Guide to Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia

Breathtaking waterfalls, picturesque walking paths, forested mountains, scenic boat rides, the clearest water I’ve ever seen, and pristine nature in such a natural form… What more could you want from a national park? If you love any of those things, you need to add Plitvice Lakes National Park to your bucket list!

Made up of 16 natural lakes connected by waterfalls, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is the oldest and largest national park in Croatia.

It makes for a great day trip from Zagreb, Zadar or Split, or if you want to experience the park fully, plan to stay a night or two in the area to really take in this breathtaking place.

While you’re there, you’ll follow the winding paths throughout the park to take in scenic views and be wowed by the turquoise water and amazing fauna. You can thank the limestone in the park and the flow of water over time for creating the beautiful waterfalls, lakes, and caves you’ll see at Plitvice Lakes. It’s truly a wonderful way to spend a day in Croatia!

There are a lot of decisions that go into planning a trip to Plitvice Lakes. How long do you need to spend in the park? How do you get there? What will it cost? Don’t worry… I’ll make it easy for you. I’ve gathered a list of everything you need to know to plan your visit to Plitvice Lakes.

Where is Plitvice? How to Get to Plitvice Lakes?

Plitvice Lakes is located in central Croatia, not far from the border of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Depending on where you are based in Croatia, there are many ways to get to Plitvice Lakes National Park from wherever you are.

There is no train route to Plitvice Lakes, so the best ways to get to the park are to drive, take a bus, or book a tour.

If you’re taking a bus, there are three bus stops in the park to depart and board the buses depending on where you’d like to see first in the park. The bus stops look like little log houses and have bus schedules and tickets available daily. If you are driving (which I highly recommend as it gives you flexibility!), there are places to pay to park near the entrances.

Zagreb – 2 hours away

Zadar – 1.5 hours away

Split – 2.5 hours away

Dubrovnik – 5 hours (and not really possible to visit for a day trip)

Where to Stay near Plitvice Lakes

If you really want to experience the park for all it has to offer, then staying a night or two in the area is a great idea. This way you’ll be able to take your time exploring the whole park, plus you’ll beat the crowds in the morning and evening and have a more secluded feel to your visit.

There are three hotels within the park where you can stay during the summer months: Plitvice Etho House, Holiday Park Fenomen P litvice and Plitvice Falls Cottage. In the winter, the only hotel within the park that is open is hotel Jezero.

If you don’t want to stay in the park or the hotels are booked, the village of Plitvica Selo is within walking distance to the park and there are a variety of