Looking for your expertise Thanks!

Please critique my itinerary for our proposed trip to Croatia, Montenegro and Slovenia in Sept/Oct 2025.

We are 2 seniors (both 71) in good shape with no mobility issues. Our interests include; architecture, history/culture, good food and wine. Renting a car for flexibility along with walks and gentle hikes on the agenda. Will age be a negative factor for vehicle rentals?

Our trip leaves from Alberta, Canada with flights not yet booked until the itinerary is solid. Please feel free to add/subtract and modify where your expert advice will be most appreciated.

Proposed:

Dubrovnik-4 nights, night 1 recovering from jetlag. Day 4 driver/guide to Kotor

Mostar-2 nights-Day 5 rent car drive to Mostar overnight, explore Mostar next day.

Korcula-3 nights-leave Mostar to Ploce, ferry to Peljesat Pen. Drive to Orebic and ferry to Korcula.

Split-3 nights Ferry from Stari Grad Korcula for day trip to Hvar then ferry to Split (Is this the most efficient route?)

Zadar-2 nights Leave Split early to Krka NP spend 2-4 hours return to Zadar. Is this a reasonable amount of time to see Skradinski Buk waterfall and take a short walk in the NP?

Plitvice NP- 1 night (Day 15) Zadar to NP hike/walk upper lakes

Rovinji-4 nights-Day 16 finish lower lake routes then depart for Rovinji. Yes this is a long drive! Will explore the hill towns, wine, olive oil truffles all on the list.

Kobarid-1 night to SLOVENIA-Rovinj through Koper to Postojan Cave (not decided whether to do the cave yet) short tour of Predjama Castle then overnight in Kobarid.

Lake Bled-2 nights Explore Kobarid WW 1 sites then travel over Vrsic Pass to Lake Bled. Next day dedicated to Lake walk, castle and island.

Ljubliana-3 nights-Leave Bled with quick stops in Radovljica and Kranz for short visits ending in Ljubliana

Zagreb-3 nights drive to Zagreb drop car.

I have 28 days in this itinerary with a possibility of 2 more days if necessary for a total of 30.

TIA Heather

Age will not be a negative factor. My husband is 78 and we are still renting cars when we travel. He was around 72 or 73 when we rented our car in Croatia and Slovenia.

I think you have a very good itinerary planned. We spent 3 nights in Dubrovnik and that included a daytrip around the Bay of Kotor with a private driver. 4 nights is a good idea to give you time to recover from jetlag and have a more relaxing visit in Dubrovnik. We love Dubrovnik despite the crowds. It's a beautiful city, and with 4 nights you will have time to visit Cavtat if that interests you and have some beach time. Some people might say you only need a day in Dubrovnik but I disagree. Do you know how many cruise ships will be docked in Dubrovnik when you are there?

We did spend 4 nights in Split, and that included a daytrip to Hvar and 3/4 of a day to Trogir. While in Split, I recommend hiring Maja Benzon, recommended by Rick Steves, for a private guided tour of Split and Diocletian's Palace.

I like that you have 3 nights each in Zagreb and Ljubljana for a slow, relaxed visit of these two wonderful cities that are very different from each other. I think Zagreb is underrated. What I also like about your itinerary is that it is very varied. Dubrovnik is different from Split, and Zagreb's architecture is very different from the coastal cities. Reminds me of a smaller, less crowded Prague.

And you are wise to spend one night at Plitvice. I assume your plan is to visit the lower lakes in the afternoon of your arrival day, and the upper lakes the morning of your next day. Or vice versa. I can recommend staying at the Plitvice Miric Inn, which is very close to the main entrance of the park. This is a lovely inn that includes one of the best breakfast buffets we have ever had.

For Dubrovnik restaurants, I highly recommend Kopun, which is located at the top of the Jesuit steps. And the Taj Mahal, which is a Bosnian restaurant. It's a good idea to make reservations.

Do you need a private driver recommendation for Montenegro?

Thanks KarenWoo
We have not booked flights yet as I wanted to nail down the itinerary, however, will be looking at first week of September into October.
Will check out Cavtat also, the cruise ship schedule for sure!
Plitvice NP exactly our plan. Read about the Micic Inn likely from your trip report.
Driver recommendation would be great. Appreciate any and all restaurant recommendations throughout this trip.
Heather

Some thoughts:

You might drop 1 night from Dubrovnik. Even with jet lag, 2 days is plenty for Dubrovnik itself; you would still have a 3rd day for Kotor.

Given that you are willing to rent a car, why use a car and drive for Kotor? Why not rent a car for your last day in Dubrovnik to make a day trip to Kotor and then, the next day, head to Mostar?

Depending on your interests, 3 nights might be enough for Split or you might want another night there. Your call!

As for your time at Krka National Park � it depends on how you want to see it! If you drive to the nearest parking lot, get out, walk to Skradinski Buk, return and hightail it out, 2 hours should be enough. If you want to walk around the stunningly beautiful ravine above Skradinki Buk, explore a bit of Skradin, 4 hours might work. If you want one of the boat rides, you would like need more time.

Zadar � I�m not sure how much time you�re planning on giving Zadar, nor can I say how much you would want. I was glad to have close to a full day.

As KarenWoo notes, one night is probably enough for the Plitvice Lakes � assuming your timing works as you plan. In addition to considering the Villa Mirin, which used to offer dinner, you might consider the Villa Mukinja, which still gets positive reviews. I thought my room rather basic, but the dinner (still included, as I understand it) was outstanding and the hosts were delightful.

Much as I love Ljubljana, 2 nights there would probably be sufficient if you need to cut a night somewhere.

I think whether age is a factor in car rentals depends on the company, but I believe KarenWoo is correct in suggesting that you should be able to find one that suits your needs.

You�ll see some wonderful places! I hope these remarks help!

Thanks kja!

Split is 3 nights and 2 full days. Arrive into Zadar after Krka NP and have the following full day there before heading to Plitvice NP
I don't really want to cut anything. Will check Villa Mirin also.

I contacted Julija Antunovic to drive us around the Bay of Kotor. She wasn't available that day but she recommended her colleague, Stjepan, who was wonderful. However, I understand he is no longer with the company. But I know that Julija and her company still receive excellent reviews.
▷ Julija Antunovic - Dubrovnik Tour guide for your travel | GYT

We decided to hire a private driver for our drive around the Bay of Kotor because we knew it would be stressful for my husband to find parking in Kotor, Perast, and Budva. Also, he would be able to enjoy the scenery more as a passenger. So we picked up our rental car the morning we left Dubrovnik for Split.

I did not find it stressful to park in Kotor or Perast, but I went long before KarenWoo -- I went in 2009. I didn't stop in Budva.

I understand, and appreciate, that a driver doesn't generally get to enjoy scenery in the same way that a passenger can -- it's one reason I often opt for public transportation. And I used public transportation for much of my trip to Croatia and other parts of the former Yugoslavia! That said, I didn't mind driving to Kotor because I stopped at Perast and a few other road-side pull-offs. JMO.

Memory is a strange thing! This thread has reminded me of some absolutely stunning, if only briefly glimpsed, views as I was driving south from Dubrovnik, just before I reached the border with Montenegro IIRC -- and obviously we should all question that! -- I now remember how I wished I hadn't been driving so that I could see those views.

Sorry for the confusion!

Looks like a great plan, for the most part. The first week of September is still high season in Dubrovnik. You might consider reversing the plan and ending there rather than beginning there.

Drivers that go to Kotor from Croatia are not allowed to guide. They can only drive and explain a few things in the car. If you want a real guide for Kotor, Perast etc you will need to hire a local one. I would not bother with Budva. You don�t even need to do it privately, there are a gazillion tours going down in small vans every day.

You do not need to take a ferry from the mainland to the Pelje�ac peninsula, there is a bridge. And there is no car ferry from Korčula to Hvar, there are only passenger catamarans. With a car you need to go back to the mainland, then take a different car ferry to Hvar, so it doesn�t make sense as a day trip. (Unless you take a catamaran and leave your car behind for a day trip.)

Thanks for all your comments and insights will consider all. Just read about the bridge so may do a day trip to Hvar from Split.
Supporting the itinerary as I proposed gives me much confidence to start booking flights and accommodation.
Thanks Heather

So many itineraries in this region are overly rushed and this one is not.

I echo rialtogri's suggestion to perhaps reverse it, though. Obviously that may not work depending on flight options.

Hello travel experts

I come to you again as our plans required a major revision due to our flights. Besides having to reverse the direction of travel I would like your thoughts on the part in italics.I have included my original itinerary for your comparison.

Zagreb 3 nights explore Zagreb rent car on morning we leave for Ljubliana.

Ljubliana 3 nights-explore city on day we leave Ljubliana short visits to Radovljica and Kranz on way to Lake Bled

Lake Bled 1 night-arrive explore walk around lake visit island and castle, next day finish exploring Lake Bled then head over Vrsic Pass explore Kobarid WW1 sites end in Kobarid.

Kobarid 1 night-leave for Rovinj check out WW1 sites on way to Predjama Castle then on thru Koper to end in Rovinj

Rovinj 4 nights explore the hill towns, wine, olive oil truffles etc

Plitvice NP 1 night-long drive from Rovinj arrive hike lower lakes, next day hike upper lakes then head to Zadar.

Zadar 2 nights-1 full day explore Zadar next day to Krka NP then to Split

Split 3 nights-1 day trip to Hvar, 1 full day to explore Split leave Split to Mostar

Mostar 2 nights-

Korcula-3 nights-leave Mostar to Orebic ferry to Korcula

Perast-1 night- Ferry from Korcula to Orebic then drive to Kotor overnight in Kotor or Perast

Dubrovnik 4nights-return rental explore, relax and head home on October 2.



Original below.

Please critique my itinerary for our proposed trip to Croatia, Montenegro and Slovenia in Sept/Oct 2025.

We are 2 seniors (both 71) in good shape with no mobility issues. Our interests include; architecture, history/culture, good food and wine. Renting a car for flexibility along with walks and gentle hikes on the agenda. Will age be a negative factor for vehicle rentals?

Dubrovnik-4 nights, night 1 recovering from jetlag. Day 4 driver/guide to Kotor

Mostar-2 nights-Day 5 rent car drive to Mostar overnight, explore Mostar next day.

Korcula-3 nights-leave Mostar to Ploce, ferry to Peljesat Pen. Drive to Orebic and ferry to Korcula.

Split-3 nights Ferry from Stari Grad Korcula for day trip to Hvar then ferry to Split (Is this the most efficient route?)

Zadar-2 nights Leave Split early to Krka NP spend 2-4 hours return to Zadar. Is this a reasonable amount of time to see Skradinski Buk waterfall and take a short walk in the NP?

Plitvice NP- 1 night (Day 15) Zadar to NP hike/walk upper lakes

Rovinji-4 nights-Day 16 finish lower lake routes then depart for Rovinji. Yes this is a long drive! Will explore the hill towns, wine, olive oil truffles all on the list.

Kobarid-1 night to SLOVENIA-Rovinj through Koper to Postojan Cave (not decided whether to do the cave yet) short tour of Predjama Castle then overnight in Kobarid.

Lake Bled-2 nights Explore Kobarid WW 1 sites then travel over Vrsic Pass to Lake Bled. Next day dedicated to Lake walk, castle and island.

Ljubliana-3 nights-Leave Bled with quick stops in Radovljica and Kranz for short visits ending in Ljubliana

Zagreb-3 nights drive to Zagreb drop car.
I have 28 days in this itinerary with a possibility of 2 more days if necessary for a total of

Many people truly despise one night stays. I take it you are OK with that? If so, should be a nice trip!

(BTW, I'm not sure why you copied in your original itinerary -- we can all see it in your first thread, and adding it just makes it hard to see the new plan. Maybe ask a moderator to delete it? You can do so by clicking the orange triangle.)