Suggestions for single day in Hvar, Zadar, Rovinj, Korcula, Piran, and or Dubrovnik - Excursions or just walk around?

[radman2020]

We are going to these towns on Windstar.  It is hard to decide whether to meander around each town or take a tour, either to a nearby city or park OR something like a wine, olive oil, truffle type adventure.  Please add any particular special excursion or advice you have for any of these towns.  Thanks!!!!

 

also.  We will be in Dubrovnik for 2 days.  Is it worth it to take one day and go to Montenegro?

Edited April 6 by radman2020
additional question

[TouchstoneFeste]

When we visited Dubrovnik, we asked the cruise director what he thought of the included tour of the city. He suggested we looked fit enough (mid 60s but mobile) to walk the circuit of the city walls and thought we might enjoy that more. Boy, did we! It's a longish walk, great views of the city and surrounding areas. Game of Thrones was also current at the time and it was fun to turn a corner and realize we were approaching the House of the Undying or the place Varys and Tyrion chatted.

[edinburgher]

16 hours ago, radman2020 said:

Please add any particular special excursion or advice you have for any of these towns.

All of these ports can be easily explored independently unless there is something very special which appeals to your interests which would require a tour of some description.

 

You have some really scenic ports on your list, with the possible exception of Zadar which for us personally was a little underwhelming. Lucky to have Rovinj listed as not so many lines call there It is super pretty and we absolutely loved it. From Dubrovnik, you could visit Cavtat on your second day.

 

Reading past threads about each would be helpful and I suggest you do that if you have not already done so.  I suggest you learn  how to use the fast and easy search tool as it is a an amazing research source.  To get you  started I have done it for you as I assumed from your questions that you had not already done so.. Choose which to read  from the following results.

 

Hvar

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/search/?q=hvar&quick=1&type=forums_topic&nodes=149

 

Zadar

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/search/?q=zadar&quick=1&type=forums_topic&nodes=149

Rovinj

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/search/?q=rovinj&quick=1&type=forums_topic&nodes=149

 

Korkula

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/search/?q=korcula&quick=1&type=forums_topic&nodes=149

Piran (most visit from Koper)

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/search/?q=piran&quick=1&type=forums_topic&nodes=149

 

Dubrovnik.

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/search/?q=dubrovnik&quick=1&type=forums_topic&nodes=149

 

Cavtat

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/search/?q=cavtat&quick=1&type=forums_topic&nodes=149

 

 

 

 

 

[radman2020]

Thank you so much!!

 

It was suggested that we go to Montenegro.  Our second day could be a day trip to Montenegro (kotor?).  Any suggestions on that?

[edinburgher]

2 hours ago, radman2020 said:

Our second day could be a day trip to Montenegro (kotor?).  Any suggestions on that?

Only visited Kotor twice, each time onboard a ship. and the arrival and departure  into/out of Kotor are a huge part of the attraction which would be totally missed on a land trip. It is one of the most scenic in the world and many passengers are up on deck as much as an hour before arrival to get maximum enjoyment. I imagine a day trip to Kotor from Dubrovnik would mean travelling in a bus or car for much of the day but have no idea how long it might take as we have never done that.  On the other hand we have visited Cavtat on three of our seven visits to Dubrovnik as we love it there and it gets us away from the very high heat and the crowds in  Dubrovnik.

 

Cavtat is super easy to DI and you could do boh ways by bus, or both by little shuttle boat or one way by bus, the other by boat. There is a lovely partly shaded walk perfect for very hot days around the peninsula alongside the sea, or you could swim or sunbathe, plus lots of cafes and bars around the harbour. Tripadvisor for images and reviews.

 

 

 

 

[radman2020]

We actually found a tour that goes to Kotor by boat!!!

 

 

[Zana711]

For Dubrovnik, I would recommend walking around independently. The star attraction in Dubrovnik is to do a circular loop on the City Walls. I found that most walking tours won't take you up there anyway and it's more flexible walking on your own, as you can stop whenever you want. 

The Rector's Palace, Pile Gate, Jesuit Staircase, St Dominic Street - all those filming locations for King's Landing in Game of Thrones are within the Old Town and it's fun to explore on your own. It's also easy to take the cable car up to Mount Srd to watch the sunset. 

If you're interested, I have directions on how to catch the public bus from the cruise port to Old Town on my blog post - https://diycruiseports.com/diy-port-guides/dubrovnik-cruise-port-see-the-best-in-6-hours-or-less-diy-guide

[John Bull]

On 4/7/2024 at 7:43 PM, radman2020 said:

Thank you so much!!

 

It was suggested that we go to Montenegro.  Our second day could be a day trip to Montenegro (kotor?).  Any suggestions on that?

 

Kotor is a lovely little historic & compact town, very easy to meander on foot - lovely people as well.

 

It's under 2 hours from Dubrovnik by road, though  I was going to say much the same as @edinburgher about the wonderful sail-in to Kotor.

 

But when I checked the distance by road (57 miles) I found that the road follows the coast of that sail-in, literally waterside for most of it

https://maps.app.goo.gl/Xc6V7HKWGLLVUq8Y6

 

Then I saw that you'd found an option by boat.

Because by boat is more of a straight line route it looks to be about 35 miles, so probably takes little if any longer than by road.

 

So either or both sound good.

 

JB 🙂

 

[radman2020]

Thanks.  On further investigation, it is by car to Herceg Novi which seems to be at the mouth of the bay of Kotor... and then we take a speedboat in.