How to Visit Plitvice Lakes National Park: Routes, Tickets + Planning Tips

• Location: Croatia
• UNESCO status: World Heritage Site
• Number of lakes: 16
• Waterfalls: 90+
• Distance from Zagreb: about 2 hours
• Time needed to visit: 4–6 hours
• Best time to visit: May, June, September

Overview

Most travelers visit Plitvice Lakes National Park from one of three Croatian cities:

• Zagreb: 2 hours away
• Zadar: 1.5 hours away
• Split: 2.5 hours away
• Dubrovnik: 5 hours away (too far for a day trip)

My husband and I used Zagreb as our base and visited the park as a day trip. If you’re also planning to stay in the city, be sure to check out my guide to my favorite experiences in Zagreb.

If you are doing a road trip through Croatia, renting a car gives you the flexibility to arrive right when the park opens, which makes a huge difference for avoiding crowds.

Parking near the park costs roughly 1.5-2 euros per hour depending on the season.

Our Bus Experience

After a full day of travel from the United States, my husband and I arrived in Zagreb at 11:15 pm the night before our visit.

Despite the late arrival, we chose to book the 6:45 am bus to Plitvice Lakes National Park the following morning. The ride from Zagreb takes about 2.5 hours.

There was no way I would have been able to safely drive on just a few hours of sleep, so letting someone else handle the driving was the right decision. I was able to sleep for part of the ride and try to shake off some of the jet lag.

We booked our bus tickets through Busbud, which is a platform we’ve used many times when traveling internationally.

It makes it easy to compare schedules and book tickets ahead of time. We’ve used it not only in Croatia, but also in South America when we booked our bus from Puerto Natales to El Calafate while traveling from Chile to Argentina.

We visited in May, when the park opens at 8 am, and arrived around 9 am. Even then, the crowds were already starting to flow in.

There was actually an earlier 5:45 am bus that would have gotten us there right at opening time. Normally we would have taken it, but after landing so late the night before, sleep won that battle.

Overall, though, taking the bus worked out great. It allowed us to relax, enjoy the scenery, and let someone else do the driving.

Group Tour

Another option is joining a highly-rated group tour to Plitvice Lakes. Most tours arrive around 9:30–10 am, which means bigger crowds.

Plitvice is easy to do on your own, but if you don’t have a car and want to skip the bus, a tour is a convenient option.

Plitvice Lakes is open year-round, and each season offers a completely different experience.

We visited in May, which turned out to be a fantastic time to go because the waterfalls were incredibly powerful from spring snowmelt.

Here’s what you can expect throughout the year.

Spring (April–May)

• Waterfalls are at their strongest
• Fewer crowds than summer
• Cool, comfortable hiking temperatures

Summer (June–August)

• Lush green scenery
• Long daylight hours
• The busiest time of year

Fall (September–October)

• Beautiful autumn foliage
• Pleasant temperatures for hiking
• Fewer crowds than summer

Winter

• Snow-covered landscapes
• Frozen waterfalls
• A completely different experience

Overall, spring and fall offer the best balance of weather and crowd levels.

There are two main entrances to Plitvice Lakes National Park.

Entrance 1

• Located near the Lower Lakes
• Open year-round
• Offers dramatic first views of the waterfalls

Entrance 2

• Located near the Upper Lakes
• Closed during winter months
• Often slightly less crowded early in the day

We started at Entrance 1 because we wanted to experience the Lower Lakes early before the biggest crowds arrived.

Starting here also means you descend toward the waterfalls while facing them, which makes for an incredible first impression.

I break down the pros and cons of each entrance in more detail in my Entrance 1 vs Entrance 2 Guide, which can help you decide which one works best for your visit.

One thing that surprises a lot of people is that Plitvice Lakes has multiple walking routes. Since my husband and I had already researched the park ahead of time, we knew exactly which one we wanted to do.

Your route really comes down to two things:

• How much time you have

• How far you want to walk

Some routes only cover the Lower Lakes, while others include both lake systems. 

Here’s a quick overview of the most popular options.

For our visit, we chose Route C because it let us see both the Upper and Lower Lakes without feeling rushed.

It took us about five hours in total and ended up being the perfect choice for a day trip.

I break down the exact route we followed in my Step-by-Step Route C Guide if you want all the details.

This really depends on your travel schedule.

If you are short on time, a day trip works perfectly well. That’s what we did since we only had a few days in Croatia before taking the train to Ljubljana, Slovenia.

If you arrive right when the park opens, you will have plenty of time to explore the trails.

If you have more flexibility, spending one night near the park can make the experience more relaxed.

One strategy is:

Day 1
Visit the Upper Lakes in the afternoon.

Day 2
Explore the Lower Lakes right when the park opens.

This approach helps you avoid the largest crowds.

There are a few hotels located inside Plitvice Lakes National Park, but the accommodations outside the park tend to have better ratings and more options.

Here are a few highly rated places to consider:

Since we used Zagreb as our base, we didn’t stay overnight near the park. Instead, we stayed at Hotel Capital.

The building used to be a bank and still has the original vault in the basement.

Between the beautiful Art Deco and Art Nouveau design and the incredibly friendly staff, it was a fantastic place to stay!

There are several restaurants inside the park, but I had read mixed reviews before our visit.

Instead, we kept things simple. We ate a big breakfast before leaving Zagreb and packed a few things in our daypack like protein bars, fruit, and water.

After several hours of hiking through the park, those simple snacks actually tasted pretty great.

Plus, we had dinner reservations later that evening at the amazing Michelin-starred restaurant Noel in Zagreb, so we were saving our appetites. 

This step is extremely important.

Buy your tickets online ahead of time. Tickets can sometimes be purchased at the entrance, but only if there are still unsold tickets available.

Visitors must now choose a specific entry time slot when purchasing tickets, as well as whether they will enter through Entrance 1 or Entrance 2. Each time slot shows how many tickets are still available.

Visitor numbers are capped at about 300 people per hour, so popular time slots can sell out quickly.

When my husband and I visited, we didn’t have to select an exact entry time. That has since changed.

If Plitvice Lakes is a must-see stop on your itinerary, booking tickets in advance ensures you get the entry time you want.

Ticket prices range from about €10 to €40 per adult, depending on the time of year. For an additional €5, you can choose a ticket option that allows you to change or cancel your arrival date.

A few items will make your visit much more comfortable.

I was especially glad I brought an umbrella. It rained on and off during our visit in May, which actually gave the park a beautiful misty atmosphere.

Consider bringing:

• Comfortable walking shoes
• Rain jacket or poncho
• Travel umbrella
• Water and snacks
• Small backpack (I take my Zomake everywhere!)
• Camera
• Portable phone charger

The wooden boardwalks can become a little slippery after rain, so good shoes make a big difference.

Even though the trails are easy to follow, you’ll still end up walking several miles throughout the park.

Plitvice Lakes National Park truly lives up to the hype.

Walking along the narrow wooden boardwalks with waterfalls cascading around you and crystal-clear turquoise water below is one of those travel experiences that sticks with you long after the trip is over.

Even with a little rain and some crowds during our visit, my husband and I still found the experience absolutely worth it.

A few quick tips to remember:

• Arrive right when the park opens
• Use the restroom before starting your hike
• Buy tickets online in advance
• Plan your route ahead of time
• Be patient with crowds and enjoy the experience

With a little planning, visiting Plitvice Lakes can easily become one of the highlights of your trip to Croatia.

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Questions about our Plitvice Lakes experience?

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