Am contemplating traveling to Slovenia in September and afterwards to Croatia. Is there a better time in September when the crowds will start to thin out? Will be going to the Julian Alps along with Bled and am wondering when you can see fall foliage typically in this part of Eastern Europe.
Posted by
Atlanta
3250 posts
We were in Slovenia and Croatia last fall. Our dates were from September 23-October 16. In looking back at photos, we were at Lake Bled on October 13 and the leaves were just beginning to be colorful--depending on when you're going in September it might be a just little early for spectacular fall foliage but that can vary a bit from year-to-year. When we first arrived in Split, the temperatures were very warm.
The crowds were light--we made some hotel reservations in advance (Split, Hvar, Rovinj, Ljubljana) and others we used Booking.com to make along the way.
If you have an opportunity in the Istria region of Croatia, try to go to a Truffle Festival. We went to one in Livade, Croatia--the event is called Tuberfest. It's like a small town fall festival. Very fun!
Have a great trip--I think that September is the perfect time to visit.
Posted by
Slovenia
470 posts
September is a great time to visit, but you won't get to see any fall foliage. The best time to see fall foliage is the second half of October, although it depends on the types of trees that dominate in the forest. Maple and chestnut trees for example turn yellow in early October, while beech trees, one of the most common, only change colour in late October. On the other hand, weather in September will be much better, the temperatures will be warm and it'll be drier, too. September is actually one of the driest months, when the summer storms have gone and the fall rain hasn't come yet, perfect for visiting.