Hi! We will be going to Slovenia in March and for our 10 day trip have about 5 days we will spend in Slovenia. We are waffling between spending the next 5 days exploring Croatia a bit or going to Italy. We still don't know if we are renting a car or using public transportation (so any advice there is welcome as well). We do have to fly back out of LJU so while going to Dubrovnik is doable, we just need to time it right with our flight out. Any advice? We are pretty laid back travelers and aren't huge fans of giant cities.
Thanks!
Posted by
Huntsville, AL, USA
8125 posts
Go south to Croatia since you'll already be in Slovenia.
You can always go to Italy.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16893 posts
I agree that you're more likely to fit Italy into a future trip than Croatia, so I would rent a car to poke around Slovenia and the northern half of Croatia (or to drive across the Italian border, if you wish). I had no trouble driving around the area, except when I made the mistake of trying to drive along the coast on a Saturday in August (peak traffic time).
That's also because public transport across the border to Italy takes longer than you might guess, unless you just book a private shuttle like GoOpti. Croatia's main train line goes down the center of the country, not along the coast, so buses usually figure into the public transport mix there. There are ferries to islands, but the long-distance car ferry no longer runs down the Croatian coastline.
Posted by
Washington DC
27063 posts
The Plitvice Lakes National Park in northern Croatia is a magnificent destination if you're lucky with the weather. It is mobbed by daytrippers during peak season, when it's essential to spend the night before your visit very close to the park so you can get an early start. I don't know how essential that would be in March, but it certainly would not hurt. With an early start you will not need all day at the park.
At least in summer, there's decent public-bus service to the park from both Zagreb (nice city though not on the coast) and Split. I don't know how much service there is in March. In any case, you'd need to select your lodgings carefully for proximity to the park if you didn't have a car.
Posted by
Coeur d'Alene
375 posts
I concur with Plitvice National Park. We also enjoyed the Istrian Peninsula and the town of Motovun. It's a village atop a hill. It was once part of Italy, and birthplace of Mario Andretti. Truffles grow in the forest nearby. We enjoyed the truffle dishes that were prepared.
Posted by
Magyarország / Rep of Texas
17870 posts
Public transportation: Italy.
Rental car: Croatia.
Posted by
OP
4 posts
Thank you all so much for the advice! We are going to do Croatia and rent a car and will for sure be staying at least one night in Plitvice. Thanks again!
Posted by
Noblesville, Indiana, USA
1360 posts
How about this: drive from Ljubljana to Istria (Croatia) and spend a few nights. Then drive over to Venice for a few more before driving back to LJU. I'm basically doing this same trip in July although we're headed to Switzerland from Venice.