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Croatia and Budapest

Dear All

I am planning a 10 day trip to Croatia in August. I arrive and depart from Zagreb.
I am planning to drive for some part of the trip ( definitely between Split and Dubrovnik). My itinerary is as follows :

1 day Plitivice
1 day Zadar
2 days Split ( trip to islands-Hvar.Will do the Blue cave trip)
2 days Dubrovnik
3 days Budapest

Now if i fly directly to Dubrovnik when i arrive and drive up north I save a day due to favorable flight timings

My questions below:

  1. Is there a difference if you drive north/south between split and Dubrovnik . Is it better to drive from Split to Dubrovnik.Is it more beautiful in one direction 2.What is the best way to reach Budapest from Dubrovnik if I decide to drive South . There is a flight from Dubrovnik to Budapest but that seems expensive
  2. Is there any separate paper required (Cross border card) because I will entering Bosnia in this drive ?
  3. Is there something that is being missed in my trip. There is Krka national park too

Look forward to your help

Regards

Posted by
334 posts

Are your flights already set? It would be easier to manage a multi-city itinerary (e.g. fly into Budapest, fly out of Zagreb) than to find a way to fly in/out of Zagreb. Last year, I did a similar itinerary:

  • Arrive in Budapest
  • Train to Zagreb (~6 hours)
  • Car for Plitvice day trip and other points of interest in Zagreb region
  • Fly from Zagreb to Dubrovnik
  • Ferry northward to Split
  • Bus to Zagreb to fly out

I used public transportation for everything except the day trip to Plitvice. In your case, you could have a car for as much or as little as you wanted. If you held onto the car for the duration of your time in Croatia, you could double-back on yourself. The drive between Dubrovnik and Zagreb is about 6 hours, so you wouldn't really be saving a lot of time by flying between the two. The flight time is only 45 minutes, but your time gets eaten up with showing up to the airport early, both airports being outside of town, etc.

Posted by
6113 posts

It looks like you are not planning a 10 day trip to Croatia, but a 6 day trip! Most people take 2 weeks to cover what you are attempting in Croatia. You may struggle to find decent accommodation for 1 night stays in August.

You haven't factored in travel times between destinations eg Split to Dubrovnik is c 5/6 hours door to door. You don't have time to cover Hvar. Take the catamaran or bus between Split and Hvar. Fly out of Dubrovnik, as you don't have time to double back to Zagreb.

Split/Dubrovnik is the same in either direction. The best option to Budapest is to fly. Flights have been available for months, therefore for August flights, they will be expensive.

You will need extra insurance to cover driving through Bosnia, hence bus or catamaran is best rather than an expensive one way drop fee.

You are missing lots from your trip, but you don't have enough time!

Posted by
86 posts

That stretch of the coast looks better with the sun behind you - leave Dubrovnik in the morning, or aim to arrive in the afternoon.

Yes, your hire car should have a Green card insurance certificate if you are crossing BiH at Neum.