We are planning for approx. 10 days in Croatia the last week of August & first week of September. I know we want to see Plitvice lakes, Split & Dubrovnik. I prefer to NOT rent a car and I don’t pack light so I need guidance on the best way to get to each location and even where to start. Should we fly into Dubrovnik and work our way up or start at an airport closer to Plitvice ( is there one?) and work our way down?
Posted by
Washington DC
27057 posts
One possibility is to fly into Zagreb, perhaps spend the night till you're over the worst of the jetlag, then take a bus from Zagreb to Plitvice Lakes National Park. You really need to avoid mid-day at the park, because it becomes grossly overcrowded during daytripping hours. That means spending the night before your visit at a hotel in or very near the park so you can get there when it opens the next morning. If your timing is good and you arrive mid- to late afternoon, you might be able to see part of the park the day you arrive, as the day-trippers are leaving.
One place to look for lodging around the park is on booking.com. I don't know whether there is any place--other than the one or two hotels inside the park--that is within walking distance of the park, but you might find a place willing to shuttle guests to the park.
It's worth Googling for cruise ships scheduled to be in port in Dubrovnik to see whether there's a big difference between being there at the beginning of your trip and being there at the end. It will be a lot more pleasant if you're not there at the same time as a bunch of mega ships. This is one place to look; I don't know whether it's the best place: http://crew-center.com/dubrovnik-croatia-cruise-ships-schedule-2019. If you click on the name of a ship, you'll get additional details, including its maximum occupancy.
After seeing the park you can take a bus on to Split, though I believe buses to Split are not as frequent as buses to Zagreb. You might try buscroatia.com for bus schedules.
After Split you can take a bus to Dubrovnik.
Alternatively, you could do this itinerary in reverse, flying into Dubrovnik and out of Zagreb.
Posted by
72 posts
Starting from Zagreb will save you time. Coming earlier and catching the bus to Plitvice. Finding accommodation in Plitvice, staying one night and in the morning visiting NP. Around 3 PM catching the bus to Split. Tickets you can buy by Getbybus.
Split is relaxing, no rush to anywhere. Keep Split as a base for a few days and then speed boat Krilo Star (Kapetan Luka fleet) for reaching south of Croatia: Hvar, Korcula, and Dubrovnik.
Posted by
4323 posts
You store luggage underneath the bus at a small fee--you are not going to need much in the way of clothing in August, and can rent an apartment with a washer, so I hope you can make it easy on yourself and just take one suitcase.
Don't know where you are coming from, but Zadar is another possibility--Zagreb is probably the easiest though.