The Ultimate Plitvice Lakes Travel Guide
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Tips for a Perfect Waterfall-Chasing Trip in Croatia
Plitvice Lakes National Park was my absolute favorite place I visited during my three-week adventure around Croatia, and I’m not the only one who feels that way! It’s Croatia’s largest and most popular national park and one of the most-visited spots in the country, which can often make planning a trip there a daunting and difficult prospect.
That’s why I’ve put together this guide to make your trip there go as smoothly as possible. By following this guide, you’ll minimize the risks of having a bad trip, and you’ll leave the park happy with a camera roll full of waterfalls.
In a Rush? Check out my Quick Guide:
Where to Stay:
Falling Lakes Hostel (Hostel)
Plitvice Miric Inn (Budget)
Grand Lakes Rooms (Mid-Range)
Tesla’s Gastro House Plitvice (Luxury)
Activities to Book:
Plitvice Lakes Private Guided Walking Tour
Flying Dress Photoshoot Experience
Plitvice Lakes Tour with Train and Boat Ride
Must-See Spots:
– Veliki Slap (The Big Waterfall)
– The Upper Lakes (Gornja Jezera)
– The Lower Lakes (Donja Jezera)
– Kozjak Lake
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What is So Great About Plitvice Lakes National Park and Why Should You Visit?
Good question. We’ve already established that it’s the largest and most popular of Croatia’s national parks (which is no easy feat considering all the ones I saw there were spectacular), but it’s also the oldest one as well, becoming Croatia’s first national park on 8 April 1948.
So what makes it so special? Although most of the park is primarily forest vegetation, it’s most famous for the outstanding beauty of its extensive lakes and waterfalls system. There are 16 names and several smaller, unnamed lakes cascading into each other. The process of tufa formation resulted in the creation and particular formation of the lakes and is of outstanding universal value, resulting in its admittance into the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997.
Today, the lake system has been divided into Upper Lakes (12 lakes) and Lower Lakes (the remaining 4). The lakes end in the spectacular Sastavci waterfalls, which cascade into the mouth of the Korana River. Charming wooden walkways lead visitors around the scenic and enchanting landscapes.
Basically, if you love outstanding natural beauty, walking through forests and around lakes, and well, chasing waterfalls, then Plitvice Lakes National Park is the perfect place for you to visit.
5 Top Tips for Visiting Plitvice Lakes National Park
I’m not going to waste your time talking about bringing plenty of water and wearing the right kind of footwear. It’s a huge park, so those are pretty obvious musts. Instead, I share tips that are specifically useful for visiting Plitvice Lakes. Check them out below!
1. Stay the night
This is my number one rule! Many people choose to visit this 300km2 park as a day trip, but, in my opinion, that would be a huge mistake! Yes, I know the entry ticket can be steep, but hear me out.
Firstly, you get a pretty hefty discount on a two-day ticket, so you wouldn’t be spending double what you would for one day.
Secondly, the park is huge! If you’re intending to see a good amount of it (and I’m assuming you are considering you’ve come all this way), then it would be a shame to miss out. Though it’s possible to see quite a bit of the park in one day, the routes can take up to 7 or 8 hours! Now, unless you’re an avid hiker, this is probably more than what you’ve bargained for.
It’s easy to get fatigued, irritated, or worse, burnt out from all the beauty. If you’re starting to think, “Oh no, not another gorgeous waterfall,” then maybe you’ve spent too much time there. There is such a thing as beauty overload.
However, if you split the visit into two days, you’re guaranteed to appreciate it more.
Check below for my best recommendations on where to stay.
2. Choose your route carefully
Assuming you’ve followed my advice from tip 1, the next important tip would be to choose your route carefully. There are two different entrances to the park, and eight different routes to tour the lake system, which you can find illustrated here. Some routes are easier and shorter, while others are quite comprehensive, though very long.
I found that the perfect balance between the two was to choose routes E and F, to be completed over two days. Both start from Entrance 2 and are circular routes. Route E explores the Upper Lakes section and includes a boat ride, wooded shores, and the Great and Small Prštavci Falls, among others. Route F explores the Lower Lakes and includes another boat ride, a walk through the limestone canyon, numerous viewpoints, and the Great Waterfall.
These two routes together give you one of the most comprehensive tours of the entire lake systems and are both equally astounding, but quite different, so there’s no risk of seeing the same landscapes.
Alternatively, you can always book a guided tour, so you don’t have to worry about planning your route at all!
3. Go in the right season
Although all seasons are magical in their own way, many contributing factors can make or break your trip to the park. Summertime is not only the hottest time to go, and therefore poses a greater risk of heatstroke, dehydration, and fatigue, but it’s also the most popular time to go, resulting in the priciest tickets and largest crowds.
Winter, on the other hand, is the cheapest and emptiest time you’ll see the park, but it’s also the most volatile time to go, as some areas may be closed, and it may be quite cold and uncomfortable to spend the entire day outside.
In my opinion, autumn and spring are the best times to visit. There are fewer people, and the entrance ticket is a lot cheaper than it is in summer. I visited in May and couldn’t have been happier. The weather was just right. I had clear, sunny days, yet the temperature was perfect, not too hot and not cold. The crowds were manageable, and I even got stretches of the park to myself (though conversely, some other sections seemed more people-dense than usual).
4. Plan ahead
Plitvice Lakes National Park is not really somewhere you can wing. To make the best of your experience, you’ll want to plan pretty much everything in advance.
This means checking the weather conditions for your visit (as torrential rain and other factors could close off sections of the park), buying your tickets in advance (in the summertime, they tend to sell out), planning your route to the park (and also buying your bus tickets in advance) and through the park, and booking your accommodation (check below) in the area if you plan to spend the night.
If you’re reading this paragraph, then guess what, you’re already in the right place for planning your whole Plitvice Lakes National Park adventure 😉
5. Bring the right gear
Okay, I know that I said I wasn’t going to talk about water and footwear, but I lied. Water and footwear are important when you’re planning on spending the entire day outside hiking through nature! But there are other important things you need to consider, too. Here’s a list of everything you should consider bringing when visiting the park. Trust me, you’ll thank me later.
- Lots of water, preferably in a reusable container
- Good walking shoes and a change of socks (in case your feet get wet)
- A rain jacket – some of those waterfalls practically drenched me!
- Sunscreen, a sun hat, sunglasses – pretty much anything that has the word “sun” preceding it
- Chapstick
- A small and light backpack – you don’t want to be lugging too much stuff around
- A fully charged camera or extra batteries
- A power bank and cable for your phone
- Appropriate clothing for walking for many hours
- Layers, in case you get too hot or cold
- Snacks and a packed lunch (though there are food spots inside where you can pick up lunch, they are few and far between and tend to be crowded areas, so you may want to bring your own)
- Band-Aids for cuts and blisters, and any other medication you might need
- A good attitude!
Where to Stay near Plitvice Lakes National Park
If you are planning to stay a night or more in the area, then you have plenty of options to choose from. There are three hotels inside the park itself: Hotel Jezero, Hotel Bellevue, and Hotel Plitvice, located near Entrance 2, but unless it is necessary to be as close to the park as possible, then I wouldn’t really recommend them, as they tend to be a little overpriced for what they are offering.
Here are a few options where you’ll get more bang for your buck:
- Plitvice Miric Inn: A family-run guest house located in the village of Jezerce. What’s lovely about this accommodation is that it preserves some of its traditional oak wood and tufa stone features, making it a super cozy stay.
- Grand Lakes Rooms: Rustic exterior, modern interiors. This accommodation offers the best of both worlds. It also has an on-site bar and restaurant, which is a perfect place to relax after a full day of exploring the parks.
- Tesla’s Gastro House Plitvice: This sustainable guest house seems to have it all: a restaurant, a patio and garden, an outdoor fireplace, and sports facilities. It even comes with a coffee shop!
How to Get to Plitvice Lakes National Park
Plitvice Lakes National Park is a popular day-trip destination and is quite easily accessible by bus or car from the cities of Zagreb, Zadar, and Split. Many people base themselves in one city and go and return, or you can use Plitvice Lakes as a stopping point in between two destinations on your Croatian itinerary, like I did when I took a bus from Zadar to Krka National Park, spent a night there, and then took a bus onwards to Karlovac.
There are no airports particularly near Plitvice Lakes, so most people opt to fly into Zagreb or Zadar and travel from there. Split is further away, and though possible to do as a day trip, it would involve a lot of travel time (around 7 or 8 hours altogether), so staying the night is recommended.
Book your bus tickets in advance (for both the go and return) as tickets and bus frequency vary depending on the season. Make sure you arrive at the bus stop with plenty of anticipation.
There are two entrances to the park, so make sure you know in advance which entrance you need to enter, as it’s quite hard to travel between them outside the park. The bus stops are located on the road outside the entrances.
If traveling by car, parking is available at both entrances, though there is a fee depending on the vehicle and the season.
Tours to Plitvice Lakes National Park
Many opt to visit the national park by tour which simplifies things as the logistics are taken care of, and it’s a great way to meet fellow travelers, especially if traveling alone. Here are three options:
Useful Info
Below I give a guideline to ticket prices and opening hours, but always check the official website here for the most up-to-date information, as it is subject to change.
Tickets
Ticket prices vary depending on the time of year you are visiting, with the most expensive being during the summer months (June-September = €40; or €25,00 for half-day tickets) and less than half that price in the dead of winter (November-March = €10). Shoulder Season is also much more reasonably priced (October and April-May = €23,00).
Children under 7 and people with disabilities go free, and children under 18, as well as students and groups, have reduced prices.
If you’re planning on spending more than one day at the park, then buy a two-day ticket, as they are considerably cheaper than buying two separate day tickets (June-September = €60,00; November-March = €15,00; October, April-May = €39,00)
The electric boats and panoramic vehicles provided by the park are included in your ticket.
Buy your tickets in advance here to ensure your entry on the day of your choosing.
Opening hours
The national park is open 365 days a year, though the hours the park is open to the public vary depending on the season. Also, be aware that many hospitality facilities are closed during the winter months.
November to March = 08:00 – 16:00
Apil & May = 08:00 – 19:00
June & August = 07:00 – 20:00
September & October = 07:00 / 08:00 – 18:00 / 19:00
Luggage Storage
If you’re traveling to Plitvice Lakes National Park with your luggage and/or your accommodation is far from the park entrance, then no fear, both entrances to the park have free luggage storage. You can ask in the Visitors Information Center at both entrances, and they will give you a key to a small wooden hut used for luggage storage. All luggage must be picked up before closing time.
FAQs About Plitvice Lakes National Park
Below are some frequently asked questions about Plitvice Lakes. I tried to be as thorough as possible, but you can always drop me a comment or email if you have a question that wasn’t answered here, and I’ll try to get back to you as soon as possible.
Where is Plitvice Lakes National Park located?
What is Plitvice Lakes National Park known for?
The park is renowned for its mesmerizing landscapes, featuring 16 interconnected lakes and cascading waterfalls, rich biodiversity, wooden pathways allowing access to its stunning vistas, and strict conservation measures to preserve its unique ecosystem.
Can I swim in Plitvice Lakes National Park?
No, swimming is not allowed in the lakes of Plitvice Lakes National Park to preserve the unique ecosystem and protect the natural environment.
Are there guided tours available in Plitvice Lakes National Park?
Can I bring food and drinks into the park?
Yes, you can bring food and drinks into the park. There are picnic areas where you can enjoy a meal amid the natural surroundings. There are also food stands available in dedicated sections of the park in case you get hungry.
Is camping allowed in Plitvice Lakes National Park?
No, camping is not permitted within the park; however, there are three hotels in the park itself. There are also nearby campgrounds and accommodations in the surrounding area.
Can you fly a drone in Plitvice Lakes National Park?
Drone use or any other remote-controlled aircraft for filming is strictly banned.
How much time do I need in Plitvice Lakes National Park?
I personally don’t think one day is enough to visit the park, though many attempt it. If you want to make sure you see it without the crowds, it may be better to spend a night nearby and split your park route over two days.
What is the best time to visit Plitvice Lakes National Park?
The best time to visit is during the shoulder season because there are way fewer people and the ticket is a fraction of the price. I visited in May and was quite happy with my choice.
Which is better: Plitvice Lakes or Krka?
They’re different! Honestly, I loved them both, and if you have the time in your itinerary, you should try to visit them both. However, if you only have time to see one, I would recommend the one that is closer to you geographically. If you’re based in the south of Croatia, maybe pick Krka; if you’re closer to the north, go for Plitvice Lakes.