I am traveling to Croatia at the end of June and have my flights and lodging booked. Should I purchase bus and ferry/catamaran tickets in advance?? I plan on taking a bus from Zagred to Plitvice and Plitvice to Split the next day. Then catamaran from Split to Hvar, Hvar to Korcula and finally catamaran or ferry from Korcula to Dubrovnik. Are there any other better travel options? Thanks!
Posted by
Eastern Iowa, USA
7546 posts
I do not think it is necessary, unless for the ferries you see a big discount, it may not even be possible for the bus. We usually purchased tickets when we arrived in a town for our exit. I am assuming you have looked at ferry schedules and have an itinerary worked out? Ferries may only be a once or twice a day option, so timing needs to be considered, for example, we were planning on only one night in Korcula, passing through on our way to Dubrovnik from Hvar (much the same itinerary you have) but found that the ferry gets there late at night and leaves early in the morning, pushing us to at least two nights.
As for other options, you could take the bus from Korcula to Dubrovnik as well.
Posted by
Washington DC
27104 posts
I've been to Plitvice three times (only once recently) and have never bought tickets in advance. However, I cut it too close in 2015 and found a bit of a line at the Zagreb ticket window. I was going to miss the bus I wanted to take, but someone said I could buy the ticket on the bus, so I ran for it. It wasn't easy to find the right bus in the large station without information from the ticket seller. And I paid quite a bit more than I would have at the counter, I think. So don't do what I did: Allow plenty of time.
Since there isn't a bus station at Plitvice, I think everyone buys departing tickets from the driver. There may be only one company doing the Plitvice-Split route, which would simplify matters. That's not the case with Plitvice-Zagreb, and I had a bit of trouble figuring out the schedule and where to get the bus. I ended up getting a bus that wasn't on the schedule. My advice is to try to nail down those details ahead of time. Your lodgings may have schedule info and should certainly be able to tell you where to get the Split bus. I'd try not to plan on taking the last bus of the day. Just because. I've never had a Croatian bus not show up.
Posted by
Tunbridge Wells
6113 posts
The end of June is peak season as all the local schools will be on holiday. There is only one catamaran a day between Hvar-Korcula, so book online in advance. Ferries - no need to book. Catamarans - always book in advance. If you know when you are travelling, book all your boats now.
You can take the bus from Korcula to Dubrovnik. Several services per day, unlike the catamaran.