catduffy

Hi everyone!

I am currently looking in to planning yacht week in Croatia for next summer. I'd like to arrive in Croatia about a week before departing on the boat to see some of mainland Croatia - I've heard it's breathtakingly beautiful.

Can anyone help with me a rough itinerary of what I should be seeing and doing during that time frame?
Any and all advice is greatly appreciated!


Thank you in advance for your help!!

kja

You might want to start with a good guidebook -- perhaps the Rough Guide (which I thought the best of the half dozen or so I used for my time in the area). Much of Croatia is, indeed, breathtakingly beautiful, but it is too large to be seen in 1 week, so you'll need to pick which area -- and which historical / cultural traditions, as there are huge regional differences -- most appeal.

You might also want to focus on areas near the airport into which you will fly and the city from which your yachting trip will depart.

FWIW, the Plitvice Lakes National Park is, IMO, the single most un-missable of Croatia's many splendors. Not only are the lakes connected by travertine waterfall formations, each lake has unique microbiota, and as a result, the lakes are different colors. The best way to see that is to make a single, long loop through the park -- something on the order of 6 hours or more (including time for the boat that connects the lower and upper lakes). And that usually means spending a night in or near the park.

catduffy

Thank you! The Plitvice Lakes National Park is definitely top priority. Just trying to get a rough idea of if there are any other must see's/must do's. I ordered the Roug Guide today as well - glad that's the best choice! Do you have any other suggestions, as most of the trip will be spent on the boat?

Thank you again!

kja

I'm sure I will have other suggestions -- once you narrow your options a bit. I spent a month in the area, enjoyed almost every single minute, and felt glad to see all the different areas that I managed to fit into my time there. I found much to enjoy in EACH part of the country. Once you decide what area most calls to you, or what areas will work best given your travel plans, I'll be happy to comment -- as will, I'm sure, any number of other Croatia-lovers on this board.

I'm glad you plan on making the Plitvice Lakes a priority -- they are truly amazing!

yorkshire

I don't believe in "must sees," except for Plitvice! However, I really don't believe in must sees, because if you fly into the north, there is no point in recommending something in the south and vice versa. My only true travel maxim is to maximize your time. And there are beautiful spots all over the country.
You also may wish to share what the sea itinerary will likely be, because you may just decide to focus on a different coast for the "land" portion.
All of the popular spots are popular for a reason, but to me, the natural beauty is the real stunner in Croatia. I'd start by looking at the national parks if nature is your thing. If you want more towns, then Istria would be an obvious choice, but certainly only one of many.

crosscheck

Lucky you! Yacht week should be a blast. If Plitvice doesn't work logistically, I highly recommend Krka, which is an easy day trip from Split, from where you will probably start or end your voyage. Krka is much smaller, but has the similar breathtaking waterfalls and otherworldly pools. The advantage there is that you can swim in a turquoise swimming hole next to the falls. Go late in the day to avoid crowds. If you do go to Krka, have a grilled fish dinner at Bonaca in the charming nearby town of Skraden.

We found the Lonely Planet guidebook to be the most updated. You should also check the TA forum for many good tips.

kja

While I agree with crosscheck that the Krka National Park is well worth seeing, it lacks the color-producing microbiota of the Plitvice Lakes. The waters of Krka are a stunning turquoise hue; those of Plitvice include turquoise and emerald and sapphire and aqua and clear and.... I loved both, but have seen other falls like those of Krka. I've never seen anything like the Plitvice Lakes.

That said, neither of these parks is a bad choice. Which will work for YOU depends on your starting and ending point and your interests. JMO.