Hi Guys!

So I'm from India. I'm planning a trip to Croatia and Hungary (Budapest) in April 2019 with my girlfriend, and after much deliberation have arrived at the below mentioned plan. This will be my first time in Europe so want to ensure that all bases are covered. Any help/suggestions would be much appreciated!

11th – Leave Delhi and reach Zagreb at 12:20 PM by flight (tickets booked). Leave for Dubrovnik at 2:45 PM by flight (tickets booked). Reach Dubrovnik at 3:40 PM. Stay in Dubrovnik

12th – Stay in Dubrovnik

13th – Stay in Dubrovnik

14th – Leave Dubrovnik. Leave by ferry (suggestions?) and stay in an island (suggestions please - one of Brac, Pag, Hvar, Korcula, Solta?)

15th – Leave for Split in the morning by ferry (suggestions?). Reach Split by 11 AM. Leave for Trogir. Spend night in either Trogir/Split.

16th – Leave for Budapest at 11:59 PM by flixbus.

17th – Reach Budapest by 11:30 AM. Stay in Budapest

18th – Stay in Budapest

19th – Stay in Budapest

20th - Leave for Delhi by 11 AM

Thanks in advance!

April 13th or 14th: there is only 1 catamaran leaving Dubrovnik at 16.30 for Korcula, Hvaar or Brac.
I would choose Hvar (smaller risk of rainfall).
Stay there at least 1 full day. The last Split bound car and passenger ferry leaves Starigrad (Hvar Island) at 17.30; the last catamaran leaves Hvar city at 19.50.

As neckervd notes, your options for ferries is limited at that time of year, and some of the smaller destinations won't be fully prepared for tourists, so I agree that Hvar would be your best bet.

Enjoy!

I think that Pecs is worth a stop of at least 2 nights on the way to Budapest:
and photos on either side.
I wrote a trip report on a Danube river cruise which includes our visit to Pecs; click on my name to find it if interested.

Sorry for the late reply guys. I was travelling constantly for work trips. Thanks for your suggestions. I have made certain changes in the itinerary, as mentioned below. Let me know your thoughts on this (particularly w.r.t. chances of ferries getting cancelled, plan B in case the ferry from Hvar to Split gets cancelled, the choice of Hvar over Split, viability etc.)

11th – Leave Delhi and reach Zagreb at 12:20 PM by flight (tickets booked). Leave for Dubrovnik at 2:45 PM by flight (tickets booked). Reach Dubrovnik at 3:40 PM. Stay in Dubrovnik (Booked)

12th – Stay in Dubrovnik (Booked)

13th – Stay in Dubrovnik (Booked)

14th – Leave Dubrovnik. Leave for Hvar at 4:30 PM (Krilo Star). Stay in Hvar Town.

15th – Stay in Hvar Town.

16th – Leave for Split at 10:30 AM. Reach Split at 11:20 AM. Leave for Budapest at 11:59 PM by flixbus.

17th – Reach Budapest by 11:30 AM. Stay in Budapest (Booked). Probably relax at the Thermal Baths for a good portion of the day.

18th – Stay in Budapest (Booked)

19th – Stay in Budapest (Booked)

20th - Leave for Delhi

Looks awesome to me - maybe one day less in Dubrovnik - a city listed along with the likes of Venice, Bruges and such as being swamped in recent years more and more.

I think PalenQ has a good point: For most people, a day and a half is more than enough for Dubrovnik. In contrast, you've given yourself only an afternoon for Split, which has a great deal to offer. Even if you've already booked in Dubrovnik, it might be worth viewing any payment you've already made as a "sunk cost."

Thank you for your valuable responses guys. I have booked quite good accommodation in Dubrovnik so would be hard for me to let it pass. I am actually confused regarding the 14th, 15th and 16th plan. I haven't booked anything yet for those days. The only condition is that I have to be in Split on 16th night to catch the bus to Budapest. The options are as follows:

- Hvar + Split

- Brac + Split

- Split + Trogir

- Split + Sibenik

Which option do you think would be the most ideal to cover? I was really keen to do Hvar, but I've read online that it's famed nightlife would be non existent in April (especially on weekdays)

Looking forward to hear your thoughts on this.

To be clear, I’m suggesting that you consider leaving your Dubrovnik accomodation a day early, even if already reserved and paid. Only you can decide, but spending an extra day of a very limited duration vacation in a place that you’ve finished exploring isn’t my idea of good value. JMO.

If your goal was to visit Hvar Town because of its nightlife, I’m not sure I can help with your choices, as that is not something I seek. That said, I would think that Split would be your best bet for nightlife during the off season, as it’s a real city that doesn’t depend on tourism and it has a university, so it has a sizeable population of young people even during the off season.

You can easily day trip from Split to Trogir or Sibenik if you think you can meaningfully see everything you want to see in the exceedingly limited time you have.

Don’t fret about the longer time in Dubrovnik. We once did the shorter version that some recommend here. Our son and his wife later did a multi-day stay, and they were busy each day (old city with the crowds; old city in the evening without them; sea kayaking; local island cruises and a seafood lunch; just spending time on the rocks near the shore.

Thank you for your valuable suggestions guys! Keeping these things in mind, I guess I will cut short my Dubrovnik stay a bit and leave on 14th early morning instead of 4:30 PM so that I can utilize that day elsewhere. I guess I am going to book accommodations in Split for 14th and 15th. So since I will be in Split on 14th, 15th and 16th, should I in addition cover one of Trogir or Sibenik (if yes, which one), both of them or one of them plus an island (Hvar or Brac.). Also wanted your suggestions on where to stay in Split. I've read online that the area between Old Town and Bacvice Beach would be ideal.

These places are about as different as it is possible to be, so I would encourage you to think through what YOU want to see and experience and plan accordingly. FWIW, I thought the Rough Guide provided particularly helpful information.

I'd aim for something in or as near to Diocletian's Palace as possible, but again, it depends on what YOU want.