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How to Visit Plitvice Lakes National Park (2024)

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Are you planning to visit Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia? Perfect! I am happy for you. I have visited Plitvice National Park several times. Trust me, you will love it! Plitvice lakes and waterfalls never stop to amaze their visitors. If you are on your way to Plitvice Lakes, check out my guide on how to visit Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia!

Visit Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia and see 90 waterfalls and 16 lakes
Sastavci Waterfalls and Veliki Slap Waterfall

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN COMPENSATED LINKS. PLEASE READ MY DISCLAIMER FOR MORE INFO.

Whenever someone finds out I am from Croatia, they ask me about my recommendation on what to see in Croatia.

And, Plitvice Lakes National Park always tops my list.

Plitvice Lakes never stops to fascinate me. Plitvice Lakes National Park has one of the most beautiful ever-seen natural scenery on the planet.

The series of lakes, waterfalls, caves, and watercourses make a natural mosaic of surreal beauty. Thousands of years of ongoing natural (geological and biochemical) processes have been shaping the breathtaking landscapes of Plitvice Lakes in Croatia. Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia is a top nature attraction in Europe and beyond. Plitvice Lakes needs to be on everyone’s must-see bucket list. Visiting Plitvice Lakes NP is an absolute must-do in a lifetime. 

If you haven’t visited Plitvice Lakes in Croatia yet, please put it on your bucket list. I hope my guide to Plitvice Lakes will help you to plan and make the most of your visit.

1. Facts about Plitvice Lakes National Park 

  • Plitvice Lakes National Park is the oldest national park in Croatia. Plitvička Jezera National Park was declared a national park in 1946.
  • Plitvice Lakes NP is the largest national park in Croatia. It covers about 30,000 ha (300 km2/ 74,000 ac) of lakes, waterfalls, caves, forests, meadows, watercourses, trekking, and hiking trails.
  • Plitvice Lakes is a World Heritage Site. UNESCO inscribed it into the World Heritage Sites List in 1979.
  • There are 90 lakes in total: 16 lakes are larger and named. The rest of the lakes are unnamed and underground lakes. 
  • The lakes are grouped into so-called Upper Lakes and Lower Lakes. 
  • There are 12 Upper Lakes: Prošćansko jezero, Ciginovac, Okrugljak, Batinovac, Veliko jezero, Malo jezero, Vir, Galovac, Milino jezero, Gradinsko jezero, Burgeti and Kozjak.
  • There are 4 Lower Lakes: Milanovac, Gavanovac, Kaluđerovac and Novakovića Brod
  • The cascading Plitvice lakes are famous for their spectacular colors varying from azure and green to grey or blue (caused by algae and minerals).
  • There are about 30 larger and smaller waterfalls in total.
  • The most famous attraction is Velik Slap (the Great Waterfall). The 78 m-high Veliki Slap is the biggest waterfall in Plitvice Lakes National Park and a must-see in Plitvice Lakes. 
  • The 81 ha-large Kozjak Lake is the largest and deepest lake in the park. 
  • The water of the lakes is drinkable. 
  • Swimming in Plitvice Lakes NP is not allowed. 
  • Plitvice Lakes NP is the top tourist attraction in Croatia. The park receives over 1.000.000 visitors a year. 
Visit Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia

2. Where is Plitvice Lakes National Park 

Plitvice Lakes National Park is in central Croatia, at the border of the neighboring Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

Zadar is the nearest city to Plitvice Lakes. Plitvice Lakes NP is only about 81 mi (130 km) from Zadar. 
Slunj and Otočac are towns near Plitvice Lakes. Slunj is only 30-min drive from Plitvice, while Otočac is about 50-min drive from Plitvice Lakes. 
The towns of Gospić, Ogulin, and Karlovac are also close to Plitvice Lakes. 

Plitvice Lakes National Park is a popular day trip from Zadar, Split, and Zagreb. 

Visit Plitvice Lakes Waterfalls in Croatia

3. Getting to Plitvice Lakes NP 

3.1 The closest airport to Plitvice Lakes National Park

Zadar Airport is the nearest airport to Plitvice Lakes. Plitvice Lakes NP is only about 81 mi (130 km), or one hour and 30 min drive, from Zadar airport. 

3.2 Zadar to Plitvice Lakes day trip 

You can reach Plitvice Lakes from Zadar by public bus. A bus ride from Zadar to Plitvice Lakes lasts one hour and 45 min.

However, the easiest and stressless way to visit Plitvice Lakes National Park from Zadar is to join a day tour from Zadar to Plitvice. Check out Secrets of Plitvice National Park Guided Day Trip from Zadar (GetYourGuide)

If you prefer visiting Plitvice Lakes independently, rent a car in Zadar and head to Plitvice Lakes. 

3.3 Visiting Plitvice Lakes from Zagreb 

Plitvice Lakes are about 93 mi (150 km) or a 2-hour drive from Zagreb. Visiting Plitvice Lakes National Park is one of the most popular day trips from Zagreb.

If you fly to Zagreb airport, I suggest checking rental cars online via DiscoverCarHire (DiscoverCarHire is an aggregate site of multiple rental car companies that offers highly affordable rental cars), picking up the car at the airport, and heading to Plitvice Lakes.
Croatia has some of the newest highways and well-maintained roads in Europe. It is safe and easy to go around Croatia by car. 

Optionally, you could visit Plitvice from Zagreb by joining a Plitvice Lakes day tour from Zagreb. A typical guided tour to Plitvice Lakes from Zagreb includes a visit to the picturesque village of Rastoke beside a visit to Plitvice Lakes. 
Check out Plitvice Lakes and Rastoke Day Trip from Zagreb (Get Your Guide) and Plitvice Lakes with Ticket & Rastoke Small Group Tour from Zagreb (Viator).

You can also visit Plitvice Lakes National Park from Zagreb by bus. A bus ride from Zagreb to Plitvice Lakes lasts two hours and 20 min. 

Rastoke village near Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia
Rastoke in the Plitvice Lakes area

3.4 Dubrovnik to Plitvice Lakes National Park

Plitvice Lakes NP is about 280 mi (450 km) northwest of Dubrovnik. In other words, a 5-hour drive will take you from Dubrovnik to Plitvice Lakes.

Visiting Plitvice Lakes on a day trip from Dubrovnik is impossible because of the distance. An average visit to Plitvice Lakes takes 5 hours. It is too time-consuming to drive from Dubrovnik to Plitvice, tour Plitvice Lakes National Park, and go back to Dubrovnik after visiting Plitvice Lakes. Therefore, there are no guided tours from Dubrovnik to Plitvice Lakes.
If you plan to visit Plitvice Lakes from Dubrovnik, book a stay in a hotel in Plitvice Lakes and stay, at least, one day in Plitvice Lakes.

There are no direct bus lines between Dubrovnik and Plitvice Lakes. To visit Plitvice Lakes National Park from Dubrovnik by bus, you must change buses. Take a bus from Dubrovnik to Split, Zadar, or Zagreb. And from Split, Zadar or Zagreb take another bus to Plitvice Lakes.

There are no trains between Dubrovnik and Plitvice Lakes either. 

The easiest way to reach Plitvice Lakes from Dubrovnik is by car. An average car drive from Dubrovnik to Plitvice Lakes lasts 5 hours. If you are starting road-tripping Croatia from Dubrovnik, check out the rental cars offer in Dubrovnik. Rent a car in Dubrovnik and head to Plitvice Lakes. 

3.5 Pula to Plitvice Lakes National Park 

The distance between Pula and Plitvice Lakes is 161 mi (270 km). A car drive from Pula to Plitvice lasts three hours and 40 min on average. 

There are no direct bus lines between Pula and Plitvice Lakes. If you want to reach Plitvice Lakes from Pula by bus, you need to take a bus from Pula to Karlovac first. And then in Karlovac switch bus to Plitvice Lakes. 

If you prefer traveling independently like me, check out rental cars in Pula and explore Plitvice Lakes and Croatia independently,

3.6. Split to Plitvice Lakes National Park 

Plitvice Lakes is a popular day trip from Split. 

Plitvice Lakes NP ís about 150 mi (240 km) from Split. It takes only two hours and 30 min by car from Split to Plitvice Lakes.  
The easiest way to reach Plitvice Lakes from Split is by car or joining a day tour. Check out car rentals in Split or Plitvice Lakes National Park Guided Tour with Tickets from Split (Get Your Guide).

Milijana Gabrić in Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia

4. Things to know before visiting Plitvice Lakes National Park 

I summarised some practical info you need to know to plan your visit to Plitvice Lakes:

  • Plitvice Lakes National Park has two main entrances: Entrance 1 (Rastovača) and Entrance 2 (Hladovina). Entrance 1 is the north entrance to the park. Entrance 2 is the south entrance to the park. Entrance 1 and Entrance 2 are 1.8 mi (3 km) apart. 
  • There are paid parking places with abundant parking slots at both main entrances. The parking fee is 1 €/hour. 
  • The Entrance 1 takes visitors from Lower Lakes to Upper Lakes. The Entrance 2 takes visitors from Upper Lakes to Lower Lakes. I recommend taking Entrance 2 to finish your Plitvice Lakes visit with the famous Great Waterfall (Velik Slap). The Great Waterfall is the largest waterfall of Plitvice Lakes and the top attraction. So, the Great Waterfall comes as a cherry on the top at the end of your Plitvice Lakes visit! 
  • There is one auxiliary park entrance (called Flora), which is in Plitvice Selo. You can’t buy your ticket at this entrance. 
  • There are bus stops close to the entrances. Thus, it is easy to visit Plitvice Lakes by bus. A bus ride from Zagreb to Plitvice Lakes takes about one hour and 50 min. A bus ride from Zadar to Plitvice Lakes takes one hour and 45 min. A bus ride from Split to Plitvice Lakes takes four hours on average. 
  • Plitvice Lakes National Park has seven trekking/walking routes (A, B, C, E, F, G, and H trails). The trials are officially called Programs. Decide which program you want to take and buy your ticket accordingly.  
  • Plitvice Lakes National Park has four hiking routes. They are purely hiking trails (without using panoramic buses and boats). Currently, the K program, an 18.6 km-long hiking route around the lakes, is only open.  
  • You can buy your ticket online in advance or at the ticket office at the entrance. I recommend buying tickets online in the summer months (the peak season) when visits are limited.
  • There are electric boats/ferries on Kozjak Lakes. The ride lasts 20 min, which is available with a valid entrance ticket.
  • There are panoramic buses and trains within the park. The rides are available with a valid entrance ticket.
  • Swimming is not allowed in Plitvice Lakes.  
  • There are four hotels inside the park Hotel Jezero, Hotel Plitvice, Hotel Bellevue, and Hotel Grabovec (currently closed).
  • There are two campsites: Campsite Borje and Campsite Korana. Campsite Korana is 6 km from Entrance 1, and Campsite Borje is 16 km from Entrance 2. 
  • There are several restaurants within the park: Lička Kuća restaurant, Poljana restaurant, Plitvice restaurant, restaurant Korana, restaurant Borje, restaurant Jezero, and restaurant Grabovica (currently closed).
  • You can find cafes within the park: Bistro Hladovina, Vučnica Bistro, Kozjačka Draga Bistro, Slap Buffet, buffet Labudovac and Cafe Bar Rapajinka, and cafe bar Flora (currently closed)
  • Trekking and hiking routes are well-marked. It is easy to navigate in the park.
  • You don’t need a guide to visit Plitvice Lakes. You can visit Plitvice Lakes NP independently. You will be perfectly fine visiting Plitvice Lakes independently!
  • I suggest visiting Plitvice on a guided tour only if you are doing it as a day trip from Zagreb, a day trip from Zadar, or a day trip from Split. Touring Plitvice Lakes with a guided tour from Zagreb, Zadar, and Split is time-efficient.
  • There are no biking routes within Plitvice Lakes National Park.
  • Plitvice Lakes is a kids-friendly national park. It is easy to visit Plitvice Lakes with kids and they love it!
Visit Plitvice Lakes National Park and see Veliki Prstavac Waterfall
Veliki Prštavac Waterfall and me

5. Plitvice Lakes routes: programs

ProgramEntranceVisit includesDurationDifficulty
A
(the shortest)
Entrance 1 Lower Lakes + the Great Waterfall3-4 hours;
2.5 mi/4 km
easy
BEntrance 1 Lower Lakes + the Great Waterfall + a ferry ride across Kozjak Lake + a short panoramic bus ride 3-4 hours;
2.5 mi/4 km
easy
CEntrance 1 Lower Lakes + the Great Waterfall + a ferry ride across Kozjak Lake + Upper Lakes + a short panoramic bus ride4-6 hours;
5.5 mi/8.9 km
easy
EEntrance 2a boat ride across Kozjak Lake + Upper Lakes2 – 3 hours;
3.2 mi /5.1 km,
easy
FEntrance 2a boat ride across Kozjak Lake + Upper Lakes + a panoramic bus ride3-4 hours;
2.8 mi/4.6 km
easy
HEntrance 2a panoramic bus ride + Upper Lakes + a boat ride across Kozjak Lake + Lower Lakes with the Great Waterfall + a panoramic bus ride4-6 hours;
5.5 mi/8.9km
easy
KBoth entrances
(Entrance 1 or Entrance 2)
Trekking around all the lakes (no boat and no bus rides)6-8 hours;
11 mi /18.3 km
moderate
Visit Plitvice Lakes National Park

6. Plitvice Lakes Entrance 1 or 2

Entrance 1 is the north entrance to Plitvice Lakes NP. If you are coming from Zagreb (which is north of Plitvice), you will encounter Entrance 1 first.
Entrance 2 is the south entrance to Plitvice Lakes. If you are coming from Split or Zadar (which are south of Plitvice Lakes), you will encounter Entrance 2 first.

However, Plitvice Entrance 1 and Entrance 2 are only 1.8 mi (3 km) apart.

Entrance 1 is closer to Lower Lakes and Great Waterfall. Entrance 2 is closer to Upper Lakes. If you are limited with time and want to visit only Lower Lakes, choose Entrance 1. But if you wish to see only Upper Lakes, head to Entrance 2.

Visit Plitvice Lakes waterfalls

7. Plitvice Lakes Lower vs Upper

More visitors visit Lower Lakes since the Great Waterfall (which is the largest attraction of the park) is there. However, the waterfalls of Upper Lakes are more interesting. As I said, there are 12 Upper Lakes and only 4 Lower Lakes. So, there are more cascades and waterfalls in the Upper Lakes section.
Nonetheless, both sections (Lower and Upper Lakes) are gorgeous. If you are not limited with time, visit both sections: Upper Lakes and Lower Lakes.

Visit Plitvice Lakes Croatia

8. TIPS for visiting Plitvice Lakes National Park

  • Try to avoid crowds and day trippers. The peak hours are from 9 am until 12 pm when day tours and day-trippers come. Come earlier in the morning to enjoy the crowds-free trails. 
  • Consider staying a night before you visit Plitvice Lakes National Park and head exploring the park earlier in the morning. Spend the entire day in the park. Enjoy the park early in the morning before the crowds and later in the afternoon when day-trippers are gone (around 5 pm).
  • July and August are the months when Plitvice Lakes receives most of the visitors. Book your ticket online in advance, if visiting Plitvice Lakes in summer.
  • Take your picnic food with you. There are a few restaurants inside the park. But the food is pricey (as you might expect in places like this).
  • Take lots of water with you on your visit.
  • Check out the water forecast for Plitvice Lakes before the visit. Floodings are possible in Plitvice Lakes National Park when it rains.
  • Wear comfortable clothing and sneakers or trekking shoes. I don’t recommend trekking Plitvice in flip-flops. It can get slippery around the waterfalls.
  • Be patient and respectful to other visitors. Plitvice Lakes Park receives a thousand visitors a day. Wooden walk boards in the park can get crowded. Besides that, Plitvice Lakes visitors often stop and take photos of the lakes and the waterfalls. So be patient and respectful to others.  
  • There are souvenir shops at both entrances. Consider buying souvenirs at the end of your Plitvice Lakes visit. There is no need to carry them with you during your entire time in the park.
Tips for visiting Plitvice Lakes National Park

9. What to see in Plitvice Lakes

Things to see in Plitvice Lakes:

  • Great Waterfall (Velik Slap) – is a 78 m-high waterfall at the end of Lower Lakes. It is the largest waterfall and the top attraction of Plitvice Lakes Park.  
  • Galovački Buk – is a 16 m-high waterfall in the middle of Upper Lakes. 
  • Milanovački Waterfall (Milanovački Slap) – is a 10 m high waterfall on the edge of Kozjak Lake and Milanovac Lake in the Lower Lakes section.
  • Veliki Prštavac Waterfall (Veliki Prštavac Slap) – is a beautiful waterfall on the edge of two lakes (Gradinsko Lake and Galovački Buk Lake) in Upper Lakes.
  • Milka Trnina Waterfalls (Slapovi Milke Trnine) – is a beautiful waterfall between Milanovac Lake and Gavranovac Lake in Lower Lakes.
  • Sastavci Waterfalls (Sastavci Slap)- is a 26 m-high waterfall on the edge of Novakovića Brod Lake in Lower Lakes.
  • 12 Upper Lakes: Prošćansko jezero, Ciginovac, Okrugljak, Batinovac, Veliko jezero, Malo jezero, Vir, Galovac, Milino jezero, Gradinsko jezero, Burgeti and Kozjak.
  • 4 Lower Lakes: Milanovac, Gavanovac, Kaluđerovac and Novakovića Brod
Visit Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia and see 90 waterfalls and 16 lakes
Sastavci Waterfalls and Veliki Slap Waterfall

10. What to do in Plitvice Lakes National Park 

Things to do in Plitvice Lakes:

  • Walk the wooden walk boards around the lakes. 
  • Admire the Great Waterfall.
  • See Veliki Prštavac Waterfall, Sastavci Waterfalls, Galovački Buk, Milanovački Watrefall, Milka Trnina Waterfall. 
  • Have a panoramic bus ride. 
  • Have an electric ferry ride on Kozjak Lake, the largest lake in the park. 
  • Check out the Plitvice Lakes viewpoints: Veliki Slap Rastovača viewpoint, Vidikovac 5 viewpoint, and Šupljara Cave viewpoint.
  • Explore beyond walking trails and hike the K program. The hiking paths are always less crowded.
  • Take numerous photos of the lakes and waterfalls. 
Visit Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia
Galovački Buk in Plitvice Lkaes NP

11. Where to stay to visit Plitvice Lakes National Park

Plitvice Lakes National Park hotels:

Hotel Jezero – is a 3-star hotel in the heart of Plitvice Lakes NP and near Entrance 2. It is only 300 m away from Kozjak Lake. The hotel has private parking, two restaurants, and a spa-wellness center with a gym, a sauna, and a large hot tub.

Hotel Bellevue – is a 2-star hotel within the park. The hotel offers free parking and a good breakfast. The hotel offers a free shuttle service to the nearby restaurant. 

For some additional accommodation options in the Plitvice Lakes area, check out Trivago. The site compares prices and finds great deals on hundreds of hotels, guest houses, rental homes, and apartments in the Plitvice Lakes area.

Plitvice Lakes National Park
Me in Plitvice Lakes NP

12. Plitvice Lakes itinerary

My Plitvice itinerary follows the H program, which allows you to see Upper and Lower Lakes.

The program starts from Entrance 2 and takes a 10-min panoramic bus ride to Upper Lakes. The official trek starts at the banks of Prošćansko Lake. The trek goes around Upper Lakes to a boat terminal where you take a boat ride. After a 20-min boat ride, it’s time for a lunch break. After the break, the trek continues to the Lower Lakes and Great Waterfalls. The program ends with a 10-min panoramic train ride.

In case you want to do this trek in the opposite direction (from Lower Lakes to Upper Lakes), choose the C program (instead of the H program I suggest).

Plitvice Lakes itinerary: Morning

As I said, Entrance 1 and Entrance 2 are only 1.8 mi (3 km) apart. Great Waterfall is the top park attraction. If you are planning to spend one day in Plitvice Lakes, I recommend visiting the Upper and Lower Lakes and leaving Great Waterfall for the end of your visit.
Come to the park earlier in the morning, around 7 or 8 am. Start your visit with no crowds, while enjoying the trails in fresh morning air. Enter the park at Entrance 2 and visit Upper Lakes first. Start your Plitvice tour with the panoramic bus that will take you from Station 2 (St 2) to Station 3 (St 3). It is a short 10 min drive, but it provides stunning views of Plitvice Lakes.

Get off the bus at Station 3 and start your trek around Upper Lakes. Walk along Prošćansko Jezero (the first, the highest lake, and the second-largest lake of the park). Proceed to Ciganovac Lake (Ciganovac Jezero), Small Lake (Malo Jezero), Galovac Lake (Galovac Jezero), and Milino Lake (Milino Jezero). You will see Mali Prštavac waterfall and Galovački Buk waterfall on your way to Gradinsko Lake (Gradinsko Jezero). During this section of your trek, you will undoubtedly make multiple stops and capture numerous photos!

Your next stop after Gradinsko Lake (Gradinsko Jezero) is Kozjak Lake (Kozjak Jezero). You will board an electric ferry at the P2 boat terminal on the lake. You will have a slow and relaxing 20 min-ride on Kozjak Lake (the largest lake of Plitvice Lakes National Park). The boat/ferry will take you across the lake to the other side of Kozjak Lake to the P3 boat terminal. You will get off the ferry at Kozjačka Draga. Lower Lakes start from Kozjačka Draga.

A ferry boat on Kozjak Lake on my visit to Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia
A ferry boat on Kozjak Lake
Milijana Gabrić on a ferry on Kozjak Lake in Plitvice Lakes NP
Me on a ferry on Kozjak Lake in Plitvice Lakes NP

Plitvice Lakes itinerary: lunch

Make a lunch break at Kozjačka Draga. You can choose to eat at Kozjačka Draga Bistro, which offers some classic picnic foods like burgers, sausages, sandwiches, and fries. The food might not be the best but it is enough good to fill your stomach and to make you not hungry for the rest of the time of your Plitvice Lakes visit.
There are many lovely wooden tables and benches in the meadows of Kozjačka Draga. You can eat the food you have brought with you there if you prefer not to eat at the bistro! Kozjačka Draga is a pretty place to have lunch!

Visit Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia
Kozjačka Draga

Plitvice Lakes itinerary: Afternoon

After your lunch break, start with the official visit to Lower Lakes. Unlike Upper Lakes, Lower Lakes are in a steep canyon.
Head from Kozjačka Draga to Great Waterfall. First you will see Milinovac Lake (Milinovac Jezero)
On your way to Great Waterfall, make a stop at Viewpoint 5 (Vidikovac 5). You will love the views from the Viewpoint. But, wait to see Great Waterfall. You need to cross Plitvice Stream to reach it. As soon as you cross the stream you will be in the awe of Great Waterfall. If you come here in the late afternoon (around 5 pm), you will be there with fewer people as day tours will already leave the park. You will almost have Great Waterfall for yourself. Enjoy it! Not far from Great Waterfall, there’s Veliki Slap Rastovača viewpoint. Sometimes the path from Veliki Slap to Veliki Slap Rastovača viewpoint is closed. You might need to make a short detour to Veliki Slap Rastovača Viewpoint. But, don’t miss it! Veliki Slap Rastovača viewpoint is the most spectacular viewpoint of Plitvice Lakes. Veliki Slap Rastovača Viewpoint is close to Entrance 1. Interestingly enough, there is another excellent Viewpoint close to it. There are great views of the Cascades between Kaluđerovac and Novakovica Brod Lake from this Viewpoint. You will enjoy the views of the lakes along this canyon path. Besides that, Cafe Rapajinka is on this path and next to Station 1 (St 1). Refresh yourself here with a drink while you wait for the panoramic train that will take you back to Entrance 2.

Panoramic train in Plitvice Lakes National Park
Panoramic train

13. Best time to visit Plitvice Lakes National Park

Plitvice Lakes NP is beautiful in every season. The park is open year-round.

The best times to visit Plitvice Lakes are spring and autumn.

Nature awakes in spring after cold winter. The park’s trees and plants get fluorescent shades of green colors in spring. And when you add to it the azure, green, grey, and blue colors of the lakes and waterfalls, Plitvice Lakes look magical.
Autumn comes with yellow, orange, and red foliage. The colors of autumn foliage contrast the colors of lakes and waterfalls perfectly.

Plitvice Lakes appear like a winter fairytale when snowing. Plitvice Lakes in winter are popularly called the Croatian Narnia. The park covered in white snow with fewer visitors looks like a winter dream.

The park is lush green in summer. Although there is less water in summer, it is the peak season and can be overcrowded.

The best months to visit Plitvice Lakes National Park are May, June, and September. There are fewer visitors in May, June, and September than in July and August, the peak of the tourist season in Croatia. The weather is also pleasant for hiking (not too hot), while the lakes and waterfalls see more water.

Visit Croatia Plitvice Lakes National Park

14. Is Plitvice Lake worth visiting? 

Plitvice Lakes NP is one of the most breathtaking national parks in the world. Not many places and national parks can rival the beauty of Plitvice Lakes National Park. 
16 lakes, 30 waterfalls, forests, meadows, and caves of Plitvice Lakes in Croatia are a must-see in a lifetime! 

Visit Plitvice Lakes National Park Croatia
Me in Plitvice Lakes NP

15. Plitvice Lakes National Park working hours 

Plitvice Lakes National Park is open from 8 am until 7 pm in spring.
Plitvice Lakes are open for visitors from 7 am until 8 pm in summer.
Plitvice Lakes NP is open from 7 am to 7 pm (until Sept 30) and from 8 am until 6 pm (from October 1) in autumn.
The working hours are shorter in winter. Plitvice Lakes NP is open from 8 am to 4 pm in winter.
Check out the working hours on the official Plitvice Lakes National Park website.

Touring Plitvice Lakes National Park

16. Plitvice Lakes parking lots’ working hours

Parking at the Plitvice Lakes NP is open from 7 am until 8 pm in springtime and summertime.

17. Plitvice Lakes NP ticket sales

The ticket office at Plitvice Lakes is open from 7 am until 4 pm in springtime and from 7 am until 5 pm summertime.
Plitvice Lakes tickets office is open for ticket sales from 7 am to 5 pm (until Sept 30) and from ( 8 am until 4 pm (until October 31) in autumn.
The ticket office is open from 8 am to 2 pm in winter.
For the updates check out the official Plitvice Lakes National Park website.

18. Plitvice Lakes National Park entrance fee

The admission fee differs in price depending on the season.  
Plitvice Lakes admission fee for one day (one-day ticket):
39,80 € from June 1 – September 30
23,50 € from October 1 – October 31 and April 1 – May 31
10,00 € from November 1 – March 31
Kids and students have a discount.
Kids up to 7 years and people with special needs have free entrance to the park.
Check out the Plitvice Lakes price list on the official park’s site

19. Plitvice Lakes National Park map 

Milijana
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