National park in Lika & Karlovac
Plitvice Lakes
- Best time to go
- Apr, May, June, Sept, Oct
- Part of
- Lika & Karlovac
Plitvice Lakes is Croatia's oldest and best-known national park, a chain of 16 terraced lakes joined by waterfalls in the forests of Lika.
The water flows over natural barriers of travertine, which keep growing and give the lakes their turquoise and green colours. Wooden boardwalks take you across the water and along the falls, and an electric boat and a panoramic train link the upper and lower lakes. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and very popular, so an early start makes a real difference.
Things to do
Don't miss in Plitvice Lakes
- Walk the Lower Lakes canyon from Entrance 1 to the Big Waterfall (Veliki slap), the tallest in Croatia at about 78 metres.
- Climb to the viewpoint above the Lower Lakes for the classic photograph of the boardwalks and falls.
- Cross Lake Kozjak, the largest lake, on the park's electric boat.
- Follow the boardwalks around the Upper Lakes past Galovac and its many cascades, where the crowds are often thinner.
- Ride the panoramic train between stations to save your legs on the longer routes.
- Come back in autumn for the beech forests in colour, or in winter when the falls can freeze and the park is almost empty.
- Combine your visit with Rastoke in Slunj, about half an hour's drive north, to see the mills on the waterfalls.
Where to stay
Pick your neighbourhood
Mukinje and Jezerce
walkers who want to be within reach of Entrance 2 on foot and start early before the crowds
Rastovača
staying close to Entrance 1 and the Big Waterfall in a small village with guesthouses
Rakovica and Grabovac
families and drivers who want more choice and lower demand, about 15 minutes north, near the Barać caves and Rastoke
Korenica
those heading south who want a small town with shops and restaurants, about 15 minutes away
Tours and getting around
Day trips from Plitvice Lakes
Organised day trips to Plitvice run from Zagreb, Zadar, Split and the Kvarner coast, usually with a guide inside the park. If you stay nearby, local guides offer early walks, and you can combine the lakes with Rastoke or the Barać caves. Swimming is not allowed anywhere in the park.
A car gives you the most freedom here, especially for an early start or for staying outside the park, and you can visit Rastoke and the caves on the same trip. Without one, buses from Zagreb and Zadar stop at the entrances. Inside the park you walk and use the park's own boat and train, so no other rental is needed.
Getting there
How to get to Plitvice Lakes
The park lies on the D1 road between Karlovac and Gospić, about two hours by car from Zagreb, about two hours from Zadar and about three hours from Split; the nearest motorway exits on the A1 are at Otočac and Gornja Ploča. Zagreb and Zadar airports are the closest. Buses between Zagreb and Zadar stop at the park's two main entrances, Entrance 1 at the northern end near the Big Waterfall and Entrance 2 further south. Both have large paid car parks. In summer, buy your ticket online in advance, as entry is limited to set time slots.