Central Europe with focus on Croatia - planning

Looks fine. But a few questions:

What time of year?

Taking trains to Croatia? Then renting a car or taking buses to Split? I recommend renting in Zagreb, dropping in Split.

Found a good open-jaw flight into Prague home out of Dubrovnik?

I assume you don't want much time in Zagreb which would be my choice too.

If you REALLY wanted to add a few nights in Slovenia, you could train from Budapest to Ljubljana instead of to Zagreb and cut a night from Korcula. Then you could train to Zagreb and pick up a car and head to Plitvice. Not saying I think you must do this, only that it would be doable on a quick trip like yours.

Thanks, Andrew. Time? May-June or September. Car from Zagreb to Zadar (via Plitvice Lakes), only, is my current thought. Then bus and boat (or only boat) the rest of the way. As much as I dearly want to go to Slovenia and Lubijania, that addition is simply too much travel and not enough vacation. We have found 18 - 19 days to be our sweet spot for longer travels.

Oh, Andrew. I think Zagreb is a night short! I really like that city. Lots of museums, traditional and otherwise, a bi-level historic district, nice cafes. Although I like Zadar, too, I'd take a night from Zadar if I had to, in order to give some more time to Zagreb.

Dubrovnik, stay inside the walls, stay 2 nights, get out. It's beautiful, fascinating, and reconstructed for tourists and only tourists (and wedding parties).

I totally understand not wanting to complicate your trip too much by adding Slovenia - just throwing it out there.

I've been to Croatia in May and in early October. September should be an excellent time to go. I think I got lucky with the weather the May I was there, because I think it usually rains more than it did that year. Going back, I'd probably pick September. Early October wasn't a terrible time, but the season was kind of ending by then, weather could still be great but turns colder at some point in the month.

I'd keep the car until Split probably. There are a few good stops south of Zadar such as Krka National Park and the lovely little town of Sibenik (Sibenik takes less time - it's right off the highway). Plus, you'l find that many rental car companies charge a one-way drop fee for short rentals. If you keep the car an extra few nights, the price may be less - even though parking in Zadar itself can be a challenge. Compare prices; maybe keeping the car until Split doesn't cost much more if anything.

I loved Dubrovnik. Yes, it's touristy especially during the day - mobbed with cruise ship tour groups. At night, it gets less crowded, and it's magical. Best place to watch the sunset: the Buza Bar!

Dubrovnik is a good place to get away from during the day and do day trips out - but at night, great place. Three nights makes more sense if you are flying out of there; your last night might be early, ready to pack up and go home, so three nights may not be all that much time.

I spent two nights in Zagreb. One night would have been enough. I'm glad I visited, but after half a day I was done - wished I'd picked up the rental car and headed to Plitvice a day early.

But it's all a matter of taste and preference. I know some people love Zagreb more than I do - some don't appreciate the beauty of Dubrovnik that I found despite all the tourists. (I know you still found it beautiful, James - some don't.) That's the dilemma for people planning a trip: which places will I like and which ones not? They have to try to weigh the feedback of different travelers based on their own preferences. Always part of the challenge of planning a trip!

You read my posts. Yes Dubrovnik is stunning, especially in the evening. It's worth the effort to see.

What t would change about your trip are the two long hauls. They will cost you nearly two days of sight seeing. If you want to do te coast, Then begin in Slovenia and end in Montenegro (one of my favorites) and skip Prague or Budapest or both. Prague and Budapest + one of a half dozen options will make a great future trip.

OR if you skip Prague, you could end the trip in Budapest with a direct cheap flight from Podgorica at the end?

If you don't mind one night stops, I would consider one night in Zadar. It's a fine enough town, but the sights are seen in a couple hours. I much preferred Split, although you probably don't need more than two nights there either.

Hi,
I am coming with my wife in August in Croatia and we are planning to stay 2 weeks. My plan is going to Istria (Rovinj, Pula) and stay 5 days and then to Dalmatia (Zadar - Split) where we will stay 5 days ( the plan is to visit surrounded Islands) and after that, we want to go to Zagreb. Our question is what do you suggest about our trip, what to visit, and a second, is anyone has some experience with glamping there. That is the type of spending vacation time which my wife and I love the most, but we did not find it except this site but don't know what to expect. Is somebody was in this kind of accommodation there or have some experience with glamping there?

NikPraskaton, you need to start a new thread for your question since it is different than the OP's.

I agree - Zagreb needs 2 nights, min. Consider 3 nights Budapest, 2 Zagreb. It's a fine town, with a good old town up, and the market, and the cathedral. There is the Museum of Croatian Naive Art. There's a lot going on always in the square. It's a walkable town. You can go from Zagreb to Plitvice on a bus, and Plitvice to Zadar on a bus. You could get a car too. We went Zagreb-Zadar - 4 hours, 20 E or so. We did not know about the sea-organ in Zadar and the sunsets until too late - look up that. Other than that, you have a workable program. In Dubrovnik, our hangout is the Buzz Bar. If you want to simplify, cut Zadar. It's nice, but similar to Dubrovnik. Cut it, add a night to Split, and do a day-trip to Trogir. Trogir and Zadar are very similar (we have been to Trogir, Zadar, Sibenik, Split, Dubrovnik, Kotor, so we know the pattern of these granite towns).