4 days in Istria - worth it?
 

In early June, my husband, son, and I will arrive in Venice by air on a Wednesday. We have until the following Sunday to get to Merligen, Switzerland. I would like to spend those days in Istria, but would like opinions on if this is a crazy waste of time or not. I studied Croatian 30 years ago, and am dying to go back there, but circumstances lead us to Switzerland this time around. I know the car rental will be one big issue (we will have to pick up in Venice and drop off in Amsterdam) but aside from that, will we be stressing ourselves out too much? If your opinion is that this is too much, any suggestions on where to spend those 4 days on our way to Switzerland? We will be in Switzerland for 10 days in varying locations (and France thereafter), so I don't think we would head straight there. I guess Northern Italy is the most logical. We love local music, art, hiking. I'd love any ideas you have. By the way, we are very low budget travelers. Thank you.

So are you not planning on spending those days in Venice ?

Worth it? Crazy waste of time? Wow - you really need to get to Istria! It is so beautiful and majestic and wonderful! We chose Istria out of everywhere in Europe to buy a house - that is how wonderful it is.

Istria fits your criteria including music, art and hiking. It is also less expensive than many other European regions. You can easily find lovely private accommodations for 50 euros for a double room. There are tons of festivals, the food is great and the culture thrilling.

I would highly recommend visiting Rovinj, a gorgeous Italianate town right on the water. Pula makes a great half-day trip to see the amphitheatre. The medieval hilltop villages are lovely, especially Hum, Groznjan, Bale and Motovun.

I think I didn't explain myself well. I know I love Istria already.. My intended question was to inquire about the length of the drive, rental car difficulty because of beginning in Italy, and then taking the car through Slovenia and Croatia, then backtracking all the way back through Italy to Western Switzerland. Circumstances (the only award tickets I could get for June) require those cities of arrival and departure.

But, I see that you think I definitely should do it!

Oh, no - you explained yourself fine! :) It was me who sort of went off on a tangent as I always do when it comes to something I am adamantly passionate about. I have not done the route you have planned so cannot speak from experience on driving times and stuff.

But yes, it is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO worth it! :))

Why not take a boat to Rovinj from Venice and forgo the car until you return to Italy after your 4 days in Istria? You can easily enjoy 4 days in Istria taking busses or boats on day trips from Rovinj.

It only takes 2-2 and half hours from venice to istria and there are no issues with bringing the rental car from italy into croatia. I've done that heaps of times.
But there are 800 kms from say Rovinj in Istria to merligen, about 9 hour drive and yes you'd have to drive back to venice and then head up towards milan and up to switzerland.
Not sure what time your flight lands on wednesday and if you have to be in merligen by Sunday coz if you do that would only give you 3 days in Istria.
If you think that might be a bit too much stop on Lake Garda or Lake Como on your way to Switzerland.
Croatia is cheaper by the way if you are on a low budget

You can do Istria without a car but there are so many places inaccessible by public transportation. I personally wouldn't do Istria without a car but then I really like to get adventurous! It affords so much flexibility. :)

So, are you convinced to do it yet?? :))

I'm with travel2live2 regarding Istria, but I have to admit to thoroughly enjoying the FruiliVeneziaGiulia region of Italy as well - Aquileia, Spilimbergo, Palmanova, San Daniele, Cividale, and more and more, including Trieste itself, from where you can also go farther into Istria. Marijana and I let the weather decide...we avoid rain and otherwise play it by ear, and we are never, ever disappointed.

The distances are not great between Venice and Istria, takes me [and me only] as short as 1 hour 20 to Venice from my house in the northern Croatian part of Istria, but 2 hours is more reasonable. Driving all the way down to Rovinj or Pula takes another 45 mins.

Keep in mind that there will probably bee more cars on the road in June so travel time can be more than 2 hrs from Venice airport to Croatia (especially if you plan to stick to the speed limits!) Also there can be delays especially on the weekends at the border crossings between Slovenia and Croatia.

I very much appreciate everyone's input. Reluctantly, we have decided to save Istria and the rest of the Balkan peninsula for another trip, which I hope will be in the near future. The costs associated with rental cars and expenses for dropping off in another country, trains, or ferries, were prohibitive for the four days. It really hurts to miss it this time around, but I just tell myself I'm saving the best for next!