Plitvice Lakes National Park
Plitvice Lakes National Park
Plitvice Lakes National Park
4.5
7:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Monday
7:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Tuesday
7:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Wednesday
7:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Thursday
7:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Friday
7:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Saturday
7:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Sunday
7:00 AM - 3:00 PM
About
As Croatia’s oldest and largest national park, the UNESCO World Heritage Plitvice Lake National Park is reputed for its 16 emerald lakes and magnificent waterfalls—including Veliki Slap, the country’s largest waterfall. The park is broken up into the upper and lower falls, with a boat ride connecting the two. Various hiking loops are available, with a panoramic train ride that goes through lush forest too. You can take a guided day-trip from Split or Zagreb, or combine your visit with the nearby Barac Caves. Visit in the shoulder seasons of fall or spring if you want a quieter experience. – Tripadvisor
Duration: More than 3 hours
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Restaurants
19 within 3 miles
Attractions
17 within 6 miles
See what travelers are saying
- ReinardusGeldrop, The Netherlands178 contributionsMost beautiful national park everI didn’t know what to expect, but this park has exceeded all my expectations. It was stunning, every time a different view, the most beautiful national park I have ever visited! Now, in the beginning of the autumn, the colors of the trees are changing and adding a nice touch to the views. We did trail H, and took us 5 hours. We parked at entrance 2 with a camper. Due to the low season it costs us 10€ each, dog is free but only allowed on a leash. Parking was 10.50€. Even the high season costs its worth the visit! I think the H trail is less busy, because the groups and most people starting and the 1ste entrance, but that is an assumption.Dear rvanos66, thank you for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that Plitvice Lakes National Park exceeded your expectations and left you in awe. The ever-changing views and stunning landscapes truly make it a remarkable destination. Autumn adds a special charm with the vibrant colors of the trees. We hope you made unforgettable memories during your visit and we look forward to welcoming you back in the future. Regards from Plitvice Lakes National Park!Written October 4, 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited October 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten October 4, 2023
- KarenM1_101,043 contributionsStunning and Jaw DroppingWe visited here with a tour, and I am so happy that we did. When we arrived, our guide mentioned that we would be visiting the Upper Falls first and to use the facilities since there were none available along the way. It took over 2 hours to visit the Upper Falls area. We then boarded a boat that took about 20 minutes to deliver us to an area where we would start our walk of the Lower Falls. Our guide mentioned that the boats can take about 30 minutes to arrive. They gauge this based on how many people are visiting the park. We then visited the Lower Falls. By the time we left, there were very long lines, and we were so happy that we arrived early in the day.Dear Karen, thank you for sharing your experience of visiting Plitvice Lakes National Park with a tour. We are delighted to hear that you had a positive experience and that you were happy with your decision to visit. We look forward to your return and we believe you will enjoy it even more next time. In that case, on our website we have a web application that can guide you through the park and provide advice on what to visit in our area. Our recommendation is to take one or two days to visit the Park and another day to experience the more surroundings of the Park (horseback riding, caves, ranches, adrenaline parks). Regards from Plitvice Lakes National Park!Written October 11, 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited July 2023Traveled with familyWritten October 4, 2023
- hattie19 contributionsbeautiful but crowdedvisited in October so the entrance fee was only 10 euros which was good. arrived at 10/11am due to the long bus ride, it was very crowded (even in off season), i cant imagine how may people may visit in summer it wouldn't be enjoyable. lakes and waterfalls were lovely, but felt like sardines walking around. ticket included boat ride, nice souvenier shops.Dear 90hattie, thank you for taking the time to rate and review our Park, we appreciate your feedback. We're delighted to hear that you found the lakes and waterfalls at Plitvice Lakes National Park to be lovely. We strive to maintain the natural beauty of the Park and provide a memorable experience for all visitors. We are glad to hear that you enjoyed our souvenir shops, we strive to provide a variety of options for our visitors to take home a piece of their Plitvice experience. For few years we have visitor management system so people can buy tickets in exact hour and they are limited. The Park is highly popular and well-known worldwide, with many tourists stopping at specific spots to take photos and create lasting memories. We have no control over this, so we kindly ask for your understanding. We hope that you will visit us again. Regards from Plitvice Lakes National Park!Written October 10, 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited October 2023Traveled soloWritten October 6, 2023
- Irene ILos Angeles, California37 contributionsAn unforgettable experience!Plitvice national Park is an unforgettable experience. I would recommend both Upper and Lower lakes, but if you have time for only one - do the Upper Lakes. Both can be easily done in 4-5 hours if you are in a reasonably good shape. The views are incomparable.Dear IreneI556, thank you for your review of Plitvice National Park. We are thrilled to hear that you had an unforgettable experience and would recommend both the Upper and Lower Lakes. We appreciate your advice on the duration of the hike and agree that it can be completed in a reasonable timeframe. Thank you for visiting and we hope to see you again soon. Regards from Plitvice Lakes National Park!Written October 11, 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited October 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten October 11, 2023
- Inspire1967Belgrade, Serbia33 contributionsFairy kingdom and magic landThis is what a fairy kingdom, a magical land, a lost paradise would look like. Nature is in its most imaginative version. S maragno clean and clear lakes, sparkling torrents of dozens of large and small waterfalls, century-old forests from which you expect elves, the murmur of water and the rustle of leaves, autumnal golden, red and green colors, the chirping of birds. The smell of earth, forest, and ozone expands the lungs and makes you want to stay forever. Excellently arranged national park, trails adapted to all ages, possibilities, and wishes of visitors, you can go around everything on foot, or combine routes by boat and electric vehicle with wagons. Immaculately clean, all amenities, signposts, and support services are there. Set aside at least two days, and enjoy.Dear Vesna, thank you very much for a great review, kind words, and perfect rating! We are glad to know that you have recognized the beauty of the National Park and had a good time. We appreciate your time to share experiences and suggestions to help other visitors plan their sightseeing. We hope that you will come again and maybe even visit some attractive destinations (other national parks, nature parks, cave parks, adrenaline parks…) that are in the surrounding Plitvice Lakes (you can check them on our website). Regards from Plitvice Lakes National Park!Written October 16, 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited October 2023Traveled on businessWritten October 13, 2023
- luvtotravel09010Frankfurt, Germany177 contributionsSimply Beautiful a site to seePlitvice Lakes National Park is a beautiful park to visit. If you are in Croatia you can not miss going here. We did Route A but got the boat across the lake and then got the train/bus back to the top. Would have loved to have done the other routes but they were very long as in 10km round trip for route C. Route A was quite an easy walk but you are walking down a steep decline on a pebbled pathway. The boardwalk was also very easy but you still had to watch it as some of it was uneven due to it's age. Although there hadn't been any rain the waterfalls were still lovely and the colour of the water is something to see. We visited early October but I feel this would be wonderful to visit in the spring after the snow has melted as I imagine the waterfalls would be magnificent. This was one of our highlights of our 9 week European holiday.Dear luvtotravel09010, thank you for your wonderful review of Plitvice Lakes National Park! We are delighted to hear that you found the park to be beautiful and a must-visit destination in Croatia. It sounds like you had a great experience exploring Route A. We understand that the other routes may have been long, but they offer even more breathtaking views. It is great to know that the boardwalk was easy to navigate, despite some uneven sections. We are thrilled to hear that your visit to Plitvice Lakes National Park was one of the highlights of your 9-week European holiday. We hope to welcome you back in the future for another memorable experience. Regards from Plitvice Lakes National Park!Written October 16, 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited October 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten October 16, 2023
- Herding_Cats13 contributionsStunning and crowd-free in Autumn. Bucket list must!Unbelievably beautiful. I’m so glad we were there in October as summer it is completely hellacious with crowds. We had no crowds, easily did the “C” walk and could stop whenever we wanted to take numerous photos. No queues for the electric boat. What was weird is you get to the “end” of the walk and are directed to a bus to take you back to the entry. We opted to get off at Stop 2 and walk back, but they don’t give you that option - you have to work it out. It meant the total walk was 12km but it’s so beautiful. Also go to Gate 1 - not Gate 2 - to enter. It means you are walking facing the waterfalls the whole way, not having to turn around all the time. Absolutely worth doing (if you’re going in summer, get there very early).Dear Herdingcats09, thank you for your review. We are glad to hear that you enjoyed the natural beauty of Plitvice Lakes National Park. We offer 8 different lake tour programs, and we advise every visitor to check our website and/or visit the information offices located at the entrances for more details. For few years we have visitor management system so people can buy tickets in exact hour and they are limited. The Park is highly popular and well-known worldwide, with many tourists stopping at specific spots to take photos and create lasting memories. Visitors can start their lake tour from Entrance 1 or Entrance 2, depending on their personal preferences and capabilities. Thank you for your suggestions, and we hope you will visit us again. Perhaps in a different season to experience the Park's beauty in whole new level. Regards from Plitvice Lakes National Park!Written October 24, 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited October 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten October 24, 2023
- yellowdog5161 contributionsBeautiful, almost otherworldly scenery amidst crushing crowdsBusy, busy, busy. This place is one of the biggest tourist draws in all of Croatia. You'll be sharing your day with thousands of other people, even in the off seasons. Nevertheless, Plitvice Lakes is indeed a beautiful national treasure! I don't see how you could visit Croatia and NOT come here for at least a few hours. We chose to park by entrance 1 (yes, you will pay for parking) and walked across the pedestrian bridge to the ticket office. We paid €20 per ticket in October, but if you go during the summer, you'll cough up €40 per ticket. The well laid-out pathway winds along the lakes, taking you past crystalline waters, scenic waterfalls, and all manner of natural beauty. The big falls (Veliki Slap) are pretty, especially when they have a lot of water flowing down. But the smaller falls are even nicer, in my opinion - much more varied and interesting. We only went as far as the boat dock area when we visited, and our hike there and back took about 2 or 3 hours. But you can spend many more hours hiking even deeper into the park, if you so desire. I recommend you really plan ahead for your visit, and for how much time you want to spend. My goodness, though, was the place ever crowded. All us tourists all over the place. At times it can get so crowded that there will be actual lines of 100+ people just waiting to see certain scenic points. Bring your patience and courtesy, but don't be afraid to blithely step in front of those folks who are taking an inordinate amount of time to set up their pictures. Have fun!Dear yellowdog51, thank you for your review. We are glad that you decided to visit Plitvice Lakes National Park and we are glad to know that you have recognized the beauty of the Park. During peak season, we sometimes have more people on the trails and in the Park. For few years we have visitor management system so people can buy tickets in exact hour and they are limited. The park is highly popular and well-known worldwide, with many tourists stopping at specific spots to take photos and create lasting memories. We have no control over this, so we kindly ask for your understanding. The Park is financed from our own income, so we have to charge an entrance fee. Our ticket prices are adjusted to demand and seasons. The highest prices are in season, but we also have afternoons, lower prices. Ticket includes: contribution to the permanent protection and preservation of the landscape of the Plitvice Lakes National Park, panoramic vehicles and electric boats, use of toilets at any station, accident insurance, 22 km of trails in the lake system, 36 km of hiking trails, the opportunity to see the unique world miracle. We hope that you will visit us again in the future and have another memorable experience at our Park. Greetings from Plitvice Lakes National Park!Written October 24, 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited October 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten October 24, 2023
- asherxyzPerth, Australia226 contributionsWorth the hypeReally wonderfull place. Yes, there's a lot of hype behind it - but it's for good reason. We visited during winter and there was barely anyone there. Heard it gets really crowded in Summer, so glad that I went during the off season.Dear asherxyz, thank you for your review and perfect rating. We are very glad that you had a great time in National Park and enjoyed pure nature. We appreciate your time to share your experience with us. During the high season, we sometimes have more people on the trails. For few years we have visitor management system so people can buy tickets in exact hour and they are limited. The Park is highly popular and well-known worldwide, and many tourists stop at specific locations to take photographs and create lasting memories, which is why visitors sometimes spend more time at certain places. We hope that you will visit us again and enjoy your holiday in some other season. Regards from Plitvice Lakes National Park!Written December 1, 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited November 2023Traveled with friendsWritten November 30, 2023
- PhilMaloneFootscray, Australia1,472 contributionsAn amazing placeIf you do nothing else in Croatia, you must visit Plitvice. These are amazing lakes and it is not hard to get a good photo (I'm not sharing my best photos though!). There is a long boardwalk around the lakes, which is recommended that you take a couple of hours to take in the absolutely beautiful scenery - you feel like you're in heaven. There are sections you can go where the crowds are way less dense (as not all people walk the entire lakes circuit). But be prepared for very large crowds (even in late September).Dear Phil, thank you so much for your kind words about your experience at Plitvice Lakes! We are thrilled to hear that you found the scenery absolutely beautiful and felt like you were in heaven. We hope that you will visit us again in the future to explore even more of the stunning natural beauty that Plitvice has to offer. Thank you for your recommendation and we look forward to welcoming you back! Regards from Plitvice Lakes National Park!Written December 28, 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited September 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten December 19, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Tetyana L
The Hague, The Netherlands27 contributions
Aug 2020
I give only 1 star to the park because my experience was an absolute nightmare. There is only 1 bus a day that goes to the park arriving at 10:20 and only 1 bus that goes back to Zagreb at 17:15. So, you must stay in the park for 7 hrs or take a taxi which costs more than 200 eur to Zagreb. And this is in a peak season, in August. When I arrived in the park, it was freezing cold, around +15 ( in Zagreb was +26 and sunny) in August with rain and thick fog. It was literally nothing to see in the park because of fog. You cannot get a free map of the lakes upon entrance, so you must buy one. There are maps inside the park but it is not marked your current location, so you don't know where exactly you are and which direction to go. The trails are poorly marked, so I got lost several times and because of that did extra 10 km under rain. When I came to the ferry station in order to cross the lake and continue to Upper lakes, it appeared that there is no ferry because of fog. I was not informed about it at the entrance, so I had to do extra 4 km walking along the lakes to continue my trail. All restaurants in the park were closed, I wanted to buy coffee from the coffee booth to warm up and I was refused because they don't accept cash, only credit cards and I had only cash with me. When I finally reached the farthest end of the park ( station 3) I was totally exhausted and hungry. I was waiting for the bus along with dozens of other tourists to take me to the entrance 1 and when no bus appeard in 30 min, I asked a lady from the park about the bus schedule and she said that there is no busses because they had some issues. Why there was no sign about it at the ferry station ? I was shocked to find out about it at the farthest end of the park and only after 30 min of waiting under rain, when there is no way out but to walk back 8 km. I started walking back and because of poor marking of the trails, 45 min later I found myself making a big circle and coming back to the same station 3 where the lady told me that there is no bus. I was almost crying from exhaustion and despair. But what could I do, I walked back again and 1 hr later took a ferry that was already operating, came by another bus to the entrance 1 just to find out that this is not where people enter the park through the entrance 1 and I have to walk another 15 min to the "proper" entrance 1. After that more than 2 hrs of waiting for the only bus to go back to Zagreb. I can say that the lakes absolutely do not worth the efforts spent and you never know upon arrival if you will be lucky with the weather or walk under constant rain and thick fog, no places to warm up and rest just, might be no ferry and no buses to return to the starting point.
Written August 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your review. We are sorry that you had bad experience and we always recommend to our visitors to plan their trip to Plitvice Lakes National Park. That includes deciding on which of 8 trails to choose, what is the best time to enter, working hours, weather forecast...
Trails are described on our website where it is stated aproximate time to do the trail. Each trail is marked with letter. When you decide on the trail, you just need to follow the letter of the trail inside. Also, on website you have map and there is also a free web app with all trails in the park. If you would like to visit us again in future, our recommendation is to take 1 or 2 days for Park visit and one more day for experience more of surrounding of the Park (horse riding, caves, ranches, adrenaline parks,... you can check them on our web app also). Hope to see you in some other season when nature change its colors and sounds.
Kind regards
Written January 19, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Valentina S
Fazana, Croatia2 contributions
Jul 2020 • Friends
I visited the park 3 times in my life, last time was 4 years ago. I love the nature but even then the prices were high in June... this year a group of friends is planning to visit and had the wish to go to the lakes, so I opened the pricing list for July (the time of their visit) and my jaw dropped... as I remember on top of the entrance fee you need to pay for parking and the services and infrastructure do not justify the high price... So I recommended them to skip this in the summer months as I would anyone visiting.
Written July 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for you review.
The high season has higher ticket prices, so we recommend that you visit us before or after high season when the prices are cheaper, the crowds are less and experiences are much different. We definitely want to increase visits in the off-season.
Kind regards
Written July 2, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
njackson84
Lincoln18 contributions
Sep 2020
My experience at Plitvice was largely, positive, but I do want to do start with why I've only given it four out of five.
So I've only given it four for the simple reason that I walked along route K, and there are large chunks of that where it is either poorly directed (there are a few occasions where the path branches into several different directions and you don't know which to take. Also, as the day goes on, it gets busier and busier (even during the Covid era) and the thin path is taken up by couples taking pictures of each other, and there is literally no way around them.
That being said, the scenary of the lakes justify their reputation due to the stunning wonders of nature that surrounds you. It has the clearest water I have ever seen in my life and parts of route K are so quiet that you can take your time looking at the surroundings.
There are a few things you should know in advance though;
Take plenty of water, it gets very warm and there was two placees to buy any once you're in the park, and they are several hours walk inbetween.
Route K is really only for experienced hikers (I mean you can still go, but I'd recommend being physically fit as my pedometer says I climbed the equivalent of 63 staircases), but does over stunning paroramas of the rest of the park.
Entrance 1 is where the better (in my opinion) sights are located. You will spend more of your time walking uphill
Entrance 2 is where the more convenient hotels are, but on the flip side it takes longer to get the majority of the "better" parts of what the park has to offer.
You can walk from one to the other, but it's a 45 minute walk on the roads, none of which have paths.
So I've only given it four for the simple reason that I walked along route K, and there are large chunks of that where it is either poorly directed (there are a few occasions where the path branches into several different directions and you don't know which to take. Also, as the day goes on, it gets busier and busier (even during the Covid era) and the thin path is taken up by couples taking pictures of each other, and there is literally no way around them.
That being said, the scenary of the lakes justify their reputation due to the stunning wonders of nature that surrounds you. It has the clearest water I have ever seen in my life and parts of route K are so quiet that you can take your time looking at the surroundings.
There are a few things you should know in advance though;
Take plenty of water, it gets very warm and there was two placees to buy any once you're in the park, and they are several hours walk inbetween.
Route K is really only for experienced hikers (I mean you can still go, but I'd recommend being physically fit as my pedometer says I climbed the equivalent of 63 staircases), but does over stunning paroramas of the rest of the park.
Entrance 1 is where the better (in my opinion) sights are located. You will spend more of your time walking uphill
Entrance 2 is where the more convenient hotels are, but on the flip side it takes longer to get the majority of the "better" parts of what the park has to offer.
You can walk from one to the other, but it's a 45 minute walk on the roads, none of which have paths.
Written September 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your review and perfect rating.
We are very glad that you decided to visit Plitvice Lakes and had a good time. We have 8 different routes that are different lenght so every visitor can find the most suitable for themselves. We hope that you will come back and that you will enjoy next time even more. :)
Kind regards
Written June 10, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Ⓜ️ MrMoreLight
Montreal, Canada1,726 contributions
Sep 2019 • Couples
It’s hard not to like a beautiful natural landscape park like Plitvice Lakes however, the word is out and there might be just too many tourists for the park’s own good.
Overcrowded all the time, it’s bus after tour bus, I heard it was better late in the day when the tour buses leave, hard to move on the wooden walkways.
We walked the entire site for 5 hours, the highest part is a lot less crowded.
Fortunately, personnel makes the entrance easy and quick at the counter, make sure to use the less busy second entrance.
Overall a very pleasant visit, if you have to choose, Krka offers similar waterfalls but the site is easier to navigate with less tourists. We did both, glad we did, Plitvice is very good but overcrowded.
Overcrowded all the time, it’s bus after tour bus, I heard it was better late in the day when the tour buses leave, hard to move on the wooden walkways.
We walked the entire site for 5 hours, the highest part is a lot less crowded.
Fortunately, personnel makes the entrance easy and quick at the counter, make sure to use the less busy second entrance.
Overall a very pleasant visit, if you have to choose, Krka offers similar waterfalls but the site is easier to navigate with less tourists. We did both, glad we did, Plitvice is very good but overcrowded.
Written February 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your review.
We are glad that you decided to visit National park Plitvice lakes and appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. As you have noticed the lower part of the lakes is always more crowded than the upper part, so we recommend to visit the lower part of the lakes early in the morning or afternoon and avoid the period from 10 am to 2 pm when is more visitors. We hope that you will come back and that you will enjoy next time even more :)
Kind regards
Written February 10, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
chamdexor
Chesterfield, VA1,635 contributions
Jul 2021
You can read all about the park in other posts, so I'm going to highlight some tips:
1. Buy tickets online in advance. It'll save you a lot of time because the ticket line at the park is long.
2. If you just have 3 hours you will not be able to circle both the upper and lower lakes, but if you want to see the lower lake and a little bit of the upper and are decently fast walkers, try this: Park in parking 1 and follow the A/B route until you cross the lake on the first boat (P3 to P2). However, here, don't get on the 2nd boat yet. Follow the route like you are going to the upper lakes, but just go around the first "upper lake" - Lake Gradinsko and then just circle back to the dock and take the P2 to P1 boat. At least you get to see a bit of the upper lakes this way.
Then you can just grab the shuttle bus back to the 1st parking area. Note - when the shuttle brings you back, it is still a 20+ minute walk back to the actual parking area.
3. Pay for parking before you leave otherwise you'll do what we did which is find yourself at the exit gate with an "arm" but you can't pay at the exit gate. You have to walk into the ticket office which is right beside the gate.
4. The P3 to P2 boat may have a long line, but it moves quickly and the boats come very frequently.
5. If you see a tour group, either walk around them, reverse course, or trail behind the slow moving group. Those are your options.
Overall, a really beautiful park completely worth visiting.
1. Buy tickets online in advance. It'll save you a lot of time because the ticket line at the park is long.
2. If you just have 3 hours you will not be able to circle both the upper and lower lakes, but if you want to see the lower lake and a little bit of the upper and are decently fast walkers, try this: Park in parking 1 and follow the A/B route until you cross the lake on the first boat (P3 to P2). However, here, don't get on the 2nd boat yet. Follow the route like you are going to the upper lakes, but just go around the first "upper lake" - Lake Gradinsko and then just circle back to the dock and take the P2 to P1 boat. At least you get to see a bit of the upper lakes this way.
Then you can just grab the shuttle bus back to the 1st parking area. Note - when the shuttle brings you back, it is still a 20+ minute walk back to the actual parking area.
3. Pay for parking before you leave otherwise you'll do what we did which is find yourself at the exit gate with an "arm" but you can't pay at the exit gate. You have to walk into the ticket office which is right beside the gate.
4. The P3 to P2 boat may have a long line, but it moves quickly and the boats come very frequently.
5. If you see a tour group, either walk around them, reverse course, or trail behind the slow moving group. Those are your options.
Overall, a really beautiful park completely worth visiting.
Written August 8, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your review and excellent grade. We always recommend to our visitors to plan their trip to Plitvice Lakes National Park and buying ticket online. That includes deciding on which of 8 trails to choose, what is the best time to enter, working hours, weather forecast...Also, on website you have map and there is also a free web app with all trails in the park. If you would like to visit us again in future, our recommendation is to take 1 or 2 days for Park visit and one more day for experience more of surrounding of the Park (horse riding, caves, ranches, adrenaline parks,... you can check them on our web app also). Hope to see you in some other season when nature change its colors and sounds. :)
Kind regards.
Written August 10, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jeff S
5 contributions
Jun 2021
Recently embarked on a trip from Split to Plitvice Lakes National Park by Apodos travel. I am semi reluctant to go on guided tours but was quite pleased by the treatment of the Apodos staff and especially our guide Renato. First, I would like mention that this is a long ride to get to this wonderful National Park. It takes some 3.5 hours or so and it good to be prepared for that. Also, it can be chilly so bring a sweater or light jacket just in case. The remainder of what I have to say is about our guide Renato.
From the time we departed until we arrived at the park, Renato provided us with a comprehensive understanding of the Croatian people in terms of the history, present realities of government and people as well as the future challenges and goals of Croatia. It was obvious that he had an impressive background and understanding of the many subjects that he addressed during our trip. Renato provided a wealth of information but was always sensitive as to not go too far and talk too much. However, after each of his short presentations as we traveled through various areas, he would receive many questions to expand on what he had to offer and he welcomed them with enthusiasm. Everyone on the excursion felt quite at home and interacted easily throughout the day.
While at the park, Renato was careful to ensure that everyone knew exactly where to go and what to do if they should have a question or get separated from the group. Again, he provided a wealth of information as we made the transition from our van to the park trails, to the boat crossing and back in a seamless manner. He watched over everyone without them really realizing it or having the feeling that they were being “guided.” It was a really spectacular and cool experience.
Overall ratings;
1. Depth of knowledge – top 1%
2. Ability to communicate (in multiple languages) – top 1%
3. Enthusiasm – top 1%
4. Ability to expand the experience that his clients receive – top 0.1 %
If I ever did this trip again, I would only go with this same group.
Dr. Jeff Slepski
Professor Emeritus
MSJC
From the time we departed until we arrived at the park, Renato provided us with a comprehensive understanding of the Croatian people in terms of the history, present realities of government and people as well as the future challenges and goals of Croatia. It was obvious that he had an impressive background and understanding of the many subjects that he addressed during our trip. Renato provided a wealth of information but was always sensitive as to not go too far and talk too much. However, after each of his short presentations as we traveled through various areas, he would receive many questions to expand on what he had to offer and he welcomed them with enthusiasm. Everyone on the excursion felt quite at home and interacted easily throughout the day.
While at the park, Renato was careful to ensure that everyone knew exactly where to go and what to do if they should have a question or get separated from the group. Again, he provided a wealth of information as we made the transition from our van to the park trails, to the boat crossing and back in a seamless manner. He watched over everyone without them really realizing it or having the feeling that they were being “guided.” It was a really spectacular and cool experience.
Overall ratings;
1. Depth of knowledge – top 1%
2. Ability to communicate (in multiple languages) – top 1%
3. Enthusiasm – top 1%
4. Ability to expand the experience that his clients receive – top 0.1 %
If I ever did this trip again, I would only go with this same group.
Dr. Jeff Slepski
Professor Emeritus
MSJC
Written June 15, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your review and perfect rating.
We are very glad that you decided to visit Plitvice Lakes and had a good time. We hope that you will come back and that you will enjoy next time even more. :)
Written June 17, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Roman J
Bangkok, Thailand372 contributions
Jan 2020
We are so happy to been their in the low season having the lakes more or less on our own. Entrance fee is cheaper but be aware that in winter time the upper lakes are closed. We loved the green water and all the cascades. Great wooden walking paths but be carefully as some parts can get slippery. An amazing place to enjoy nature.
Written January 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ras Dashen
1 contribution
Jun 2020
I came to know about Plitvice Lakes National Park as it showed on my screensaver. Pictorially it looks very beautiful and most reviews are good. but still there are some negative reviews such as high price, nothing is invested towards the park, no place to throw garbage - people are dumping garbage into the park, highly crowded, unaffordable to locals etc. In no place I see those negative reviews getting responses except to the postive reviews. It is good to reply to these negative reviews and show the world what measures are currently being taken to address these issues. The response to negative reviews are really more powerful and lets other to know the improvments that is taking place and how the income from the park is invested to attract more tourists. I have not visited the park but planning...so as the days are required fields what I'm entering is a bogus time.
Written June 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your review.
We really appreciate you taking the time to share your opinion. We want to inform you that twice a year we have a promotional week with cheaper ticket prices. Also, we want to tell you that at every point like bus station and electric boat docking area, there are dustbins where tourists can leave their waste. The Plitvice Lakes National Park Public Institution every year part of income invest in our paths, boats, trains etc.
So if you plan to visit the Park, we recommend that before arrival you check our official website for more information. We hope to positive impressions.
Kind regards
Written June 25, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Dora B
3 contributions
May 2020
Due to extremely high prices, I only got a chance to visit the park when they charged the lowest fee ever after covid-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, I was very disappointed with the park. Nature is beautiful for sure, but not worth such a hype and price for park ticket (which is normally around €40). The track was wooden, on some places barely supporting itself, and it was pretty narrow which isn't convenient when there are a lot of visitors or if you want to take pictures. Also, there are not enough places to sit (and the hike is very long - usually around 5 hours). Another thing worth mentioning: there aren't garbage bins in the park, and only a few toilets so people were leaving their dump (and I mean "dump") where they thought appropriate. Finally, there isn't any information out on display if you want to find out more about the formation of the lakes or flora and fauna which is, I believe, the biggest oversight.
Written May 17, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your review!
Our ticket prices are adjusted to demand and seasons. The highest prices are in the high season, but then we also have afternoon, lower prices. Ticket includes: contribution to permanent protection and landscape maintenance of the Plitvice Lakes National Park, a ride in a sightseeing vehicle, a boat ride, using toilets at any stopping station, accident insurance, 22 km of trails throughout the lake system, 36 km of hiking trails, a chance to see a unique wonder of the world. Our trails are partly wooden and we have the whole department taking care of all trails inside of the park. Trails are designed so that the visitor has the opportunity to be very close to the water of the lakes and, since we have visitor management, their capacity is aligned with the capacities of entrances, boats and panoramic vehicles per hour. Hike inside of the park can be from 2 hours up to 8 hours, depending which trail visitor chooses and on these trails there resting spots. All information about sightseeing programs can be found on our website.
Garbage bins are located near our catering facilities in lake zone where waste can be selected and where bins are protected from wildlife. This is alingend with usual pratices in national parks worldwide.
Toilets are located on every spot where it is possible to have them. Please have in mind that this is the national park and nature conservation is on highest level. Therefore, toilets and catering facilites are located inside of the lake zone where it is possible to have them. Between each of that spot there is 1,5 to 2 hours of hike.
If you would like to visit us again in future, our recommendation is to take 1 or 2 days for Park visit and one more day for experience more of surrounding of the Park (horse riding, caves, ranches, adrenaline parks,... you can check them on our web app). Hope to see you in some other season when nature change its colors and sounds.
Kind regards
Written February 19, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Miki
Bucharest, Romania10,496 contributions
Aug 2020 • Couples
We have visited Plitvice Jezera during our summer holiday on Aug. 2020 and as much as we were stunned by the beauty of the lakes, waterfalls and the karst landscape, we were dissapointed by the way the directors of this park are managing the facilities of the park. First of all the website does not offer enough information about the hikes and the payment method inside the park. When we arrived at Entrance 1 we saw that no map was included in the ticket price which was not cheap (200 HRK). Be aware that a map is needed since there are not enough sign posts in the park and you can easily lose yourself. The map costs 20 HRK and can be paid only cash in local currency. On the contrary inside the park at the snacks shops you can pay only by card. The maps inside the park are somehow useless because they are not showing your position on the maps. We decided to follow hike C to see the whole park including also the rides by electrical boat and train shuttle and which takes you to both lower and upper lakes.
The park is prone to rains so even if weather forecast is showing a low rain probability a raincoat is always needed. We had our mac in a sac with us so the torrential rain from the lunchtime did not affect us too much.
Be sure that you take with you enough water and if you don’t like fast food bring with you your own food. Be sure you use the toilets wherever you find them because only 3 places where we stopped had toilets.
In the end I would like to highlight that management is more oriented to make a lot of money here rather than offering the best orientation and the best value tickets to the tourists. Parking is not free of charge, we paid 70 HRK for the 7hrs we stayed in the park.
The park is prone to rains so even if weather forecast is showing a low rain probability a raincoat is always needed. We had our mac in a sac with us so the torrential rain from the lunchtime did not affect us too much.
Be sure that you take with you enough water and if you don’t like fast food bring with you your own food. Be sure you use the toilets wherever you find them because only 3 places where we stopped had toilets.
In the end I would like to highlight that management is more oriented to make a lot of money here rather than offering the best orientation and the best value tickets to the tourists. Parking is not free of charge, we paid 70 HRK for the 7hrs we stayed in the park.
Written August 21, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your review. We are sorry that you had bad experience and we always recommend to our visitors to plan their trip to Plitvice Lakes National Park. That includes deciding on which of 8 trails to choose, what is the best time to enter, working hours, weather forecast... Trails are described on our website where it is stated aproximate time to do the trail. Each trail is marked with letter. When you decide on the trail, you just need to follow the letter of the trail inside. Also, on website you have map and there is also a free web app with all trails in the park. (https://np-plitvicka-jezera.hr/en/plan-your-visit/activities/lake-tour-programmes/)
If you would like to visit us again in future, our recommendation is to take 1 or 2 days for Park visit and one more day for experience more of surrounding of the Park (horse riding, caves, ranches, adrenaline parks,... you can check them on our web app also). Hope to see you in some other season when nature change its colors and sounds.
Kind regards
Written January 19, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Марина Б
Grodno, Belarus
Добрый день! Можно ли посетить заповедник с маленькой собачкой Йорк 3 кг?
Written September 13, 2024
Buongiorno
Gli sudenti universitari sono intesi come studenti?
Pagano il biglietto ridotto?
Grazie
Written August 8, 2024
We are planning to take a Flixbus from Zadar to Pilitvice Lakes. On the Flixbus website I only see that it stops at entrance 2. Does anyone know if the bus will also stop at entrance 1?
Written August 3, 2024
Hola.
Para ir a la entrada 2, dónde debo bajarme del autobús que viene de Split ?
Muchas gracias.
Written July 11, 2024
We are on our way to the lake now. Entrance tickets are from gate 1 from what I can understand one follows a track. Which one do you recommend track A or track B?
Written July 5, 2024
Hi. I am trying to purchase a jersey that I saw on sale in the gift shop at the park. Does anyone know how I can get hold of one please? I am based in the uk. Thanks
Written May 20, 2024
En qué parada del bus hay que bajarse para entrar por la "entrada 2" . Gracias
Written October 2, 2023
Das kann ich nicht sagen, denn wir sind mit dem Auto hingefahren!
Written October 6, 2023
Hoka, .Si me cuesta un poco caminar en subidas, mejor coger ruta E o ?. Un saludo
Written October 2, 2023
Tour A es muy facil y no es muy largo
Tour B es un poco mas dificil que Tour A pero no es demasiado dificil
Tour C es un poco mas largo que Tour A y un poco mas dificil
Creo que Tour A sera mejor para usted
Buena suerte!
Written October 4, 2023
How is the weather like at the end of october? Do we need to take our winter clothes with us?
Written September 24, 2023
Yes, warm clothes are required.
How warm? Depends on your tolerance to the cold and expected weather.
So as already written, check the forecast a week in advance (10 days at most) as the monthly average usually published in the net are not that reliable anymore
Written September 25, 2023
Visiting the park without a car. We are a family of 5 planning to stay in an Airbnb or vrbo close by. Does this make sense to visit the park without a car? I am reading that some of the rentals are close enough to entrance 2 but others are saying you can’t really visit without a car due to the distance to the entrance from the surrounding towns. We will be visiting in early may. Any help would be appreciated.
Written September 3, 2023
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