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December Croatia and Slovenia route

Hi everyone, appreciate your comments on what would be viable or should be omitted for a 16day 15 night time in Croatia/Slovenia.
We are thinking of flying into Zagreb late November and then leaving mid December from Ljubljana.

As you can probably tell from the places that caught our attention below, much has to do with nature. We love hikes (not in the snow), love cabin stays (in the snow and not in snow haha), and good food, and some city/Christmas markets.

Here is the list of places we would love to visit if we had all the time, which are possible as day trips and which are really out of the way? & where should we base ourselves? What are some really memorable activities we could do- rowing on the lake, visiting some local produce, taking some epic zipline?
Appreciate you! We hope to buy our air tickets by this Friday.

Zagreb
Trogir
Split/Plitvice
Kirka
Pula
Bled
Bohinj /mount vogel / velika planina
Pokljuka/kranjska gora
Postojnska
Ljubljana
Skocjan caves
Blue cave
Paklenica
Hvar
Korcula
Piran
Triglav
Soca valley
Logar valley
Prejama castle
Thank you so much

Posted by
75 posts

Bold plan but doable, Your base can be Ljubljana for most places in Slovenia, especially for Bled, Bohinj, Triglav and Kranj (Vintgar gorge was highlight of my stay-see film below, but i don't know whether it is open during winter). Bled is also possible for base for 3-4 locations. Nature will not be so spectacular in december as it is in spring and summer but on the other hand it will be less touristy. You can visit Sibenik when visiting Krka. Also I recommend visiting middle Dalmatia e g Makarska or Brela on "Makarska riviera". Dubrovnik is a must if you haven't visited it before. I guess best Christmas market is in Zagreb.
Bled and Bohinj https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pL0CVKTzW0&t=1s
Plitvice https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUw7FooI7wM&t=1s

Posted by
17 posts

Thank you for sharing your film stays!! Really appreciate your comments on where to base ourselves, it really helps planning.
I'll be sure to check if the places you mentioned are open. I reckon we may give the coast of Croatia a skip this time round so we can have a more rested trip

Posted by
6113 posts

December isn't the time to be visiting the islands. The boat service is severely curtailed and maybe cancelled if the seas are bad. Most places will be closed for the winter.

When I stayed on Hvar last year, the locals said that they moved to Split mid November until April as Hvar wasn't the place to spend the winter.

I doubt that the Blue Cave trip will be running.

Posted by
26840 posts

I'd pick either Postojna or Skocjan rather than both. Skocjan is less touristed-up but is a bit darker. I,haven't been to the Blue Cave.

Zagreb has many interesting museums. Ljubljana also has some. This will be helpful if the weather turns out to be chilly and damp. Both cities have a lot of cafes.