My husband and I are looking to go to Croatia & Slovenia n September 2026. I have ordered Rick Steves travel guide on Croatia & Slovenia but it will not arrive for a few weeks. In my research its easy to become overwhelmed in wanting too see
everything. The 3 areas we are hoping to explore in Croatia are; Dubrovnik, Spilt and Hvar. Most likly in this order. Any
thoughts on this order of cities and if we had a 4th city before heading to Solvenia which one? Is a car recommended after arriving to these cities in order to get around or is everything walkable? Thanks
Posted by
Calgary
1883 posts
We went to those three places, as well as Zadar, Plitvice, and Zagreb, on our trip to Croatia.
You wouldn't want/need a car in those three places, I think. All of them have areas that are pedestrian only (which are likely the main areas you'd want to visit).
Here is my trip report, in case you might find it helpful: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/croatia-and-ireland-may-2022-castles-and-forts-and-water-oh-my
Posted by
Calgary
1883 posts
By the way, you've posted this in the section for reviews. You may get more responses if you post in the section for questions and answers, instead: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/croatia
Posted by
Republic of Texas / U.S.A. / Magyarország / Budapest
23741 posts
Well, I have been a few times, but am still far from an expert (not really sure why, but going back to Croatia on Sunday ... that makes 4 trips). Anyway, how long you have will be of great help, and actual dates in case there are things that are day of the week dependent or something special going on to join or avoid.
The the rawest of terms, sounds like a fly into Dubrovnik spend 4 nights so you can decompress from the trip and work in at least one day trip. Then ferry from Dubrovnik to Hvar for 2 nights [its a long boat ride but the alternatives are not much better .... you will loose the day], then taking the ferry from then ferry to Split for 3 more nights so you can work in at least one day trip out of Split. An alternative here is go up the coast on the bus to Split and make Hvar a day trip or an overnight or two out of Split. Then its a long haul to Slovenia (Ljubljana, Slovenia is almost 6 hours driving when you figure stopping for food) so heres hoping you have a long trip planned so you can spend at least one night along the way and better two if you want to see soe interesting sights. The bus is 7 to 8 hours.
So just to reach Ljubljana with no stops from Split, my math says 9 nights. Now to just do Ljub and Bled you might want to figure 4 more nights at a minium. So now maybe 14 days? Two weeks away from the job is 16 days when you count both weekends, so maybe you have a 16 day trip planned? Better 23 days then you really have fun.
Someone said rent a car. Well, if you do that you will have to drive back to the point of rental or maybe pay a rather large drop off fee. Those can be more then the rental cost. But things change so check me, I could be wrong. If you do busses then you are pretty much on forced marches from point to point. If you can afford the cost get a private driver. May not cost more than the rental + drop off fee. On my previous trips to Croatia i used drivers. I thought they were good investments. Even that 6 hour trip to Slovenia can be good if you can stop at a few interesting places along the way. To get a handle on what is interesting between the cities go to DayTrip.com and see what they offer as stops along the way. Doesnt mean you have to use them, there are less expensive, but they always list the good stops.
If you have more time than 14 days another option is to fly into Podgorica and visit Stari Bar, maybe Ostrog, maybe Perast and Kotor before going to Cavtat and Dubrovnik. For day trips out of Dubrovnik, many like Lokrum but it looks a little too much like West Texas for me. Some like going to Kotor, but Kotor for me is really just a little less impressive Dubrovnik, although Perast on the way to Kotor is worth the time if not a night; love it. My first choice would be Catvat or a winery or olive plantation.
Posted by
6113 posts
I'd tweak the order a bit if you fly into Dubrovnik, and stop at Hvar en route to Split since you can travel by sea on catamaran (see Krilo and Jadrolinija websites for schedules). Then you can travel to Zagreb by bus (perhaps stopping at Plitvice) and then on to Ljubljana for your Slovenia portion.
I would want a car for Slovenia (where I have not been yet but do a lot of nature stuff in general), but picking up a car in one country and dropping in another incurs a large fee, so that will depend on your outbound flight. Transport in Croatia is excellent for the places you will be going, and in town it's all walkable (all are small). For traveling along the coast I never felt the need for a car on four visits, but next time I go I will get one to travel further afield.
If you have time to meander a bit before Slovenia, the Istria area of northern Croatia *almost requires a car.