Week in Croatia - early October

In my opinion, Plitvice is not to be missed.

I dont like to drive on holiday so we are already at odds. Plitvice, sure, drive down (hire a transfer), see it for 3 hours and move on to Split (transfer), then on to Dubrovnik (transfer). A week is about right for October.

You can see another Venetian coastal town— Piran—rather than Rovinj. Piran is in Slovenia and reachable in 30 minutes by car from Trieste. There also are buses from Trieste to Piran via Portoroz.

Because Plitvice Lakes NP is mobbed by daytrippers, staying overnight there allows you to see it during the afternoon of your arrival, and during the morning of your second day when you buy an entry admission valid for two days. If you go for the day, you will be part of the throngs there for just a few hours.

You then could go to Sibenik on Croatia’s coast and onto Split which is an hour further.

Then on to Dubrovnik.

Kenko is correct, no one goes to Plitvice mid-morning, mid-week in October, its too crowded. So if you feel like you have to spend two days out of 6 or 7 to see Plitvice the right way, skip it. I also dont like the idea of a night in a park motel. I love the cities and towns in the evenings and thats too big a trade off for me. Croatia has too much to offer and you havent got much time.

I thought Plitvice was worth the 3-hours I spent. Part of the reason I spent 3 hours was the trail was set up for a 3-hour visit. https://www.plitvice-lakes.info/walking/ 3-hours of looking at water was just about right for me (and my limit). But I have been told that was a freak low day.

I used Entrance 1 at about 11am one July day and it was fine. I had a transfer service from Zagreb so it was a direct drive with no wrong turns or time on the shoulder reading a map, and I didn’t lose time with parking. I suppose if you left Zagreb at 8am you could be walking in the gate at 10:15 am but I sleep late on holiday. I guess, based on all the expert internet advice here, if I were to return it would be in October, middle of the week, Gate 2, 11am and Trail E if I were terrified of the crowds. Or Gate 1, Trail A for the classic experience. Both are 3-hour walks. https://np-plitvicka-jezera.hr/en/analysis-of-year-round-tourism-in-2024/ . Maybe not such a big issue in October, but they do sell timed tickets in advance on-line. I would do that as well. Just to be sure. It’s how they are trying to prevent the sort of crowds that get all the internet chatter.

As much as I enjoyed it, no way I would devote 2 out of 5 to 7 days in Croatia to it.

I would consider taking Flixbus to Rovijn, spend a night or two there. Pick up your car there to avoid any cross border drop off fees. Piran is also a fine choice and ridiculously easy to reach from Trieste, but getting out is maybe just a tad more complicated and a longer ride.

I think Plitvice is can’t miss territory. I also think a night there is essential in getting a fully enjoyable experience. You’ll drive and arrive there in the afternoon, see one half that afternoon. Get up early and see the other half and drive on to Split. Plitvice actually makes for a good way point between the interior and the coast. Listen, odds are low that you’ll be through here again with this opportunity. I would treat it as the rare chance it is.

I liked Split quite a lot, but two nights is about right. One night will do if you’re pressed. Then whatever is left over (3-4nights?) is there for Dubrovnik.

Not sure if that all maths out for you but that’s what I see.

Listen, odds are low that you’ll be through here again with this opportunity. I would treat it as the rare chance it is.

I could not agree more with this statement. However, take a look at some of the videos on you tube and decide for yourself if it is worth visiting. Plitvice is continually ranked as one of the top national parks in all of Europe.

Good advice also on renting your car in Croatia to save on fees.

Is the return flight booked? I would do two locations in a week, not four, but it depends on your flight and what you want to see and do.

Return flight not yet booked, does not have to be Dubrovnik.

Threadwear, i read that about Plitvice all the time. I really dont understand it. But .... its all a matter of preference.

Tuieste to Pula/Rovinj, Split, Dubrovnik, at least one island stop in four days because you spent 2 days in Plitvice is a bit rushed. I would say Plitvice plus Split and Hvar for the four remaining days and then home. Without Plitvice you can make it to Dubrovnik.

Another place to check flights from is Podgorica or Tivat if you are using Turkish Air. Or if you are going to Plitvice and never getting south of Split, look at flying out of Zadar on a Lufthansa connection home.

Well OP, if you haven’t set the airfare let’s consider this. Instead of going Split-Dubrovnik, you could use those days for Piran-Rovijn and exploring Istria. Swing down to Plitvice and fly out of Zagreb. Flights through Zagreb are generally affordable and will have frequent connections. Plus, imo Zagreb is really underrated. A night or two there is well worth it. It’s a lovely city.

The Dalmatian coast, basically talking Split-Dubrovnik, is enough to fill a week on its own. Throw in trips to Kotor or Mostar and there’s even more to see. Basically, maybe you keep that as a possible future trip. The destinations already on your itinerary are great. I’d lean into them a little more and just accept any FOMO around Dubrovnik.

Your biggest issue would be the car rental drop-off fee. Ordinarily I would say skip Rovinj and Pula. But it looks like you could take a Flixbus to Rovinj, Sight see and maybe spend a night there. Rent a car and spend the day exploring the smaller towns and spend a night in Rastoke or at Plitvice. Get early morning tickets Plitvice for the next day, finish by 1:00 and drive to Split. You could drop off the car, spend time in Split and ferry to Dubrovnik. Or you could drive to Dubrovnik. You really won't need a car there or in Split.

Huge thanks to all for all the food for thought you provided! Am now considering skipping the Plitvice Lakes portion as we will have done 5 days hiking in Slovenia (loosely, from Ljubljana to Trieste, entirely rural) prior to this leg so we may prioritize coastal scenery and experiences over the National Park.

So now I'll pose one more question - with a 6-7 days available in early October, would you do Istria and then go on to Split and Dubrovnik? Or would you choose to do just Istria or just the Dalmatian coast? Return flight as yet unbooked.

We are not averse to renting a car but I have understood (and appreciate!) the comments that it might be better to get the car over the border in Croatia rather than in Trieste. If we chose to do the Dalmatian Coast only, one thought I had was to take a Flixbus to Rijeka and get a car there to continue south. Or if we did both, to take Flixbus to Rovinj and get a car there.

Naturally I would spend it in BiH or Montenegro, but putting that aside, for my personal taste and because its early October I would do Split and Dubrivnik. They are just so classic it's hard to walk away unless you know you will return.

With just 6-7 days you could start in Split, take the catamaran to Hvar, then from Hvar take the catamaran to Dubrovnik.
In Dubrovnik you can take a 15-minute small ferry boat to Lokrum National Park.
It is so relaxing to leave the driving to the boat captains!
The earlier you go in October, the better the weather will be.

So now I'll pose one more question - with a 6-7 days available in
early October, would you do Istria and then go on to Split and
Dubrovnik? Or would you choose to do just Istria or just the Dalmatian
coast? Return flight as yet unbooked.

In a word, YES.
One or the other. It being October maybe the Dalmatian coast so you can hit Split and Dubrovnik while things are a bit quieter. But with 6 or 7 days, and October, I would think twice about island trips. For the cost and the hassle of a rental car, and given the few times you will need it, use a bus or hire a transfer. This way with what time you do have you can just enjoy.

Hello,

If you rented car in Trieste, Dubrovnik is about 7 hour drive on the fastest route which avoids Split and Plitvice.

Driving in Croatia is relatively easy. There are some winding roads but Trieste to Dubrovnik is mostly good highway, especially on the fast route.

Next question is how much of an issue is cost. If that is a problem look to see where you will fly out of first. Also unless it is really not an issue I would look at car rental from Rovinj or Pula and also from Trieste to see how much different cost will be. One way rentals are not always expensive but sometimes are very expensive.

You could easily do two nights Rovinj, one night Plitvice, two nights Split, two nights Dubrovnik if you want to see as much as possible. There is more to do near Split than Dubrovnik so I think two nights of each is about right in your instance. I also do not understand the advice of skipping Rovinj, it is highest or second highest tourist location in Croatia for a reason. I know you will have to skip something but it will depend on what you want to do.

You do not need two days to see Plitvice, two day ticket is more expensive than one day ticket and you can wake up and see the park with a one day ticket before anyone else visits. There was also advice about a park motel, I do not understand this, I have always stayed in decent lodging near Plitvice. So you would arrive at dusk, wake up, see the park, depart by lunchtime - that is not really two days.

A route with less driving might be a couple nights Rovinj, maybe a night or two in lovely Opatija or even on island of Krk, then a night or two in Zagreb and fly out of Zagreb. You could also switch Zagreb out here with Plitvice and Split, or even Split with Zadar.

Plitvice and Dubrovnik are probably two most spectacular touristy places in Croatia, but you can have an excellent trip. It is really just how much driving you want to do, how much rental car costs, how much flight back to where you are going costs.

By October there is only two daily catamaran Split to Dubrovnik I am aware of one leaving at 8:00 on Krilo lines and one leaving at 15:10 on TP lines. Krilo takes about 4:30 hours and TP takes 5:00 hours. I would probably skip this given your timing especially if you have rented car.

OP here. Thank you all, I've learned so much from your input. I priced out renting a car in Trieste v spots in Croatia and it is indeed much better pricing to rent in Croatia. We will skip Plitvice in favor or coastal areas and I have taken on board the idea that we can do both Istria and Split/Dubrovnik if we're willing to do a bit of driving. I am not sure we'll be back in this part of the world so I really would like to get to Dubrovnik.

I'm now considering the idea of taking a bus to Rovinj (from Trieste) and then either:
1) renting a car there to drive on toward Split OR
2) taking the ferry from Pula to Zadar and getting a car there. That would seem to eliminate a good deal of driving and also afford the experience of taking a ferry. (That ferry route only goes on Fridays and Sundays in October but it so happens that a Friday departure from Pula would work.)

If any one has thoughts on the above I would love to hear them. Many thanks!

I’ve been to Croatia more times than I can count. You want to know the most amazing thing I’ve seen in Croatia? Plitvice Lakes. It is unique and stunning. Oh and I’ve also done all the things in Slovenia - beautiful but not the same.

I am persuaded by Emily on Plitvice!

So perhaps we'll skip Istria, take a bus from Trieste to Rijeka, get a car there and go on to the National Park, then head south to Split/Dubrovnik after that visit.

I am persuaded by Emily on Plitvice!

You will not be disappointed.

I think it is difficult to get from Trieste to Rijeka with the bus or by public transportation.

If you have to go via Pula then just go to Pula. Unirent have rental location there, they are reputable Croatian car rental company. You could see the ampitheatre, have lunch, maybe stop in Opatija or drive along the coast near Rijeka, then get to Plitvice by dusk. Then the next day head on to Split.

While in Split you will want to visit Trogir and Klis fortress and maybe Solin if that is of interest.