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Appreciate help with Croatia itinerary for family of 6 - questions

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Planning a Croatia trip for my family of 6 (includes 4 young adult kids) from Los Angeles in late May / early June. Croatia represents a good mix of taking family to the charm of old Europe along with the outdoor activities of nature. Self driving seems clearly most cost efficient and flexible with six.
Initial Idea for Itinerary
1. Zagreb (capital) – It may be less than a full day depending on when flight arrives. OK with limited time.
2. Zagreb to Plitvice / Afternoon Plitvice hike (Stay: Plitvice)
3. Morning Plitvice hike / Mid-afternoon to Zadar for evening sunset / Sea Organ / Greeting To The Sun / dinner. (Stay: Zadar)
4. Zadar to Split (3 hrs) via coastal route with short stops / Afternoon – visit Split (Stay: Split)
5. Split (Stay: Split)
6. Day trip to Hvar or Hvar 5 Islands & Blue Cave Tour (Stay: Split)
7. Morning Split / Afternoon drive to Dubrovnik (3.5 hrs + stops) (Stay: Dubrovnik)
8. Dubrovnik (Stay: Dubrovnik)
9. Day trip to Montenegro (Stay: Dubrovnik)
10. Dubrovnik (Stay: Dubrovnik)
(11. Departing flight from Dubrovnik)

Questions:
1. Where the self-driving element raises questions, is with the desire to have some time in Split and some in Hvar before heading on to Dubrovnik. We could do Split for two days then do car ferry to Hvar…but this will require the more limited car ferry to Stari Grad…and then onwards to Dubrovnik will require crossing by car ferry from Sucuraj (Hvar island) to Drvenik. I sense we will spend more valuable time navigating these routes and car ferry waits than may be valuable. So I am wondering if it is best to go stay on Hvar with car or stay in Split and just do day trip to Hvar?
To get the most in island diversity and ocean experience (we enjoy snorkeling)… I thought of staying in Split…and along with two days spend in Split…doing one full day trip to Hvar by ferry (possibly rent scooters to allow exploring more of island)…and another full day speed boat with short diverse stops including Hvar (for 3 hrs). [five-island tour includes a stop at the Blue Grotto, visiting Bisevo Island (Biševo), the village of Komiža on Vis Island, and the small Svetac, Stiniva Cove, a stop on Budikovac Island with its Blue Lagoon where you can go snorkeling, stops on the visit feature Pakleni Islands and Hvar.]
2. Zadar evening visit and then onto Split via later drive or stay in Zadar? While I know that Zadar appears nice to visit, I have thought that seeing sunset and visiting Sea Organ, Sun Salutation might hit highlights and allow getting into Split to reduce a change in hotels… but I imagine that the drive from Zadar to Split in the dark may be a loss of a beautiful journey with stops in between.
3. Any other suggestions regarding this itinerary?

Posted by
4259 posts

First I would tell you to drop the car in Split and then take the ferries. Croatiaferries.com shows routes and times for both lines. You can ferry from split to Hvar then from Hvar straight to Dubrovnik. You could then stay in Hvar for the night instead of going back to Split. Zadar is a lovely small town, we have a cousin who lives there, so we visit for that reason. Since you want water activities and If time is tight you can skip it altogether. The Sun salutation was a big disappointment, it just a solar disc embedded in the ground and it lights up at night. The sea organ is interesting, you don’t actually see anything, just hear the sound when the water hits it. Hvar has many more choices.

Also, I would drop Montenegro. There are many water activities in Dubrovnik, such as kayaking. Also the island of Lokrum is so overlooked. It is a National park with hiking and swimming. There is one lovely cafe for lunch or better yet, bring a picnic. If you take the first ferry of the morning, right off the pier in the old town, then follow the old people with their towels to the best beach spot. You could also hike up to the old fort built by napoleon. It is about a 15 minute ride. You could add the day to Hvar or Zagreb.

Posted by
12 posts

My family of 5 is doing the same trip in August so I am following this chain! Have you considered Korcula island? We have friends who loved it- quieter and less glitzy than Hvar.

Posted by
169 posts

Without a car it’s very hard to get anywhere other than the town centres on the islands imo.

Getting to some of the remote beaches and little towns dotted around the islands is worth having a car there 100000%

Car rentals in Croatia are dirt cheap

Posted by
4259 posts

Yes, driving in easy but parking is not. In Dubrovnik, Trogir, Zadar, split, šibenik etc you would have to find a lot outside of the old towns as they are pedestrian only. Parking fees add up quickly. Most car rentals prohibit ferries and car ferries don’t run as often.
We have rented a car at the Zagreb airport then stayed at a hotel with parking such as the esplanade or the Hiltons Canopy. Drive to Plitvice then drop the car in zadar. You won’t need it afterwards, take the ferries.

Posted by
169 posts

If you opt to inform your car rental company you’ll be going on a ferry it’s just a slight surcharge to add the coverage.

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