Croatia Itinerary
 

My husband and I will be traveling to Croatia with my 17.5 month old twins. This is kind of a last minute trip and nothing is booked yet. Please note that we are not interested in visiting parks and waterfalls(I forget where the famous national park is that everyone recommends). We will do this when we return when the boys are older. We are looking to hit the beach, go on a sail boat, walk around admiring the local streets and people, grab bites at some great restaurants, both fancy and mom and pop shops where the locals eat, sip on some wine and coffee, and visit local boutiques. We are simply looking to get away and not have each day planned outside of 1-2 day trips.
Preliminary Itinerary:
8/23 - Arrive in Dubrovnik and hop on train to Split
8/24 - Split
8/25 - Day trip to Brac by Ferry
8/26 - Split
8/27 - Morning Ferry to Hvar
8/28 - Hvar
8/29 - Day trip to Korcula by Ferry
8/30 - Hvar
8/31 - Ferry from Hvar to Dubrovnik in morning
9/1 - Dubrovnik
9/2 - Dubrovnik
9/3 - Fly home

1.) Should I remove one of the day trips to either Brac or Korcula? Which is nicer to see and walk around with better restaurants and cafes?
2.) What is the best site to pre-purchase Ferry tickets?
3.) Can someone recommend 1 nice day trip up to the Countryside(not an island) from either Dubrovnik or Split? Some place that has a nice town to walk around in, grab a bite, sip on some wine, and visit local boutiques? I prefer a location by train, or we'll rent a car for this day.

If nothing is reserved, consider flying into Dubrovnik and out of Split or vice versa.

Instead of a day trip to Korcula from Hvar, consider going from Hvar to Korcula by ferry and then straight from Korcula to Dubrovnik by bus. Back tracking to Hvar doesn't seem to make sense.

I wouldn't worry about which location has "better" restaurants and cafes -- your time is so limited that you won't run out of good options no matter what you choose.

Many people visit Kotor as a day trip from Dubrovnik.

Hope that helps!

It's just under an hour by ferry to Brac. There's several sailing every day from Split Port. Foot passengers don't need to book in advance, and the fare is very inexpensive. The upper deck on the ferry has completely 360 degree uninterrupted views of all around you, and they're great.

At Brac [Supetar], the ferry docks almost in the small town centre/marina. Bus station is opposite. Some info...

Island Brac, Croatia - BRAC travel and accommodation info

For a day out from Split, have a look at Omis or Makarska, easy to reach by public bus. They're both down [South East] along the coast. Get the bus from Split Port bus station. Plenty of info on the 'net.

Also Trogir, which people rave about. When we went the place was mobbed with tour groups, so not for me.....if you do decide on Trogir, there's a boat that'll take you from the Split Old Town waterfront, or public bus. Takes about 40 minutes and is close to Split Airport. I'm not sure where the bus leaves from in Split.

If you decide to go to Kotor [Monenegro] for the day from Dubrovnik, then time at the border crossing in either direction is unpredictable, and can make or break your day.

There is no train, there are hourly buses between Dubrovnik and Split.
1) I have not been to Milna on Brac, but it sounds like it might fit the bill for your day trip. Otherwise, Bol is good for swimming with little ones, but could be quite crowded.
I would also consider stopping in Korcula between Hvar and Dubrovnik and stay a night. It's far for a day trip.
2) The providers, Jadrolinija and Krilo, should have links on their websites, but you can probably just purchase the day before.
3) Another place I have not been, but would check out, is Konavle (have done copious research for four visits) is Explore the little known Konavle Valley in Croatia?s Southernmost tip

This trip is this August? Book accommodations asap!

Hi. Thank you. I wanted to do an open jaw ticket, but they are too expensive and the better priced combination, departure times dont work well with my kids sleeping schedule. Too late from Chicago, too early outbound flight.

I thought about not back tracking to Hvar after Korcula, but dont want to lug around our Bags even thiugh we are packing semi light; 2 Tortuga backpacks with clothes and 1 longer narrower nothface bag with toiletries. How do I fet to dubrovnik by bus from Korcula? Korcula is an island.

good thought on staying 1 night in Korcula vs. backtracking to Hvar.

Yes, this is in Aug. 8/22 leave chicago and 9/3 leave Croatia. Im booking everything this weekend.

It may be tough to get a one-night stay at this time of year, but I would try.

There are catamarans between Korcula and Dubrovnik, and there is also a bus--the bus takes a short ferry to the mainland.

It is definitely better to stop over in Korcula for a night. You can then continue on to Dubrovnik from there. A nice day trip out of Dubrovnik could be Cavtat.

You might consider spending your first night in Dubrovnik (or Cavtat) and taking the bus to Split the next morning. Flying to Dubrovnik then a bus to Split sounds totally exhausting even without kids. Remember you have to get to the city first. It will be a trek.

The bus moves on to a ferry for a brief crossing. If that isn't covered in the sources you are using, then I would strongly encourage you to get a better guidebook or two!

thank you. I actually have not purchased any guidebooks yet. I plan to do this tomorrow. This is a last minute trip. We decided yesterday, I looked at a map, created a rough itinerary since I knew my dates, and i’m going from there. I just booked my flight to Dubrovnik. Looking for a flight from Split or Dubrovnik. Then I’ll move on to hotels.

Allow me to recommend the Rough Guide -- by far the best I've found for the area!

BTW, I think rialtogrl gave you a great suggestion when she said to spend your first night in Dubrovnik (or Cavtat) and take the bus to Split the next morning, and if you do that, sit on the left (west).

great. Thank you!!

With the bus rides, are thy right on the cliff to where it is scary at times? When we were in Capri, we took a bus and I nearly had a heart attack with how fast and close to the edge we were. Same with driving our car in Provence through the Gorges. We were childless then, and niw we have or 2 littleboys, so I think my fears are evenmore heightened

YMMV, but I don't think you need to worry. I've been terrified of (and by!) bus rides that are on twisty, turning mountainous roads with cliffs dropping away to some abyss far below -- and I don't remember ever being afraid on that particular ride (and I was on the sea-side, because I took the bus from Split to Dubrovnik). As I remember it, the road is wide and has good guard rails and enough of a berm that I looked OUT, not DOWN -- and IMO, that scenery OUT over the Dalmatian islands is among the most stunning in the world. I haven't been to Provence yet, but I've been to Capri, and definitely felt the fear there. :( That said, IME, fear is a very personal thing, so I can't assure you that you WON'T experience it....

Too, if going from Dubrovnik to Split, you'll be on the right side of the road -- so on the inland side.

Hope that helps!

The bus from Dubrovnik to Split is definitely not scary. If you decide to stay in Dubrovnik on the front end, consider the catamaran to Korcula then to Hvar, and on to Split in the end.

Hi Rialtogrl, Do you happen to know how long it takes to get from Dubrovnik to Hvar via ferry? Do I have to dock off at Sorcula on the otherside and drive to Hvar? Some sites show about 8-9 hrs other 4 hrs. I dont wsnt to spend 2 days traveling back and forth between Dubrovnik and Hvar because we leave for Vienna from Hvar, so I have to go back there. We are keeping Split out of the mix unless time wise it makes more sense to travel from Dubrovnik to Split then to Hvar. But regardless, from Hvar, we have to head back to Dubrovnik

It is not a ferry, it is a catamaran. It takes about 3.5 hours. How did Vienna get involved? It will be a very long journey from Hvar to Vienna... it might better to save Hvar for another trip.

our itinerary is to fly into dubrovnik. The next day we catch the Catamaran to hvar(or Korcula - shorter trip). Stay there for a few nights, tgen Head back to Dubrovnik. After a few nights in Dubrovnik, fly to vienna. Stay a few nights. Fly home from Vienna.

May be you read the anwers to your questions in your newer thread started 2 days ago instead of asking the same again and again.

Hello Neckervd. I posted another thread because no one was responding to this one just like when I posted my final Itinerary and no one responded. I am not sure how the forum works if people check back on comments after they see responses or if a conversation continues with subsequent questions and comments.

Day 1 Arrive at hotel near Copacabana beach. Go for dinner and Watch sunset
Day 2 relax and explore - i was thinking of doing pool, going to Copacabana beach or Lapad Bay. What is a nice area to just go walk around with cafes, small streets, and shops near here?
Day 3 Mljet. Take ferry to Polace. We want to visit little towns where we can grab something to eat and walk
around. I know the 3 little villages clustered together here are all good for this, but which one is best and why. Outside of this, where are the best little lakes, preferably least to most crowded if you had to rank them.
Day 4 relax in a.m. check out, check in to Apartment in Old Town, throw laundry in, dinner and walk around.
Day 5 walk the wall and sightseeing
Day 6 korcula - what are your top 3 suggestions for Korcula?
Day 7 explore/sightsee, beach. dinner at Restaurant 360
Day 8 Check out, lunch and head to airport for Vienna.

Please note that I am thinking of going to Cavat instead of Korcula or Mljet. I’m still deciding. I doneant to add that we will be traveling with out 17 month old twin boys. They do well on trips like this. This is Not our first trip of this kind as a family. If you havr any suggestions of something to do with the kids outside of pools and beach, please share your thoughts