As stunning as Plitvice Lakes is, I must admit it’s not somewhere I want to spend all day strolling around. We barrelled past slow paced tourists, only stopping at the most scenic points (of which there are admittedly many), and finished a 5 hour walking trail in 3 hours. I don’t need to linger to appreciate the beauty of a place and Plitvice is certainly beautiful but a couple of hours of lakes and waterfalls is enough for me and most visitors find the one day ticket to be plenty.
My Quick Guide
Just because I don’t like to be trapped on a set circuit for 5 hours doesn’t mean I don’t recommend a visit to Croatia’s most important National Park. It really is an incredible experience and one of the highlights of Croatia. Experiencing the emerald green lakes and waterfalls of all sizes is one of the most memorable moments in my travels. Even though it doesn’t often snow at Plitvice I would love to go back in winter to see it under snow or even visit in autumn to see the colourful foliage throughout the park.
Here’s my guide and tips for getting the best out of a one day visit to Plitvice Lakes.
How to Get to Plitvice Lakes
Many people visit Plitvice Lakes on a day trip from either Zagreb or Zadar. I decided against this for two reasons. Firstly, by staying in Plitvice you can get to lakes before the day trippers arrive ie. before the masses of tourists arrive. Secondly, I thought I might want to get a two-day pass to visit Plitvice and staying nearby is the best way to do that.
For me, the best way to get to Plitvice Lakes is by car.
- Drive from Zagreb (or Split/Zadar) and stay in the village of Seliste Dreznicko or near there.
- First thing in the morning, head to Entrance 1 and park at the designated car park (not on the road).
- Get your ticket at the entrance and a map with the trail you wish to take (ask at the tourist office at the gate if you’re not sure).
- Walk along the marked pathways, past the lakes and various waterfalls.
- At one point you will see a boat which will take you to the other side of the lake.
- Spend anywhere from an hour to all day at the park (I recommend 3 to 5 hours).
- At the end, you can hop on a tourist train to take you back to the entrance.
- Head back to the car park and pay for your parking before you leave.
- Enjoy a nice dinner at your hotel.
If you prefer you can do a day trip from Zagreb or even from Split. Book your tour here:
In the end though, I only got the single day pass and that was definitely the best decision for me. One day at Plitvice Lakes is more than enough. I know it’s not always possible but if you want to see more I’d recommend visiting again at a different time of the year to see the lakes during a different season, in a different light.
When is the Best Time to Visit?
If you don’t want to share the walkways with hundreds of other tourists, have people in your photos or be walking in the heat of the day, I’d suggest arriving at the lakes at opening, either 7am or 8am depending on the time of the year. When we finished our visit at 12pm the walkways were very crowded and tour groups were still arriving. I was glad to get out of there at that time!
The lakes are expected to be even busier in 2018 so get there early or visit in spring or autumn.
As far as the best time of the year to visit goes, I’d recommend visiting in spring when the waterfalls are at their peak or in autumn when the trees start to change colour. I visited in June and it was a nice time to visit, not too hot and not too crowded.
The best time to visit Plitvice Lakes: May / June or September / October.
When to avoid visiting Plitvice? I would definitely stay away in July and August, the two busiest months of the year for tourism in Croatia.
Which Trail to Take?
The staff at our hotel recommended taking Trail C (C Program) from Entrance No 1. This typically takes 4 to 6 hours. You can read about the other trails (called Programs) here or ask at the tourist office at the entrance.
Should You Take a Tour?
Honestly, I can’t imagine why you would want to take a tour or have a guided visit. The trails are very clearly marked and on an independent visit you can walk at your own pace. Tours are offered from Zagreb and Zadar but I see no benefit in taking one and being guided along the marked paths (unless you are unsure about travelling alone or want company). The tourist office at the entrance can advise you on which trail best suits your needs and you don’t need much more than that. You can even get by without a map.
Can You Swim in the Lakes?
Swimming in Plitvice Lakes is forbidden as it’s a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site and National Park. If you want to swim in one of Croatia’s beautiful lakes, you can do so at Krka National Park near Sibenik.
Food and Drinks
Another reason to arrive early is so you can be finished by lunch time and avoid eating the overpriced food within the park. Drinks are a little pricey too so I’d recommend taking your own if you’re on a budget or even if you’re not. You’ll need lots of water if you’re hiking through the park on a hot day and the cafes/kiosks are quite a distance apart which is another reason to take your own drinks.
Entrance Tickets and Parking
A daily ticket is 150-250 kuna and the two day ticket is 250-400 kuna in 2018 (it’s considerably cheaper in the off-season). Check current prices here. The entrance ticket includes a boat ride on the lake and the tourist train to take you back to the entrance. The park is open from 7am to 8pm in summer (see here for opening times to confirm). Entrance No 2 is closed from October to March.
Parking at Entrance No 1 costs 7 kuna per hour or 70 kuna for the day.
Where to Stay
I stayed at Hotel Degenija, a 4 star hotel located 5 kms from Entrance No 1. It’s one of the nicest hotels in the area and the location is perfect. We also had a nice meal of local trout at their restaurant.
If you are day tripping from Zagreb I recommend staying by Zagreb Cathedral at Art Hotel Like or if you prefer to stay in an apartment, as is common in Croatia, you can get €30 off your first stay with Airbnb using my link.
Visiting Plitvice Lakes in 2018 – Summary
- Visit the lakes in late spring, early summer or after snow.
- Arrive at opening or late afternoon to avoid the crowds.
- Take your own food and water.
- Pick your trail before you get there to save time.
- Be aware that some trails are closed in the off-season.
- Stay in the area to be there as the park opens.
- Take a day trip from Zagreb or Zadar if you have limited time.
- List of the top restaurants in Plitvice Lakes.
- Book a tour if you don’t want to organise your own visit.
READ NEXT: Fighting Through the Crowds in Dubrovnik
So beautiful. So little time, so many places. 😉
It’s just not fair is it? 😛
Thanks for the tips! I live in Zadar, and have not been since 2010 – so I’ll be sure to pack up & head out early and take my own snacks
I would love to visit Zadar! Next time I’m in Croatia I’m going to stay in Zadar and do a day trip to Plitvice from there.
Thank you for such an informative article! I was just wondering – is November a good time to go there?
I haven’t been in November so can’t say for sure but I imagine it’s beautiful all year round. Of course it would be cold and there’s the risk of rain but I would go if I was in Croatia in November.
Can u take a tripod into park? And do u need a permit to take picture? Only for personal use.
You don’t need a permit to take photos. You’ll find almost everyone taking photos and video. I personally didn’t take a tripod but I would think it’s fine.
Many Thanks!
Can anyone tell me if there are lockers at the park for a small suitcase?
Louise
I didn’t see any but maybe you could call them and ask?
Ok thank you
There is a baggage room where you can leave things for the day free of charge.
Do you know which week is peak for Autumn in Plitvice?
Which week of October is the best for Autumn in Plitvice?
I haven’t visited in October but I think mid-October would be best. The photos in this post were taken mid-October: http://www.bohemiantrails.com/waterfalls-fall-foliage-plitvice-lakes/
Otherwise try tweeting https://twitter.com/croatia_hr. They are very active on Twitter and I’m sure they can help.
Thanks. I plan to visit on late October, hope it still has some color.
Hi Andrea,
Just stumbled across your blog, very interesting and well written. We are on Croatia at the moment Oct 2015. Visited Krka National Park yesterday and will be heading for Plitvic next. We are travelling in our Motorhome. What a beautiful country. Time is of no importance so wondered if you were in our position how you would have done the visit and would you have chosen a different trail to take. We do, do early and walk rather than stroll and five hours walking is not a problem.
As a novice Blogger, for family and friends not to make money it is good to see how others do it. And any tips are welcome.
Good Travelling,
Steve
I liked the trail we took, there were countless waterfalls and the peaceful boat ride. I think it’s a great trail to take but I’ve only done one so obviously have nothing to compare it to. If you have time and enjoy this kind of hiking you might want to get to 2-day pass and take a different trail each day. It might be overkill though. 🙂 It should be a peaceful walk now in the off season but I still recommend going early for the best light.
visited the lakes end of june with my 9yr old daughter stay at Hotel jezero. lakes were beautiful we got there at 9am and basically did the walk took us 3 hours… must wear comfy shoes we did. but saw Japanese tourist didn’t wear correct footwear. I couldn’t put my camera down. staying there for the night as we drove from split took us 3 hours. Hotel Jezero was really nice. breakfast was really good. Dinner we went across to Plitvice Hotel which was 200 – 400m away. honestly I love to come back in the winter months and see it. truly amazing experience.