Travel_Nerd

Hello,

I’m hoping someone can provide some advice on my upcoming excursion to Plitvice Lakes.

As previously stated in other threads (in Slovenia section), I will be traveling with my parents (age 68, 69) to Croatia early September. We will be renting a car in Rovinj and driving it to Plitvice Lakes. Based upon my research, it appears that the trip will take approximately 4 hours of driving time.

I know the Lakes would take only one day, but considering our travel time from Rovinj, I’m thinking it would be too ambitious to attempt to do the walk the same day we arrive, keeping in mind that it may be crowded as well. I hope to do one of the longer routes of the Lakes (4-6 hours per their website).

What complicates matters is that we will be moving onto Ljubljana after our time in Plitvice and trying to figure out the best way to drop off the rental and move onto Ljubljana via public transportation, therefore adding a schedule consideration into the mix.

So, taking all of this into consideration, I’m thinking we would need two nights in Plitvice?

If we stay two nights, we now potentially have some free time as we head to Plitvice. If we do take it easy, any suggestions of a stop along the way, even if it may just be for lunch? Rijeka? Opatija? This will be our first time driving in Europe, so I would like to stick to smaller towns if possible.

Any suggestions? Would attempting the drive and Lake walk on the same day be too ambitious (one over night) or would the option of two nights be best with a stopover along the way?

Thanks so much for your advice.

Judy

I think the option of two nights is better. We did one night, driving from Trogir and arriving midafternoon. We saw a little that day but did the more extensive walk the next day.

We are the age of your parents and would have liked a more relaxed pace.

thursdaysd

I definitely recommend two nights. I thought Plitvice was worth as much time as you can give it.

I don't know whether the bus situation has improved since I was there, but if not I would recommend keeping the car until you get to Ljubljana. I waited for the the bus out on the main road - don't remember whether the shelter had seats - and I think it was a good half hour if not longer before a bus stopped. And you would need more than one seat.

Travel_Nerd

Thanks, Thursday. Unfortunately, there is a huge drop-off fee if we take it into Slovenia.

We will likely drop the car off in Zagreb, which will open up our public transport options into Ljubljana.

kja

Given your travel plans, I also think the idea of 2 nights in at Plitvice is better. And definitely take one of the longer routes -- 6 or even 8 hours. Each lake has unique microbiota, and as a result, the lakes are different colors. The best way to see that is to make a single, long loop through the park -- something on the order of 6 hours or more (including time for the boat that connects the lower and upper lakes). I spent about 7 hours, and would have loved more time!

Rijeka is not really a small town, and traffic can become very congested around it -- or at least, I ended up with a VERY long delay when I tried! I did not like Opatija AT ALL (and I rarely say that about a place). For your stop, you might consider following the Gulf coast to Senj.

You should be able to return the car in Zagreb, from which there is routine public transportation (both bus and train) to Ljubljana.

lsaldanha

We drove from Zadar and arrived late morning and did the lower lakes in the afternoon/evening. We did the upper lakes next morning....starting out early...and then redid parts of the lower lakes which was worth seeing again in the morning light. While we did see people rushing in and out, this is a place you want to linger in....we are in our early 60s and there is a lot of walking.

We left late afternoon and returned the car in Zagreb by late evening. We had taken the car from Dubrovnik and there was no drop off charge. So in effect we did spend only one night but pretty much had two days. One day would not do justice.

Enjoy it is one of the most awesome places we have seen in our travels...

Kevina

Kja - I think you are doing a great disservice to Opatija with your constant negative posts on the town. You say you were there for a few hours in 2009 but I can tell you that Opatija today is nothing like the place you describe.
If you are going to post negative views on places you visited, then please tell people when you visited and for how long, EVERY TIME.

kja

@ Kevina -- I'm glad to participate in a forum where we can share our opinions and perspectives -- whether positive, negative, or indifferent -- <u><b>without</u></b> criticizing one another.

Since you asked, here are the details of my experience in Opatija (which, as you note, I have posted before and which anyone can find using either this forum's search function or a google search): I was there for a couple of hours just before/during sunset on a Saturday evening in early June of 2009. The bars and restaurants near the shore were competing with one another to see which could play their disco / party music the loudest and with the heaviest base. Street side shops were filled with junk, overpriced kitsch, and overly zealous sales staff. Sidewalks were filled with people who were already so drunk that trying to walk by or through them was a decidedly unpleasant experience. I did enjoy the Villa Angiolina, though -- that was worth seeing.

I'm glad your experience of Opatija was different. Perhaps you would be willing to share when you were there and what, specifically, your experience was?

Kevina

Kja - I did not ask you to repeat your negative experience of Opatija again, you have done this on many occasions in the past without telling people that you were there for only a few hours back in 2009.
In my opinion, if you don't give all the important details, any advice given lacks any real credibility.
I am a native of Pula and though I don't live in Croatia, I visit several times every year. Just for the record, Opatija is not my favourite town in the area but there has been big improvements there in the last years.

kja

"If you don't give all the important details, any advice given lacks any real credibility."

That's why I asked you for information about YOUR experience. I must admit that I still don't see, from you, evidence to indicate that "Opatija today is nothing like the place [i] describe[d]." Maybe that's true -- I sincerely hope so!

As a long time contributor to Fodor"s, I would consider myself negligent if I didn't offer honest comments about MY experiences. I will try to be more consistent in providing information about context, and I thank you for reminding me of the importance of those qualifying remarks.

Kevina

Kja - we all learn things through life, lets move on.

I wish you a nice weekend.

kja

@ Kevina -- works for me! I wish you a good weekend, too. And maybe the next time the question of Opatija comes up, you will finally do what you have asked me to do (and which I have now done), namely, say when YOU were there, and what, specifically, your experience was.

@ Travel_Nerd -- Have you gotten the information you need from us? I hope our digression hasn't interfered with your planning....

dreamon

If you do decide to take your time over the journey, you could perhaps stop in Krk. The island is linked to the mainland. A bit of a diversion but not too much. The gorge at Pazin would be another alternative.

Travel_Nerd

Thanks to everyone for your suggestions. I will take them all into consideration.

Kevina & Kja - your debate illustrated that one place may be heaven to one person and Hell to another. I appreciate your personal experiences and thoughts.

I've decided that we will stay in the Plitvice area for two night so we don't rush. Where we stop along the way, not yet quite sure but again, I appreciate everyone's input.