One of the highlights of Croatia, Plitvice National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Plitvice features a series of 16 lakes with colors ranging between azure, turquoise, and emerald. It is 200 miles in total area and a paradise for hikers and nature lovers. Joined together, Plitvice's lakes cover a distance of five miles. Wooden footbridges make the park easy to traverse on foot. Dense forest, amazing flora, birds, and other wildlife, as well as spectacular waterfalls and cascades, make up this national treasure.
The most popular national park in all of Croatia.
The famous guidebook writer Rick Steves describes Plitvice as "Niagara Falls diced and sprinkled over a heavily forested Grand Canyon."
Plitvice National Park is carefully regulated in order to keep it pristine. There are no towns or villages in the reserve. The boats and roads trains available to transport visitors are electric. We suggest spending a full day in Plitvice. Two nights are the most nature lovers will need. You can access the park by bus from both Zagreb and Split, but we believe renting a car is the way to go. This will make for a much faster trip and give some flexibility. The drive from Trogir to Plitvice is about three hours, and two hours from Zagreb. If you have any time to spare, this natural wonder should not be missed.
Things to do in Plitvice
Popular Tour Itineraries Featuring Plitvice
Spend some time in Plitvice on a tour that takes in other cities in Croatia and neighboring countries. Our custom tour packages including Plitvice and other destinations throughout Croatia and Europe make multi-city trips hassle-free. We take care of getting you from place to place, accommodation, excursions and activities.
* Starting price is per person, in US Dollars, based on double occupancy in 3 star accommodation, in the most affordable month an itinerary is offered. Airfare to Europe is not included.
Click on your choice of itinerary, select number of travelers in your party, month of travel, and desired star level of accommodation to get an approximate price. Submit the enquiry form with any additional details and we can start planning your customized trip.
Where to stay in Plitvice
What we love about Plitvice
Operations Executive
This most famous national park in Croatia is breathtaking, to say the least! So much natural beauty and fresh air makes it hard to leave!
Team Leader for Adriatic Region
WOW! This breathtaking natural wonder will make you grateful for the Earth.
Trip Planning & Local Teams Specialist
This is Mother Nature's most beautiful child.
Where can you go from Plitvice?
Looking to continue your adventure? Here are some popular destinations to visit from Plitvice.
Glowing Reviews from Our Guests
Just came back from an 8-day trip through Croatia. I highly recommend using JayWay Travel for future trips. The ease of getting around four locations in Croatia meant we had more time to enjoy each place and not spend time figuring out travel schedules and options.
– James & Daniel, Wisconsin
Visited : Croatia
Itinerary : Zagreb, Plitvice, Split, Dubrovnik
Rating :
Jayway was so easy to work with as they listened to our requests and provided great insights and recommendations. Our destination expert was such pleasure to work with! I would recommend using them over and over again!
– Kevin & Lindsay, Wisconsin
Visited : Slovenia, Croatia
Itinerary : Ljubljana, Rovinj, Plitvice, Split, Dubrovnik
Rating :
Thanks to Jayway for helping us plan a fantastic trip to Croatia! Anamaria was available to us every step of the way and she made our trip seamless, fun, and memorable!
– Robin, Bob, Phyllis, David & Irene, Maryland
Visited : Croatia
Itinerary : Dubrovnik, Hvar, Split, Plitvice, Zagreb
Rating :
Frequently Asked Questions about travel to Plitvice
How much should I expect to spend per person?
A quick lunch with a drink is around 100 kuna/$15. For dinner, 150 - 200 kunas/ $20-$30 per person should do. A one day ticket price varies from 80 - 300 kunas/$12 - $43 per person (depending on the season). Parking is available at the Entrances 1 and 2 of the park for 10 HRK per hour ($1.5)
How can I get around the Plitvice Lakes?
The Plitvice Lakes are very easy to get around. There are two main entrances a short distance from the accommodations we offer. Once there, the park uses an easily followed map system containing a number of suggested hikes. The trails are clearly marked using a color system and allow you to navigate the park at your own pace. Within the park, you can ride a free boat across the largest lake, and ride free road trains from the furthest lakes back to the center of the park, or its other end.
Are there shops?
Plitvice Lakes offers minimal shopping, so make sure you have any items or snacks you need before heading to that area.
Are the Plitvice Lakes safe?
Plitvice is a very safe area, but exercise common sense when hiking, and obey any posted signs.
How long should I stay at the Plitvice Lakes?
While the Lakes can be visited as a transfer stop, we recommend spending a night there, so you can enjoy the park the following morning before it gets crowded, especially in summer.