1

Hi Ed!

It is very hard to predict whether the snow will fall or not. In fact snow falls in December are pretty frequent. Anyway, the road from Zagreb to Plitvice is in very good condition and in the case of snow it is cleared within several hours. There were no cases for several years that this road remained impenetrable.

Snow chains have to be in the trunk of your car regardless the actual road conditions. So, please, ask from the rent a car company to provide you with the chains and let's hope you will not have to put them on the wheels. Sometimes in the case of snow, good winter tyres are sufficient and the chains are not necessary although you still have to have them in the trunk of your car.

Any car can travel on the road between Zagreb and Plitvice, so 4wd is absolutely not necessary.

2

I don't really see the need to rent a car. If you take a bus, you will be dropped off right at the park entrance, right where you would have to park your car anyhow. The only advantage might be that you will avoid having to wait outside for a bus, and not knowing the exact return schedule. But otherwise, you won't need the car at the park. Make sure you are dressed for the weather conditions, including good boots and winter weather gear

3

Many thanks for your help and the info!!

We were considering also to go to Piran but are a bit short on time and have to make a choice. Would you recommend to go to Piran or Plitvice?

Many thanks
Ed

4

The only things the two share is the letter P. In two different countries, too. You will have to make up your own mind. In case you go for Plitvice, winter tires are mandatory.

5

Honestly, Piran and Plitvice are totally different locations in terms of essence. Piran is small, pictoresque Adriatic town well worth visiting, anyway in no other way specific because just on the route along western Istrian coast, you will encounter Novigrad and Rovinj, the towns of the very similar shape, with Rovinj being above all of them.

Plitvice is a nature, pure and specific. It is a national park and the waterfalls & lakes system within it is considered the most beautiful and the most complex in the entire Europe and among the top three in the entire world.

This is my opinion, but it should be up to you to decide.

In case that you plan to use the bus instead of a rented car as #2 proposes, you can use this site to determine the time of your departure from Zagreb and also the time of return: http://akz.hr/default.aspx?id=261 . Anyway, if you can afford a rented car, it is much better option because in that way you have your autonomy and you will be able to see another pearl close to Plitvice. This one is called Rastoke and you will pass close to it when passing through the small town of Slunj: http://www.cromagazin.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Rastoke1.jpg .

6

#5: Interesting Flumy, I fully share your opinion visiting Piran, Novigrad etc. and Plitvice this October.

My opinion: if you want to set things in stone, choose for the coast (Piran and more) because the weather conditions are less risky.
On the other hand, it's a long shot to go to both. In Plitvice you can spend more time as a real nature lover, it's great and ... large. Piran is very small.
But Piran, Limski fjord and Rovinj together should make a nice 2 days tour. Or slightly inland and quite different embedded: Buie.