ebuni

Spent time in Croatia nearly 2 years ago, in Hvar and Vis and I'm being called back

Thinking instead of Split, I'd fly into Dubrovnik, the spend time on Lokrum, Mljet, and maybe a day trip to Kotor, Montenegro. I figure a day or two in Dubrovnik and then the islands/Montenegro will be another 3 days.

That being said, is that enough to fill up a week of time? Should I see something else or combine with another country? What has everyone enjoyed? I'm more of a relax, nature, biking, foodie than a city person.

Andrew

There's more than enough to keep you busy near Dubrovnik. There's also interesting stuff in Bosnia. You can base there and just do day trips if that's your style. Dubrovnik itself is pretty small but does make a decent base: gets crowded in the daytime but much quieter and beautiful at night, especially when everything is all lit up.

You could always add another base like Kotor or Korcula for a few of the days. Really depends what you want to do and how you want to do it. I was glad I spent a night in Kotor, not because I fell in love with the town (I didn't, but it's nice) but because of the beautiful scenery in Montenegro itself. I had more time to explore.

kja

It really depends on your interests and preferences. I'd probably add a night or two in Korcula, but that's just me. And it would, I think, depend on when you plan to go, as some places in Dalmatia are quite seasonal. If you haven't done so already, I strongly recommend that you consult the Rough Guide to Croatia -- it has a wealth of information about his region.

Hope that helps!

ebuni

Thanks. I do think I will base in Korcula for at least 2 nights, to relax rather than jumping around. Since I don't want to be in a city I won't want to stay in Dubrovnik for more than 2 nights.

Any thoughts on Cavtat? I received a suggestion to stay there.

yorkshire

Do you have 7 days exactly? Because the airport is a bit south anyway, we headed to Kotor right away on one trip (we paid our hosts for a transfer), then we went up to Korcula by bus, stopping in Dubrovnik for lunch, then returned to Dubrovnik.
Are you renting a car? If there was a Korcula-Mostar bus (there may be), that would help you do a circular route.
I can skip Dubrovnik during the day (hot and crowded), but in the morning and evening it is nice to be right in town. People say lovely things about Cavtat, but I have not been there. Another place close to the airport is Herceg Novi in Montenegro (we just passed through, but if I was looking for somewhere close to the airport to stay the night before departure I'd consider it).

Mimar

Dubrovnik is not exactly a big city, rather a small town with lots of tourist traffic.

When are you making this trip?

ebuni

Going in July.. I know am on short notice

@yorkshire.. I can have more than 7 days. I think we have similar thoughts about that atmosphere. We loved staying in Hvar in the evening and the liveliness but during the day we would take a boat to the smaller tiny islands. We also did a biking tour with Hvar Adventure, which I highly recommend.

I'm not renting a car - but thats a good idea - to go Kotor first?

I'm thinking to do the same thing with Dubrovnik (stay in a more populated area in the evening, then go to Mljet and Lokrum during the day) and also adding in Kotor.

yorkshire

With a car you could head straight to Kotor, then visit Mostar, then Korcula before returning to Dubrovnik.it is all doable with public transport, just a bit more convenient so you can do a loop. I just realized you did not mention Mostar, so maybe this is moot. Kotor with a bus just requires backtracking to Dubrovnik, no biggie. I find Kotor a bit far for a day trip, but not everyone would.

ebuni

I'm now thinking to include the following in the trip: Kotor (longer than a day trip, 2/3 night stay min), Dubrovnik ( including surrounding islands) and maybe Korkula. I say maybe bc I don't think its best to add a 3rd hotel on this itinerary.

So the stay will be split, I'll use the time in Dubrovnik to relax and swim and visit islands during the day (which is really my top priority) and have the convenience of the town at night. Then, move onto Kotor.

How does that sound? Does the order matter?

yorkshire

Order only matters as far as transportation is concerned.
If you make it to Korcula, Pupnatska Luka is a great beach--you can get there on a scooter.

ebuni

Actually, is there a way for me to add a park/more nature-filled destination? It can be Plitvice but does not have to be. Maybe something closer that Plitvice?

Andrew

Personally, I wouldn't to visit Kotor without a car for 2/3 days. What kind of day trips would you do from there? (That's not a rhetorical question - maybe there are some day trips you can do without a car from there, I'm just not aware of them.) I visited for a night with a car. The highlight for me was not the town but the amazing scenery I saw around the bay, walking (steep climb) above the town, and driving the mountain road to Cetinje above Kotor.

I think I'd be bored in Kotor for three days without a car. If I wanted to kick back and relax for a few days, I think I'd prefer staying in Perast, which is lovely and much smaller. You said you prefer smaller towns anyway.

I'm not aware of national parks like Plitvice anywhere near Dubrovnik or Kotor, though I'm sure there are parks in that area. Krka National Park in Croatia is closer than Plitvice by an hour or more each way, but it's still north of Split so quite far from Dubrovnik - perhaps more than a day trip, a long day trip even with a car.

yorkshire

I don't know much of Montenegro beyond the Kotor Bay area, but there is a popular mountain park (maybe too far), and Lovcen park is between Kotor and Cetinje. I did some research for a potential Bosnia trip and the tourism website, http://www.bhtourism.ba/eng/, is pretty good. There are some nice little spots you might use the car to get to--some have waterfalls.
However, Mljet may be the solution and it's right there. Part of the island is
a national park. Also a nature park is Lastovo, which is the island past Korcula. (It is probably the place most similar to Vis that I have been to, but I have not been to Mljet). Also, just across from Korcula on the mainland there is a mountain you can hike, Sveti Ilija.

kja

As others have noted, Dubrovnik (particularly its historic core) is very small; it does not, IMO, have the feel of a “city.” It is a gorgeous place filled with magnificent architecture and some great places to lounge and dine, so staying there makes a lot of sense IMO, particularly if you limit your daytime hours there to times when cruise ships aren’t in port.

FWIW, I visited Kotor (but did not spend a night there) and I spent a night on Korcula. I’m very glad I stayed in Korcula Town, and if you visit when the moresca is performed, I would encourage you to see it. Although Kotor and its bay offer some spectacular scenery, a day trip to Kotor (which you can do by bus or tour from Dubrovnik) was enough for me. YMMV. Andrew makes a great point about the car – visiting Kotor for several nights without a car could prove a bit much. But Perast is SOOOooooo tiny that I, personally, wouldn’t consider staying there. JMO.

Mljet is, as I understand it, a nature-filled destination. Lokrum, tiny as it is, IIRC, more nature than anything else. I believe there are extensive hiking trails on Korcula outside of the town itself, and as yorkshire mentions, it has a nature park.

The Rough Guide and Lonely Planet usually provide good coverage of parks and places where one can enjoy nature; you might want to consult them.

Good luck!