First trip to Croatia help
 

We are a very active 65 yr. old well travelled couple from Banff, Canada.

We have a trip to Provence June 11-22 and want to visit Croatia prior to this. It is our first visit to Croatia.

We would like advice on things to do and places to stay. We don’t want to visit museums, We prefer to be active walking, hiking, biking ,snorkeling, kayaking and seeing places in these ways. We like charming places to stay and enjoy good food and wine. We love local markets and wandering cobblestone streets.

Fly into Dubrovnik, Croatia arriving June 4th from Canada
Our tentative itinerary is Dubrovnik (stay old town) June 4 and 5
June 6 pick up rental car (we will dead head this in Split airport at the end)
Drive to Split and stay June 6 and 7
June 6 explore Split
June 7 drive to Plitvia Lakes for full day and return to Split ( we realize this is long but seems worthwhile to us)
June 8 morning Ferry to Havar
June 8 and 9 stay in Havar
June 10 morning return to Split ( early flight the 11th from Split to Marseille)
We typically travel at a faster pace than most people and don’t tire easily. Our trip to Provence is a walking trip with a leisurely pace so we are ok to pack a fair bit in prior to this ).

Any help with ideas would be wonderful thanks.

I will be in Croatia April 12-30th but I'm a Old Town, small quaint town older gal. Since you are not going to the Istrian Peninsula, cannot help you. I loved Split and Dubrovnik so enjoy.

If you can, I would try to avoid doing Plitvice Lakes as a day trip as it is a 2.5 to 3 hour drive each way and you'll want to have time and energy to enjoy the park. Perhaps consider driving straight to Plitvice from Dubrovnik (about a 5 hour drive), spend the night, and see the park starting early the next morning. You can then head to Split.

Maybe ditch the idea of the car. You could take the 7am catamaran from Dubrovnik to Hvar, stop for two nights (rent a car for one day if you want to see the island and not just Hvar Town.) Then a catamaran to Split. There are many day tours to Plitvice from Split, a long day but you then don’t have to worry about the drive and can relax on the bus.

To take the car ferry to Hvar, it is more expensive and takes longer, you need to arrive at the ferry terminal 45 minutes before departure. So that is three hours, a big chunk out of your day. The catamaran is faster. You are not allowing enough time in Split, after you get your car and drive there and check in to your lodging, you’ve got a few hours in the afternoon and an evening. If you go to Hvar first on the catamaran, you can take an early catamaran to Split and have more time.

Thanks so much for your feedback. Enjoy your trip.

Thanks Ktravel. That sounds like a great idea.

Thank you Rialtogrl,

Those sound like good ideas. We are hesitant to not use a car as we will each have a suitcase and carry on. Do you think that would be doable ?

Sure.. thousands of travelers do it every year :) but I would urge you to pack on the light side. Depending on where you stay in Hvar you might have to pull your luggage (unless you get one of the hotels with a porter cart) and you would have to also pull it to your lodging in Split. But you can find places that are not too far from the catamaran stop. In Dubrovnik the catamaran is outside of the center, you will have to take a taxi to that one.

Thanks again for this information. We really appreciate it. Yes packing lighter might be well served !