Why You Need to Visit Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia [2020 Update]

Visiting Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia was one of the best decisions I ever made! This beautiful UNESCO Heritage National Park is made up of 16 lakes that are connected by a series of waterfalls and is one of Croatia’s most popular tourist destinations. This guide has been put together below to answer all of your questions about how to make the most out of your visit to Plitvice Lakes National Park! So if you want to see photos of incredible, crystal clear, blue-green water then keep scrolling to see why you need to visit Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia.

Warning: This post on Plitvice Lakes National Park contains photos that will create wanderlust and have you jetting off to Croatia in no time!

Planning a Trip to Plitvice Lakes- The Logistics

What to Pack

Travelling around Croatia in the summer time is probably the best when it comes to good weather. In the winter, it can get pretty cold and is also known to snow on occasion too. I’ve made an essential Travel Packing list that you can use so you have everything you need for your trip and be prepared for any season.

If you are interested in upping your photography game then you may also want to see what’s in our camera bag for all the best travel photography gear we use when we travel. There is plenty of beautiful spots around Croatia so be sure to pack a good camera!

Accommodation

I prefer staying in Airbnb around Croatia and I highly recommend it. You can get amazing budget friendly places to stay in that is close to town. See for yourself!

Or if you prefer Hotels, I always find the cheapest rates on here-

Where is Plitvice Lakes National Park?

Plitvice Lakes National Park can be found in Central Croatia in the Karlovac and Lika-Senj districts, close to the Bosnia and Herzegovina border.

Zadar is the closest major city to the park and will take 1.5 hours by car and can easily be done in a day trip. Zagreb is less than 2 hours driving to the north of Plitvice. From Split, it will take 3.5 hours driving. Most people who day trip from Split are on organised tours to avoid driving themselves. From Dubrovnik, it is almost 5 hours drive.

Getting to Plitvice Lakes National Park

There are a few options for heading to Plitvice Lakes depending on where you are staying. The easiest way is to rent a car and drive yourself. Driving is very easy in Croatia, if you hop on the E65 expressway you’ll barely pass another vehicle.

There are buses that run to Plitvice Lakes National Park from Zagreb and Zadar numerous times per day. Expect the journey to take at least an hour longer than if you drove yourself but this is a convenient option if you don’t want to rent a car.

A third option would be to take an organised tour. This is a great option if coming you only have a day to spare and are coming from Split. Ensure you look at the duration of how long you spend in the park before booking.

Entrance & Fees to visit Plitvice Lakes National Park

One of the advantages of travelling in Croatia is that it’s not expensive.

The entrance fee to Plitvice Lakes National Park ranges depending on the season. High season tickets will set you back 250 Kuna (approx.$54 AUD), whereas low season is quite cheap at 60 Kuna (approx.$13AUD) per adult ticket.

Tickets for Plitvice can be purchased online only in advance, at least 2 days prior to your arrival.

However, I bought my ticket at the entrance on the day with no issues. Be sure to arrive first thing in the morning as the queue tends to get quite long during peak season.

I strongly recommend getting to the park in the early morning before it opens. You will take amazing pictures and will walk the park without a crowd. An hour and a half after it opens there are loads of tour buses that arrive and flood the park.

Make sure to bring some extra cash as the park has a couple of cafe’s and even a small souvenir shop so you can buy yourself a snack or some ice cream after a long day walking the trails. Believe me you’ll want an ice-cream by the end.

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Plitvice Lakes National Park Important Information

PARKING

Parking is available at both entrances for a fee. Cars are charged at 7 Kn per hour and campervans and buses are 70 Kn for the entire day.

HOSPITALITY FACILITIES

Although the park is open 365 days a year, there are reduced facilities during the cooler months. Pack your own food and drinks if you intend to visit during the winter season. As the restaurants and cafes are closed. You can check this link for an accurate update on what facilities are open.

When is the best time to visit Plitvice Lakes National Park?

There are pros and cons to visiting the Plitvice Lake park during each season.

Plitvice Lakes summertime – tickets are more expensive and there are crowds lining the boardwalks. On the plus side, you will have blue, sunny skies, the surrounding trees will be green and everything is open.

Plitvice Lakes Spring and Autumn is probably the best time to visit as the upper lakes are open as are most restaurants and cafes and transport within the park is running. Tickets are still affordable and hopefully, it won’t be super crowded in the park. In addition, springtime sees the highest levels of water.

Plitvice Lakes winter – Plitvice Lakes is open all winter, however parts of it will be closed due to weather. Check out the National Parks website for up to date information on what tour programs are open. It’s much more quieter, with a lot less crowds and the entrance fees are cheaper. The opening hours are shorter due to shorter days, however despite this, you’ll get to experience the park in a totally different way to other travellers – frozen waterfalls and snow!

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How much time should I spend at Plitvice Lakes National Park?

The hours go by quickly when you are surrounded by beautiful blue lakes and the peaceful sound of the running waterfalls, however it is definitely do able to see Plitvice Lakes over 1 day. Depending on how much time you have available the national park has made it easier for you to plan out your day/s with a choice of a few different trails that range in distance and time that it takes to complete the circuit.

Plitvice Lakes National Park is huge however, there are plenty of rest stops throughout the park, creating ease for visiting the park for all ages. Also included in your ticket is the the option to catch the ferry back to the entrance of the park and a bus that takes you to the starting points of the different trails.

Walking across the board walks around the park will take your breath away as you gaze at the lakes around you and see all the different blues and greens in the water. 

NOTE: The park is open 365 days a year and the entrance times are between 7 am and 8 pm.

Important: Swimming isn’t allowed at these lakes due to its UNESCO World Heritage listing but don’t let that stop you from visiting these beautiful lakes. If you are looking for a place you can swim, another amazing destination in Croatia you can’t miss is Krka National Park!

More on Croatia…

6 Amazing Things to Do in Zadar, Croatia

The Complete Guide to the Kornati Islands- Croatia’s Nautical Paradise

The Complete Guide to Visiting Krka National Park in Croatia

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