Plitvice Lakes National Park is Croatia’s oldest and largest National Park. Home to 16 lakes and over 90 waterfalls, it attracts many tourists all throughout the year. After my visit, I can see exactly why!
Planning a visit yourself? Here is every you need to know, including the best walk to do in the park!
Please note: no swimming is allowed in any of the lakes in this National Park!
Please note: Any affiliate links in this blog, allows me to earn a small commission on every purchase made. Don’t worry, it does not affect the cost of the product to you! 🙂
Location
Plitvice Lakes National Park is located north of Croatia, near the Bosnia & Herzegovina border. The nearest city is Zadar, taking you about 90 minutes to reach by car. If you are coming from the capital Zagreb, it will take you around 2 hours by car.
How To Get Here
You can either drive there yourself in your own vehicle, hire a car, catch a bus, or go on an organised trip. In my opinion, the easiest way to get here is by your own vehicle. We visited with our campervan, on our route from Zagreb to Split.
There are two entrances you can use, Entrance 1 and Entrance 2. Entrance 1 is nearer if you are coming from the north, from places like Zagreb. Entrance 2 is nearer if you are coming up from the south, from places like Split or Zadar.
If you don’t have your own/hired vehicle and you are travelling from Zagreb, Zadar, and Karlovac there is a bus that goes to the park. If you are coming from Split, Rovinj, or another coastal town, you will need to get yourself booked on an excursion that will take you to the park for the day.
There are taxis too, but personally, I wouldn’t recommend this mode of transport. It’s quite a journey, so the cost is going to be pricy!
Where To Stay
There are plenty of campsites to choose from and accommodations just outside of the National Park. We stayed at Camp Bear in our campervan, just down the road from Entrance 1.
Best Time To Visit
I personally recommend visiting in the shoulder seasons, May or October as it’s slightly quieter than the summer months. In high season, it can get ridiculously busy! But also note, the weather in the shoulder seasons, may not be as warm. If you want warmer weather, I recommend September. Even though it’s classed as the high season at the park, it will be quieter them June, July, and August. If you come in winter, you might see snow! There’s actually a ski resort just down the road from Plitvice Lakes National Park!
Costs
The price varies depending on what time of year you visit Plitvice Lakes National Park. The cheapest time is during the winter months. The most expensive time is between the 1st of June and the 30th of September.
For the full up-to-date admission prices, please head over to their website:
https://np-plitvicka-jezera.hr/en/plan-your-visit/istrazite-jezera/price-list/
It’s recommended you buy your tickets to the park in advance of your visit. Queues at the park entrance can get long, especially in peak season.
To buy your ticket in advance, please visit their website:
https://ticketing.np-plitvicka-jezera.hr/Index.aspx?l=EN
Opening Times
Here is an updated list of the park opening times:
https://np-plitvicka-jezera.hr/en/plan-your-visit/istrazite-jezera/hours-of-operation/
Bears and Wolfs
Yes, there are brown bears and wolfs in the park! Along with roe deer, red deer, lynx, and wildcats. However, the chance of you seeing any of them is low!
If you are planning on going off on one of the quieter hiking trails, I recommend carrying a bear for your own safety. They don’t cost a lot to buy. You just put it on your backpack, and it will ring as you walk. The noise of your bell will alert any bears of your presence, so you don’t startle one by accident as this is when they are more likely to attack.
Here’s an affiliate link to the bear bells I use:
Transport In The Park
Once you’ve purchased your park ticket, you have unlimited access to the park’s shuttle bus and water taxis throughout the park. They run regularly and efficiently! It’s great if you get to one side of the park and your legs are too tired to walk back!
Cost Of Parking
Parking prices vary depending on your vehicle. Campervans cost more to park than a car. They have their own designated area to park in, which is lovely to see.
For an updated parking price list, please visit their website:
https://np-plitvicka-jezera.hr/en/plan-your-visit/istrazite-jezera/price-list/
The Best Hiking Trail
The park offers a number of different hiking trails to follow. However, this one is my favourites! It leads you away from the crowds and provides you with some lovely views of the lakes.
The route isn’t necessarily a difficult hike, it’s the distance that makes it a little bit more challenging. The route is just over 11 miles long. However, if the distance is too far, you can make it shorter, without missing out on any of what I believe, are the most impressive waterfalls in the park!
To make the route shorter, you can either catch the boat at point 5, across Lake Kosjak or miss out on the climb over Stubica Hill at point 6.
Please note: this trail starts from Entrance 1!
The Route
Follow this map, as you walk the route, you shouldn’t get lost! Make sure your location is turned on and you should be able to see exactly where you are, on this map. Or if you prefer, download the GPX file and use it on your choice of route tracker.
We walked the trail anticlockwise!
1.
Starting from Entrance 1, head through the ticketed entrance and follow the path as it heads down to the waterfalls and lakes. Follow the path along the boardwalk, as it passes over two lakes. Shortly after, you should reach a path junction.
2.
At the path junction, take a little detour off the circular route, and turns towards your right-hand side. Follow the path until you reach one giant, impressive waterfall!
3.
Retrace your steps back towards the path junction, passing all the little waterfalls along the way. From here, take the path leading you south through the park, keeping Lake Kaluderovac, on your left-hand side, until you reach the bottom end of the lake.
4.
Follow the path as it continues over some boardwalks, around a smaller lake, Gavanovac, then around a larger lake, Milanovac.
5.
As you reach the bottom end of Lake Milanovac, you will come to a path junction. Take the path heading off to your right-hand side, marked Trail K. Follow the path as it leads you around the edge of Lake Kosjak.
If you want to make the route shorter, here you catch the free ferry across Lake Kosjak, instead of walking around the edge.
6.
As you reach the end of Lake Kosjak, you will be treated to a lovely waterfall. From here, follow the trail for a short distance as it heads up the hillside until you reach a path junction. At the path junction, take the path leading you straight off in front, marked Trail K.
If you want to make the route shorter, but without missing out on two of my favourite waterfalls in the park, you can take the low route around the lake, Gradinsko Jezero by taking the path going off to your left-hand side. This will miss the climb over the top of Stubica Hill, 685 metres (2,247 feet), and the walk around Lake Galovac.
7.
Follow the path as it heads up through the trees and to the summit of Subica Hill, 685 metres (2,247 feet).
Please note: there is no summit marker at the top. So the only way you can know you are at the summit is by checking the map! Also, don’t expect an incredible view! The view we got was of trees, as you can see in the photo below:
8.
From the summit of Subica Hill, continue to follow the path as it starts to slowly make its way down the hillside, through the trees. Eventually, you will reach a path junction and be greeted with such a lovely view.
This is the lovely view you should hopefully see:
9.
At the path junction, take the path going off to your left-hand side and follow it down towards the two lakes: Ciginovac and Okrugljak. Keep an eye out for a path going off to your left-hand side, as you reach the bottom of the hillside.
10.
Take the path going off to your left-hand side and follow it as it leads you around the edge of Lake Okrugljak. Shortly, you should reach a path forking off to your right-hand side.
11.
Take the path and follow it as it leads you around the edge of the lakes: Veliko Jezero and Batinovac. Eventually, you will come to a path junction.
12.
Take the path travelling slightly off to your left-hand side and follow it around the edge of Lake Galovac, until you reach another path junction.
13.
At the path junction, take the path going off to your left-hand side and follow for a short distance until you reach a path going off to your right-hand side.
14.
Take the path and follow it as it loops around a very beautiful set of waterfalls. Shortly, you reach another path junction. (Some of my favourite waterfalls in Plitvice Lakes National Park!)
15.
Here, take the path going off to your left-hand side and follow it as it leads you around the lake, Gradinsko Jezero, and over to the boat terminal.
16.
Catch the free boat across the water. It is the boat that is located on your right-hand side of the pier, marked ferry to Car Park 1 or Entrance 1 (often labeled as P1).
17.
Once you’ve crossed the lake, head up the hill to the shuttle bus stop. Catch the free shuttle bus back to Entrance 1 (P1). The shuttle bus doesn’t actually drop you off outside Entrance 1. You have to take a short walk to Entrance 1, to where you started the walk from.
Want to see what other fun things there are to do in Croatia? Please check out some of my other blogs:
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