Just starting to look. Not very familiar with transportation options. Know I can fly to Ljubljana, Slovenia from Frankfurt, Paris,or......-- which is the beginning of the Adriatic tour. So thinking maybe that first. Then fly Dubrovnik to Palermo Sicily to start the second. Looks like several options flying out of Catania to various locations in Europe at the end. May be somewhere in Spain on my own, or to Frankfurt. See any problems with this rough outline? September a good month for both of these tours -- crowds and average weather wise? Thought maybe October -- but daylight hours fewer then. Any suggestions / comments appreciated. Thank you.
Posted by
Washington DC
27665 posts
For fall travel I would do the Adriatic tour before the Sicily tour because it's likely to be warmer in Sicily. As someone who is bothered by shortening days, I'm all for finishing up in September rather than pushing into October. I was in the Balkans during September and early October 2015, and the weather was changing at that point. It went from dry to rather rainy, starting in late September; at that point I was in Bulgaria, then Montenegro, then moved north through Croatia. Fall may have come early that year; I haven't looked at weather data to see whether my experience was atypical.
You can explore actual, day-by-day historical weather statistics for some of the tours' destinations on timeanddate.com. I've linked to the September 2019 data for Ljubljana, but you should check at least three years' worth.
Posted by
near San Francisco
5214 posts
The fall travel weather can be lovely, but variable. You'll likely have to pack layers for everything from warm and sunny to cool and drizzly. I traveled much of the northern route of the Adriatic tour 2 years ago in October and the weather that year was fall-lovely! I find the fall hours, temperatures and changing colors to be energizing!
The crowds at Plitvice were patchy - in some areas we could walk freely with no-one around us on the paths around the park; in other areas we'd get backed up with a tour group. As those groups left for the day, we had more and more of the park to ourselves.
Also keep in mind that attractions will shift to their off-season, shorter hours in September or October. Whereas a sight might be open until 6pm or later in high season, it may close earlier in their off season. Activities, such as walking tours, that might run daily during high season, may run once per day, or even weekends-only, during their off season.
Posted by
🏝️ Hobe Sound, FL⛱️
3257 posts
Depending on your time frame, check the fares/convenience of flying into Venice and taking Flix Bus to Ljubljana for about $30. But it’s a 3 hour ride. Another option if go this route is to spend a relaxing evening or two in Trieste. The buses to Ljubljana all go through Trieste.
I definitely agree that you should start your journey in Ljubljana and then head to Sicily. Having taken the Sicily tour, try to spend an extra day or two in Palermo before it begins and possibly another day at the end in Catania.
Posted by
11505 posts
We were in Sicily the last three weeks of October last year. Great experience. Weather was nice with a few rain storms. Rather than leaving Sicily after your tour ends, stay and visit places tour tour skips like the Baroque towns.