Photo: Pablo BM from London, England · CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Plitvice Lakes
Sixteen turquoise lakes and waterfalls on wooden boardwalks.
Sixteen turquoise lakes stepping down a forested valley, joined by waterfalls and crossed on wooden boardwalks. One park ticket covers the trails, the boat across the big lake and the little panoramic train. Stay a night nearby to walk in at opening, before the day buses arrive. Reached by bus from Zagreb or Zadar.
Places to see
- Plitvice Lakes National ParkPark · Clear green and blue lakes linked by waterfalls in a deep beech and fir forest, with…≈ A$70
Galovac FallsViewpoint · The prettiest stretch of the Upper Lakes: Galovac lake spilling over a wide wall of…Free
Lake Kozjak and the boatWalk · The biggest lake, long and deep green between wooded slopes; a silent electric boat…Free
The Lower Lakes (Kaluđerovac)
When to go
- Jan3° / -5°Some rainQuiet
- Feb4° / -5°Some rainQuiet
- Mar8° / -2°Often wetQuiet
- Apr13° / 2°Often wetBusy
- May18° / 6°Often wetBusy
- Jun22° / 10°Some rainBusy
- Jul25° / 11°Some rainVery busy
- Aug25° / 11°Some rainVery busy
- Sep
Staying and getting around
Good areas to stay
Villages around the entrances. Small villages a walk or short ride from the gates, such as Jezerce, Mukinje, Plitvica Selo and Korana, with guesthouses and private rooms.
Rakovica and Drežnik Grad. Villages along the main road north of the park, with cheaper rooms and Drežnik's castle ruins; you'll need the bus or a lift to the gates.
Flying in
Zadar (ZAD): Shuttle to Zadar bus station, then a bus to the park, about 3 h, ≈ A$35. Buses to Plitvice are few: check times before you fly (check).
Zagreb Franjo Tuđman (ZAG): Shuttle to Zagreb bus station, then a bus to the park, about 3 h 20 min, ≈ A$44. Two legs; buses from Zagreb are more frequent than from Zadar (check).
Flewaway's estimate for the usual budget way into Plitvička Jezera; check times and fares before you fly.
By bus
The train doesn't reach Plitvice Lakes: take it to Zagreb Main Station, then the bus. Buses from Zagreb (about 2–2.5 h) or Zadar (about 2 h) stop on the main road by the park's entrances; book the park's timed ticket ahead in summer (check)
Getting around
You'll need buses or trains. A single ticket is ≈ A$0. Inside the park you walk; the electric boat on Lake Kozjak and the panoramic train between the entrances are on the park ticket (usually not in winter). Between villages, walk, catch a passing bus or take a taxi (check).
