Created by Darija
Croatia in 14 days
ITINARERY:
Day 1, Zagreb, arrival + city tour
Zagreb is a good arrival spot int he region, it has better air conections then other places but still, no direct flights from USA. Usually, arrival flights are int he late morning or early afternoon so I planed city walk or city tour with the guide for that afternoon or/and evening.
Some things not to miss in Zagreb: Walk alond Lower town parks (Green horshoe, that is 19th century Zagreb), Kaptol and Gradec are two small townd on two small hils, oldest parts of town but today also mostly with 19 century architecture.
Day 2; Zagorje excursion – Kumrovec, Trakošćan, Varaždin
This is a full day excursion from Zagreb and you will need a car. It is ana rea with gentle hills, wineyards and historicly with many small castles. Kumrovec is a birth place of Josip Broz Tito who was president of ex Yugoslavia. Today it is an ethno village that shows way of life int his part of Croatia int he past. ……
Day 3; Plitvice
Today, you can drive from Zagreb to Plitvice (approx. 2-2.5 hours).
Be sure to stop in village Rastoke on the way. It is on the main road so you can’t mees.
http://en.tz-slunj.hr/rastoke/info-map-rastoke/
In Plitvice, best is to start the walk on entrance 1 and do Lower and Upper lakes. Plitvice park is not a challenging walk for people in shape but it’s very beautiful so, take your time and do a lot of photos. If you start by Entrance 1 you will walk towards waterfalls and see them better… After cca 45 minutes to 1 hour there is boat station, restaurant and toilets. Restorant is not very good, to have a good sandwich from some of great bakeries in Zagreb is not a bad idea… After break you can drive with the boat acros Kozjak lake or walk through the woods along the lake to P2 (station 2 for a boat) where walking to the upper lakes begins. That walk you will finish on ST3 (last stop for a train-bus-tractor J). With that vehicle you can drive back to Entrance 1 or to Entrance 2 if your accomodation is closer to there. If you come with car you will have to pay for parking. If you plan to stay around Plitvice that night, there is a local bus that you can take to Entrance, not to wory about parking…
Day 4; Istria
If you drive from Plitvice or from Otočac and Gacka region to Istria in the morning you can see some more things in this, not very touristicly developed area, like Kutarevo, The Bear Refuge Center. J https://kuterevo.wordpress.com/who-are-we/
In Istria you can have activ holiday or just stay by the beach. If you like to stay in town I think Rovinj or area around it is the best option. There are many small town sin central Istria if you are happy also avay from the beach. You can take a look to Bale, Grožnjan or some other for private rooms, appartments or agro tourism…
Day 5; Istria
Brijuni can be very touristy but nature is nice. You can come there and do the tour with the guide included in ticket but after that is great to rent a bike and explore the Brijuni on your own. http://www.np-brijuni.hr/en/sports/other_activities
After Brijuni you will be very close to town of Pula with Roman amphitheater and other monuments from the Roman period. Even if you not city people, it can be nice to stop for cople of hours.
Day 6; Istria – Opatija – Paklenica
Opatija is a place developed in 19th century as resort for rich people from Austro-Hungary. Today, it’s full with old people but it’s a nice coffee or lunch stop to see something different. There is a beautiful seafront promenade along the so-called Opatija Riviera, 7 miles long, from town of Lovran to village of Volosko. From Opatija city center to Volosko you will need half an hour and you can go the same way back. Towards Lovran way is longer, approx. 1.15 -1.30 hour. If you go to far, you can drive back to Opatija city center with bus 32. You buy ticket from driver. http://visitopatija.com/en/attractions/lungomare,165.html
Restorants for lunch in Opatija: Roko, pizza and pasta; Ružmarin, left from Bus station and bus parking on Slatina, or maybe club sandwich and pastries on beautiful terrace of Milenij hotel or drink on stunning terrace of Bevanda hotel (slightly more expensive, but not for the San Francisco standard and nice…).
Day 7; Paklenica and Zadar
Paklenica is not so turisty and great for walks in nature, light hiking, or swimming because it is right by the sea. Town Zadar it’s not far.
http://www.np-paklenica.hr/en/
Day 8; Paklenica, excursion to Kornati National park
That is full day on a boat to see the bare, rocky islands and have some free time on one of the beaches. It is not for everyone, but if you love to drive a boat, and the weather is nice, this is a popular trip and is easy to be booked, starting from Zadar.
If you don’t go to Kornati, you can visit Zadar or Nin or stay to rest by the beach.
Be sure to be in Zadar one day in the sunset. That is the best time to see monument to the sun and hear see organs. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtDYTeB5J-8
Day 9; Paklenica – Krka waterfalls – Split
Faster way is on A1 towards Split. Exit for Krka waterfalls is good marked so it’s easy. If you like to see more take the road alond the see but you can skip that as well. It’s better to drive along the see later between Krka National park, Šibenik and Split.
Krka waterfalls is a nice walk if it’s not to crouded. In June it should be fine. The part to Roški slap waterfall is the nices. The rest I recomend if you want to spend more time here.
More about National park Krka: http://www.np-krka.hr/en/ If you don’t have enough time you can pass this national park because it’s similar to Plitvice …
Day 10; Split
In Split is nice to be in old town. The new part of town is not very nice so don’t be concerned when you enter the city. On the way you will see road markings to Salona, remains of old Roman town that was here much before Split. Town of Split began with the construction of the Roman Emperor Diocletian palace, who was from this region and here he planed to spend his old age. This palace later became the center of the medieval center, and it is now a major part of the old town. Try to locate near that part. There are many private apartments in Split.
Free time: walk to top of Marjan hill; visit Meštrović Gallery; climb the bell tower of the Cathedral
Day 11; Split – Omiš, Cetina – Dubrovnik (many beaches on the way)
On the way to Dubrovnik you will drive by Cetina river, known for rafting. You can drive to starting point above Omiš, do the rafting and after that drive to Dubrovnik. Omiš is approx 45 minutes from Split. To Dubrovnik you will need 3 more hours.
If you don’t stop in Omiš, there are many beaches on the way. Another nice small town for lunch or coffee stop is Makarska but only if you drive to the center by the see.
Return car in Dubrovnik on first night, you will not need it any more.
Places to stay: If you don’t like crouds, stay out of Dubrovnik town and avoid it in the morning after 09:30 till approx. 15:00. Mlini or Cavtat both south of Dubrovnik are good places to stay. There is a local bus to Dubrovnik and from Cavtat also boat. This places are also on the way to airport so you will not be to far away on the day of departure.
Day 12; Dubrovnik
Just enjoy town side streets that are not so overcrowded.
Great to do: The best time to see Dubrovnik is in the evening when crowds are away and town is beautifully lit.
Beach „Banje“ just out of old town is very nice with great view on city walls. In June it should not be overcrowded.
Day 13; Mljet
Excursions: island Mljet or Montenegro or Mostar – all possible with local travel agencies. All information about it you can get on Pile gate tourist information center.
Day 14; Dubrovnik, departure
Try to book flight to Frankfurt or some other town in EU to awoid flight to Zagreb and then to EU city, but it’s not always easy…
DATES AND PRICES:
09.05. – 22.05.2020.
16.05. – 29.05.2020.
14.06. – 27.06.2020.
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