Two senior couples that love hiking and outdoors, but we are slowed by age and only looking for easier day hikes. We are planning for September 2022. We want to cover the main sights of mountains, caves, castles, and even the sea. We prefer to stay 3 or even 4 nights in a single location, maybe 2 at beginning and end in Ljubljana.
We have visited Croatia from Zagreb to Dubrovnik by car, but skipped Istria and hill towns, so want to include Rovinj and Croatian hill towns. We will rent a car as needed. We welcome and appreciate your advice regarding a proposed itinerary. Rovinj over Piran, or both? Bled or Bohinj or both with a single lodging stay? Croatian base for exploring hill towns and truffles. Thanks in advance for your travel advice!
Posted by
Vienna, Austria
5382 posts
We've made numerous trips to Slovenia. I really like Kobarid and Bohinj as a base. One of the best hikes (a walk really) that we've done was to Slap Mostnice. Extraordinary. Of course you must look at Lake Bled and visit the Vintgar Gorge, but that can be a day trip from Bohinj. Piran is a special place and deserves an afternoon on your way to Croatia. The caves in Slovenia are epic. We loved the Škocjan Caves as these are more natural and less touristy.
For Istria, we've also been so many times. We usually stay for one week every Easter. I would suggest staying a bit interior to the coast. We rent a villa from a very reputable agency, which I can share with you in PM. They have hundreds of very nice villas - we've stayed in about 10 or so of them. We usually stay around Zminj and have a car.
Don't just fixate on Rovinj, as there are so many other great places. We love Vrsar, Fazana (and the Bruijuni Islands), Porec, Novigrad and the Kamenjak peninsula (be sure to visit the Safari Bar). We do not like Pula so much as it is quite industrial. Dvigrad is a fascinating place. Oprtalj, Buje, Groznjan are great hills towns.
You'll need a car for both Slovenia and Istria.
I use this website heavily as a resource for restaurant and winery recommendations - https://www.frankaboutcroatia.com/#. Frank is spot on.
Posted by
OP
Utah
25 posts
Emily, thank you for giving us good information. Our usual source is Rick Steves books.
Please PM info on renting villas. I see FrankAbout has two also? Thanks!
Posted by
Southeast US
3845 posts
I agree with all that Emily wrote on Slovenia; I haven't been to Croatia, so I can't affirm her thoughts on that, but I trust her judgement. You may have read this already, but the Vintgar Gorge walk is best if done early before the crowds arrive. The website is a little unclear on when the opening time goes from 7 am to 8 am (7 am in "high season" -- 8 am after high season), but I would recommend starting by 8 to 8:15 am if possible.
My 25 days in Slovenia: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/25-days-in-slovenia
Posted by
OP
Utah
25 posts
Thanks for your detailed report, Dave!
Posted by
Noblesville, Indiana, USA
1370 posts
For what it's worth:
Bled is beautiful - we visited as a day trip and wish we would have spent a night or 2;
Ljubljana is a great small city and lots of fun - we spent 1 night there and could have used another;
Rovinj is fabulous - we spent 2 nights;
Motovun and Grožnjan were our favorite hill towns - we did a day trip;
Piran is also worth visiting but not quite as nice as Rovinj - we spent 1 night;
The truffles tasted like bitter dirt - hope yours will be better.