Gina_07

We have picked Amsterdam and Dubrovnik to have some city vacation and some relaxed time. There could be better itineraries, of course, but having been in many places already but not these two and no time to plan, we decided to do it this way.

I know that there is a lot more you can do in both countries but we want to keep it simple by just staying in these two destinations and having some side trips, if possible. For example, the Plitvice Lakes will be impossible but we can do it on a different visit.

We have 11 days, including the day we arrive in Amsterdam. The connecting flight is too close, so we have to split our Amsterdam stay into 2 parts but the first question is how many days to give to each place?

Second, where to stay in Dubrovnik? We are leaning towards a beach hotel because we need some rest and relaxing time in between sightseeings. Is this a good idea or we will be too isolated? We are looking at Valamar Dubrovnik President Hotel and Kompas Hotel. Any recommendations?

We are thinking to do 3-4 days in Amsterdam and 7 days in Dubrovnik. Shall we change the time allocation? What are the best side trips from Dubrovnik and Amsterdam?

Thanks a lot.

Michael

You can also do day trips from Amsterdam. I would reverse the time spent. More in Amsterdam and less in Dubrovnik.

Gina_07

You are right, it seems that 7 days would be too much time in Dubrovnik. So we just changed plans a bit and we fly to Split, then go to Dubrovnik, maybe via Korcula. And spend a few days in each location and fly from Dubrovnik to Amsterdam. Does this makes sense?

Any suggestions how to allocate time between Split, Korcula and Dubrovnik and what are the best ways to get from one destination to the other?

hetismij2

Why fly into Amsterdam, across Europe and then back to Amsterdam? Why not fly into one country and out of the other. In fact given you plan to spend so little time in Amsterdam why bother with it all?
Does your 11 days also include your departure day?
The changes of city you make the more of your 11 days you waste.

Andrew

I often use Amsterdam as a staging city, because I can't fly directly from countries like Croatia to my home city in the US. I guess I could fly home from a place like Dubrovnik in a day with a couple of connecting flights...or I could fly to Amsterdam and have a direct flight home the next day. But, I do what the OP is proposing routinely. (Plus I get award tickets to Amsterdam and can't get them directly to some other cities. Easier to fly on from Amsterdam on my own.

However, I usually schedule my flights so I can depart Amsterdam to the next city on the same day and not stay there until I fly back at the end. This avoids splitting up my days there, though I know some people find that too risky.

Andrew

Seven days in Dubrovnik would seem too many to me. But, I usually don't go on vacations just for pure relaxation. However, you might consider having maybe four days in Dubrovnik - still a relaxed stay - and a few days in say Split at the end - and fly back from Split to Amsterdam.

If you want to add more time to Amsterdam, you need to figure out which day trips would be more interesting to you: day trips up there or down in Croatia? There are some neat towns in the Netherlands (e.g. Delft) that are easy day trips by train from Amsterdam. Day trips in Croatia are a very different experience. What is it you seek?

You don't mention the time of year, either. In the summer, Dubrovnik will be mobbed and crowded during the day. (It can get crowded even off season with cruise ship tourists.) You could do day trips to Montenegro (e.g. Kotor) or Bosnia (e.g. Mostar). It's possible to do both of them by public bus or excursion.

If you want beach time, don't stay near the old town of Dubrovnik - which I love, but I'm not a beach person. You might stay in the little suburb of Lapad, a pleasant but boring resort area with beaches. You can take local buses into Dubrovnik's old town - but be sure to visit at night at least once when less crowded and when everything is lit up. Try to have a drink at the Buza Bar, especially around sunset!

Some people prefer to base in the nearby town of Cavtat and bus into Dubrovnik as needed, but I haven't been to Cavtat.

But I wouldn't expect world-class beaches in Croatia. Many of them are rocky, not long, smooth, and sandy.

hetismij2

OP says she's never been to Amsterdam which is why she chose it, then proceeds to spend as little time possible there.
Fine to do as you do Andrew but it seems odd decide to spend at most 3 days, actually 2.5 since she counts her arrival day as one of them, when she will be tired from the flight and jetlagged.
Every change of city eats into the 11 (10.5) days, and makes it less and less a restful and relaxing holiday.

Gina_07

Andrew explained it exactly. I am flying from NYC. I will have to change planes in Amsterdam, anyway. Also, we just booked a connecting flight to Split via Amsterdam so we will stay there on the way back.

My big question now is how many days in Split vs. Korcula if we have 4 between them.

Gina_07

OK, I guess, I was not clear. I have spent a long day but not a night in Amsterdam. I liked it. I am very likely to go back there as a stopover on many other occasions, and I can spend a few more days each time, but not to Croatia, which is out of the way. So it makes sense to do more in Croatia.

Also, even if I like Amsterdam, it is not as vast in terms of what it has to offer as Paris or Rome, for example, or am I wrong? The longest I have spent in Paris per stay is 8 days and that was more than enough. I have 3.5, not 2.5 days for Amsterdam. It should be ok. There is always next time.

I could also skip it this time but, to connect, especially on the way back, I would have to spend a night there. What's wrong with extending it? It's more important not to rush, pick a few things and enjoy.

Gina_07

Andrew, thanks a lot. I was mainly thinking about side trips from Dubrovnik. We will do Kotor and/or Mostar. The photos are beautiful. We are now thinking about Hotel Excelsior outside the walled town in Dubrovnik and it should be good enough because I don't expect a great beach experience, even in the nearby towns. That way we can tour the town in the morning and in the evening when it's less crowded.

Will check the Buza Bar. Thanks.

HappyTrvlr

Amsderdam deserves much more time than Dubrovnik. Reverse the allotment of days.

kja

For my interests, 3 days in Split and 1 in Korcula. But I don't know how helpful that will be to use, as I would want at least 5 days in Amsterdam, so our interests seem rather different....

menachem

Gina, you can consider the entire western part of the Netherlands (Randstad) to be one metropolitan area with parks in between. People call them "day trips" but in fact, usually you'll be on a train for 30 - 40 minutes and you'll be in a completely different city. And most all of them are interesting, beautiful and with a distinct flavour entirely different from Amsterdam (which we put there especially for tourists).

A city like Arnhem is an outlier to the east: more than 1 hour by train from Amsterdam. Other far-flung regions are Friesland and Groningen, or the Frisian Islands up north. But anything with an hour from Amsterdam is really part of the same area and can be easily reached by excellent train services: fast, frequent, not too expensive.

Gina_07

Thanks so much for all the information.

Mimar

How are you traveling from Dubrovnik to Korcula to Split? Bus? Boat? Car? Or a combination of bus and boat? Have you checked out the schedules? There are limited departures on these routes so that may control your time at each destination.

Andrew

I don't think the OP has expressed any interest in going to Split etc. even though it has been suggested. Without Korcula, there are plenty of daily buses between Split and Dubrovnik.

Gina_07

We have already booked the flight to Split directly from Amsterdam, it's a good connection. So day 1 and 2 will be spent in Split. Then 2 more nights in Korcula. We plan on taking the ferry from Split to Korcula. Then we will take the bus to Dubrovnik. It looks like part of the rout is on ferry. Three nights in Dubrovnik then to Amsterdam for 4 nights on our way back to NY. We will use Amsterdam as a stopover on future trips, so even though there is a lot to do, 3.5 days shouldn't be too bad.

dugi_otok

Excellent itinerary for a 1st time 7 day trip to Croatia.

Andrew

Yeah, that sounds good. I did Dubrovnik - Korcula - Split in the opposite order the same way (same number of nights in each town, too) a few years ago: bus from Dubrovnik to Korcula, catamaran from Korcula to Split. You're right - the bus takes the short ferry from Korcula to Orebic on the Peljesac peninsula and then down to Dubrovnik. Note that the bus departure time may be crack of dawn. I had no other real option when I was there, but nowadays there may be a catamaran from Korcula to Dubrovnik.

You'll also have to take a local bus or taxi from Dubrovnik's bus station into the old town or to your hotel.

In Split you can take the Croatia Airlines bus from the airport into town if you like. Anyone can ride these buses, not just passengers on a Croatia Airlines flight, but they are scheduled to coincide with Croatia Airlines flights. You can dig up their schedule online.

Gina_07

Very helpful details on transportation. Thank you so much, everyone.