|
Add Day To Split or Bled?
Hello,
DH & I will be traveling to Croatia & Slovenia in September 2020. We will be traveling with his sister and her husband. We are all in our mid 40's& 50's. We enjoy history, art, museums, good food, wine/beer, and the outdoors. My brother-in-law, in particular, loves to hike. Right now I have us in Split for 3 nights and Bled, Slovenia for 5 nights. Many people say they wished they spent more time in Slovenia, so I don't want to give it short shrift. On the other hand, I don't want to do the same to Split. Here's what I have planned for each location: Sept 10: Drive to Split, check into our AirBnB, take evening walking tour (2-2.5hrs) Sept 11: Free day in Split Sept 12: Take boat to Hvar, and other islands Sept 13: Depart for Plitvice Lakes (3 nights), and Rovinj (3 nights) Then in Bled: Sept 19th: Drive from Rovinj to Bled, check into AirBnB, free time Sept 20: Free day in Bled Sept 21: Postojna Cave & Predjama Castle Sept 22: Triglav National Park, scenic driving, hiking, etc. Sept 23: Day trip to Ljubliana Sept 24: Drive to Zagreb, return car, etc. Do I have the right balance of sightseeing, relaxation, activities, etc? I would appreciate your opinions. |
It sounds good and quite busy. You won't have time for 'and other islands' and you don't have a great deal of time in Split itself but enough to give you a taste. I'd check the ferry timetable for Hvar. Unless you plan to do a lot of hiking at Plitvice or exploring the area by car, I would think two nights enough. You could add your extra day to either location as there's heaps to do in both.
I'd take the bus to Ljubljana or the train from Lesce-Bled. I would possibly skip Postojna and focus on the north but you can decide that when you get there. In many ways, Ljubljana would make a better base and then use public transport instead of a car. |
Maybe you could visit Postojna enroute to Bled? I'm not certain about leaving luggage in the car, others may be able to comment but Slovenia is a very safe country.
|
1 night is enough for Plitvice
1 day is enough for Split(plus Trogir and Salona), but you may add another night to Split or add anoother place in Croatia. Using Bled as a base for daytrips to Bled and Ljubljana is a bad idea, pointless driving back to Bled every day. See Postojna and Predjama while you're driving from Rovinj to Bled and see Ljubljana while driving Bled Zagreb (you may want to spend the last night in Ljubljana instead of Bled) Leaving luggage in a car(even a in a rental car) is not a problem in Croatia and Slovenia(or pretty much anywhere in Eastern Europe), it's not like Italy or France. We do it all the time since 40 years(although own car, not a rental) and never had a problem nor did I ever heard of people who had their car broken into(unless they left a valuable item in a visible spot). |
Three nights in Plitvice is a lot. It takes about four - five hours to see the lakes
I'd add the time to Bled stroll around the lake) .. take a drive to Vintgar Gorge ... short drive from Bled. Or take the cable car up from Bohinj Lake (we wanted to do that, but had bad weather). See Postojna Cave & Predjama Castle on way to Bled from Rovinj. We loved Ljubliana. Check out Chapter Fifteen to Twenty Three of our trip report (link below). Obviously restaurant info is outdated, but the other stuff is mostly relevant. These old places don't change too much. You will love Plitvice. https://travelswithmaitaitom.com/cen...e-venice-2008/ https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...23ce4279ad.jpg |
If you enjoy art and museums, I would say that adding the time to Split makes a lot of sense. I felt rushed in that city with only 2 full days for the city itself. Obviously, people differ, but I can't imagine anyone who paid attention to your interests suggesting, in honesty, that 1 day is enough for Split PLUS Trogir PLUS Salona. Given your interests, consider making time for the Ivan Meštrović Gallery and associated Kaštelet while in Split. :tu:
I think you could shift a night from Bled without loosing much in that area. JMO. I would note, however, that if you enjoy art and museums, then you might want more time in Ljubljana than would be possible with a day trip. Otherwise, day tripping from Bled would be fine. As BDKR notes, 1 night is enough for the Plitvice Lakes -- the main area takes about 6 or 7 hours to visit. You can do that in a single circuit or in two circuits of about 3+ hours each. Of course, the park is much larger, and if you want to explore other parts of it, you would need more time. The decision of whether to leave luggage in a car is, IMO, a very personal one that requires weighing one's personal comfort with benefits and risks. There is ALWAYS a risk in doing that, no matter anyone's personal experience. I would leave luggage in a car in these areas, but I would take precautions. Here's my personal list: - Don’t ever leave anything in the car that can be seen through its windows. - ALWAYS keep key documents including your passport, cash, and bank cards with you (in a secure under-the-clothes passport pouch, with only what you need for the day outside of that pouch), and be sure that that pouch also has a copy of any key documents you might need on one or more days. - Don’t ever move things from the interior to the trunk in the place that you will leave the car – do that somewhere else, even if it means pulling off the road briefly a mile or so from your destination - Try to park in a well lighted area where other people might have eyes-on , not so much because they might act, but because their presence might discourage thieves. - If possible, park your car in a way that would make it difficult for thieves to gain anything – for example, consider backing the car up to a wall to make it difficult to open the trunk or remove anything from it. - Be sure you know how to contact your rental car agency and insurance agency as soon as possible after any incursion, and how to report the theft. - Only leave your car with things in it if you are willing to come back and find that they are gone. |
Timing looks about right and for your visit though a bit rushed. Still, the days are longish
Stuff in cars; while I have enjoyed hospitality throughout the former Yugoslavia I would not tempt people to thieve anywhere. If it were the garden of Eden I would not be the snake. So don't leave stuff visible, don't park the vehicle up against a wall and make a palava out of climbing out of the car to make it more "secure". I have a similar view about what car to rent, don't rent a top of the range BMW. Do rent a more basic car. |
I fully agree with posts 3, 4 and 5.
.....and if you are really interested in "history, art, museums and the outdoors" don't forget to stop over at Sibenik for the visit of the city and the Krka Falls Park; to visit Pula and Porec from Rovinj. May be you are interested in Lipica and Skocjan (instead of Postojna) too. Sept 12th: I don't think that's a good idea to visit Hvar AND OTHER ISLANDS (which one's?) in 1 day only. |
I agree with most of what's been said above - you can't do "Hvar and other islands" in one day. The ferry schedules are fairly frequent but don't work out that you can do more than one island a day really. I just last summer did Hvar and Brac and on a previous trip did Korcula. Of the three if you have to pick one I would pick Hvar. It has a reputation as "party central' but isn't bad mid day. I would take the ferry to Stari Grad (nice little town) and then the bus over to Hvar town (goes through the Stari Grad plain which is UNESCO world heritage site). See Hvar town and take the ferry back to Split from there.
3 nights in Plitvice Lakes is 2 nights too long. If you drive from Split you'd get there mid day and have the first afternoon, then you can re enter for free the following day and spend most of that day. More than enough time to see the 'good' part. You say hiking is a priority, well you could hike much more/further but it will be just a nice forest. Another option would be to stop in either Trogir or Sibenik after Split for the day and arrive at Plitvice later. Then you might want two nights if you really want a lot of hiking. I'm currently in the middle of posting my trip report from last summer's trip, you'll hopefully find some useful stuff in there - but also check out the photos, they speak better than the words. https://www.fodors.com/community/eur...019-a-1672820/ |
Thank you all for the information and advice. You've given me a lot to think about.
maitaitom Such a lovely picture. I am so excited to visit Plitvice Park. I have been reading your Trip Reports and blog for several years, and I subscribe to your newsletter. I have modeled our itineraries on your writings. I have rearranged the itinerary a bit based on the advice given. See what you think: Sept 4 - Fly from Seattle to Dubrovnik Sept 5-8 (3 nights): Dubrovnik, shake off Jetlag, City Walls & Walking Tour, possible daytrip to Montenegro & Kotor, pick up rental car morning of Sept 8th. Sept 8-10 (2 nights): Drive to Mostar with stop at Kravice Falls, daytrip to Blagaj & Počitelj Sept 10 - 14 (4 nights): Drive to Split, Ivan Meštrović Gallery, evening walking tour, Hvar, Trogir, other activities TBD Sept 14-16 (2 nights): Drive to Plitvice Lakes with stop in Solin, afternoon + full day in Plitvice Park. Sept 16-19 (3 nights): Drive to Rovinj with stop in Opatija, Pula Amphitheater, Lipica Stud Farm Sept 19-22 (3 nights): Drive to Bled with stop in Postojna Cave & Predjama Castle, Triglev Park, etc. Sept 22-24 (2 nights): Drive to Ljubljana, drop off rental car, sightseeing specifics TBD Sept 24-26 (2 nights): Flixbus or train to Zagreb, sightseeing specifics TBD. Fly home on Sept 26th. |
Hello isabel, I put "Hvar & other islands" because there are tours you can take that will get you to several islands in one day. I know it would cost more than taking the ferry, but it would maximize what we can see in a short amount of time.
|
Yes, we have been thinking about the problem of leaving stuff in our rental car. We are looking at the Opel Vivaro van for the 4 of us + luggage. But that vehicle doesn't have a covered place to put luggage.
I welcome car rental information and advice. We are fairly savvy travelers, and would never leave passports, credit cards, etc in a car unattended. |
Looks like a much better plan to me!
Check on your rental car drop-off fees: If picking up in Dubrovnik and returning in Ljubljana, you'll likely have to pay a chunk of money for the privilege. Your original plan of holding on to it until you reach Zagreb would avoid that fee. BTW, Zagreb is another city with several worthy museums. I didn't see everything I wanted to see with 2.5 days there. |
I loved Zagreb it deserves at least a day of your life. 2.5, wow you must dig deep kja. :-)
|
kja - Thank you! I didn't even think about dropping the car in Zagreb and saving $$. I have added that nugget to my spreadsheet.
I hope to retire in 5 years, then I will be able to take the time to see all the museums and sights everywhere I go. But for now, it's how to cram the maximum into 2-3 weeks. |
I know the dilemmas of trying to decide what to see and what to skip in the time one has, halfapair! IMO, if one does have to "shortchange" a location, shortchanging the locations with international airports is worth considering, as those are the places most easily added to a future plan. By that logic, shortchanging Zagreb makes a certain sense. And while I think Zagreb is underrated, many people are not enamored of it.
|
It used to be the case that if you purchased tickets for Plitivice lakes on day one you could enter again on day two - but only if you stayed at one of the national park hotels. That was the case last year but not sure whether the practice continues. I've also read that since we were there they now accept online bookings. You might want to check that out.
When travelling to Zagreb, the train is not stopped at the border but the buses are. That isn't necessarily a problem unless there are delays. Zagreb bus and train stations are a little distance apart (maybe 1km?). |
Originally Posted by bilboburgler
(Post 17003371)
I loved Zagreb it deserves at least a day of your life. 2.5, wow you must dig deep kja. :-)
Sorry I didn't respond to this comment earlier -- I wanted to think carefully about my answer. The time I have for travel is limited, and so that time is very precious to me. For me (and not necessarily for any one else), that means that if I choose to visit a place, I want to actually see and experience at least the highlights of that place and the things that make it unique and special and worthy of my time -- all within the context of my particular interests, which include art and architecture. I want to see it with enough depth that I don't later wonder, oh, was that the city on two levels? I want to remember it for what it is (or at least, what it was when I was there -- in today's world, it's hard to know what will survive). I want to see the things that are considered to be its treasures, and my interests are, as a rule, sufficiently diverse to easily and eagerly savor the opportunity to do so. IMO, Zagreb has many interesting museums that differ in focus, each holding some memorable items; it showcases an astonishing array of interesting architecture; and it holds lovely public parks and gardens -- among other things. When I visited (2009), Zagreb's cafe culture was alive and well, and notable not only for its liveliness, but for its laid back ease. (That could, of course, have changed or been seasonal.) I don't know if tours of the National Archive building are still available; if so, it is a fascinating building with an intriguing history, well worth a few hours. The Mirogoj Cemetery is one of the most beautiful cemeteries I've ever visited. The city is large enough to have distinct areas, each with a slightly different feel -- and that's just the neighborhoods that I visited in my effort to see the things of greatest interest to me. As I said, I had only 2.5 days in Zagreb, and I did NOT make it to everything I would have liked to visit. I understand that not everyone shares my interests -- nor should they! I understand that the choice of how to spend limited time -- whether to skim or delve -- is a personal choice. I understand that people have different preferences and constraints. And I think Fodor's is richer for the diversity of our opinions. I hope this comment adds to the array of perspectives that are available to those considering time in Zagreb. Bottom line: I think there's MUCH to appreciate in Zagreb, and I wouldn't call my 2.5 days there a "deep" dig -- I didn't have enough time for what I considered a highlights-only visit. In contrast, I don't think it would be unreasonable to say that anyone who spends less than a day there has barely skimmed the surface. Not that there's anything wrong with skimming! JMO. |
Originally Posted by neckervd
(Post 17003181)
Iif you are really interested in "history, art, museums and the outdoors" don't forget
to stop over at Sibenik for the visit of the city and the Krka Falls Park; to visit Pula and Porec from Rovinj. May be you are interested in Lipica and Skocjan (instead of Postojna) too. I firmly believe that everyone should feel free to offer whatever advice they think worthy, but I'll never understand why someone consistently tries to add to itineraries that are already too full, or at least, why they would do so without suggesting what to skip so as to include alternative sites. JMO. |
Pula has a lovely little Centro Storico much loved by package tourists and the boat-set but once away from this pretty but icecream based centre it also has a Roman stadium (not the biggest in the world) but still used as something other than a place for cats to breed in. Pula was also significant in Tito's Yugoslavia and the old train at the station has significant interest. Up in the hills around Pula are a bunch of things with specialist interest to archaeologists and cavers. The food is generally more Italian than anything.
|
@ bilboburgler: I honestly don't know how to thank you for your thoughtful response to me (see post # 18). Of course, having a response from you to which I might react would make my task easier -- but let's not get caught up in technicalities. Like, just for one example, of course the food in Pula is more Italian than anything else -- Istria was part of Italy until WWII, as is made clear in any reasonably competent guide book for the area.
|
@kja, thanks for explaining about how you use your time on holiday, it makes a lot of sense.
I don't know if the OP is reading any travel books, like you I'm aware of the European political/geographical history but I don't know if the OP is. |
To be 100% honest, one of the reasons I chose to end the trip in Zagreb was because of flights & schedule. We can depart ZAG at 7:45am and fly home via Frankfurt, Germany on Lufthansa. These particular flights seem to be the shortest/easiest available.
I think I have looked at every major airline that flies to Seattle from Europe: KLM, Air France, British Airways, Delta, etc. And the Lufthansa flights seem the best, schedule-wise, anyway. Maybe not the cheapest, though. |
Reality Check: Would it be possible to do all of the following in a day-trip from Split?
Sibenik Krka FallsSolinTrogir |
Originally Posted by halfapair
(Post 17003840)
Reality Check: Would it be possible to do all of the following in a day-trip from Split?
Sibenik Krka FallsSolinTrogir |
Originally Posted by halfapair
(Post 17003840)
Reality Check: Would it be possible to do all of the following in a day-trip from Split?
Sibenik Krka FallsSolinTrogir |
For a walking tour of Split, I can recommend a private guided tour with Maja Benzon. She is recommend by Rick Steves, and she is awesome. We thoroughly enjoyed our 2-hour walking tour with Maja that covered Old Town Split and Diocletian’s Palace. She is very knowledgeable and personable. |
Oh, dear. The formatting got messed up a bit. Yes, I did want to know if we could see all 4 sites in one, long day-trip from Split (we will have a car). I will find a way to incorporate them into our schedule.
|
Originally Posted by halfapair
(Post 17003916)
Oh, dear. The formatting got messed up a bit. Yes, I did want to know if we could see all 4 sites in one, long day-trip from Split (we will have a car). I will find a way to incorporate them into our schedule.
You could conceivably do Trogir and Sibenik in one day, but it would be rushed. Adding Krka in top of it would be impossible. Even though you have a car - parking is a hassle in these towns - the later you arrive, the less available. You may find you spend more time trying to find parking than actually seeing. Less is more. You are packing in a lot on this trip. You have a year to plan, research, and discuss with your travel partners. You may have to make some cuts here and there. These places will be there for your next trip, too. |
Originally Posted by kja
(Post 17003715)
In the time the OP has? Not in any meaningful way! These places are, of course, worth visiting, but I'm going to trust that the OP already winnowed the options down before posting. I could be wrong.
I firmly believe that everyone should feel free to offer whatever advice they think worthy, but I'll never understand why someone consistently tries to add to itineraries that are already too full, or at least, why they would do so without suggesting what to skip so as to include alternative sites. JMO.
Originally Posted by KarenWoo
(Post 17003909)
For a walking tour of Split, I can recommend a private guided tour with Maja Benzon. She is recommend by Rick Steves, and she is awesome. We thoroughly enjoyed our 2-hour walking tour with Maja that covered Old Town Split and Diocletian’s Palace. She is very knowledgeable and personable. |
Originally Posted by halfapair
(Post 17003916)
Yes, I did want to know if we could see all 4 sites in one, long day-trip from Split (we will have a car). I will find a way to incorporate them into our schedule.
Croatia is an incredibly rich destination when it comes to wonderful things to see and experience. You can not see them all in a trip of even a month and even at a very rapid, hard pace. You will have to make choices. That's the bad news. The good news is that you will see some wonderful things. |
Originally Posted by halfapair
(Post 17003349)
Sept 16-19 (3 nights): Drive to Rovinj with stop in Opatija, Pula Amphitheater, Lipica Stud Farm
Sept 19-22 (3 nights): Drive to Bled with stop in Postojna Cave & Predjama Castle, Triglev Park, etc. Sept 22-24 (2 nights): Drive to Ljubljana, drop off rental car, sightseeing specifics TBD Sept 24-26 (2 nights): Flixbus or train to Zagreb, sightseeing specifics TBD. Having a car in Bled enables you to do a driving loop through the Julian Alps/Triglav National Park, which includes the Soca Valley, well worth a visit. The whole area is great for hiking and the western part of the Julian Alps, especially the Soca Valley, has loads of WW1 history as it was the site of one of the main battlefronts of the war. Another idea: since you're interested in wine, you could drive from Rovinj to Bled via the Soca Valley instead, passing through two of the best wine regions in the country, the Vipava Valley and Goriska Brda, (essentially something like this: https://goo.gl/maps/zMW53UmvwBWZsNkD8 ), although that would require an overnight stop in the wine region. |
People on both sides of the border are European. Being European is not a nationality.
|
Originally Posted by bilboburgler
(Post 17006358)
People on both sides of the border are European. Being European is not a nationality.
|
rtt0921 The only problem with visiting Lipica Farm on the way to Bled, is that there is a show at 3pm that we would like to see. It's not set in stone that we'll visit Lipica, but it is on the list of things I'd like to see.
|
rtt0921 sorry yes you might well have a complete understanding and I'm sorry if I caused offence. I was merely trying to be clear for everyone's understanding, including people who are visitors or even first-time visitors to the continent.
|
Originally Posted by halfapair
(Post 17006606)
rtt0921 The only problem with visiting Lipica Farm on the way to Bled, is that there is a show at 3pm that we would like to see. It's not set in stone that we'll visit Lipica, but it is on the list of things I'd like to see.
Originally Posted by bilboburgler
(Post 17006951)
rtt0921 sorry yes you might well have a complete understanding and I'm sorry if I caused offence. I was merely trying to be clear for everyone's understanding, including people who are visitors or even first-time visitors to the continent.
|
Oh, wow! rtt0921 I will be adding that to our itinerary. Thank you for all the tips & advice. This is going to be an amazing trip.
|
| All times are GMT -8. The time now is 06:28 AM. |