Italy to Croatia Itinerary Help please

Hi Gonzy,
Your itinerary looks very doable with lots of variety. It might be a little hectic with so many day trips - perhaps you can build in a relaxation day or two.

One suggestion is to fly Croatian Airlines from Split to Zagreb. If you purchase early it's only about $45 USD and is a 45 minute flight compared to a long bus ride. That would also give you more time in Split.

We were in Croatia in October - our second time there and we loved it. In Split we booked on Booking.com and stayed in Apartments Antonia. It's a little hard to find but the small apartment is in a quiet neighborhood and an easy walk from the ferry docks. The owner Anita was very helpful.

In Zagreb we stayed in Best Western Premier Hotel Astoria. We liked Zagreb a lot. Two nights is a good amount of time to be there.

Thanks for the insight Sharon. I'll look into flying to Zagreb from Split.

Gonzy - looks like an incredible itinerary but since you asked I'll suggest: Trogir and Rovinj. Perhaps staying in Trogir with a day trip to Split (after the Palace I found the city without much else to offer). Admittedly, I'll choose a small city or a village over a bustling city but in the case of Croatia not visiting Trogir, Rovinj, or Porec would be missing so much of the history and charm of the country. Old Dubrovnik is small city and may be easily visited in two nights; I've never been to Zagreb but I found a recent trip to the Adriatic unforgettable, and Rovinj was a wonderful stay. Oh, did I mention Isteria? .

Ciao,
Craig

I agree with Craig that Rovinj and/or Porec are great smaller cities to visit but adding them would complicate your solid itinerary. Save them for a future trip to northern Croatia and Slovenia! Trojir is a great choice as a day trip from Split if you have time.

I would take one day from Dubrovnik and use it for one day in Plitvice National Park. Gorgeous 16 lakes interconnected with cascading waterfalls. It's on the way between Split and Zagreb.

If you're the type who loves tiny picturesque towns, you might stay in nearby Cavtat instead of Dubrovnik. It's quiet and gorgeous. About 20 minutes by bus from Dubrovnik (or there's a boat that can take you there in 40 minutes) so you can easily see the sights of Dubrovnik. But then you can escape back to Cavtat and drink wine by the harbor while you watch the big yachts dock. A caution ... many of the hotels/B&B's in Cavtat are a steep walk uphill from the harbor and the main part of town. Villa Andro is a great little B&B that is almost at sea level.

Then ... have you already booked your flight to Paris? Unless you have a burning desire to see Split and Zagreb, you might look at flying to Paris from Podgorica, Montenegro, instead of from Zagreb. Friends of ours just did this, with very inexpensive tickets.

Then you could spend 3 nights in the Dubrovnik area, and add 3 nights in beautiful Montenegro. Kotor is a pretty little town with a breathtaking bay, and Budva has a nice beach (if you're up for a day off). Then fly to Paris. You have 2 nights left over ... you could add them to Paris? Or anywhere earlier in your trip.

If you decide to keep the Zagreb flight, I would recommend a day trip to Montenegro from either Cavtat or Dubrovnik. You can rent a car or take a bus tour.

Thanks Charlene, I'm tied into that flight from Zagreb, but I will definitely look into a day trip to Montenegro.