VeeBee

Planning a trip for family of 5 - three kids - next summer. We actually got 5 ff tickets last wk for travel next June. Plans are to visit Croatia for about 10 days of a longer trip.. Likely train to Zagreb/Split or Rijeka from Bavarian Alps region. Definitely want to go all the way south to Dubrovnik and spend most time there with day trips. Suggestions on itin? Best route down coast? Likely will drive back up to Zagreb for flight back to US Don't mind spending a few days going down, but want to situate in Dubrovnik for at least 5 days or more (easier with kids to settle in one place for awhile.) Pretty active family, like to swim, hike, eat, history, a few good museums,etc. Would greatly appreciate any and all ideas..

I have started quite a bit of research - so am somewhat familiar with general options.. but looking for recommendations based on everyone's experience. For instance, should we drive down to Dubrovnik from Zagreb or Split or maybe try taking the train to Split and then the Ferry down the coast with island stops? Then we'll have to drive back up from Dubrovnik to Zagreb to catch our flight.. is it feasible to travel back via Mostar or just completely illogical? I'm always amazed at everyone's knowledge on this site and have found it very helpful before in planning trips to europe. thks, vee

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Vttraveler

I haven't spent much time in Croatia so don't have a lot of suggestions. I do think kids would enjoy Ston/Mali Ston north of Dubrovnik with the wall linking the two cities. It is quite unusual/dramatic.

Mostar is logical if you go there from Dubrovnik then back toward the area farther north, around Split.

VeeBee

anyone travelled via car from dubrovnik to zagreb via mostar?

Forza_Adriatic

We have driven from Zagreb through Dalmatia on the Autocesta, I recommend this as it is a new well kept toll road vs back country roads via Mostar that will add many hours to your drive, unless your going to Plitvice, I would still take the toll road then detour to Plitvice then back to the toll roads, even though it 2 hours each way off the main Freeway (Autocesta).

We drove ZAG to Zadar about 4 hours, then stayed a night, then 7 hours to Dubrovnik. When we went the Autocesta did not go all the way to Dubrovnik (end around Split) so the last 4 hours are regular roads, that way it takes so long. Drive near the coast take your time its a gorgeous drive!

Andrew

I drove from Zagreb to Dubrovnik via Mostar - I took the A1 most of the way, detouring south of Zagreb over to Plitvice Lakes National Park (a gem, highly recommended at least for one night, lots of hiking in area full of big turquoise lakes full of trout plus numerous waterfalls).

I stopped two nights between Zagreb and Mostar: on at Plitvice and one more at Baska Voda on the coast - but I wasn't driving many hours per day. You could probably drive Mostar to Dubrovnik in a single day without too much trouble, might be 7-8 hours, not sure. If you're on the A1 most of the way it's an easy drive though in the summer you'll probably have more traffic especially on a weekend.

VeeBee

any other ideas? Tentative itin is to travel down coast of croatia either driving from zagreba to Dubrovnik or train to split and then ferry to dubrovik via Korcula and Hvar (maybe stop for a night in one of them) or even possibly train to Rijeka and boat along islands from there to Dubrovnik. Then spend a week in dubrovnik - apt rental - with a few day trips including kotor and maybe a few islands.. However, A little concerned about avoiding the daily cruise ship crowds.. then thought is possibly to travel back to zagreb via mostar (spend 1 night) and possibly see plitvice the next day before arriving in zagreb for flight home. This would give us a total of about 11 days in Croatia...Appreicate any thoughts anyone? VeeBee