Travel to Adriatic Coast (Slovenia and Croatia)

After taking few packaged tours in last few years, my wife and I decided to go to Slovenia and Croatia on our own - make it bit adventurous as well as relaxing. We decided on the main places to visit and left the detailed planning to later stage (decide when we are there). I booked Airbnb - this is the first time I am using Airbnb for the whole trip. We also decided to rent a car and drive (never done that in Europe before). This was a first trip with only two of us as we became Empty-nesters (kids are in college). Most of the trips I had planned when we use to travel to kids and so I like to plan my own when possible.

Why Croatia?  My wife wanted to visit Plitvice falls  (one of her bucket list places). Plitvice falls is a UN heritage site. She likes nature, small towns and historical places than big cities. After we had planned, we are informed by our kids that there were many castles in Croatia where Game of Thrones was filmed (I have watched few seasons but not a die hard fan). I like to do hiking and can do long walks but my wife can not do and so I have to make sure I don't stress her (I was warned about that by family elders). But I had taken my hiking stuff in case I get a chance :-)



Day1: Travel to Vienna (Austria)

 Day 2: Visiting Vienna. Took the metro and went to see the Leopald and Albertini museums. After that, we walked around the city a bit and then took a train to see the Shonbrurnn palace. This was the center of Hapsburg empire for 600 years.

Day 3: Travel to Bled via Ljubjiana - We took a train from Vienna to Villach  and then transferred to another train to Ljubjiana. From the train station, we inquired how to go to Bled. We found out that there is a bus and it takes 1 hr 30 min to go there. Got the tickets and hopped into the bus. We reached Bled around 4 pm. Met a person who said he can drop us at the AirBnB place. While talking to him, we found out that he has traveled to Odisha, India (where we come from).  Asking a bit more details, he has been to Sambalpur, Angul and many places in Odisha. It was fascinating to meet and talk to him.  After resting a bit, we went to see to lake (it was 0.5 mile from where we were staying). It is a small but beautiful lake (a smaller version of Lake Tahoe, CA). There was a small island in the middle with a church. We walked around the lake (~ 4 miles) had dinner near the lake and went to bed.

Day 4: Lake Bled and Ljubjiana (lub-la-na) -  Near the lake Bled there was a small castle at the top of a small mountain  (30 min hike).  We went to lake again and there my wife said I can hike to the castle while she is meditating :-)  It was a small castle converted to a church. It was closed for renovation but I was happy for hike. Took some random trails and went down other side of the mountain.  After the hike, we took a boat trip around the lake. The boat stops at the small island and allowed us to go to the church. My wife went around but I did hike to the church and to the tower.  After lunch, we took the bus to Ljubjiana. Checked into the AirBnB. The AirBnB  place was interesting .. everything was designed wine theme.

Ljubjiana is  the capital of Slovenia. It is a small town with 600K people. There is a castle on the top of a hill. It was close to the AirBnB and we started walking. It was bit of hike for my wife but slowly we made it to the top. After spending few hours in the castle, she took a tram to go down and I hiked down.

Day 5: Rovinj - We took a bus from Ljubjiana to Rovinj (Croatia). It was a 260 km bus trip. The bus went to Trieste (Italy) and then to Rovinj. Rovinj is a small beautiful Venetian town. After checking in to AirBnB, we walked around the town and coast. While my wife was resting, I hiked to the small hill to see the church.  It was very relaxing and the sunset was just beautiful.

Day 6: Pula - We took a bus to Pula (1.5 hrs). From the bus station, we took a taxi to the Pula Airport to pick up the car. Renting car is costly  - read the fine prints. The car was not ready and so waited for a hour at the airport. After we got the car, we drove to the Pula town. Found a parking spot near the AirBnB. The AirBnB person (Sasha) met us there.  The parking place was hourly and you have to pay via coins.  After few chats with parking folks helped by Sasha it was decided that the best option is to leave the car overnight - most likely I will get a parking ticket (100Kn  = $18). I will give the parking ticket to Sasha next day and he will pay it off.  The room was on the 4th floor with no elevator and was bit hard for my wife (next time I have to check the floor level when I book AirBnB).  After relaxing a bit, we hit the town. Pula was part of Roman  empire. It has the most complete Coliseum (better condition than Rome). After visiting the coliseum, we went to the various other places and walked around the town square.

Day 7: Drive to Pltivick Lake and Slunj-   I did not get a parking ticket :-) and so after quick breakfast we started driving to Plitvice lake (~ 260 km).  Before the Plitvice lake, there is a smaller version of that  in a place called Slunj (30 mile off the planned path). We decided to go there. We walked around it  and had lunch near it.  We started driving (but the wrong way) but it was part of the adventure. After another hour of driving we reached Plitvlice lake. After checking in and resting a bit, we walked around and visited the park gate.

Day 8: Plitvice lake -  We started hiking around 8 am. The lake is a cascade of lakes and waterfall.  It was beautiful. We hiked around 3-4 lakes.  When my wife decided to take a rest, I decided to go up (with her approval).  I hiked for another 1.5 hrs going four more levels to almost to the top. Around 2 pm, we headed back to the AirBnB. While my wife was resting, I went back to lake again (since we had 1 day pass) an went around the opposite way. After 2 more hours of hiking I went back. I enjoyed the lake and the hike. After resting a bit, we went out for dinner. During the dinner, we met a Swiss couple and while chatting, they said they are planning to go to split also but first they will go to Zadar.
 

Day 9: Drive to Split via Zadar  - We decided to go to Zadar and have lunch there. It was 40 miles off-track but was worth it.  The walked around the sea coast and city. Had lunch and then headed back to Split. Reached split by 3 pm.

After checking in and resting a bit. we went to see the Diocletian's palace - A palace from the Roman times (and made more tourist attraction because of Game of Thrones).

 Day 10: Island of Hvar - We decided to go the island (2 hrs boat trip from split). It is a small but beautiful island. Very relaxing. We went to the town and various streets and churches.  After lunch, while my wife was relaxing near the ocean, I decided to hike to the fortress above the hill. It was a steep 30  min hike. It was a fortress to keep watch on invaders - had a beautiful view of the ocean. We reached split around 7:30 pm  - went around the palace and had some interesting dessert (Nutella with sweet dough balls) and dinner.

Day 11: Drive to Dubrovnik -  We went to the local farmers market and bought some fruits and then started driving. The castle of KLIS is 20 min away from Split. We decided to go there. It is also another Game of Throne castle. We saw people dressed in Game of Thrones costumes while visiting the castle.  After 2-3 hrs, we started driving to Dubrovnik. 

The only way to go to Dubrovnik  is through Bosnia-Herzegovina (it was a nice surprise). We decide to spend sometime in the town of Neum  (in Bosnia-Herzegovina) and have lunch near the ocean. After lunch we headed to Dubrovnik.

But we came across a small town called Trsteno along the way and decided to see the arboretum. It was a nice place. After spending few hours, we headed to Dubrovnik.The AirBnB place was within the Dubrovnik Castle. It was nice to just step out and walk around. We walked around the streets of the castle and had a nice dinner.

Day 12: Dubrovnik - It is a Game of Throne castle.You wan walk around the castle walls. It is around 2 miles but goes up a down. After spending few hours walking around, we came down and had lunch. Once again, while my wife was resting, I headed back to the fortress just outside the castle. It needs 150-200 steps to go up.  After that I randomly walked around for an hour and then went back. We then decided to go to the tram to go up the mountain and see.  You can see the whole town from there.  It was very relaxing place. When my wife decided to do her meditation, I went to do my own meditation i.e., hike to the fortress up the hill.  It was  a fortress from roman days and used during the Croatian wars of 90's.  Now it is a museum.  We headed back after few hours, walked around the castle and went for dinner.

Day 13: Montenegro -  Montenegro is a small country (population: 700k)  and one of the 6 countries split from the Yugoslavia.  The tour took us to three towns. The town of Kotor is situated at the Balkan Fjords - the only fjords in Adriatic sea. The design of the fortress was very interesting.  While my wife was visiting the churches and the town, I went to hike the fortress. It was tough hike in the hot sun. I only did part of it (had time limit) but had to climb more than 1000 steps (68 floors) and come down in an hour. It was a bit hot also but it was fun!
The last town we went to was Perest which had an island in the middle of the Fjords. It had a 16th century church there. Took a boat and went around it.

Day 14: Fly to Vienna - In the morning, we went to the local farmers market for an hour and then headed to the Dubrovnik airport. We flew back to Vienna and checked into a hotel near the airport (I had booked it that way since the flight next day was at 7 am). We decided to go to the Vienna city center. - it is 20 km from the airport. We took the CTA (City-Airport Train) and went to the city. We walked around the park had dinner and back to hotel.

Day 15: Fly back home - Got up at 4 am and headed to the airport. Reached home safely!

Food:   Food was great - fish and seafood. We had pizza, pasta, Risotto, Gnocchi and lots of types of dessert. My wife liked the double dark chocolate ice-cream.

Most of the cities had free wifi and I used google maps (downloaded and used in the offline mode) for the driving.  AirBnB was a great experience - it allowed us to meet the hosts and learn a lot about the city and them.  Overall, it was a fantastic trip.

Hope you enjoyed the travel log. Best wishes for your travel!