mandoran

My wife and I will be spending 9 days in Croatia the first week of Sept. We have been to Dubrovnik so we will be concentrating on the areas above Split. We are renting a car have a rough idea of where we want to go but need a little advice. We 're flying in to Split and out of Zagreb.

Day 1. Arrive in Split 11:50 AM stay in Trogir.
Day 2. Tour Split over night in Trogir
Day 3. Day trip to Hvar over night in Trogir
Day 4 Drive to Plitice Lake Park via Sibenik and Zadar over night near the Park
Day 5.Visit the Park either stay the night near the park or drive to Opatija or Lovran for the night.
Day 6. Pula to Rovinj over night in Rovinj
Day 7 Rovinj and explore hilltown night in Rovinj
Day 8.Drive to Ljubljana night in Ljubjlana
Day 9. Zagreb
Day 10. Fight home

Should we spend a night in Hvar?
Should we skip Lujbjlana?
Should we spend 3 nights in Rovinj?
Any other places to see or things to do?

Is this too ambitious? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thank you, Randy

kja

> Day 4 Drive to Plitice Lake Park via Sibenik and Zadar over night near the Park

I think that's probably do-able, but - depending on what you want to see in Sibenik and Zadar - it could make for a LONG day. And having inadvertently driven in the Plitvice Lakes area after dark, I would suggest that you keep an eye on the time to make sure you avoid that!

> Day 5.Visit the Park either stay the night near the park or drive to Opatija or Lovran for the night.

If it helps you make a choice, Opatija's coast is lined with large hotels and resorts and it appears to have a lot of restaurants, clubs, and night life options. When I was there a few years ago, Lovran didn't appear to have "kept up" with its neighbor. The hotels along the coast were smaller and showed some decided signs of wear, but they must at one time have been quite elegant. I was able to get a sea-side view much more affordably in Lovran than in Opatija. The very tiny medieval core of Lovran didn't seem to have been gussied up for tourists; I wouldn't call it charming, but it had an interesting authenticity about it.

Day 9. Zagreb

Not much time for Zagreb, but I get the sense that people really differ in what they want to see there. Many people say they just spent a few hours there. I spent a bit short of 3 days and could easily have enjoyed more - but I like visiting museums, and Zagreb has quite a few. Do note that MANY sites in Zagreb close early on Saturday and are closed on Sunday and/or Monday.

> Should we skip Lujbjlana?

I found Ljubljana delightful - among the most charming places in the area. But if you think you'll ever want to visit Lake Bled, Lake Bohinj, or other places in Slovenia, you could leave it for that trip.

> Should we spend 3 nights in Rovinj?

I enjoyed Rovinj, but a full day there was enough for me. I'm glad I had one other day to visit some of the hill towns in Istria.

> Any other places to see or things to do?

Absolutely! But you can't see it all in 9 days.

> Is this too ambitious?

I think it is an ambitious plan, but not necessarily too much so. But you would (I think) need to be willing to keep a fairly active pace, be aware of your priorities, and be mindful of the time.

Click on my name for my notes on some restaurants in these locations.

Hope that helps!

Andrew

I've driven only part of that (Zagreb to Plitvice past Split) and have been to Ljubljana also (going back to Slovenia in a couple of weeks). So can't much comment on your driving routes but I can make a few comments about the places.

You have a full day just for exploring Split - and for some people, that would be more time than you need. There are museums and Diocletian's Palace, but otherwise you may find it short on sights. Then again, you may simply want a slow first few days in Trogir/Split area before your ambitious driving trip.

Otherwise, what do you want to do/see in Split? If not much, I'd consider seeing it the first afternoon or in the morning before departing to Hvar and take the night elsewhere.

Plitvice is really best in the morning before the crowds arrive. By 10am expect to see tour groups - it's a huge park but you may still have to maneuver around them in September. Best strategy is probably to stay overnight in or near the park, spend 4-5 hours there in the morning, and move on, unless you really want to spend the entire day hiking there. I think four hours is plenty to get the best out of the park.

I loved Ljubljana and look forward go going back there for a few more nights next month. There's not a whole lot to see there but the architecture is beautiful and pleasing, and it's a delightful place to stroll around and wander. If you're interested in a future trip to Slovenia (as I'm doing) you might consider this your "sample" to inspire a future trip, if it doesn't involve too many extra hours of driving.

Some people like kja do enjoy Zagreb. I had a full day there and by the afternoon I felt I'd seen enough to satisfy me - but do arrive early enough in the afternoon if you can to see the main sites especially in the Upper Town. If you fall in love with Zagreb, you can always return, say, as part of a future trip to Slovenia.

kja

> You have a full day just for exploring Split - and for some people, that would be more time than you need. There are museums and Diocletian's Palace, but otherwise you may find it short on sights.

I had one very full day in Split and sincerely wish I had more.

Isn't it wonderful that people travel for different reasons and create unique memories?

mandoran

Thanks everyone for your wonderful comments. We plan to have a hotel reservations in Trogir and Zagreb and find places to stay along the way allowing us the flexibility to adjust our itinerary as needed.

Andrew

That sounds like a great plan! Please post a trip report when you get back - maybe I'll be able to read it right before I leave for Slovenia!

kja

Enjoy! It is a magnificent part of the world.