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Plitvice Lakes - experience the Plitvice National Park

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Updated 2023 - Plitvice Lakes in Croatia is a national park and nature reserve with dramatic waterfalls, beautiful lakes and vast green forests. We visited Plitvice National Park in October in the autumn, and there was so much water that the waterfalls almost overflowed their banks. Regardless of the season, this is an extraordinary nature experience.

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Plitvice Lakes in Croatia

The Plitvice Lakes in Croatia are located in Lika-Senjs and Karlovac counties, roughly in the centre of the country. There are a total of eight national parks in Croatia and Plitvice National Park (Plitvice Lakes) is one of the most famous. It's no wonder - this has to be one of Europe's most beautiful natural areas, and the lakes and waterfalls are fantastic to wander around.

16 large lakes in the national park

The Plitvice Lakes in Croatia have been created by the Korana River forming 16 lakes, all surrounded by dense green vegetation. The lakes are divided into two groups, the upper and lower groups. The larger lakes in the upper group are called Prošćansko, Ciginovac, Okrugljak veliko, Galovac and Gradinsko. The two largest lakes in the lower group are Kozjak and Milanovac.

Plitvicesjöarna - Plitvice National Park

The oldest forests in Croatia

The natural area around the lakes is home to the oldest forests in Croatia and contains over 1460 different species or subspecies of plants. The park is also notable for its many species of butterflies, moths, dragonflies and various bird species. Birds of prey such as eagles and falcons can be seen, and bears, wolves and lynxes roam deep in the forests.

Plitvicesjöarna i Kroatien

Unesco World Heritage

A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979, the national park is a popular destination for tourists from all over the world. Many Europeans are seen here, but also many Asian tourists. Plitvice Lakes is the oldest and largest national park in Croatia, located in the mountainous region between the Mala Kapela mountain range to the west and northwest, and the Lička Plješivica mountain range to the southeast.

Plitvice National park

Visiting the Plitvice Lakes

Plitvice National Park is a large area and you can enter the park via two different entrances: "Entrance 1" (the northern entrance) or "Entrance 2" (the southern entrance). We entered at "Entrance 1" one day in October and the price included boat rides and shuttle buses in the area. You can also book a 2-day ticket. The park is big, so it is not difficult to spend two days here if you want to.

Plitvicesjöarna i Kroatien

Highest waterfall Veliki Slap

Entering via "Entrance 1", you quickly reach the large waterfall "Veliki Slap". This waterfall is the highest in the national park, with a drop of more than 78 metres. The view here is truly breathtaking and you can stand and watch for hours.

veliki Slap i Plitvice nationalpark
Plitvicesjöarna

Four different trails in Plitvice Lakes

There are four different trails in the park, of varying lengths. The trails are marked with signs in different colours, so that you can continue to follow the right trail. Some parts of the trails are on wooden walkways that run over the water, past rippling water and countless small beautiful waterfalls.

Utsikt över Plitvicesjöarna i Kroatien
Plitvice National park
Plitvicesjöarna i Kroatien

Boats, rowing boats and shuttle buses

You don't just have to get around the park on foot. If you want, you can combine the walk with shuttle buses, rowing boats or silent electric boats. We walked a short distance, and then took a trip across one of the lakes in an electric boat. What a great day!

Båt i Plitvicesjöarna
Båt på Plitvicesjöarna i Kroatien

Due to heavy rain and flooding, parts of the park were closed, so one day seemed to be just right. If the whole park had been open, we would probably have bought a 2-day pass and spent a little more time here.

Fiskar i Plitvice nationalpark

Caves on the Plitvice Lakes

There is a cave system, Baraćeve špilje, located just outside the national park. Here you can book a guided tour of around 40 minutes if you want. We never did that, but were content to look around the cave-like area just inside the entrance.

Pltivicesjöarna

Plitvice National Park in October

When we were here, it had rained a lot so there was an unusual amount of water flowing everywhere ... Considering the amount of tourists we met in the national park in October (busload after busload of Chinese), we guess that it must be crowded in August. In that sense, October was just the right month to visit the Plitvice Lakes. It was also a pleasant climate for long walks today.

Peter i Plitvice national park

On the other hand, it had rained a lot, so it was really wet. Large parts of the park were flooded and some parts were even closed off. It was an occasionally exciting and wet walk in the stunningly beautiful national park.

Plitvice national park - en magisk pärla i Kroatien
It was "quite" wet on the nice walking paths in Plitvice ...
Plitvicesjöarna Plitvice national park
Hmmm... Good with signs, but wondering which way to go? can actually go...?

Hiking trails around Plitvice National Park

Because of its dense, impenetrable forests, this unexplored area was once called 'the devil's gardens'. Tales of the Black Queen, sea elves, icy winters, mountain giants and wild forest animals. Today you will find top-class hiking trails around peaks and mountains like Medevak with its three peaks, offering panoramic views of the Plitvice Lakes and idyllic villages. Information boards are set up along the trails to provide interesting facts about the ecosystem.

Oštri Medveđak (899 metres above sea level)

The first elevation and trail represents the highest Medveđak peak, overlooking Lička Plješivica, Una River Valley (Bihać), Korana River Valley and the towns and villages of Drežnik Grad, Selište Drežničko, Rakovica, Vaganac and Ličko Petrovo Selo.

Tupi Medveđak (868 metres above sea level)

The second hiking trail is an impressive peak that offers a magnificent view of 6 lakes (Prošćansko Lake, Ciginovac, Okrugljak, Galovac, Gradinsko Lake and Kozjak), Lička Plješivica and Mala Kapela.

Turčić (801 metres above sea level)

From Turčić, the third trail and the lowest peak of the Medveđak trio, you can admire the view of Lake Kozjak, the Great Falls and its surroundings, the Jezero Hotel and the villages of Poljana and Plitvica. If the weather is good, there are unobstructed views of Bjelolasica, the largest mountain in the Velika Kapela massif.

Čorkova bay hiking trail 21 km long

The start of this trail is at Labudovac and you seek out the trail called Plitvica, to Čorkova Uvala Village and back over Mt Preka Kosa where it joins the Plitvica trail again and leads on to the ship dock at Kozjačka draga. Maps are available at the entrances

Plitvica trail (hiking trail) 9 km long

The beginning of this trail is also at Labudovac where it branches off from the "Čorkova uvala" trail where it reconnects with the "Čorkova Uvala" trail which continues downstream along the Plitvica stream to the large waterfall and the Kozjačka draga jetty. Maps are available at the entrances

Camping Bear camp

We visited the Plitvice Lakes by motorhome and first checked in at the slightly nicer (and slightly more expensive) campsite. Camp Tourist Grabovac - only to discover that the promised WiFi didn't work at all... We checked out again after half an hour and moved to the small place. Bear Camp, which is a simple little campsite in an uncle's garden. This place was simple, but the WiFi worked like a charm!

Bear Camp vid Plitvice National Park
Bear Camp at Plitvice National Park, where we stood with the motorhome in the pouring rain.

Winter around Plitvice Lakes

Skiing has been a part of winter tourism offered by the Plitvice Lakes National Park since the 1980s. The Mukinje ski resort and the village of Mukinje located about 5 kilometres from entrance 1.

The resort has a ski lift up to 700 metres above sea level with several ski trails. In addition to skiing and snowboarding, sledding, snow barrels and sledges can be hired on site. On weekends, when the slopes are full of snow, night skiing under floodlights is also organised.

More national parks in Croatia

There are seven more national parks in Croatia. We have visited two of them, and can highly recommend visits to both. Click on the links to read more!

krka
Krka National Park

More things to see and do in the neighbourhood of Plitvicejöarma

There is of course much more to see in the vicinity of the Plitvice Lakes. For example, you can visit cities such as Opatija, Zagreb or Zadar, or perhaps make an excursion to Island of Pag. Below you will find even more tips.

Kroatien
All our top tips about Croatia. Click on the image!

Facts about Plitvice Lakes in Croatia

  • Country: Croatia
  • County: Lika-Senj County and Karlovac County
  • Name: Plitvice Lakes or Plitvice National Park (Croatian: Nacionalni park Plitvička jezera)
  • Established: Year 1949
  • Historical events: In the spring of 1991, during the break-up of Yugoslavia and the Croatian war of independence, the "Bloody Easter of Plitvice" took place, an armed confrontation with several deaths.
  • World Heritage: UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979. In 2000 it was extended by 10,020 hectares and now a total of 29,482 hectares are covered.
  • Enter: Entrance 1 (Rastovača car park with 1000 spaces), Entrance 2 (Hladovina car park with 1200 spaces) and Flora (no parking).

Lakes, rivers and waterfalls

  • Lakes: The park consists of 16 lakes named Prošćansko Lake, Lake Ciginovac, Lake Okrugljak, Lake Batinovac, Veliko jezero, Malo jezero, Lake Vir, Lake Galovac, Milino Lake, Gradinsko Lake, Lake Veliki Burget, Lake Kozjak, Lake Milanovac, Gavanovac, Kaluđerovac and Novakovića Brod.
  • Rivers: Korana, Plitvica, Bijela Rijeka (white river) and Crna Rijeka (black river).
  • Vattenfall: Veliki Slap, Sastavci Slap (at Novakovica bridge), Veliki Prštavac (at Lake Gradinsko), Slapovi Milke Trnine (between Lakes Milanovac and Gavanovac), Milanovački Slap (between Lakes Kozjak and Milanovacko) and Galovački Buk (at the upper lakes).

Animals and nature

  • Caves: Baraćeve špilje and Gajina pećina (both caves are just outside the park).
  • Flora: The park contains over 1460 different species or subspecies of plants.
  • Fauna: These include 321 species of butterflies and moths. There are also 80 species of moths and 163 species of birds. The 58 species of mammals include bears, wolves, lynx and otters.

Things to do in the National Park

  • Activities: Hiking, caving, boat trips, boat hire, guided tours, cycling, climbing and educational trails.
  • Hiking trails: Medvjeđak (10.1 km, easy), Čorkova Uvala (21 km, medium), Plitvica trail (9 km, easy), Gola Plješevica (13.6 km) and Mrsinj-grad (4.5 km).
  • Cycle tracks: Oko Mrsinja (36 km), Obroncima Plješevice (36.5 km), Gola Plješevica (44.9 km), Popolju (16.8 km) and The trial (20.9 km).

Opening hours Plitvice Lakes

  • Plitvice National Park is open 365 days a year, but opening hours may vary. Tickets are sold until 15:00. Please note that opening hours are subject to change - for current opening hours see national park website.
  • Winter (from the last Sunday of October): Open 8-16 (last entry 14:00)
  • Our (from the last Sunday in March): Open 08-19 (last entry 17:00)
  • Summer (1 June - 20 August): Open 07-20 (last entry 18:00).
  • Autumn (21 August - last Saturday in October): Open 07-19 until 30 September (last entry 17:00), then 08-18 (last entry 16:00).

Prices in the National Park

  • Prices vary depending on the season, age and number of people, and on whether you buy a one-day or two-day ticket. Please note that prices are subject to change and that Croatia will switch to the euro in 2023 - for current prices see the National Park website.
  • Adults pay between €30 for a one-day ticket and around €50 for a 2-day ticket in the high season.
  • Children 7-18 years old pay about €12 for a one-day ticket and about €26 for a 2-day ticket.
  • Children up to 7 year and people with disabilities (at least 50 %) enter free of charge.

Services at Plitvice Lakes

  • Food establishments can be found mainly at the entrances to Plitvice National Park. There are also some simple catering facilities inside the national park, at boat and bus stops.
  • Restaurants include Lička kuća (opposite entrance 1), restaurant Poljana (at Velika poljana) and restaurant Borje (D-1 state road, 15 km from Plitvice Lakes).
  • Bistros and buffet restaurants include Kozjačka draga (by Lake Kozjak), Hladovina bistro (at entrance 2), Buffet Labudovac (by Lake Prošćansko and station 3), Bistro Vučnica (in the village of Mukinje, 2 km from entrance 2), Buffet Kupalište (by Lake Kozjak) and Buffet Slap (at entrance 1).
  • Cafés include Rapajinka café (at station 1) and Flora café (at station 2).
  • Picnic areas with benches can be found here and there along the hiking trails.

Accommodation at Plitvice Lakes

  • Hotel: There are various hotels nearby, including Hotel Grabovac, Hotel Plitvice, Hotel Bellevue and Hotel Jezero.
  • Guesthouses: It is also possible to stay in guesthouses, for example in the village of Jezerce.
  • Camping: There are several campsites in the area, including Kamp Korana, Kamp Borje, Kamp Turist Grabovac and Bear Camp.

Travelling to Plitvice Lakes in Croatia

  • Car: You can easily reach Plitvice National Park with your own car or a rented car. Driving time from Zagreb is about 2 hours, from Rijeka about 2 hours, from Split about 2.5 hours and from Dubrovnik almost 5 hours.
  • Bus: You can also travel by bus and buses leave from many different locations in Croatia, such as Zagreb, Zadar, Rijeka, Split and Dubrovnik. Find out more at BussCroatia.com.
  • Trains: The nearest train station is in Vrhovine, 5 kilometres from Plitvice Lakes, but there is no further transport from there.

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