Side trip to Croatia while in Venice
 

We are planning a trip to Italy for summer of 2009. We plan to fly into Venice and stay for three or four days at the beginning of our vacation.

Is a day trip to one of the towns in Istria Croatia possible? and is it worth it?

Another thought was to leave Venice on the third day and overnight in one of the seaside towns in Croatia.

Thanks for any ideas. We're in the beginning planning stages and trying to sketch the beginning of a plan.

Venice deserves 5 days--why are you looking for day trips?

We are early in the planning stages of our trip. So I could add more days to Venice.

Everything looks close and easy when you're looking at a map. If a day trip to get a glimpse of another country was worth it, we might give it a try.

Very tentative schedule so far
3 week vacation

Venice - Croatia?

Cinque Terre/Italian Riviera - We love it here.

Naples/Amalfi/Capri - Not sure what we'll do here yet besides Pompeii

Rome - One week apartment rental - Day trip to Florence or Assisi

We went for our first time last summer to see the big stuff. Now a week in Rome to wander and enjoy.

Spend all your time in Venice. Ther is more than you could possibly do there in the time you have allotted.

So since I've only taken pencil to paper so far in this plan, let's say I do stay in Venice for 5 days.
Is it worth visiting Croatia for a day or two?

Thanks for the responses.

Croatia is great. You may be able to take a hydrofoil from Venice to Rovinj. If you do, stay at least one night.

You seem to have 3 coastal destinations already, why add another? Have you seen the Dolomites? What about Verona or Lake Garda? Those are all on your route. The main attractions in Croatia are a long way from Venice.

I agree with Bob, not just because all but Rome are coastal destinations but because every place on your list will be crawling with tourists in the summer. Why not pick somewhere a little less popular?

Intrigued by remark "Venice deserves 5 days - why look for day trips?"

We too had planned 3 days in Venice before moving on to Rovinj. Already after surfing "things to do in Venice" websites we were leaning toward a "Hills of Veneto" daytrip to take up one of those days. So what have I overlooked?

There are canals and bridges and St Marks Square and the Doge's Palace, all of which I assume we'll see in the 2-hour Venice walking tour. There are art galleries, but 1 or 2 per town visited is surely enough of that sort of thing, there are mealtime places which I'm sure will be delightful, and we do love simply walking around ...but outside of mealtimes and these things, what else?

A note of warning on the Veneto tour from Venice. A few years ago my friend and I signed up for the tour and it was canceled because we were the only people to sign up for it. This year, another friend signed up and it, too, was canceled because not enough people signed up.

I do appreciate everyone's input!

We have picked coastal destinations because we love the water. Simple as that. I am sure my Italian ancestors were on the boat with Columbus.

We're locked in to the summer tourist season because our son is still in school and plays hockey and lacrosse during the school vacation weeks.

twopeople, I agree with you. After a reading/surfing I don't see alot that would interest me past two days. I can't wait to get lost walking around Venice, try the foods of that city, take an expensive gondola ride (on my list of things to do) and go to Murano because I love glass.

There's the group that loves Venice and the group that sees it as a requisite stop. There's the group that says skip Cinque Terre, and I say right now it's where I want to retire (but I have many coastal places to visit!)

twoflower, if you made it to Rovinj I would love to hear about it.

bobthenavigator, i haven't seen the dolomites or been to Verona. Any recommendations for a daytrip from Venice by train? Why would you pick Verona for example?

Thanks again for any input!

My point is why Croatia? You are looking for another destination and there are so many great ones that would be less hassle than Croatia. Save Croatia for when you have 10 days to enjoy it. I assume you are driving with that itinerary. You would love the Dolomites or Lake Garda and they are on your way to the CT.

We're not driving, we'll be taking trains from one destination to the other. We hate driving.

We were thinking Croatia because it was a chance to get a quick peek at another country.

We spent 4 days at Lake Como last summer and spent one of them in Lugano to take a peek at Switzerland.

Since we're new to international travel, it's still fun for us to use different currency, say we went to another country and maybe find some place we want to go back to for a longer stay.

There is still snow on the ground here, so maybe I'll read up on the Dolomites this afternoon. Thanks...

With all due respect, I personally think 3 days in Venice is plenty. Saying that, I have a couple of friends who could spend a lifetime in Venice and not find it enough. I can certainly see Rovinj being a nice addition to your trip. It's quite different from Venice and a fun taste of Croatia. I promise it will leave you wanting to return.

If you can't take the hydrofoil it will be a longish trip, though. 2 hours by train to Treiste (an interesting destination on it's own) and the 2 or 3 more by bus to Rovinj.

Thanks Grassshopper. Maybe I'll make day 4-5 in Rovinj. That's the nice part about planning early. I can still do what I want.

Any recommendations welcomed.

I recommend Hotel Adriatic ([email protected]). It's right on the town square, adjacent to the harbor and at the entrance to the old town. Be sure to explore all the tiny alleys and walkways in the old town. Every turn brings new things to see.

I have to disagree with Grasshopper. Three days in Venice is not a long time. After three visits to Venice for a total of fourteen days, there is still much I haven't done.

On a pretty day, you might enjoy visiting Burano. Murano is worth skipping, IMO.

There is so much to do and see in Venice. Croatia is my two favourite countries in the world (the other Scotland) so I would recommend a separate trip to Croatia to get the true feel. Rovinj is just lovely but I do not think that a few days would be nearly sufficient to get to know a region, let alone a country! :)

twoflower--
There is a great deal to do in Venice if you want to explore the different neighborhoods. A two hour tour around Piazza San Marco will barely begin to scratch the surface

You should also plan to take a vaporetto trip down the Grand Canal so that you can appreciate the views of the buildings along it.

I recommend going to at least one of the lagoon islands. Torcello is the most interesting to me. If you are not going to Ravenna, this is the place to see mosaics.

A good day trip from Venice, much closer than Croatia, is Padova. The Giotto frescoes are beautiful--more to my taste than the Venetian school

If someone already suggested this and I missed it, oops; If you'd really like to see a bit of another country and are keen on Istria, you might consider Piran in Slovenia. You could also very easily reach the capital of Slovenia, Ljubliana, in a relatively short train ride from Venice.
I am fairly confident that you could stay in Italy and enjoy yourself, but if you are intent on leaving, I think Slovenian Istria would give you a taste. Ljubliana is attractive and not at all Mediterranean feeling. Just a thought.