Ultimate Guide To Visiting Plitvice Lakes National Park (2025)
Are you planning to visit the stunning Plitvice Lakes National Park? You’ve come to the right place.
Plitvice Lakes is Croatia’s largest and most famous national park, and in my experience, the most beautiful place in the country. It’s a 2-2.5 hour drive from Zadar and Zagreb, or a 3 hour drive from Split, and is well connected to the major cities by bus and group tours.
I visited the park by bus, stayed overnight in a nearby hotel, and it was the highlight of my trip. This article will cover how to get there, which entrance to use, where to stay, what to do in the park and much more.
Here is everything you should know before visiting the gorgeous Plitvice Lakes National Park.
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How To Get To Plitvice Lakes National Park
Plitvice Lakes National Park is only a 2-2.5 hour drive from the cities Zagreb and Zadar, or a 3 hour drive from Split. If you’re not driving, you can get there by bus or joining a group tour.
The park is well connected to the nearby cities by Flixbus, with multiple departures to choose from throughout the day. This is how I got there, but if you don’t plan on spending a night by the park, I recommend opting for a group tour.
Group tours are around the same price as roundtrip Flixbus tickets, but they include a guided hike with an experienced local. This way you’ll get to see all of the park on a day trip, and they’ll conveniently pick you up and drop you off at your hotel!
Here are the top-rated group tours from the nearby cities.
- Split: Guided Plitvice Lakes day trip from Split
- Zagreb: Guided Plitvice Lakes and historic village of Rastoke day trip from Zagreb
- Zadar: Guided Plitvice Lakes day trip from Zadar with a walking tour of Old Town Zadar
Flixbus will drop you off at Entrance 1, which is the park’s main entrance. If you’re driving there, you’ll drive past “Plitvice Ticket Office 2”, before reaching “Entrance 1 Ticket Office”, a few miles down.
The park is located off of a high-speed highway, and there are large parking lots at both entrances. Entrance 1 is the best entrance to use, as it will give you easy access to the park’s main hiking trail (Route C).
The two entrances both have large ticketing offices, souvenir shops, cafes, and free WIFI. It’s best to buy your tickets online beforehand to avoid waiting in any lines.
Entrance is €40/adult per day during peak season (July-August), and between €10-23/adult for the rest of the year. If you visit after 4pm during peak season (3pm in off season), there’s a discount on tickets.
Additionally, they offer 2-day tickets for €60/adult during peak season, and between €15-39/adult for the rest of the year.
Where To Stay In Plitvice Lakes National Park
The most convenient place to stay near Plitvice Lakes is Entrance 1, where you’ll be walking distance to the park’s main entrance.
There are more hotels available near Entrance 2 in Plitvicka Jezera. The most popular place to stay here is the spa hotel Hotel Jezero, which offers a free shuttle to park’s entrances.
Besides the two main entrances, you’ll find many top-rated hotels in Plitvica Selo near Entrance 3. This is an unofficial entrance so you must buy your tickets online beforehand.
You can view these three areas on the map I’ve attached below.
Here are the best hotels within walking distance to the entrances.
Hotels Near Entrance 1
- Hotel Antemurale: Bed and breakfast less than a 10 min walk to entrance 1
- Guesthouse Ljubo & Ana: Cheapest b&b less than a 20 min walk from entrance 1
- House Biba & Leona: Budget b&b with coffee makers less than a 20 min walk from entrance 1
Hotels Near Entrance 2 (Plitvicka Jezera)
- Hotel Jezero: Hotel with a gym, sauna, spa, free breakfast and free shuttle to the park
- Guesthouse Bor: Budget-friendly hotel within a half hour walk from Entrance 2
Hotels Near Entrance 3 (Plitvica Selo)
- Pansion Breza: Charming b&b, that serves a buffet breakfast with bags to pack a lunch, less than a 15 min walk from the park
- Plitvice Falls Cottage: Luxurious b&b with coffee makers, and an onsite restaurant that serves a buffet breakfast and dinner, less than a 15 min walk from the park
- B&B Plitvica Lodge: Cozy b&b with king size beds and fridges, and a restaurant that serves breakfast and dinner, less than a 15 min walk from the park
For complete details, check out our guide on where to stay near Plitvice!
If you’re arriving at the park by Flixbus, the bus will drop you off at Entrance 1. If you happen to be staying in a hotel near Entrance 2, it is a very long walk (~1 hour) from this entrance.
There’s no public transportation in the area, and taxis can be extremely expensive. Thankfully, you can hop on the park’s train shuttle to get between entrances once you enter the park.
If you’re staying by Entrance 3, you can park at your hotel, and do a short (less than 15 min) walk to the unofficial entrance. This entrance is relatively close to the main entrance, near the P3 station in the park.
Keep in mind that entrance 3 (Plitvica Selo) is on the opposite side of the lake as Entrance 1. So, if you’re arriving by Flixbus, you’ll need to enter inside of the park, to be able to cross the lake and get to this exit.
You can view the exact location of entrance 3 on this entrance map.
If you’re getting there by bus, and staying by Entrance 2 or 3, I recommend purchasing the 2 day park pass. This will allow you to arrive, explore the park, and exit at the entrance closest to your hotel.
If you’re arriving with luggage, there’s free storage lockers available for use at both entrances. The next day, you can enter the park again, and use the boats/shuttles to easily get back to the Flixbus stop at entrance 1.
The park’s boats and shuttle bus make it easy to get around, as long as you’re inside of the park.
If you try to walk between entrances outside of the park, you’ll be walking beside a high-speed highway in the forest. Additionally, it will be around an hour walk between entrance 1 and 2, so I highly recommend entering the park when you first arrive.
Things To Do In The Park
Plitvice Lakes is home to 16 beautiful blue lakes, and dozens of waterfalls that you can admire on one of the park’s eight routes.
The park’s eight hiking routes (A, B, C, E, F, H, K1, K2) vary in length, and you can view their individual maps here. From Entrance 1, you can begin hiking on Route A, B, or C, which get increasingly long depending on how far you want to go.
If you enter at Entrance 1, you’ll be a short walk from the lower lakes section of the park, and the “Great Waterfall” (Veliki Slap). The lower lakes has some of the bluest water I’ve ever seen, and you’ll be walking beside the lake on boardwalks.
It’s an easy walk, and there’s minimal stairs at the lower lakes. Here you’ll have some of the best photo opportunities in the park, and it’s only a 30-45 minute walk to reach the restrooms/restaurants.
The restaurants are right by the P3 boat stop, where you can hop on a scenic 30 minute boat ride across the park’s largest lake (Lake Kozjak).
If you were to stop here, and head back to the entrance, you would have hiked “Route A”. If you want to continue hiking Route B/C to see more of the lakes, you’ll hop on the 30 minute boat ride. The park’s electric boat rides and panoramic trains are included in your ticket.
Route B includes a 30 minute boat ride across the park’s largest lake, more hiking, and a train ride back to entrance 1. Route C is the longest route that takes 4-5 hours, where you’ll get to see both the lower and upper lakes, and the park’s most scenic waterfalls.
If you’re up for a challenge, routes K1 and K2 will take you around the entire park, and can take up to 8 hours!
If you’re entering at Entrance 2, you can either begin hiking from there (E, F, H), or hop on the train back to Entrance 1. It’s considered more scenic to hike from the lower to upper lakes, so most people begin hiking from Entrance 1.
If you’re entering at the unofficial Entrance 3, you’ll be near the souvenir shops/restaurants by the P3 boat stop.
From here, you can either hike downstream towards Entrance 1 or upstream by hopping on the P3 boat ride. It’s only a 30-45 minute walk from Entrance 1, and there’s a train available to easily get back to Entrance 1 if you cross the lake by boat.
Tips For Visiting Plitvice Lakes
- Buy tickets online to avoid waiting in line
- Arrive early in the morning for lesser crowds or afternoon (3-4pm) for discounted tickets
- Pack snacks and drinks to avoid high food prices in the park
- Hike Route C to explore both the upper and lower lakes section of the park
- Stay in Plitvica Selo for the most beautiful views outside of your hotel
- If arriving by Flixbus, stay within walking distance to an entrance
- Use the park’s train instead of taxis to get between entrances
Best Time To Visit Plitvice Lakes
The best time to visit Plitvice Lakes is in the spring or fall, when there’s fewer crowds and prices are cheapest.
However, you’ll get to enjoy the best weather in the summer, so anytime is worth visiting. If you’re visiting in the summer like I did, I recommend going for early morning or afternoon sunset hikes to avoid crowds.
And to save money, you can visit the park after 4pm for discounted tickets, and pack your own snacks and drinks!
Plitvice Lakes National Park FAQS
How much time do you need at the park?
You only need 4-5 hours to see the park’s lakes and waterfalls via Route C, the park’s most popular trail. If you’re entering from Entrance 1, you can see the park’s most popular viewpoints and waterfalls within just a few hours on Route A.
The park has eight different routes, including more challenging routes that can take several hours if you’re up for it.
How do the trains and boats in the park work?
Plitvice Lakes has panoramic trains that connect the entrance stations, and 2 boat crossings that connect different parts of the lake.
If you’re hiking Route C, you’ll hop on a short 30 minute boat ride from the upper to lower lakes for part of the hike.
Should you use entrance 1 or entrance 2?
I recommend using entrance 1, so you can begin hiking Route A or C, facing the waterfalls. Route C will take you from the lower to upper lakes, all the way to entrance 2, where you can hop on the train station back to entrance 1.
How do you get from the park to the nearby hotels?
The best way to get from the park to nearby hotels is to use the park’s train, which is included in your ticket price.
There’s no public transportation in the area, and it’s a very long walk off the side of a highway to get between entrances. If you enter the park, you’ll be able to hop on a 15 minute train ride to get to the other entrance.
Just make sure to ask a park ranger if you’re allowed to re-enter. If not, there’s luggage lockers where you can store your stuff if you’d like to begin hiking before checking into your hotel.
Are there taxis and Ubers at the park?
Yes, there are taxis outside of the entrances, but they can be quite expensive during peak season. I was quoted 30 euros to get to my hotel 10 minutes away from entrance 1. Additionally, there are no Uber drivers available at the park, although you can use Uber to get to the park.
Is it better to get there by Flixbus or group tour?
If you have limited vacation time, it’s best to join a group tour, so you don’t have to spend a night near the park.
Group tours are less complicated, and will pick you up directly from your hotel in a nearby city, and drop you off in the evening. Flixbus is better if you want to explore the park at your own pace, and can be slightly cheaper.
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