Plitvice Lakes Entrance 1 vs 2 (Which Is Best To Use)
Wondering which entrance to use at Plitvice Lakes National Park? You’ve come to the right place.
Plitvice Lakes is Croatia’s largest national park, and the most beautiful place in the country in my opinion. The park spans 30,000 hectares (74,000 acres), and has two official entrances with ticketing offices, and large parking lots.
This article will cover exactly which entrance to use, where to park, how to get around the park, and where to stay nearby.
Here is everything you should know before visiting Plitvice Lakes National Park.
This article contains affiliate links. This means that if you choose to purchase through these links we may earn a commission. This helps keep our content free, at no additional cost to you.
Plitvice Lake National Park Entrances
Plitvice Lakes National Park’s two official entrances are entrance 1 and 2. Entrance 1 is the main ticket office, and is around 20 minutes further down the highway from Entrance 2.
Both of these entrances are off of a high-speed highway in the middle of the forest, and they are not within walking distance.
Entrance 1 and 2 both have large parking lots, and parking is around 1-2€/hour. You’ll pay upon exiting the parking lot, and there is plenty of available parking.
If you are arriving by Flixbus, it will drop you off directly at Entrance 1, the main ticket office. Our driver drove right past Entrance 2, and only stopped at Entrance 1. This area is in the middle of the forest, and there is a small arched bridge over the highway that connects to the parking lot.
You can view both entrances, and the Flixbus stop at the park map I’ve pinned below.
At entrance 1, there’s souvenir shops, cafes, and a ticketing booth if you need to purchase tickets. There’s no Uber or public transportation in the area, so if you’re arriving by Flixbus, you’ll have to rely on taxis to get to the nearby hotels.
To avoid paying for expensive taxis, I recommend booking a hotel within walking distance to entrance 1, or staying at Hotel Jezero, which offers a free shuttle to both entrances.
If you are driving there, however, all of the hotels are within a 15 minute drive, so it doesn’t matter as much where you stay. There are some excellent cozy bed and breakfasts tucked in the forest to stay near the park.
Plitvice Lakes Entrance 1 vs 2
If you don’t plan on staying overnight at the park, it’s best to use Entrance 1. Entrance 1 is the main entrance, and where all of the popular hikes begin (Route C). I entered at Entrance 1, and began hiking alongside the lower lakes.
From Entrance 1, you’ll be steps away from a popular viewpoint of the lower lakes.
The main trail (Route C) will take you besides the lower lakes on a wooden boardwalk, where you can see mini cascades, and fishes swimming in the clear blue water.
From entrance 1, it’s only a 30-45 minute hike to reach the P3 boat dock. Here you’ll find restaurants, souvenir shops, and restrooms. You can hop on a scenic boat ride across the park’s largest lake (boat ride included in park tickets), to begin hiking towards the upper lakes.
Once you’re done hiking, there’s a convenient train ride that connects entrance 2 to entrance 1.
Entrance 2 begins by the upper lakes, and is the lesser used entrance. Most hikers prefer entrance 1 because it allows you to face the waterfalls, and have the most spectacular views right away.
However, if you use entrance 2, you can enjoy lesser crowds, and will get to enjoy the same scenery if you do a loop around the park! You can also use the train from Entrance 2 to get to Entrance 1, and begin hiking from there. The panoramic train begins operating around 8am, and leaves every 30 minutes.
Beyond Entrance 1 or 2, there’s an unofficial entrance 3 near the town of Plitvicka Selo. This entrance doesn’t have a ticket office, and is used by those staying in Plitvicka Selo.
This is considered one of the nicest areas to stay near the park, and the hotels are around a 15 minute walk from the park.
If you enter the park here, you’ll be steps away from the P3 boat dock, where you can hike towards the lower lakes/entrance 1, or hop on the boat ride to the upper lakes/entrance 2.
How To Get To Plitvice Lakes National Park
Plitvice Lakes is Croatia’s most popular national park, and well connected to the large cities by group tour, and Flixbus.
Group tours are the most convenient way to visit the park, because they include roundtrip transportation from hotels, and a guided hike in the park.
Here are the top-rated group tour options.
- Split: Group tour with guided hike in the park, and roundtrip transportation from Split hotels
- Zadar: Guided Plitvice Lakes day trip from Zadar with a walking tour of Old Town Zadar
- Zagreb: Guided Plitvice Lakes and historic village of Rastoke day trip from Zagreb
The buses are less convenient if you want to make it a day trip, as there’s not as many departures in the evening. If you’re arriving by bus, you may have to stay overnight by the park, and rely on taxis to get to your hotel.
There are regular Flixbus departures (during peak season) from Zagreb, Split, and Zadar. I arrived by Flixbus from Zadar, and took a Flixbus back to Split to get to the park.
Where To Stay Near The Park
There are no official hotels located inside of the park, but a variety of hotels scattered around the area. If you want to be within walking distance to one of the entrances, stay in Plitvicka Jezera, Plitvica Selo, or near Entrance 1.
Plitvicka Jezera is a small town with restaurants near Entrance 2, and is where the famous Hotel Jezero is located. Plitvica Selo is a beautiful town on the opposite side of the lake, within walking distance to the unofficial entrance 3.
If you’re staying here, you must buy your tickets online as there’s no official ticket office. Lastly, there are a few hotels within a 20 minute walk of the main entrance 1.
Just make sure to double check on google maps that they’re within walking distance to “Ticket Office 1” in maps, so you don’t end up stranded in the forest. Here are some of the best hotel options in each area.
Hotels Near Entrance 1 (Flixbus Bus Stop):
- Hotel Antemurale: Clean bed and breakfast only a 5 min walk to entrance 1
- Guesthouse Ljubo & Ana: Cozy bed and breakfast less than a 15 min walk from entrance 1
- House Biba & Leona: Budget bed and breakfast less than a 15 min walk from entrance 1
Hotels Near Entrance 2 (Plitvicka Jezera):
- Hotel Jezero: Spa hotel with a gym, sauna, hot tubs, free breakfast and free shuttle to both entrances, and nearby restaurants
- Guesthouse Bor: Budget-friendly guesthouse within a half hour walk from Entrance 2
Hotels Near Entrance 3 (Plitvica Selo):
- Pansion Breza: Cozy bed and breakfast, that serves a buffet breakfast with bags to pack a lunch, (15 min walk from the park)
- Plitvice Falls Cottage: Luxurious bed and breakfast with coffee makers, and a restaurant that serves dinner, (15 min walk from the park)
- B&B Plitvica Lodge: Rustic bed and breakfast with king size beds and fridges, and a restaurant that serves dinner, (15 min walk from the park)
Plitvice Lakes Entrances Map
Plitvice Lakes FAQs
How much is parking at Plitvice Lakes?
Parking at Plitvice Lakes is around 1-2 euros/hour at the large parking lots by entrance 1 and 2. You’ll pay upon exiting the park, and the parking lots are just a short walk from the entrances.
When’s the best time to visit Plitvice Lakes?
The best time to visit Plitvice Lakes is early in the morning, or later in the evening to enjoy it with lesser crowds.
The park is open 365 days a year, and it’s most visited during the peak season in summer. I visited in one of the busiest months (August), and although it can be crowded around entrance 1, most visitors do a short hike in the park, and leave.
Since it’s such a large park, you’ll have most of it to yourself if you choose to do a longer hike, or enter at entrance 2!
How much time do you need at Plitvice Lakes?
You only need 3-5 hours to see both the lower and upper lakes, and popular waterfalls if you hike route C from entrance 1. It’s the perfect park to visit on a day trip, or spend a night at a nearby hotel in the forest if you love nature.
Is Plitvice Lakes worth visiting?
Yes, Plitvice Lakes is well worth visiting, whether you love hiking, photography, or enjoying beautiful nature scenery.
It was my favorite place I visited in all of Croatia, despite me mistakenly booking a hotel that was over an hour walk from the entrance!
Related articles you may be interested in: