Split to Rovinj
Jun 25th, 2013, 10:19 AM
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Split to Rovinj
We are planning a trip to Slovenia and Croatia in August. We will be renting a car and driving from Lake Bojinj to Rijeka and taking an overnight Ferry to Split. We will spend 2 nights in Split and then we have 3 nights left to work our way up the coast. We booked a room in the park on the 4th night at Plitvice Lake National Park. Does it make sense to drive up the coast from Split to Rovinj and spend 3 nights in Rovinj exploring Istria or would you suggest that we spend one night in Zadar to break up the trip. Then we would have 2 nights in Rovinj. Is it too long of a trip to drive straight from Split to Rovinj?
Jun 25th, 2013, 01:44 PM
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If you like Roman ruins, Zadar and environs are nice. If you like Roman ruins a lot, you might want to stay there for a night. It is not, if memory serves, a terrible drive from Split to Rovinj, though if you stop to sightsee at Zadar and for a nice long lunch, it could eat up a fair bit of time.
I would prefer more nights in a single place, rather than having to pack and unpack and find a place for the car over and over again.
It is going to be hot. If you are from Florida, perhaps not too hot, but for north Europeans, it will be hot.
Other nice towns to stay in are Opatija, where Austro-Hungarian aristocrats summered, including the Von Trapps of Sound of Music fame, and Pula, which is pretty lively for its size.
I would prefer more nights in a single place, rather than having to pack and unpack and find a place for the car over and over again.
It is going to be hot. If you are from Florida, perhaps not too hot, but for north Europeans, it will be hot.
Other nice towns to stay in are Opatija, where Austro-Hungarian aristocrats summered, including the Von Trapps of Sound of Music fame, and Pula, which is pretty lively for its size.
Jun 25th, 2013, 06:04 PM
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> Is it too long of a trip to drive straight from Split to Rovinj?
Your call!
Viamichelin puts the trip at about 6.25 hours:
http://www.viamichelin.com
mappy says about an hour less than that, but is sensitive to the starting time (which I didn't adjust) so I think it's overly optimistic:
http://en.mappy.com
> would you suggest that we spend one night in Zadar to break up the trip
Zadar definitely has some things worth seeing - and not just Roman ruins. (Actually, I found its Roman ruins rather anemic, but found St. Donat's, St. Mary's, the Sea Organ, and the Sun Disk quite memorable.) If you decide to stop in Zadar, note that it might be difficult to find parking anywhere near the historic district, so you might need to either take public transportation or walk a mile or more to get to the historic section of the city.
> Other nice towns to stay in are Opatija
I respectfully disagree with Ackislander -- I did not like Opatija at all. With the exception of the Villa Angiolina, it just seemed to me to be a mass of overpriced restaurants, bars, and resorts and "beautiful people" trying to outdo each other. But maybe I missed its heart -- I only spent about an hour there at the end of a walk along the Lungomare from Lovran. I was so glad I had decided against staying there!
> We booked a room in the park on the 4th night at Plitvice Lake National Park
Have you considered stopping at Plitvice on the way from Split to Rovinj? Depending on your final destination, that might make sense.
It's a lovely part of the world. Enjoy!
Your call!
Viamichelin puts the trip at about 6.25 hours:
http://www.viamichelin.com
mappy says about an hour less than that, but is sensitive to the starting time (which I didn't adjust) so I think it's overly optimistic:
http://en.mappy.com
> would you suggest that we spend one night in Zadar to break up the trip
Zadar definitely has some things worth seeing - and not just Roman ruins. (Actually, I found its Roman ruins rather anemic, but found St. Donat's, St. Mary's, the Sea Organ, and the Sun Disk quite memorable.) If you decide to stop in Zadar, note that it might be difficult to find parking anywhere near the historic district, so you might need to either take public transportation or walk a mile or more to get to the historic section of the city.
> Other nice towns to stay in are Opatija
I respectfully disagree with Ackislander -- I did not like Opatija at all. With the exception of the Villa Angiolina, it just seemed to me to be a mass of overpriced restaurants, bars, and resorts and "beautiful people" trying to outdo each other. But maybe I missed its heart -- I only spent about an hour there at the end of a walk along the Lungomare from Lovran. I was so glad I had decided against staying there!
> We booked a room in the park on the 4th night at Plitvice Lake National Park
Have you considered stopping at Plitvice on the way from Split to Rovinj? Depending on your final destination, that might make sense.
It's a lovely part of the world. Enjoy!
Jun 26th, 2013, 08:37 AM
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You don't have to disagree with me respectfully at all!
It's an Imperial resort and may or may not be to someone's taste, like Las Vegas.
I should have said "interesting", maybe. We didn't see beautiful people, just lots of Russians in black with very, very young girlfriends. Gangsters or oligarchs?
It's an Imperial resort and may or may not be to someone's taste, like Las Vegas.
I should have said "interesting", maybe. We didn't see beautiful people, just lots of Russians in black with very, very young girlfriends. Gangsters or oligarchs?
Jun 26th, 2013, 07:44 PM
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> Do you think we should skip Split and concentrate on Istria, Zadar and the Plitvice Lakes.
If you search this board, I think you will find a wide variety of opinions on Split. I loved it -- I found it delightfully dynamic and energetic. I enjoyed roaming around Diocletian's palace and found much else to keep me happily occupied. I thought Split's cathedral one of the most beautiful and unusual I've ever seen, I loved its market, thought the archeological museum well worth a visit, thoroughly enjoyed the Mestrovic gallery and Kastelet (and the walk to/from them), enjoyed breaks for beverages and people walking on its waterfront and in its public squares whether Roman or medieval or more recent, and so much more.
But it depends on what you want to see and experience.
If you search this board, I think you will find a wide variety of opinions on Split. I loved it -- I found it delightfully dynamic and energetic. I enjoyed roaming around Diocletian's palace and found much else to keep me happily occupied. I thought Split's cathedral one of the most beautiful and unusual I've ever seen, I loved its market, thought the archeological museum well worth a visit, thoroughly enjoyed the Mestrovic gallery and Kastelet (and the walk to/from them), enjoyed breaks for beverages and people walking on its waterfront and in its public squares whether Roman or medieval or more recent, and so much more.
But it depends on what you want to see and experience.
Jun 27th, 2013, 06:59 AM
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Thanks kja.
Here is where we seem to be leaning. I'd love to hear feedback:
Ljubljana--2 nights
Lake Bohinj-4 nights
Istria-3 nights--any suggestions on a base in Istria (Rovinj, Fazana, Vrsar, PUla?
Overnight ferry to Split-2 nights in Split
1 night in Plitvice Lake
back to Ljubljana for flight home.
Here is where we seem to be leaning. I'd love to hear feedback:
Ljubljana--2 nights
Lake Bohinj-4 nights
Istria-3 nights--any suggestions on a base in Istria (Rovinj, Fazana, Vrsar, PUla?
Overnight ferry to Split-2 nights in Split
1 night in Plitvice Lake
back to Ljubljana for flight home.
Jun 27th, 2013, 12:45 PM
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As a Croatian, I am disappointed that Kja repeatedly posts negative observations on Opatija, especially as they are based on an hour long visit to the town. The real experience of Opatija area has certainly been missed by our fleeting visitor this time, maybe next time hopefully.
Jun 27th, 2013, 05:35 PM
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> Here is where we seem to be leaning. I'd love to hear feedback
Sound like a great trip! Have you already purchased your flights? If not, you might check into open jaw options to avoid backtracking.
> any suggestions on a base in Istria (Rovinj, Fazana, Vrsar, PUla?
I stayed in Rovinj, which suited my needs well and which many others seem to enjoy. If you do base in Rovinj, note that the historic core is basically off-limts to cars, so either make sure your lodging provides an option for you or get information in advance about the parking lots and plan how you will get your luggage to your lodging.
I skipped Pula (even though I think I would have liked it). I suspect it would be a good base, too, if a bit further from Porec and some of the hill towns. Whether Rovinj or Pula would be better would depend on what you want to do while in Istria.
I don't know Fazana or Vrsar. I don't think they have the same kind of infrastructure as Rovinj or Pula, so if you want a base that has (say) a range of restaurants and cafes, they might not be as suitable, but I really don't know. And in any case, it would depend on your interests.
Enjoy!
Sound like a great trip! Have you already purchased your flights? If not, you might check into open jaw options to avoid backtracking.
> any suggestions on a base in Istria (Rovinj, Fazana, Vrsar, PUla?
I stayed in Rovinj, which suited my needs well and which many others seem to enjoy. If you do base in Rovinj, note that the historic core is basically off-limts to cars, so either make sure your lodging provides an option for you or get information in advance about the parking lots and plan how you will get your luggage to your lodging.
I skipped Pula (even though I think I would have liked it). I suspect it would be a good base, too, if a bit further from Porec and some of the hill towns. Whether Rovinj or Pula would be better would depend on what you want to do while in Istria.
I don't know Fazana or Vrsar. I don't think they have the same kind of infrastructure as Rovinj or Pula, so if you want a base that has (say) a range of restaurants and cafes, they might not be as suitable, but I really don't know. And in any case, it would depend on your interests.
Enjoy!
