Croatia for 3 weeks: where to begin?
 

My husband and I are going to Croatia from end of July to mid-Aug. We are overwhelmed with what to do and see. Any suggestions for a 3-week itinerary. We fly in and out of Munich and are planning to rent a car. Is this a good idea? Thanks for any help!

Hi Dukes,

There are so many things to do and see in Croatia. Figuring out what interests you most will depend on your preferences. There are several great trip reports here if you do a search. That will be a good place to start. Recent reports are by Judi, Granny and Deborah.

The book that helped me the most was Lonley Planet.

For me, must sees include the Istrian Peninsula (Rovinj, Pula, and if you have a car Motovun), A ferry trip down the coast with a stop on an island (Hvar), and Dubrovnik. I really enjoyed my Atlas excursion into Montenegro and the Peljesec Peninsula for wine tasting. Things I missed but wish I had seen are Plitviche and the old part of Zagreb.

Check with your rental company to be sure you can drive your car into Croatia. You may need to take the train there and rent a car when you get into the Country.

Keep in mind, July to August are the peak times in Croatia and things will be crowded.

After seeing the town on the Giro d'Italia coverage, I'd love to visit Pula.

The coast of Croatia is spectacular, and definitely worth spending some serious time. Dubrovnik is a wonderful city, with amazing scenery, kind people and great food. The islands nearby are lovely as well, and the water is some of the clearest we've ever seen. I'd certainly think about leaving the car in Split or Dubrovnik and taking a ferry out for a few days. (Given the length of your trip, you could also consider a charter boat). We also enjoyed Zagreb very much - a nice cafe culture there.

Thank you for asking that question, Duke. I also am thinking about a trip to Croatia. Is Munich the easiest place to fly in and out of? We thought about flying in to Venice, but maybe Munich would be better. We are still debating on renting a car.

Hi
Think about flying out of Slovenia. We flew from Frankfurt to Ljubljana. Rented a car and went down to Istria. stayed in Porec and Rovenj. Drove to Trogir, a long but specactular drive. Nicer than the Greek coast according to people who have done both. Nice fresh seafood resturants and grills along the way, then a long stretch with no place to stop. Really enjoyed Rovenj, very nice Italian influence.
Alan

Dear Pat,

We decided to fly into Munich because it was cheaper than flying into Venice. We also thought that it's a bit safer and more reliable to rent a car in Germany than in Italy. (We've had some less than positive experiences with service and reservations in Italy over the years.) Thanks, too, Grasshopper, for the itinerary ideas. We have bought the Foder's guide and are looking for another one to supplement. We are hoping that we can drive along and find some "rooms" in homes to rent out, rather than stay in hotels. Would anyone recommend any "rooms" or out of the way B&Bs? How necessary are reservations, really?

If you go to www.virtualtourist.com and do a search on the member, diocletianvs, you will find a ton of information about Croatia. This fellow lives in Zagreb and has fantastic tips. He also will answer your questions by email.