Plan your Travels to Plitvice Lakes
Croatia’s most recognisable UNESCO-listed national park, Plitvice Lakes are comprised of 16 cascading lakes and travertine waterfalls, and with endemic flora and fauna, they make a thriving ecosystem. Plitvice is beautiful any time of the year, showing change of seasons, making them a must-see family-friendly or romantic activity whatever the time of your visit.
A turquoise ribbon of lakes linked by gushing waterfalls in the forested heart of continental Croatia, Unesco-listed Plitvice Lakes National Park is an awe-inspiring sight. Travertine expanses covered with mossy plants divide the lakes, whose startling colors are a product of the underlying bedrock. Wooden boardwalks allow you to easily traverse this exquisite watery world.
Don’t miss all our trips, such as the Plitvice private Tours.
Trip to Plitvice Lakes FAQs
What is the best time to visit Plitvice Lakes?
Plitvice Lakes is a year-round destination. It is open 365 days of the year. The summer months are the busiest time to visit the park. Expect congestion on the boardwalks and hot temperatures.
Where are Plitvice Lakes?
Plitvice Lakes is located in central Croatia. The closest cities are Zagreb and Zadar. Here are driving distances and times from popular spots in Croatia:
- Zagreb: 135 km, 2 hours 15 minutes
- Zadar: 136 km, 2 hours
- Split: 260 km, 3 hours
- Dubrovnik: 450 km, 5 hours
- Pula: 275 km, 3 hours 45 minutes
Seven routes through the park
There are seven routes (also called programs) through the park. These are suggested routes depending upon your starting point, your energy level, and how much time you have. With seven options, picking out the best route can be a little overwhelming. At the end of this section, I’ll give you our suggestions.
Programs A, B, and C all start at Entrance 1. Programs E, F and H all start at Entrance 2 and are basically the same as A, B, C only they travel in the opposite direction. Program K is a full day hike through the entire park.
Our Recommendations
It’s absolutely worth it to visit both the lower and upper lakes if you have the time. In order to do this you will need to do Program C (from entrance 1) or Program H (from Entrance 2).
From
Matilda Your Croatia Expert
We recommend starting from Entrance 1, especially if you get here first thing in the morning. By starting from Entrance 1, you are walking slightly uphill most of the way but you are walking towards the waterfalls on the lower lakes. That means that you always get to see them in front of you.
If you walk in the opposite direction, you will actually walk past some of the waterfalls and have to keep turning around to look at them. It’s not a big deal but I think it is a nicer experience to walk towards the waterfalls. We walked the boardwalk trails in both directions and preferred starting at Entrance 1.
