Lika Highlands

Plitvice Lakes

Sixteen turquoise lakes, ninety waterfalls, one wooden boardwalk.

Introduction

Plitvice is what people picture when they imagine a Croatian fairytale, except it's real, and it's been a national park since 1949. Travertine dams have built up over millennia, creating a staircase of lakes the colour of a swimming pool, threaded with falls that change every year as the rock keeps growing. The trick is to start early, walk the right loop, and stay overnight inside the park.

Highlights

What you came for.

Veliki Slap

Croatia's tallest waterfall (78 m). The classic photo spot is on the lower path between Entry 1 and Kozjak Lake.

Upper Lakes loop

Quieter than the lower section; longer, deeper colours, fewer selfie sticks. Allow 3, 4 hours.

Park boats and trains

Included in the ticket. The electric boat across Kozjak is the only way between Upper and Lower lakes.

Sunrise entry

Buy tickets online for the 7 am slot. You'll have the boardwalks essentially to yourself for two hours.

Sample itinerary

A trip, written out.

Day 1

Lower Lakes

Enter at Entry 1 at opening → walk down to Veliki Slap → boardwalks past Kaluđerovac and Gavanovac → boat to P3 → bus back.

Day 2

Upper Lakes

Enter at Entry 2 → train to ST3 → full Upper Lakes loop down to Kozjak → boat → exit at Entry 1.

Practical

The bits that make it work.

Best time

May for full waterfalls, October for autumn colour, January for a frozen wonderland. Avoid noon-to-3 pm in July and August.

Getting in

Bus from Zagreb (2.5h) or Zadar (2h). No train. Best done as an overnight, not a day trip from the coast.

Where to stay

Hotel Jezero or Plitvice (inside the park) for early entry; villages of Mukinje and Jezerce for cheaper rooms with park access.

Skip

Swimming. It's strictly forbidden in all park waters. Krka National Park (near Šibenik) is where you can.

← All destinations