Hello! Hoping for itinerary advice :) I am single Mom trying to take 2 kids/boys to Croatia for 11 days… Most important: . 1- my Dad was born (1941) raised in Kunisinci-Valpovo area and I seeing the area is a must. 2- we fly in and out of Zagreb (plane already paid for :(
I really want to see Dubrovnik, to stay overnight (or 2 or 3) on an island (coming from Arizona!) and my son wants to see Plitvic! I have 11-12 days to do all this!!
Posted by
Chicago
592 posts
Even with 11 or 12 days, that seems like a lot of ground to cover. You
will want to plan out your transportation carefully to see if everything
can fit with enough time to enjoy the places you can get to.
Trains are almost an afterthought in Croatia. So you are looking at
either renting a car, bus, or flying. Dubrovnik is probably a 5 hour
drive from Zagreb. If you want to stay on an island and have a car,
you will either need to plan for a car ferry or a way to leave your car
on the mainland.
Buses such as Flixbus are relatively inexpensive, clean, and safe,
but are time-consuming.
Plitvice, while doable with public transportation, is probably better
with a car. You will find plenty of postings in this sub-forum about
how to visit Plitvice. I think Dubrovnik is worth 2 full days, more
than that not necessary.
Since you don't mention time of year, it's hard to do any more than
note generalities.
Posted by
OP
4 posts
I do plan to rent a car. We are going end of Sept/early Oct. This is a TENTATIVE plan (note I picked Korcula for multiple days only because I thought it could be Home-base….
Day 1: arrive Zagreb 8:30p, so stay overnight (??)
Day 2: 3.5hour drive to Kunisinci & Marijanci, then Valpovo stay overnight.
Day 3: explore more Valpovo up to 2pm??drive back to Zagreb 3.5 hours (5:30pm) or straight to Zadar 5 hours (7pm) (??)
Day 4: explore Zadar (2nd night Zadar)
Day 5: drive 4.5hr to Korcula (arrive ?1-2pm)
Day 6: korcula, overnight d2
Day 7: korcula, overnight d3
Day 8: korcula, overnight d4
Day 9: korcula, overnight d5
Day 10: korcula, overnight d6
Day 11: drive back to Plitvic (5.5hrs) arrive 3-4pm IS PLIVIC OPEN afternoon early October??, overnight
Day 12: drive to Zagreb (1.5hrs) early AM flight out
Korcula day trip to: Dubrovnik?
Day trip to: Split?
Day trip to: other islands?
Posted by
OP
4 posts
What if……..(!!!)
We fly from Osijek (near Valpovo) and fly to either Split or Dubrovnik???!!
I THINK that would solve all my problems (right)??
I would have to leave car in Osijek and maybe get another one at some point. But head North slowly, circle back/end back in Zagreb?!?
Posted by
Chicago
592 posts
I see a nonstop flight from Osijek to Dubrovnik on Tuesdays (cheap, 45 EUR on Croatian)
and more expensive connection options on Fridays.
But yes, if you can drop the car off and fly to Dubrovnik, it seems that would help your
itinerary a lot. I would anticipate a dropoff charge for the car but not excessive since
you're in the same country you started the rental in.
I don't recall specifics but there is some sort of catamaran or waterfoil that goes from
Dubrovnik to Korcula (or Hvar) and that would be worth considering if you want to
hit the islands, better than going to Split and then going back from there.
Rent another car in Split and make your way back to Zagreb. In addition to Plitvice,
there are numerous places to potentially stop on your way, it just depends on how
much time you will have. With a car, you would definitely want to think about
spending a night in Plitvice (again, read the forum for details).
Posted by
OP
4 posts
YOU MADE MY DAY! I am excited again for this trip - I was getting so stressed thinking I am running out of time to book places to stay :)
THANK YOU!!!