easytraveler

If you have been visiting a lot of European museums and cultural sites and have four days extra to do something different, would you

a) hike a bit of the Cotswolds?

b) sink your toes into the sands along the Croatian coast and let the world go by? or

c) fly into Izmir and dash around the Greek ruins at Ephesus and Aphrodisias?

This would be in June or maybe late May.

TIA for your help!

dutyfree

I would do Croatia-going down to Turkey for just a few days is a waste of traveling time.

Sassafrass

Ephesus was for me, one of the most exciting and interesting archeological sites I have visited. However, with four days, I would probably go to Croatia with at least one day in Dubrovnik. It is beautiful!

Dubrovniktravelady

Sorry you will not be able to sink your feet into much in the way of sandy beaches on the Croatian coast. There are a few, but mostly our beaches are pebbles.
Big question is what part of Europe will you be prior to the last 4 days?

easytraveler

Thanks for the wonderful input! It's such a problem choice, isn't it?

dutyfree: how long would you give for a decent trip to that section of Turkey? I've already been to Istanbul and want to reserve Cappadocia for another trip. Also no cruising around the islands, just Greek ruins.

Sassafrass: looks like the Cotswolds is out then?

Dubrovniktravelady: <i>"Big question is what part of Europe will you be prior to the last 4 days?"</i>

Good question!

Right now, it looks like Germany.

flanneruk

Your timing might JUST be early enough to do get the benefits of two of your three options.

Generally speaking, most of Mediterranean Europe/Eurasia is crap for proper walking. But in SW Turkey, the Lycian Way is a serious long-distance footpath, mostly hugging the coast. Almost up to Cotswold standards of walkability (none of those 10-mile stretches of ditch by the side of a motorway the French Grandes Randoneees pass off as paths) and accessibility (though just the teensiest bit more undulating), and even denser in Classical-era remains than the Cotswolds are in medieval churches.

Technically not Greek, most of them: the Lycians spoke almost-Greek barbarian, and regularly switched their support to whichever Greek thug or barbarian horde was offering the greatest threat or bribe. But their buildings look Greek enough for government work. And their system of government influenced the formation of the US far more than Athens' short lived experiment in self-destruction.

The local airport (Dalaman) has flights from almost everywhere in northern Europe. By mid-June it gets scorchingly hot (mid-40s when we finally gave up any more walking) - but a bit earlier ahd there's enough sea breezes to be almost refreshing.

Gretchen

Go to Dubrovnik, take a steamer down the coast to Greece and enjoy that also.

easytraveler

flanneruk: that's a great suggestion! But are there very short sections in these 300-miles (a day or two) of hiking without having to bring a tent and other camping gear? (Just carrying the amount of water needed will be strenuous enough!)

Gretchen, yes, I'm leaning more and more towards Croatia - this is just a respite for the brain, no more museums and civilization for awhile, just some R&R, and then it's plunging back to this emperor and that sculptor.

Dubrovniktravelady

With only 4 days, spend your time in Istria, very special area in the northern part of Croatia.

easytraveler

Hi,Dubrovniktravelady!

Thanks for your suggestion!

I did look into going to Rovinj but only as part of a longer trip.

My tendency to be more peripetetic rather than to stay a week in one location.

In looking at the possibilities, I could get to Zagreb, then take the fast train to Split, then bus down to Dubrovnik. Spend a day or two in Dubrovnik and then bus up to Rovinj - and then? Maybe return to Germany via Trieste.

The 4 days may have to be extended to five. Sigh! Never, ever enough time!

The coast of Turkey seems to require more days than I have.

The Cotswolds will be too cold (in California, it's cold when it gets down to 50 degrees F), although my friends in Oxford will be more than happy to put me up.

BTW, the google pictures of the Istrian coast look so inviting!

yorkshire

With 4 days, I suggest no more than 2 places in Croatia. See where you can get flights first, then we can suggest more. I quite enjoy walking along the coast on Croatian islands. You can really get away from it all within a couple hours from Split, or Dubrovnik for that matter.

Holly_uncasdewar

Fly into Dubrovnik, even if you have to connect in Zagreb. Spend a couple days there, then bus up the coast to wherever fits into your schedule.

christycruz

What Holly said. You can also visit the Elaphite islands off the coast of Dubrovnik. We stayed in Lopud for several days. No cars allowed. The islands were very easy to get to. We also enjoyed our time in Cavtat, a small harbor village next to Dubrovnik.

Quite a few people rave about seeing Mostar as a day or overnight trip from Dubrovnik.

annhig

We also enjoyed our time in Cavtat, a small harbor village next to Dubrovnik.>>

so did we, on honeymoon 32 years ago. the area is lovely.

flanneruk

" But are there very short sections in these 300-miles (a day or two) of hiking without having to bring a tent and other camping gear?"

That's why I said the Lycian Way has almost Cotswolds standards of accessibility. I was never more than 3-4 miles from a village with decent bars, restaurants and hotels. We carried a litre of water each, sunscreen and swimming gear. In retrospect, we should have taken snorkels as well. Dolmuses or ordinary taxis to carry heavier stuff between beds cost peanuts.

"The Cotswolds will be too cold (in California, it's cold when it gets down to 50 degrees F), "

Bollocks.

Nowhere on earth has a better temp for serious walking than the Cotswolds in late May. If the low 60s are too cold for you, you're not planning to walk.

Sassafrass

I didn't choose the Cotwolds only because, for me (and it is completely biased and personal), I enjoy places that are a bit more exotic and busy, even for walking. I prefer cities for walking so, Bath and Oxford over the villages. Also, though the Cotwolds are really pretty, I love the Med area. I like hot weather and the food. After a day of walking or hiking, I'd like to be able to hang out in some restaurant or bar overlooking the water.

easytraveler

Thanks for all your valuable input! It's certainly all helping me to decide.

Here's the latest, please critique.

The Cotswolds are out because my friends and I will be doing something else together.

That leaves 4 days on my own.

Croatia is winning at the moment as the place of choice.

Day 1 - train to Zagreb, arrive midday. Explore Zagreb. Overnite train to Split (do they have couchettes/sleepers?).

Day 2 - morning bus to Dubrovnik

Day 3 - In Dubrovnik, maybe side trip to Cavtat. Exploring the islands may take too much time. With only 4 days, this is just a "getting to know you" trip with, hopefully, a longer holiday in later years.

Day 4 - bus to Split, explore Split (Diocletian Palace). Night in Split.

Day 5 - Fly out of Split back to Germany (my flight leaves very early in the morning, therefore necessitating the overnight in Split)

What do you think?


As for Turkey, Flanneruk is so persuasive, I may give up some of "this emperor and that sculptor" and spend a week along the southern Turkish coast - but that's for another post.

yorkshire

I would try flying from Zagreb to Dubrovnik--the overnight train and then bus to Dbv eats up too much valuable time. Or, maybe you can just get a flight straight to Dubrovnik.
Or, you could skip Dubrovnik (some think a travesty, but it will always be there), and then concentrate on islands off Split.

christycruz

I would also recommend either flying to Dubrovnik, or exploring Hvar or Korcula from Split. Or flying from Zagreb to Split.

With only 4 days, you have too much traveling time in your itinerary.