Along with Dubrovnik, Plitvice is one of Croatia’s most visited places. A Unesco World Heritage site, it is certainly the most beautiful natural phenomenon in Croatia and one of the most beautiful in Europe.
The Plitvice Lakes were our second stop on our 7-day trip to the Gulf of Kvarner, after visiting the very pretty town of Zagreb. Discover all our articles on this superb region:
- 7-day itinerary in the Gulf of Kvarner
- Zagreb, our favorites by neighborhood
- Krk, the surprising island perfect for relaxing
Plitvice, famous for its waterfalls and crystal-clear lakes planted in the middle of the Dinarides forest. This popular park offers magnificent views, which you can discover by walking one or more of the 8 trails that dot the park.
How can we explain this natural phenomenon? These landscapes are the result of a geological phenomenon. The conditions of limestone content, water PH and microorganism content favor the development of algae (moss), which sediment over time, creating so-called travertins. These create natural dams and thus the reservoirs that are lakes and cascades… And all to our great delight.
| PLITVICE COURSES
There are a total of 8 courses: those specific to the upper lakes, those specific to the lower lakes and those common to both. Log paths are built to get from one side to the other. Descriptions of these routes can be found on the officialPlitvice National Park website. Here are a few ideas for routes, including some we’ve taken. It’s difficult to suggest the itinerary best suited to your desires, so ask yourself the right question: what are my goals? my constraints? How much time do I have on site? Do we want to go for a long or short hike… ?
The park is accessible to all and can be visited in a variety of ways: either on foot, by boat, by small rental boat or by small train. If you’re not an expert hiker, don’t worry, the trails are very well marked and laid out in different routes requiring from 2h to 8h of walking. These are walks around 16 crystal-clear lakes and 92 waterfalls of varying sizes over a 133-meter vertical drop. It’s hard to imagine that bears, lynxes and wolves roam freely in this park. However, as the trails are very well marked, this reduces the possibility of observing wildlife. You may see colorful dragonflies, fish in the lakes, pretty plants on the shores of the lakes, reeds….
A full day is not enough to see the whole park, especially if you want to take your time. We advise you to arrive as soon as it opens, so you can take a few well-earned breaks during the day. If you’re in a hurry, you can do as we did and hire a private guide (for 1300Kn, approx. 175€ for a 6h tour or 900Kn approx. 122€ for a 4h tour), or a small group for 50€ (entrance fee included). This will allow you to discover the park’s best attractions and most beautiful views, to avoid wasting time, to cut the queues at the ticket office, and to have priority access not only to the trails but also to the boats and trains.
PROGRAM A
– Duration: 2 – 3 hours
– Distance: 3,500 m
Starts at the north entrance to the Park (Entrance 1). As part of a circular tour, this program will enable you to discover “Veliki slap” (the 78-meter-high Great Waterfall), the largest waterfall in Plitvice Lakes and Croatia. This is the park’s star attraction, so it’s best to get there before 10am (we were there when it opened) to avoid the crowds and enjoy the panoramic views. The rest of the walk is downhill, so it’s easy to get to.
PROGRAM E
– Duration: 2 – 3 hours
– Distance: 5,100 m
Starts at the Park’s southern entrance (Entrance 2). The tour is circular and covers the entire « Gornja jezera » (the Upper Lakes). The program includes a boat trip across the lake « Kozjak » followed by a walk upstream to the lake « Lake Prošćansko ». Return to the starting point by panoramic train. Contemplate the idyllic beauty of the peaceful and quiet upper lakes, their wooded shores and attractive waterfalls.”Veliki prštavci ” and ” Mali prštavci ” and a host of other downfalls.
PROGRAM H
– Duration: 4 – 6 hours
– Distance: 8900 m
A complete and interesting program, according to the guide, because in just a few hours you’ll be able to enjoy the beauty of the park’s lake district in its entirety. After a short hike, you’ll continue your visit with a scenic train ride. The tour continues with a hike along the Upper Lakes, an electric boat ride on Lake Kozjak, then a hike through the Lower Lakes Gorge which takes you to the Great Falls, and finally the hike along the top of the gorge on its eastern side and again the scenic train ride.
PROGRAM K
– Duration: 6 – 8 hours
– Distance: 18,300 m
Either you start the tour at the north entrance (Entrance 1), which allows you to discover all the Park’s lakes in the course of a walk. The program includes a visit to ” Veliki slap ” (the Great Waterfall), a walk through the canyon of ” Donja jezera ” (the Lower Lakes) and along the western shore of Lake ” Kozjak “, then along a path on the heights of ” Stubica “, from where ” Tomićeva pogledala ” offers the most beautiful views of ” Ciginovac ” and the immensity of Lake ” Prošćansko jezero “. On the way back, you can enjoy a stroll along the « Gornja jezera » (the Upper Lakes) and the eastern shore of the lake « Kozjak », accessible by a short boat trip. The program continues with a walk along the eastern part of the “Donja jezera ” (the Lower Lakes) to the starting point of Entrance 1.
Either start at the south entrance (entrance 2) and follow the route in the opposite direction
BON PLAN PLITVICE LAKES
For sporty types and those who want to avoid long waits, we recommend discovering the best views of the Plitvice Lakes on this guided mountain bike tour of the national park. It’s quite unique and totally different, you’ll take great photos and you’ll surely be alone in the world!
OUR TRAIL
We only had an afternoon and a morning to discover this place. We followed the trails in the opposite direction, starting from the high point of the upper lakes. To get there, take one of the small trains linking the site from the lowest to the highest point of the lakes. We then walked back down to the boat crossing point to reach the other bank below the 3* Jezero hotel. At 3pm, we took time to have lunch outside the park before returning to see the lower part of the lakes at the end of the day when the buses bring back the streams of tourists. A word of advice: always be a step ahead of the groups! It was a strategy that paid off, giving us peace of mind for this visit and saving us a very long wait for the boat crossings. (more than 1h30 in line!). We followed the advice of the guide who suggested we do the big waterfall in the morning because the light is more beautiful (the sun gives a pretty blue color to the lakes) and I can confirm this having seen both.
| ACTIVITIES IN THE PLITVICE LAKES
- Tyrolienne
If you’re passing through between April and October and if you like zip-lining, you’ll find what you’re looking for just 5 minutes from the Plitvice Lakes. Indeed, this zip-line course is located 5 minutes from Plitvice Lakes National Park in the Lika region of Croatia. You’ll startwith a quick safety briefing and walk up to the launch pad on the hill overlooking Plitvice, Sjeverni Velebit and the Gacka River. Once you’ve been fitted with the safety equipment, you’ll be suspended 80 m above the ground. Penjoy a 2 km zip-line course through the treetops, with a maximum speed of 120 km/h! Keep your eyes open (if you can) for the chance to see some of Europe’s most revered mountain animals, including wolves, lynx, birds of prey and even brown bears.
- Rafting
This time, I propose to explore the wilderness of the Mreznica River as we tumble down 26 spectacular waterfalls between steep rocky cliffs in this rafting for 5 adrenaline-filled hours!
Check availability and book rafting online
- Kayak
This activity combines kayaking and waterfall jumping! In the canyon, a dense forest covers the area, surrounded by cliffs where you can only reach the waterfalls by kayak. You can also jump over waterfalls ranging from 1 to 8 meters. Sensations guaranteed!
Check availability and book your kayak online
- Paragliding
Coup de pour cette activity! Enjoy the lakes and waterfalls of Croatia’s most popular national park on this paragliding tandem flight over the Plitvice lakes. The view must be unique!
Check availability and book your tandem online
WHERE TO SLEEP /TO EAT /TO MOVE /CLIMATE
Arrive the day before and spend at least one night in the vicinity of the park. A number of hotels are located at Entrance 2, including the 3* Jezero hotel, which we recommend above all for its location in the heart of the site. The hotel is totally lacking in charm, but it does allow you to get to the park very early, from the 8am opening, and find yourself virtually alone. This will leave you plenty of time to take beautiful photos with the morning colors. If you’re staying in one of these 2 to 5-star hotels (Bellevue, Jezero, Plitvice, Grabovac), you can extend your day ticket at your hotel reception. You must have it stamped at the reception desk – it’s very important! We recommend that you ask for a room with a mountain view, as it’s well worth it.
- There are also a number of inexpensive campsites in the area, such as “Korana” (7km from the park) and “Borje” (15km from the park). Prices from €5 per night.
- Around Plitvice, you’ll find guesthouses and Sobe (bed and breakfast) accommodation almost everywhere. Take the ones that are classified and comply with the rules. I had heard of the Mrzlin Grad guesthouse 10 km from the Park, run by a couple, Branko and Sonija, but they were fully booked in high season. Expect to pay around €50 a night for an authentic farmhouse where only fresh, local produce is used.
If you are looking for accommodation around Plitvice Lakes, you can always find find what you’re looking for here
- Bus
Departure possible in bus by leaving early the day before, around 8:30 am. Take a look at Flixbus connections from Zadar or Zagreb, or even other cities. Prices are fairly competitive and times are convenient, as you can arrive around 10am. Book in advance during high season!
- Car
Plitvice Park is just a short drive away:
- Zagreb → 2h -2h30 drive (approx. 135km)
- On the Plitvice side, the cuisine is quite good, with meat dishes and freshwater fish such as trout. These are accompanied by polenta, grilled vegetables, cabbage and potato salads. You’ll find quite a few grilled items, such as squid.
- “Lička kuća” is a restaurant built in a large all-wood mountain chalet. Here you can sample regional cuisine based on meats or fish such as trout. A good address facing the park’s entrance gate.
Picnics are still the best value for money. There are few benches along the lakes. It is forbidden to sit on the gangways, as this is still dangerous. You’ll find large picnic areas and wooden bars selling drinks and a few sandwiches or ice creams where you take the boat or at the junction of two circuits.
Just 4 km from the Park is a renowned restaurant, the Degenija, in a hotel offering traditional Croatian dishes, as well as international cuisine. Freshly caught trout is the restaurant’s specialty.
- Il est préférable de visiter le parc sous un beau sun pour y voir les différentes teintes de l’eau car par temps de pluie,
ce bleu turquoise ressort beaucoup moins et les rondins et pontons de bois sont très glissants.
- Évitez les mois de july and august car ce sont les mois les plus chauds et les plus secs. Le parc est bondé de monde!
- Entre May and October c’est idéal!
- We were there for May Day, so yes, it was crowded, but the climate was perfect.
- In October, the park is prized for its beautiful flamboyant colors, reflected in the park’s waters.
- En hiver, dès November, il peut faire froid mais dès que les premières neiges tombent, cela doit être magnifique même si les températures peuvent être glaciales! Attention aux rondins de bois verglacé!
Practical information
- OPENING HOURS:
Winter: 9am – 4pm Spring and Autumn: 8am – 6pm Summer: 7am – 8pm
- RATES:
The entrance ticket price includes transportation by electric boat and panoramic train as part of the chosen tour program, visitor insurance and value-added tax. (prices to be checked as they are not up to date)
Low season from 01/01 to 31/03 and from 01/11 to 31/12 /High season from 01/04 to 30/06 and from 01/09 to 31/10
- Children (under 7) -> free of charge
- Children (ages 7 to 18) -> 35kn in low season and 80kn in high season
- Adults -> 55kn in low season and 150kn in high season (7€ à 20€)
- Students -> 45kn in low season and 100kn in high season
A 2-day pass is also available
- Children (ages 7 to 18) -> 55kn in low season and up to 200kn in high season
- Adults -> 90kn in low season up to 400kn in high season
- Students -> 70kn in low season up to 300kn in high season
IMPORTANT
- dogs are allowed but must be kept on a leash throughout their presence in the park (including on boats and in panoramic trains)
- Request for authorization to film in the park
- Drones are banned
- It’s forbidden to pick plants, bathe, fish or touch any animals you come across
- Park not recommended for people with reduced mobility or the strollers as it features steps, stairs without handrails, sometimes narrow, as well as ascents of varying steepness.
- In July and August, Croatia is very popular, with traffic jams are plentiful so expect traffic.
- Don’t forget to book your hotels for the high season and Easter vacations.
- Backcountry camping is forbidden in Croatia
- At 10 a.m., the park is already crowded and the line at the ticket office gets longer…
- Inform yourself in advance of weather conditions as the climate is changeable so some trails may be temporarily closed and car traffic stopped.
- There are a few guides in the park who speak French
Don’t forget travel insurance!
Before you leave, make sure you’ve taken out travel insurance to avoid any unpleasant surprises! If you’re planning a short break, a long-haul trip or even a round-the-world tour, travel insurance will provide you with the essential cover you need to enjoy your stay in total peace of mind: cancellation, baggage, assistance, medical expenses, hospitalization, death, repatriation and all the other hassles you could avoid. Opt for cancellation insurance in case of Covid and border closures. Read more in our dedicated article to help youfind the best insurance and on the Chapka website, our travel partner since our Round the World Tour
Don’t leave without reading our other articles on Croatia and the Gulf of Kvarner, a little-known region that deserves a lot of attention.
For a quote and a tailor-made trip to discover the authentic Croatia, please contact me by email at contact@mademoiselle-voyage.fr. I invite you to read the customized travel where I present my business as a licensed travel agency.
Before you leave, read all our articles on this superb region:
- 7-day itinerary in the Gulf of Kvarner
- Zagreb, our favorites by neighborhood
- Krk, the surprising island perfect for relaxing
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