under-rated – JMO). You would definitely need to have a car to visit Motovun -- will you have time to recover from jet lag before trying to drive? I don’t know much about 6-year-olds, but I would think that a castle or two would be of much greater interest than Motovun, and there are castles galore in the area around Zagreb. Too, there’s a wonderful insect museum very nearby and easily reached by public transportation in Varazdin, ... and you could even, if you have enough “extra” time, visit one of the stunning caves just over the border in Slovenia…. Honestly, I’m not sure a 6-yr-old would like Motovun that much, and you have sooooo many other options…!

2. Split offers a wealth of opportunities to interested travelers. Whether what it offers will appeal to YOU is not something to which I can speak. A day trip from Split to the Krka National Park could easily take a full day, depending on whether you are driving and how much of that park you want to see. I would guess that the opportunity to swim at the lower falls (those most easily reached, as a rule) would be of interest to your 6-yr-old. Adding in Sibenik also afffects your timing:. FWIW, I thought Sibenik itself worth a full day, but I’m not sure that a 6-yr-old would be enamored of Sibenik.

3. IME, most travelers think Dubronik worth about 1.5 days. If you want to go to Kotor you should, IME, plan for a full day. The scenery is stunning; whether you and your family will find it worthwhile is something to which I can’t speak. You don’t need a local operator to visit it, though you could go that route if you choose. Again, without knowing much about 6-yr-olds, my guess is that the peacocks on Lokrum would be of greater interest. Just something to consider…

Here's a link to another thread addressing travel in the area with children; you might find some useful information in it:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...to-croatia.cfm

Hope that helps!
kja is offline  
Old Apr 26th, 2017, 05:57 PM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,123
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
From Zagreb
I would select the following ahead of Motovun

Ljubljana
Varazdin and Trakoscan Castle

Postojna Cave and Predjama Castle

From Split

http://www.semisubmarine-split.com/
http://split.gg/kids-activities/
dugi_otok is offline  
Old Apr 26th, 2017, 10:54 PM
  #4  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 110
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks kja and dugi, I will check the links you provided.

We do have 1.5 days each in Zagreb, Split and Dubrovnik apart from the extra day for the day trip. We are staying everywhere for 3 nights (except for plitvice) so not planning to short-change these cities.
shwets is offline  
Old Apr 26th, 2017, 11:14 PM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 2,302
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Jasenovac ?
Only concentration camp during WW2 run by non German nazis.
WoinParis is offline  
Old Apr 27th, 2017, 04:30 PM
  #6  
kja
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,089
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Whether 1.5 days in Zagreb or Split is sufficient or not depends on your interests. From my perspective, that would be short-changing them, ;-) but I can’t speak to your interests or those of a 6-year-old.
kja is offline  
Old Apr 27th, 2017, 10:51 PM
  #7  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 110
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Kja,
I get your point, but we need variation even in the cities and hence going only to the top sights.
In Rome in 2015, for example, it was really difficult to keep our daughter interested in anything in the museums. She got so antsy that I thought she might get some 'priceless'marble bust to topple down and we would end up in jail! On the other hand, she was fine with open ruins - she walked through most of Colosseum and the Forum by herself even though it was a hot day, and was interested in the stories related to it.

Anyway, if I get can get a tandem bike from the link that dugi sent, would probably explore Marjan Hill and more of Split than going to krka falls.
Visiting Ljubliana or the caves seem quite interesting, just checking on 'doability' vs istria hill-towns.
Keeping the option of visiting the bay of kotor open for now. Hopefully, we can decide last minute after experiencing Dubrovnik.

WoinParis - concentration camp with my daughter doesnt seem very appealing. Let me check.
I took her to cu chi tunnels in Vietnam last year, and while she was ok, I wasnt happy with her seeing all the arms and ammunition used, and getting a load of information about the guerilla war waged against the Americans there (hopefully she didnt understand most of it!)
shwets is offline  
Old Apr 27th, 2017, 11:01 PM
  #8  
kja
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,089
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
IMO, you can't see all the "top sites" in the time you have. But you don't need to! It is YOUR trip and YOUR call. Just realize that you need to think through your priorities.

One of the more comprehensive guidebooks to the area would, I think, serve you well. Of the half-dozen or so I've used for the area, the most comprehensive was the Rough Guide.

Good luck!
kja is offline  
Old May 10th, 2017, 06:56 AM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Has just joined to advertise their businesses.
PolSmit is offline  
Old May 11th, 2017, 08:24 AM
  #10  
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,350
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
1. Motovun is a nearly three-hour drive, so I would not choose there. Samobar is close and known for pastries (that put it on my radar, but I have not visited). There should be plenty of other options close by that do not require so much time in the car, such as Varazdin.

2. I believe Krka can be easily down with public transport as well. I think that would be nice for a child, and different enough from Plitvice. Maybe the ruins at Solin would be of interest?

3. Again, that is a lot of time in the car. Perhaps the botanical garden at Trsteno would be nice?
yorkshire is offline  
Old May 14th, 2017, 09:49 PM
  #11  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 110
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks Yorhshire, we have decided to drop istria altogether. We got really interested in Slovenia after reading dugi_otok's comments. We have decided to visit Postojna Cave and Predjama Castle for a day, and now considering whether we spend that night in Ljubliana OR Lake Bled area and explore it the next day (before going back to Zagreb and Plitvice).

Keeping the option open in Split and Dubrovnik, as of now.
shwets is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
bimal123
Europe
23
May 16th, 2017 09:02 AM
fraoch1970
Europe
8
Jan 8th, 2017 07:05 PM
micheleodette
Europe
11
Jul 4th, 2016 09:34 PM
bdemarco
Europe
4
Jun 15th, 2016 04:18 AM
teadrinker
Europe
20
Sep 3rd, 2015 02:42 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -