Sweden, Estonia and Southern Croatia
 

We are now planning this summer's family vacation and we are planning something a little different.

We plan on flying into Stockholm, staying 5 nights, then taking a ferry to Tallinn, Estonia, where we would spend 5 nights, then flying to Dubrovnik and spending 7 nights in southern Croatia.

We have not spent much time in northern Europe and have recently discovered Tallinn, and we also want time in the south where we can have time at the beach and the flavour of southern Europe.

What do you all think? Too much or very interesting?

Let me know!

Too much time in Tallinn. Spend a couple of nights and take a bus on to Riga. Likely to be more flights out of Riga, too. Check the cruise ship schedule for Dubrovnik to try to avoid the worst crowds.

The Dalmatian coast is beautiful but generally rocky. Dubrovnik has one small beach if I remember correctly.

Riga looks fascinating and lovely as well. I will spend 3 nights in Tallinn and then 2 nights in Riga before flying to Croatia.

With a week or slightly more (we can extend it a few days) in Croatia, would you recommend driving up the coast from Dubrovnik (after spending a few nights there) or spending time in the south and visiting some southern Croatian islands as well?

Thank you.

As well, what about Vilnius?

Can you add another night to Riga?

Last time I was in Dubrovnik I took a bus to Mostar and then Sarajevo, but I am not into beaches. Have you checked the ferries? For me, the single best sight in Croatia is Plitvice NP, although I quite like Split.

We really want to see Plitvice NP, and we would rent a car and drive north, even if it means adding a few days to our trip.

This way, we can stop in Split and maybe have a few days to stay on an island near the coast, if you think that would be a good idea. Then we can continue to Zagreb for our flight home.

I am seeing so many pictures of Croatian beaches. Would anyone have suggestions on which beaches we should spend a few days as we drive north from Dubrovnik? We don't care if they are stones or sand, as long as they are gorgeous, clear, romantic and with beautiful scenery.

Thank you very much.