I'm currently living in Prague and thought a trip to Slovenia and Croatia in the summer would be amazing. My friend and I would be driving there and we were hoping to do a one week trip. While I'm usually quite good at planning trips, I'm at a loss for this one. The more I look at where to stop in Slovenia and where to end in Croatia, the more overwhelmed I get! There is so much to see and do that I'm having a hard time deciding anything, I need advice on must sees! I guess my questions are: Is it too ambitious to see Slovenia and Croatia in one week? I want to see some of the caves in Slovenia and Lake Bled looks beautiful, is Ljubljana a must see as well? Where is a good sea destination in Northern Croatia but still accessible to the Plitvice lakes? My last question is would it be more beneficial to see more of Slovenia or to drive directly to Zagreb?
Any help would be appreciated!
Posted by
Seattle
4637 posts
One week including driving there and back is very little but if that's all what you have then I would concentrate just on one. In Croatia the gems are: Plitvice Lakes, the coast (Korcula, Dubrovnik). Enjoy the drive. You won't have time for more. Skip Zagreb this time. Ljubljana is a nice town but you have so little time and you are already living in one of the most beautiful cities in Europe.
Posted by
Sioux Falls, SD, USA
3051 posts
I'd plan a circle trip. Drive to Salzburg->Ljubljana and stay night in Hostel Cjelica (the old prison, it's a hoot), walk around, have dinner. Stay 1 day. Drive to the coast Rovinj or some part of Istria peninsula. Stay 1-2 days. Drive to PL, stay overnight, arrive at park 8 AM, do park early before crowds, go to Zagreb for night (2-3 hr drive). Stay overnight. You can then exit circle by going to Vienna->Prague or Ljubljana (a city I wished we'd spent more time in). A week is a short time, but we did a lot of Croatia in a week last summer. We went to Split which I am not sure was a useful use of 3 days.
Posted by
Ajdovscina
106 posts
Hi Jessica!! One week will fly by and with the travel there and back, doesnt leave much time at all! There is so much to see in Slovenia itself we would probably recommend that and leave Croatia for another trip. Lake Bled and Bohinj will mesmorize you for 2-3 days at least and then you can check out Ljubljana, Postojna Caves, Logarska Dolina and Skofja Loka just to name a few. Let us know of you need more info, always glad to help
Greg and Rona
Posted by
columbus, nc
294 posts
I have to agree with Greg. You could send a week in each country and enjoy it. Trying to do both in one week will leave you feeling like you missed some things and have to come back. (Maybe not so bad) I think Slovenia is the one I would choose first.
Posted by
Indianapolis, IN, USA
9 posts
Plan to stay 2 nights in each location and pick your top spots that can be part of a loop. Mathematically that will limit you to 3 locations at most. If you are living in Prague you can always go back.
Posted by
wichita, kansas
484 posts
We used http://www.pg-slovenia.com/. It's an excellent service and can help you get the most out of your time.
Posted by
Denver, Colorado, USA
143 posts
I always agree with Greg and Rona! :-) There is plenty to see in Slovenia for a week. Possibly, you could visit some sites in the north of Croatia, but you will eat up all your time in transit if you try to travel down the Dalmatian Coast too. Since you are already living in the "Golden City", I would save Zagreb for another trip.
Posted by
Utah
446 posts
we spent nine days starting in Ljubljana and ending in Dubrovnik and it was quick! i wished we had more time in Slovenia so i would advise one or the other with only a week. in Slovenia walk Vintgar Gorge near Lake Bled and visit Skocjan Caves. Predjama Castle is worth a look. in Croatia Plitvice Lakes was my favorite. Split and Dubrovnik were great. Rovinj, Krka Falls, Trogir and Ston were nice as well.
Posted by
OP
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
7 posts
Thank you for all the replies! I think I'll follow all of the advice and just focus on Slovenia... but because I have more time than I originally thought, and a free stay in Budapest available... I've decided to do one week in Hungary and one week in Slovenia! Now it is just breaking down and making a route for Slovenia but I've taken all the suggested places and now deciding what I want to see the most. Thank you again! Jessica