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Slovenia / Croatia / Vienna / Prague ten day itinerary

Traveling with our two daughters, 16 and 20, who have never been to Europe. Flying into Ljubjana. Was thinking we’d stay two nights in Ljubjana, then if we went to the Plitvice Lakes we’d stay there the night (~3.5 hour drive). Will it be too long of a drive to go to Rovinj the next afternoon? Or do you think it’s silly to go that far south and take one night from Rovinj? Then I need a place to stop on the drive from Rovinj to Vienna, or find a train to catch somewhere along the way and leave our rental car. The trip from Trieste to Vienna is two trains and a bus, so would rather not do that! Welcome other suggestions or stops that might make it more enjoyable. Are there other cool cities (Piran or ?) that you would recommend staying in on our way to Vienna? Here was what I was thinking we would do:

2 nights Ljubjana
1 night Plitvice Lakes Park
2 – 3 nights in Rovinj (choice of extra night means one less night in Vienna)
2- 3 nights in Vienna (choice of extra night means one less night in Rovinj)
5 nights in Prague (because we’re dropping our daughter off to study in Prague so staying a few extra nights)

Welcome any thoughts or suggestions - hotels or favorite Airbnb as well! Thanks :-)

Posted by
1174 posts

As you are working on your daily itinerary, make sure that the drive from Ljubljana to Plitvice is the evening before the visit to the park. Then you are there to get into the park as soon as they open the next morning. This is the best way to avoid some of the crazy "day" trippers to the park. We arrived into the parking lot at 730 am and hiked every path on both lakes, stopping for photos constantly, and left the park at 2:30 for Split.

We stayed at Hotel Deginija at Plitvice and Casa Garzotto in Rovinj and were delighted. Their breakfasts were very good !

Posted by
470 posts

Off the top of my head - what about lakes Bled and Bohinj? They can be seen as a day trip from Ljubljana. Piran is somewhat similar to Rovinj. Overall, though, I think you have one too many places on your itinerary. If Prague is set in stone, perhaps consider dropping Vienna and leaving it for another trip? Two to three nights will not do the city justice anyway. Where are you flying into? You could fly into Venice, rent a car there, do Slovenia and Croatia, then return the car in Venice and fly to Prague. That would eliminate losing too much time in transit.

I second Carla's advice to spend the night before at Plitvice, have an early start and then continue to your next destination after you are done with the park.