If you are visiting Plitvice Lakes National Park and need help with travel planning, our Plitvice Lakes Travel Guide is here to help! We share here all you need to know to plan a perfect visit to Plitvice.
Nested in the mountainous Lika region, halfway between the coast and the capital, Zagreb, Plitvice and Dubrovnik are the most visited sites in Croatia. The lakes became a protected national park in 1949, and since 1979, the place has also been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
This wonderful natural phenomenon consists of 16 interconnected lakes and over 90 waterfalls of different sizes.
For us, Plitvice Lakes Park is one of the most wonderful places we’ve ever visited. The color of the water, changing from emerald green to aqua blue, is simply mesmerizing. And it’s so clear that you can easily see through the water and spot small fish.
Table of Contents
Where is Plitvice?
Located in the mountainous Lika region in central Croatia, halfway between Zagreb and Zadar, Plitvice National Park is a perfect stop for anybody traveling from north to south or vice versa.
Zagreb and Zadar are the closest towns to Plitvice Lakes. Below are the distances from the park to different Croatian towns, as well as the driving time between Plitvice Entrance 1 and each of these towns:
- Zagreb: 135 km, 2 hours
- Split: 270 km, 3 hours
- Zadar: 160 km, 2 hours
- Rovinj: 260 km, 3.5 hours
- Dubrovnik: 465 km, 5 hours
Below is the location of the lakes on Google Maps.
How to get to Plitvice Lakes?
Many visit the lakes for one day, either from Zagreb, Zadar, or Split. However, we recommend staying at least 2 days in Plitvice Lakes. Staying in Plitvice overnight gives you a chance for easy and early access to the lakes and more time to explore the national park.
You can easily visit Plitvice Lakes on your own. You can rent a car or take an intercity bus.
However, we suggest visiting Plitvice Lakes with a guide, as a part of an organized group tour, or on your own, but hiring the guide to take you around the park. The first time we visited Plitvice Lakes, we took the wrong trail and exhausted ourselves on the hike that didn’t lead anywhere (just through the woods).
Travel to Plitvice Lakes from Zagreb
If you travel from Zagreb by car, head to Karlovac, 40 km southeast of Zagreb. Take a state road D1 direction Slunj, Grabovac, Plitvice from Karlovac. The park is about 80 km south of Karlovac. The highway fees amount to 2.5 €, and the ride is less than 2 hours.
If you prefer to travel by bus from Zagreb to the lakes, it’s super easy. Many buses leave throughout the day from Zagreb’s main bus station. The trip takes about 2.30 hours, and the ticket costs 14 €.
Travel to Plitvice Lakes from Zadar or Split
From Zadar or Split, drive on Highway A1 and take the exit of Gornja Ploca. Then, continue along State Road D522 to Udbina. From Udbina, take the D1 road to Plitvice Lakes Park. One-way highway fees from Zadar cost 3.20 €, and from Split, the highway fees will set you back 11.20 €. The drive from Split takes less than 3 hours and from Zadar a bit less than 2 hours.
A bus from Zadar to the national park departs throughout the day, and the ticket costs about 14 €. The ride takes around 2.30 hours.
A bus from Split costs 22 €. It takes about 4h 30 min and departs many times a day in high season.
Buy bus tickets to and from Plitvice Lakes through Bookaway’s website.
Day tours to Plitvice
If you don’t feel like doing this visit on your own, below you will find some popular coach tours to the lakes.
- A Full-Day Coach Tour From Zadar
- A group tour from Split
- A Day Trip from Zagreb to the Lakes and Rastoke
The best time to visit Plitvice Falls
Plitvice Falls is worth visiting at any time of the year because it changes with every season.
Summer is the most popular time to visit Plitvice Lakes. However, due to various reasons, it is not the best time to visit. In summer, especially in July and August, there are too many people on the trails, so walking normally is impossible. It is also very difficult to take pictures without other people on them and to take pictures without waiting for other people to do the same. Also, in summer, weeks without rain lower the water level than in spring or autumn, and the cascades and waterfalls are less attractive.
Spring and autumn are the best time to visit the park. You’ll benefit from high water levels in spring and witness the waterfalls and streams running wildly. Autumn is also a good time to visit the park as there aren’t many people around, and trees start changing colors.
When covered in snow in winter, the waterfalls look like a scene from a fairy tale.
How to plan a visit to Plitvice Lakes National Park
In the following chapters, you will find everything you need to know to plan your perfect visit to the lakes. The National Park covers an area of almost 73.000 acres. It has 16 lakes, over 90 waterfalls, caves, caverns, and forests. Lakes are divided into 12 Upper Lakes and 4 Lower Lakes. The Upper lakes are larger than the Lower lakes.
Plitvice Lakes National Park is accessible on foot via dirt paths and walkways. Shuttle buses run every 20 minutes through the designated areas of the park. A visit also includes a boat ride.
The park’s highest point is Seliski Vrh (1279 m), and the lowest is the Korana Canyon (367 m). Lakes lie at an altitude between 503 m and 636 m.
Map of the park
Below, you will find the park map with both entrances marked and all bus and boat stops and, most importantly, lakes and waterfalls.
The free map you get with the ticket isn’t very useful. On our last trip there we didn’t have a map and we did regret it later. We ended up walking around without an idea where we were going.
While trails are often well-marked, unfortunately, it’s not always. At certain fork roads, you need to use your own judgment. You can always consult Google Maps or familiarize yourself with the trails using the park’s app (found on the Park’s website).
Entrances to the park
The waterfalls can be accessed through two main entrances open to the public and the third auxiliary entrance, Flora. The north entrance, known as Plitvice Lakes Entrance 1, is just above the Lower Lakes, while the south entrance, Plitvice Lakes Entrance 2, is next to the Upper Lakes.
If you travel by car, you will like to know that parking spaces are abundant even in the high season. However, in high season, you’ll perhaps have to park further from the entrance.
An auxiliary entrance – entrance Flora – is close to the hotels Bellevue and Plitvice.
Remember that in the wintertime, from November through March, you can access the park through Entrance 1 and Entrance Flora. Entrance 2 remains closed in winter.
Trails
There are as many as 8 different hiking trails (four different hiking trails for each of the two main entrances). The shortest route takes 2 to 3 hours, and the longest up to 8 hours. Although the routes are marked, they aren’t always easy to follow. Sometimes, the marks aren’t clear.
The best route depends on how fit you are, how much time you have, and how much you enjoy hiking. But if you ask us, then the best route is route C.
Route A
This route starts at the north entrance to the park (Entrance 1), descending down to lower lakes, and leading to the Great Waterfall. You return a bit and then continue along lower lakes to the Kozjaka Bridge. From here you walk uphill back to the Entrance 1. You can also take a shuttle back. This route is 3,5 km long, it takes 2 to 3 hours, and it isn’t physically demanding. However, you only get to see the lower lakes.
Route B
Similar to the route A, but it continues across Kozjaka Bridge where you take a boat across the Kozjaka Lake. Once you get off the boat, you can walk back to the Entrance 1, or take a shuttle back. This route is 4 km long, it takes 3 to 4 hours, and a hike is easy.
Route C
The trail C is actually extended route B. The first part is the same, but instead to return to the Entrance 1 after the boat crosses the Kozjak Lake, you continue the hike along the other three lakes to the southernmost Proscansko Lake. Route C is 8 km long, it takes 4 to 6 hours, and a hike is moderate.
Route K1
The longest route to take starting at Entrance 1, route K includes also a hike around the Proscansko Jezero. The route K is 18,3 km long, it takes 6 to 8 hours, and a hike is demanding.
Route E
The shortest route of all starting at the south gate – Entrance 2, route E takes you along the Upper Lakes, all the way to the Proscansko Jezero. You start a visit with a short boat ride across the Kozjak Lake. You can come back by a shuttle bus or on foot. The route is 5,2 km long, and it takes 2 to 3 hours.
Route F
Route F takes a different direction than the route E. You start a visit with a long boat ride across the Kozjak Lake. From there you continue a visit across the Kozjak bridge and along the lower lakes to the Great Waterfalls. On return, you’ll need to walk up to arrive at the shuttle bus stop. The route is 4,6 km long, and it takes 3 to 4 hours.
Route H
Route H includes a bus ride to the Studovac site near the Proscansko Lake. Here you start your hike along the Upper Lakes to the Kozjak Lake that you cross by boat. After a boat ride, you continue walking along the lower lakes all the way to the Great Waterfall. You return to your starting point by shuttle bus. The route is 8,9 km long, and it takes 4 to 6 hours.
Route K2
Similar to route K1, the K2 route gives you an opportunity to explore the entire lakes’ section of the park. The hike starts at the south entrance – Entrance 2. The route is 18,3 km long, and it takes 6 to 8 hours.
Entrance fee
Nov.-March | Adults: 10 € | Children (7 to 18): 4.5 € | Students: 6.5 €
April, May, Oct | Adults: 23.5 € | Children (7 to 18): 6.5 € | Students: 14.50 €
June-Sept for visits until 4 pm | Adults: 39.80 € | Children (7 to 18): 15.90 € | Students: 26.50 €
June-Sept for visits after 4 pm | Adults: 26.50 € | Children (7 to 18): 9 € | Students: 16.50 €
Parking costs 1.30 € per hour from June through September and 1 € per hour for the rest of the year. In wintertime, sometimes, the management allows free parking. Children below 7 years of age are free of charge. Students need to show a valid student ID to obtain a discount. There is also a discount for groups of 15 people or more.
The park’s management introduced an online ticketing system in 2019. A limited number of visitors per hour can enter the park. So, if you want to make it in, you are highly encouraged to purchase your ticket in advance through the park’s website.
Working hours & contacts
The park is open year-round, but certain parts of the park can have limited access due to the weather conditions. The electric boat runs every 30 minutes, from 8 am to closing time. The shuttle bus runs every 30 min from 8.15 am to closing time.
Entrance 1 & auxiliary entrance Flora| Nov.-March: daily, 8 am-3 pm (entering the park until 1 pm, visits allowed until 3 pm) | April, May, September, October: daily, 8 am-6 pm (entering the park until 4 pm) | June-August: daily, 8 am-7 pm (entering the park until 4 pm)
Entrance 2 is closed from November through March. In other periods it has the same working hours as entrance 1.
Parking | Daily, 7 am-8 pm
Contacts | t: +385 0 53 751 026 | e: info@np-plitvicka-jezera.hr | Website
Tips for visiting Plitvice Croatia
- With a ticket, try to enter the park through entrance 3. It’s much quieter, and the boat stop is very close by.
- Go to the toilets before entering the park. You’ll find toilets along the trails, at certain stops, but maybe not when you really need them.
- Take plenty of water and enjoy it at your own pace.
- Look at the boards to decide which route to take, but expect it to take a little longer than stated.
- Get there early to avoid crowds. Crowds also tend to go down after 3 pm.
- If visiting in summer, be patient. Some trails are narrow. People of all ages visit the park. Some people move very slowly. And people do stop to take photos.
- Further parts of the park are less crowded even in summer (from Burgeti station further away).
- Swimming isn’t permitted in lakes here, but you can hire a small rowboat for only 7 € per hour. You will find these rowboats on Lake Kozjak near the electric boat stop P1.
- Dogs are allowed in the park but must always be on a leash.
- If you travel by bus and wonder where to leave your luggage while visiting the lakes, you’ll like to know that you’ll find a designated luggage area at each entrance. It’s free of charge but go early as storage space might be limited.
- Swimming in the lakes is strictly forbidden. However, if you feel like cooling down in cool river waters, head to the village of Korana. Here you can swim. You can also swim a bit further north in Slunj.
Accommodation
The accommodation near the park consists of vacation homes and apartments. There are also a couple of hotels near entrance 2 (walking distance to the lakes) and in nearby villages.
Conveniently located near the south entrance to the park, Hotel Jezero gives you a head start to visit the lakes. A small family-run 4-star Hotel Degenija, located only 4 km from entrance 1, is modern and clean with spacious rooms, a good buffet breakfast, free parking, and two on-site restaurants.
If you like seclusion, peace and quiet, and beautiful natural settings, and if you don’t mind driving a bit to reach the park, then Ranch Jelov Klanac is an excellent place to stay.
A wonderful detached wooden cottage, a holiday home Fairy Land is warm and cozy with a nice fireplace, a small kitchen, and a porch. The cottage can accommodate up to four people.
The Villa Verde offers modern and spacious guest rooms with en-suite bathrooms, easy lake access, attentive owners, and copious breakfasts, including farm-fresh eggs from their backyard.
Where to eat
If you’re a foodie, you might be disappointed with a food offer in this area. Many restaurants here are big, adapted to receive large coach tours, and they only work from April to October. The food is heavily based on meat, often fried or roasted.
If you drive around a bit along the road, you’ll encounter locals selling cheeses and typical pastries from the area, like cheese or apple strudel. If you like cheese, head to the village of Smiljan, where you can also visit Nikola Tesla’s birthhouse and memorial museum. Here, look for OPG Ana Milkovic (just google it!), and buy the most divine traditional squeaky cheese you can find in Croatia. We make a detour to this place every time we travel from Istria to Dalmatia and vice versa. A must-try for all cheese lovers!
If you stay overnight in the park, you can arrange with a host family to prepare your meals. This can be a hit-and-miss game because the food depends on the culinary expertise of your host family, but more often than not, you’ll eat better than in any restaurant around. Such a meal usually costs around 30€ per person, and it consists of a starter, a main, a side dish, a salad, a dessert, and a 1/2 l of table wine and water.
As for the restaurants, here are our few suggestions.
Restaurant Ambar in Rastoke has modern interiors, a beautiful outdoor terrace for eating al fresco on warm days, and tasty food. It’s not cheap, but portions are big.
The restaurant Licka Kuca is located right at the north entrance to the park. A state-owned company in charge of the entire park also runs the restaurant. This means that the service is a bit grumpy. The food is good, and the ambiance is convivial.
Located within the hotel Degenija, a restaurant Degenija serves everything: grilled meat, pasta, trouts, pizza, you name it, they’ve got it. This is a decent place to have a meal in the area.
A cafe/ bistro, Plum, also belongs to the hotel Degenija, but it offers a simplified menu featuring burgers, club sandwiches, risottos, tortillas, and the like.
What to do
Besides a visit to the national park, there are a couple of other interesting activities to do in this area.
Horseback riding
Many places in the area offer horseback riding experiences, including half-day and full-day horseback riding tours and riding school. You can also book entire horseback riding holidays around the Lakes.
Expect to pay around 25 € per hour for a field ride with a guide.
Ranch Terra | a: Irinovac 156, Rakovica | m: +385 97 629 3343 | e: ranchterra156@gmail.com | Website
Ranch Equus Igni | a: Jelov klanac 244b, Rakovica | m: +385 91 7322 702 | e: equus.igni@gmail.com | Website
A visit to Rastoke
At the entrance of Slunj, just 15 km north of the park, you’ll find an old village of Rastoke. It consists of well-preserved mills surrounded by lovely waterfalls and rapids. Bring sandwiches and have a picnic while enjoying the beauty of Rastoke. There are also a couple of restaurants and cafes with terraces above and at the edge of the water.
White water rafting
With so many rivers, streams, and rapids going through this karst region, white water rafting is, besides hiking, one of the most popular activities in the region. The best rafting here is on rivers Korana and Una (in Bosnia).
Depending on the route, expect to pay anywhere between 25€ and 45€ per person.
Mirjana & Rastoke | a: Donji Niksic 101, Slunj | t: +385 47 787 205 | m: +385 98 214 658 | e:info@mirjana-rastoke.com | Website
Bijeli Sport | a: Kokot – Pecikovici, Bihac (BiH) | t: +387 61 138 853 | e: raftbeli@bih.net.ba | Website
Read our full post on white water rafting in Croatia.
Tesla Museum
Tesla Museum is located in the village of Smiljan. The museum, or rather a park, consists of an inventor’s birth house, a Serbian Orthodox Church, a multimedia center, an old barn, and a children’s playground.
Try to schedule your visit with the start of a guided tour (every two hours). The tour shows a couple of experiments and a video about Tesla.
Working hours | Apr-Oct.: Tue-Sat, 8 am-7 pm; Sun, 10 am-3 pm; Monday closed | Nov-March: Tue-Sat, 8 am-2 pm; Sun, 10 am-2 pm; Monday closed
Prices | adults: 7 € | children, students, seniors: 3 €
Contacts | t: +385 53 746 530 | e: mcnikolatesla@mcnikolatesla.hr | Website
Cycling
Unfortunately, cycling within a national park isn’t allowed any longer, but it’s extremely popular in the surrounding area.
If you plan to cycle in this area, we highly recommend booking an organized cycling tour with some local companies.
These guys know the area inside-out and will provide the best sightseeing and routes you might otherwise not be able to access yourself. Expect to pay around 40€ per person for a guided tour. For more information, check the Huck Finn website.
If you would like to do it on your own, check cycling routes in the area at the Lika-Senj County Tourist Board website.
Hiking
Besides hiking within well-known national park routes, you can spend days in this area hiking.
Check trekking and hiking routes within the park here.
Zip-line
At the national park’s western edge is a zip line with one of Europe’s longest lines. The line is 1.700 m long and picks up speeds of up to 120 km/h (when pushed by the north wind from the back).
The price starts at 35 € per person.
Head to Pazi Medo’s website for more information. Alternatively, check another zipline in the vicinity – Adrenalin Park Plitvice.
Barac Caves
Located in the village of Nova Krslja, just a few kilometers from the lakes, the Barac caves were first opened to visitors in 1893 but soon forgotten following WWII.
A 45-minute guided tour takes you through this underground world.
Prices | March-May, October: adults: 9.95 €, children (7-18): 5.31 € | June-September: adults: 11.28 €, children (7-18): 5.97 €
Working hours | Nov.-Feb.: closed | March: Fri-Sun, 10 am-5 pm | April, May, Sept.: Daily, 10 am-6 pm | June – Aug: Daily, 9 am-7 pm | October: Daily, 10 am-5 pm
Contacts | a: Nova Krslja bb, Rakovica | t: +385 47 782 007 | e: info@baraceve-spilje.hr | Website
We hope our travel guide to Plitvice Lakes National Park was handy in planning your visit to this wonderful natural site. If you have any questions or suggestions, please leave them in the comments below.
Yes, you can. If their online timetable doesn’t give you this option, the best is to contact the park management directly.
Hi Frank –
When selecting times for entrance to the park on a 2 day ticket, is the time selected also the same entrance time for day 2? Or can you enter when you want on day 2? We want to drive up from Split and visit the park mid-day on day 1 and spend the entire day at the park on day 2, but I cannot find the information on the National Park website.
The amazing photos you see of the boardwalks and waterfalls, are they seen from doing Route A,B or C?
Thankyou.
Hi Frank,
My friend and I will be staying in Plitvice from Aug 6-8, coming from Zagreb and staying at an Airbnb in Plitvica Selo. We’re trying to figure out if we should rent a car or take a bus. Is there an easy way to get from the bus station in Plitvice to our Airbnb in Plitvica Selo? I think we’re close to Entrance 3.
We’re heading down to Split on the 8th and would drop the car off there.
Any advice is appreciated!
Hi Frank,
Thank you very much for all the great information.
Do you know if there are any buses that go directly from Zagreb International Airport to Plitvice Lakes National Park?
Thanks!
Thanks for the great article.
Where exactly the Flora entrance located ?
Is there a short way from “Donji Babin Potok” than going all the way with D52 till D1 interaction ?
Thanks
thanks for the heads up, Marian! I’ve seen it but never ha time to update the text. Will do soon! Thanks again!
Hi Neil,
that sounds about right! Entrance 1 should do. Enjoy it!
Hi
Frank
Great info on visiting Plitvice Lakes.
We are going to be visiting the lakes next week & the weather is not looking good. Rain & Cold. We have a 5yr old with us.
Which route would you recommend given the weather conditions plus any other tips to help us.
I am thinking Entrance 1 route A or C.
Hey Frank,
Thans for alle your info!
Have you seen that buying online entrance tickets is know available? Aldhough still in test phase;
https://ticketing.np-plitvicka-jezera.hr/Index.aspx?l=EN
Hi Michelle, check Diadora in Punta Scala (https://bit.ly/2DCaT5N), or Funimation Borik in Zadar (https://bit.ly/2GEk2vq).
Hello, My husband and I and our 1 year old son are planning a trip to Croatia this coming September and I was wondering if you knew of an all inclusive family resort that you could recommend that would be a reasonable drive to the national park? Perhaps a place that even offers transportation as an excursion? Thank you!
Hello
Is it possible to get a hard copy of the travel guide to Plitvice lakes?
Planning a trip this summer
Thank you
Hi Marisa,
no problem. Send it via email.
Hi, I want to bring my 78-year old Mom to visit Croatia for about 10 days. Would you mind if I send you our proposed itinerary to get your opinion on whether it is too crammed?
Doable, but demanding. Did you manage to do it?
Yes, there is a storage area at every entrance. It’s free of charge. Just ask at the entrance.
Check our post on plitvice lakes accommodation: https://www.frankaboutcroatia.com/plitvice-lakes-accommodation/
You can do it that way too. travel to Bihac, and then from there to Plitvice.
Hi Kamkin,
many intercity buses still run between Split and Plitvice. Also different group tours to from Split to PLitvice lakes are available.
Hi Nguyen,
sorry for our late reply. However, we pretty much covered answers to all your questions in the article. Except the beach. There isn’t really a beach in this area. However, people do swim in Korana River up north from the lakes. You can also find river swimming spots in Slunj, Karlovac, and Ogulin.
Hi Nada & Zeljko,
we have added a direct link to your property. Hope this helps!
As long as your clients are happy with the service you provide, we have no problems recommending your property. Keep up the good work!
Frank & Vera
Dear Frank and Vera,
Thank you for everyithing you do for promoting of Croatia and Plitvice Lakes. Thank you because you put our property at your page, we are doing our best to provide best possible stay to our guests. We lounch our website few days ago. If it is possible on Plitvice pages to link our properties with our website instead booking,com page it will meant to us a lot.
Wish you all the best,
Nada&Zeljko
Thanks, Nada! It’s fixed now.
Dear Frank,
First of all, you are doing a great job with beautiful and very useful articles about Croatia and Plitvice Lakes.
Thank you for including our house in your choice. We try to give our best and provide hospitality to our guests.
Just a little objection you put Villa Sumrak picture instead Villa Verde and vice versa.
Wish you all the best to you and your girlfriend
Villa Verde
Please help me with my situation. I just wonder if i visit the Plitvice and book the local hotel to sleep over. Is it possible to walk back to the hotel if we get deep into the park? How many hours does it take to finish a normal tour in Plitvice? And i am also looking for a beach near Plitvice. Do you have any recommendations ?
Thank so much for your help.
HI Frank
Thank you for your article, and I would like to ask if there is any ways to go to the national park from Split in mid-Oct ? Thank you
Best ,
Kamkin
Very informative! doing a two week trip thru Serbia & Bosnia, then to Croatia & Montenegro. Am considering driving from Sarajevo to Lake Plitivice. Have to heard of visitors doing bosnia to the lake – instead of traveling to split/Zagreb first?
Hello
You mention staying at Plitvice Lakes and staying with a host family. Can you provide more information on that please and thanks!
Hey frank your blog has helped a lot to plan my trip this August to Croatia ,
Just have one query , that is we are planning to go to plitvice from Zagreb , and then head to novalja from there ,
My concern is that we don’t wish to stay back in plitvice , we would want to move ahead right after the day tour .
If we do this , where we keep our luggage while we are doing our plitivce tour ? What do yo suggest will be convinient for us .
Awaiting your response , cheers
Great article!! thank you for the great tips. just one question about your tip regarding buying the tickets at gate 2 in the little booth just across the wooden bridge. Is it in entrance 1 or entrance 2?
Hi Lauren,
not sure if there is a guided tour from Zagreb to Split with a stop in Plitvice. However, you can take a regular bus from Zagreb to Plitvice, visit the lakes, and then take another one from Plitvice to Split. You can use https://getbybus.com/en/ to plan your trip. Another option is to check small group tours to PLitvice either from Zagreb, or Split using Get your Guide – https://bit.ly/2uR7u18
Hi! Loving all your guides. My friend and I are considering a bus tour from Zagreb to the Plitvice Lakes and ending in Split, rather than just flying from Zagreb to Split. Would you recommend this way of seeing the lakes? Can you recommend 1-2 tours that do this route?
Thank you!
Hi I’m visiting the Plitvice park, we were planning on taking the bus there tour for the day and then take the bus to our next stop. Wondering if there is a place for you to store your backpack for the day? Lockers etc. Thanks
Hi Frank,
We are a big group of family of 18 (13 adults plus 5 children aged 5 to 13) planning a half day visit to the park in early August. We will be driving up from Dubrovnik and stay one nite near the park. Our plan is to drive early like 7am from Dubrovnik, arrive the park around 1pm, do And finish B tour by 6pm. And we continue our journey further up the next morning.
Is this plan feasible given it will be in high season? Is B tour a good choice given we have kids? Btw, if we want to try white water rafting and zip lining, is there any age restriction? Is there any restaurant outside the park within a short distance for dinner?
Hi Frank
We will be driving to Croatia from Budapest in Sept, and our first night will be close to Plitvice Lakes, so we can walk in the morning. We then will head for Split area for two days, then up to Pula/Rovinj for two days before driving back to Budapest.
You blog is key for us to plan.
Great work! Thanks
Wow! First time I hearing about the Plitvice lake.I am excited to see that place.Thanks for sharing this article with us.
hello, thank you so much for all the information! Do you recommend a particular route for a couple in their 20s that don’t have a problem hiking and are only going to the Plitvice for one day?! We want to cover as much as we can in that one day so I heard C and H are recommended. Which one is best and which entrance?
This is awesome and hugely helpful, Frank! We’re heading to Croatia for about three weeks in September and will be spending a couple of days at Plitvice. Can’t wait to see them in person, and hope to maximize our brief time there!
Not that I know. Only if you travel with an group tour, they can arrange tickets in advance.
Hi Rasha,
it’s doable, althoug a bit of stretch. If you are traveling in high season (July, August), the border queues can be long, and take additional time. I would rather plan a sleep over at the park, or in Zagreb.
hello
If we are staying in Ljubljana with a car, would it be easy to visit the park and return to Slovenia on the same day ???
Hi Frank! Thank you so much for doing up this website! :D
I’d like to ask about your recommendation on the best route to take. I will be staying overnight in Hotel Bellevue, so I have no need to rush. I plan to do part of the walks on my arrival day, and then continue the next day. I would also prefer not to climb uphill so much as I have some difficulty with that. Going downhill is fine. In this situation, which route would you recommend for Day 1 and then for Day 2?
Thank you!
Hi Frank,
My wife and I are will be on holiday near Pula for 2 weeks from mid July and are considering a visit to Plitvice Lakes. We realise it is about a 3 hour drive, which should not be a problem. My wife has difficulties in walking, so we are wondering if it is possible to use the shuttle to get us from the car park to the lakes and back again.
Your advice would be greatly appreciated.
Regards,
Phil
Hi Frank,
Awesome post and very useful tips. Thank you!
I have one question, is there any way to book entrance tickets online?
I cannot find this option on an official website, but that would be great to skip waiting in a queue.
Thanks!
Hi Frank
We are visiting the lakes at the end of June. Do we need to take any insect repellant?
Margaret
Thank you, Zinnia! Hapy that I could help. have a nice time in Croatia!
Hello Frank!
I am simply astonished how amazingly you have considered each and every single point one should consider while visiting Plitvice national park. Thanks a lot. I wholeheartedly appriciate your effort! Keep it up and best wishes!
Zinnia
very informative, can’t wait to visit
Hi.
What route do you recomend to do with a 1 year old baby (in a baby carrier) to see the most beautiful lakes?
Thank you.
Really helpful!!
Amazing post!
Hi Frank
very helpful article!
One question for you, is it easy to book and a bus from Plitvice to Spit?
I want to come in from Zagreb and go to Split after a day at the lakes.
Thanks!