Perfect Split to Plitvice Lakes National Park Day Trip Itinerary
Are you planning a day trip to Plitvice Lakes National Park from Split? If so, this article’s for you.
Plitvice Lakes National Park is Croatia’s largest and most beautiful natural park, nestled in the center of the forested countryside. With it only being a 3-3.5 hour drive from Split, it’s well worth visiting, even if you have limited vacation time.
This article will cover exactly how to get from Split to Plitvice Lakes, which entrance to use, what to do in the park, where to stay, and much more.
Here is everything you need to know to plan an epic day trip to Plitvice Lakes National Park.
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How To Get To Plitvice Lakes National Park
Split is around a 2.5 hour drive from Plitvice Lakes if you drive the toll road (route E71), or a 3-3.5 hour drive if you take the D1 highway. It’s a very scenic drive, and you’ll be driving through the forested countryside leading up to the park.
If you’re not driving, the next best way to get there is by bus, or joining a group tour.
Flixbus is well connected to Plitvice Lakes National Park, and there are multiple departures throughout the day. Flixbus has buses from both Split and Zadar that will drop you off directly at the park’s Entrance 1 Ticket Office.
The bus ride takes 3.5-4 hours, and I recommend booking the early morning ticket (7:30am) if you’re leaving from Split. If you can’t find availability, you can check for buses departing from Zadar instead, and book two bus tickets (Split to Zadar, Zadar to Plitvice).
Note: There’s less availability in the off-season (winter), but you’ll likely be able to get there by bus if you have flexibility in your schedule.
Group tours are the best option if you plan on doing a day trip from Split. Not only will you not have to worry about booking bus tickets, but they’ll pick you up directly from your hotel in Split.
The group tours also include a guided hike in the park, so you can learn about the unique flora and fauna surrounding the lakes.
Here are the best options from Split.
- Split to Plitvice Lakes Tour: Group tour with guided hike in the park, and roundtrip transportation from hotels in split Split
- Private Split to Plitvice Lakes Tour: Private tour with guided hike and roundtrip transportation from hotels in Split
- Split to Plitvice Lakes to Zagreb Tour: Guided tour from Split to Plitvice Lakes, with transfer to Zagreb
Arriving At The Park
Plitvice Lakes National Park has two official entrances, with dedicated ticket offices and parking lots.
If you’re driving from Split, you will drive past Entrance 2, before reaching Entrance 1, which is 20 minutes further up the highway. Entrance 1 is the best entrance to use, and is where the Flixbus bus stop is located.
From Entrance 1, you’ll be able to hike from the lower to upper lakes, and have easy access to the park’s most scenic viewpoints. If you’re staying at a hotel near Entrance 2, however, you can use that entrance, and use the park’s train to easily get between entrances.
Things To Do In The Park
Plitvice Lakes has stunning turquoise blue lakes, waterfalls, and eight different hiking routes that vary in length.
You only need 3-4 hours to see the park’s main highlights, and it’s perfect for a day trip. The park has trains and boats that make it easy to get around, and they’re included in your park tickets.
The most popular hikes are Route B and Route C from entrance 1, which include a 30 minute scenic boat ride across the park’s largest lake (Lake Kozjak).
Route C takes you around both the upper and lower lakes (~4 hours), whereas Route B is a shortened version to the lower lakes and a variety of waterfalls (2-3 hours).
There’s trails that begin at Entrance 2 (routes E, F, H), but most people start at Entrance 1 so that they can face the waterfalls while hiking. From entrance 2, you can easily hop on the park’s train to entrance 1, and begin hiking from there.
If you’re up for a challenging hike, you can hike K1 or K2 from Entrance 1. These hikes loop around the entire park, and can take up to 8 hours! View a full list of the park routes here.
I entered the park at entrance 1, and began hiking from there. The hike starts out on a boardwalk beside the lower lakes, which had the bluest water I’ve ever seen.
The water is so clear you can see fish swimming right besides the boardwalk!
It’s a very easy hike with minimal stairs, and there’s a short detour to see the tallest waterfall in the park, Veliki Slap (the Great Waterfall).
If you continue hiking along the boardwalk, you’ll reach the P3 boat dock in just around 30-45 minutes. Here you’ll find souvenir shops, restaurants, restrooms, and picnic areas.
After resting, you can hop on the scenic 30 minute boat ride across Lake Kozjak to see the rest of the park.
Once you’re done hiking, there’s a convenient train from entrance 2 to entrance 1 that you can use to exit the park.
Where To Stay Near Plitvice Lakes National Park
The best place to stay near Plitvice Lakes is within walking distance to one of the three entrances. There’s a few hotels near Entrance 1, and more options near Entrance 2 (Plitvicka Jezera), and Plitvica Selo (unofficial Entrance 3).
Entrance 3 is an unofficial entrance that has no ticket office, so if you’re staying in Plitvica Selo, you’ll need to buy tickets online. You can view the three entrances on the map below.
Here are the top-rated hotels within walking distance to the park.
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
If you’re staying near Entrance 2 or 3, keep in mind that it’s not within walking distance to the Flixbus stop at entrance 1. Entrance 2 is over an hour walk from Entrance 1 along a high-speed highway, whereas Entrance 3 is on the opposite side of the lake (near P3 boat stop).
There’s no public transportation between entrances, and the only way to get there is by taxi, or using the train inside of the park. The Flixbus only stops at Entrance 1, so if you’re staying at a hotel near Entrance 2/3, it’s best to enter the park as soon as you arrive.
Once you’re in the park, you can use the park’s boats and trains to get to the exit closest to your hotel. For this, I recommend buying a 2 day park pass, so you can use the park’s train once again the following day to get to the Flixbus stop at entrance 1.
The taxis in the area are extremely expensive, and the two day park ticket will be a much cheaper alternative. There are free luggage lockers at both entrances in case you need to store your stuff before checking into your hotel.
Tips For Visiting Plitvice Lakes National Park
- Buy entrance tickets online via their ticketing website to bypass any lines
- Book early morning bus tickets so you’ll have a full day to explore the park
- Pack snacks and drinks to have a lunch in the park
- Hike Route C from entrance 1 to see both the upper and lower lakes
- Arrive later in the afternoon (3-4pm) for discounted tickets and less crowds
Best Time To Visit Plitvice Lakes National Park
The best time to visit Plitvice Lakes National Park is anytime of year, but summer will be the most crowded and expensive.
If you’re visiting during summer, however, you can visit early in the morning (7am) to avoid crowds, and later in the afternoon (4pm) for discounted tickets. I visited during peak season in August, and although it was a little crowded on the boardwalks, it was completely worth visiting!
Split to Plitvice Lakes FAQs
Is Plitvice Lakes or Krka National Park better to visit?
Plitvice Lakes National Park is the largest and most famous national park in Croatia, but it’s around 2 hours further from Split.
If you have limited vacation time, I’d recommend skipping Krka, and going on a day trip to Plitvice Lakes. It’s much more extensive than the Krka waterfalls, and one of the most beautiful places in the country.
How long is the bus ride from Split to Plitvice Lakes?
The bus ride from Split to Plitvice Lakes is 3.5-4 hours, and potentially longer if it has multiple stops. I took the bus from Zadar to Plitvice, and it took just under 2 hours.
Where does the bus drop you off at Plitvice Lakes National Park?
Flibus will drop you off at entrance 1 (Entrance 1 Ticket Office) only. This is the main entrance, and is a 20 minute drive from Entrance 2 (Plitvice Ticket Office 2).
There’s no public transportation in the area, and the only way to get to the nearby hotels is by taxi. If you’re arriving by bus and staying near Entrance 2 or 3, it’s best to use the park’s train to get closer to your hotel.
For full details, check out our guide to visiting Plitvice Lakes National Park.
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