Switzerland, Italy, Croatia in the Winter With Friends

I can think of a lot of other places that would flow better than Croatia ... I mean even if Croatia were a good winter destination. You will get there and look around at all you could have done in warm weather and regret because you know since you hsve done it once the odds are you will never return to do it right in warm weather.

Or not. Who knows

I agree with Mr. E. The coast of Croatia is so much better during the warmer months. In fact, owners of restaurants, stores, and hotels who do not live on the coast close up and return home for the winter.
Also, sections of Plitvice may be closed due to inclement weather. I’d look at other countries with a short train ride or explore more of Italy.

My husband’s Croatian and he has family up and down the coast. In all the 40+ years we’ve been visiting, we never stay past October.

You do not want to visit the coast of Croatia in the winter. And do you really want to be stuck in the middle of nowhere on Christmas day? Where will you eat and what will you do? Probably one of the worst places you could pick to visit during the holidays, in my opinion. Stick to larger cities with good Christmas vibes, like anywhere in Germany, Switzerland, Austria or Paris, London.

Everyone is right - you have Croatian summer trip planned for the winter time.

It is technically possible to do this trip you want to and set expectations.

Expectations are, do not expect anything to be open, and do not expect weather to be good - particularly the wind, temperature in Dalmacija is not really so bad in winter even though it can get cold and snow, but it is not really warm enough for a holiday. However wind can be quite strong and very cold depending from the direction it blows.

Croatia is also very seasonal destination and even has laws to let you open business that is only part of the year for tourism reasons.

However northern Croatia is more year round, Zagreb has great christmas market and stays open for tourists the whole year, Opatija has seasonal businesses but should have things open, same with Rovinj and Istra.

I am not sure there would be flight from Dubrovnik to Zürich in January?

I disagree with previous advice on Christmas day. There will not be anything open in Croatia /except/ Plitvice, and it is a very beautiful area. If the hotel restaurant is open and you do not mind a quiet day in a beautiful part of the world then I think it would be great place to spend Christmas. Nothing in London is open on Christmas for instance, not even the tube. Note 26. December is also Croatian holiday so things probably will not be open then either. If you decide to spend Christmas elsewhere look to see what will be open and maybe look into a flat with a kitchen so you can make your own food, I think there should be hotel restaurants open though.

You could keep basic framework of the trip but instead of Croatian coast, stop in places like Rovinj, Ljubljana and lake Bled, Zagreb, Graz, Vienna, Salzburg, Munich, Innsbruck, then back to Zürich via train.