My wife and I are spending a month with cousins in Rijeka. We have never been to Croatia. We are renting a car, and want to see all the sights. What should we definitely not miss on this trip?

Wow, a month! That's great. Don't miss Dubrovnik of course. I loved Rovinj too. And Pula, Motuvan, Hvar, Plitvice, Korcula... Maybe take a side trip to Ljubljiana and Bled. Another to Montenegro. Go wine tasting. Croatia is a fantastic destination. Have fun!

Wine tasting where? Is is worth having a car? Thanks for the info Grasshopper

I went wine tasting on the Peljesec Penninsula. I think you would want a car for maximum leverage. You can travel by bus and ferry and get around. Atlas has some really good excursions if you're open to paying for a day trip. Check out http://www.atlas-croatia.com/index.html

not sure if you're in the US - but if you are, I would suggest contacting the Croatian Tourist Board (1800.8294416) - they sent numerous brochures, including one about viticulture in Istria.

here's a web site about wine roads in Istria

http://www.istra.com/zupan/eng/v1.html

wines in Korcula and Peljesac:

http://korcula.net/vina/default.htm

also - you may want consider the wine roads in Slovenia also:

http://www.matkurja.com/projects/wine/

Hope it helps...

We spent three weeks in Croatia last September, and never felt we needed a car. Of course, we flew from Zagreb to Split and spent most of our time hopping between islands and along the coast. Buses worked fine. My suggestion would be that you do not rent a car initially. Talk to your cousins, with whom you will be staying, and take their advise. I'll just bet they will either take you places themselves or arrange for friends with cars to take you. Croatians are a wonderfully friendly, kind, and generous people.

As to the wine tasting --- do not bother! Much as we loved Croatia, one would have to be increadably generous to say they have good wine. We are wine lovers (not wine snobs) and we had to add water in order to drink even the best with dinner. That's the way it is drunk in the family, so don't hesitate to dilute it to a pale pink, so as to not insult your host.

I'm sure you will have a wonderful time.