Plitvice Lakes

Introduction

Plitvice

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The Plitvice Lakes (Croatian: Plitvička Jezera) are one of the natural highlights of Croatia. They are located in the Dinaric Alps in the central part of the country near the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Plitvice Lakes National Park is placed on the Unesco World Heritage List. The waters flowing over the limestone and chalk have created natural dams which over the last thousands of year, as Unesco puts it. These natural dams again have created a series of beautiful lakes, caves and waterfalls and this geological proces continues today. The forests in the park are home to bears, wolves and many rare bird species and there are great walking trails as well as relaxing at the lakes and falls.

Note that the National Park is located near the municipality with the name Plitvice Lakes as well.

Opening Hours

The park is open year round, from 7:00am during summer and 8:00am during spring, autumn and winter. It closes at 8:00pm in summer, 6pm in spring and autumn and 4:00pm in winter. Tickets are available up to 4 hours before closing time. Less time doesn't give the park justice anyway.

Cost

The entrance fee for adults is 110 KN during the summer season (April-October) and 80 KN during winter. That's about €15 and €11 respectively. If you are with at least 15 (!) people it's 10 KN less, children aged 7-18 pay pay half, under 7 it's free. Students pay 50 KN/35 KN.

Getting There and Around

By Car

The park can easily reached by car along the main road from the coast to Zagreb or from Split and Zadar along the Croatian coast. The going is slow but roads are well maintained.

By Bus

Buses between Zagreb and the Croatian coastal cities of Split and Zadar can drop you off at the entrance of the national park. There are at least 6-8 in both directions and it takes about 2.5 hours from Zagreb. To/from the coast it depends if you have a direct bus or buses that stop in all of the coastal cities, including Sibenik and Trogir. Travel time ranges from 3 to 6 hours.
Small buses within the park are yours to take if you are not fancying the walking anymore and are also included in the park fee. Especially the bus back from the furthest place in the southeast to the main entrance is recommended as otherwise you either have to walk the same way back or walk along the tarred road yourself, which is not particularly attractive.

By Boat

Boats travel around some of the lakes and these are included in the entrance fee.

Plitvice

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By Foot

From the entrance, good walking trails lead into the park and you can easily spend the whole day walking from one side to the other, stop at scenic points and enjoy the views. Some trails are crowded, especially during the middle of the day and during peak season (July/August), so come early or stay a little later. The trails are explained with a map and duration at the entrance gates. They range from easy 1 hour strolls to full day (6-8 hours, a little shorter if you don't take too many breaks) walks, but never are very strenuous as the grading is gentle.

Eat and Drink

There are snack shops at the entrance and exit of the park. To add, there is a large picnic area with various food stands across the main lake, which you can reach by boat or by various walking trails from the northern park entrance.

Sleep

There are 3 hotels near the two entrance gates of the park, which offer all the amenities you need. For something more intimate and smaller you mights check the dozens of options to the north and south of the park, where there are B&B's/guesthouses which offer cheaper rooms usually with breakfast and fantastic hospitality as well. Villa Jezerka is particularly recommended as the owner enjoys a chat in German or English and offers some plum brandy upon arrival as well. Rooms are as clean as it can ever get and the breakfast is great as well. It's about a 15-20 minute walk south from the park's southern entrance.

External Links

Fore more information, have a look at the official Plitvice Lakes National Park website.