Split or Dubrovinik for 5 days and then fly to to Athens for a cruise.

I would do Dubrovnik. You could easily do a day trip/ tour to Montenegro or Bosnia.

Does your interest run to Roman ruins (Split) or Medieval times (Dubrovnik). Both cities have possible day trips,
Split - Trogir, Klis/Salona, Hvar, Vis, Krka national park
Dubrovnik - Mostar, Kotor, Mljet, Ston
The above are just a few possibilites. If you get Rick’s Eastern Europe guidebook you can read about each city and decide. Of course, if you Google the cities so many ideas will pop up.
Personaly, i really liked Split. It seemed more lively and had a more fun vibe. Also, day trips were easier, the pier is within walking distance and the bus depot is nearby too.

Don’t see any flights from Split to Athens so you’ll have to depart from Dubrovnik. Dubrovnik is the better choice between the two anyway.

MaryPat, didn’t even thank of that fact, a big factor. Good save

I have a trip including Croatia and Greece in a few weeks. The only way I found to Athens was Dubrovnik. Agean Air about $200.

I think 5 days is too long in Dubrovnik, unless you split some time in Montanegro. Dubrovnik is tiny. You can see it all in pretty leisurely in about one day. I actually liked Split more because I would take easy trips to the islands from there, and there was more to do.

We thoroughly enjoyed Dubrovnik for 4 September days. A leisurely breakfast chatting with the locals was a highlight. Enjoyed the evening parade along the Stradun with the locals dressed to the nines. Excellent slow dinners with hardly any other tourists visible. An interesting medieval town to explore: construction; housing; museums; churches and shops. Admittedly, we are, in our "well experienced age", slow travelers. But, anybody could find interesting things by spending a bit more time to look deeper into places.

Thanks for all the inputs. I may end up spending three days in Split and then down to Dubrovnik for two. Then off to Athens. I will look for a ferry down there or if no good options take bus down. Thanks everyone!

whichever you choose, Split or Dubrovinik, if you get a chance to go to Montenegro it is beautiful! It is considered the southern fjords of Europe! We spent two days there and absolutely loved it! Very green, the lake is beautiful, and the mountain views are fantastic. I hope you get a chance to visit. Also, it is very inexpensive in Montenegro. They are a newer country of kind people and hope visitors will come to see their gorgeous vistas and help their economy.

One ferry link. https://www.krilo.hr/en/sailing-schedule/split-dubrovnik/

Thanks Laurie and TravelMom. Montenegro is on my list as well. I had some friend visit a few years back and they loved it! Also I appreciate the ferry schedule. it gives me a great option, whch sounds way better than a bus or renting a car.

I am happy to hear you are considering both Split and Dubrovnik! We loved Split a lot more than we thought we would. Loved Dubrovnik, too, but my husband actually prefers Split.

While in Split, we hired Maja Benzon for a private tour of Diocletian's Palace. She is recommended by Rick and absolutely well worth it. The walking tour was 2 hours long and cost 500 kunas for 2 people. While in Split, we visited the very interesting Ethnographic Museum. We visited Hvar Town from Split. It was September and it was not party central. We also visited Trogir for about half a day. Spent 4 nights in Split and loved it.

While in Dubrovnik, be sure to visit War Photo Limited where you will receive an important history lesson about the war in the former Yugoslavia during the 1990's. In addition to walking the walls, another highlight was taking the cable car to the top of Mt. Srd.

And if you have time, by all means visit the Bay of Kotor for a day. We hired a private driver which was well worth it. If you go to Montenegro, DON'T FORGET TO BRING YOUR PASSPORT. We actually did forget ours, but luckily our private driver asked us as we were pulling away from Dubrovnik if we had our passports! So it was convenient to turn around and go back to our hotel to get them.

Also want to add that driving in Croatia is very easy if you change your mind about driving. The only place where it was a bit stressful was in Zagreb but you aren't going there.

Thanks for the tips kmkwoo!

So far this week, Zagreb an unexpected pleasure; Split, the perfect arrive late and leave after lunch the next day city. Now driving towards Dubrovnik.