01Plitvice Lakes Itinerary at a Glance

Plitvice Lakes National Park (Nacionalni park Plitvička jezera) has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979. It contains 16 named terraced lakes linked by waterfalls and wooden boardwalks. The park is open every day of the year, but hours and available routes change by season. The largest waterfall, Veliki Slap, drops about 78 m and is the standard first-time highlight.

The park has two entrances, a boat on Lake Kozjak and a panoramic shuttle train. Both are included in the ticket price. Swimming is not allowed anywhere in the park.

02Ticket Prices for Plitvice Lakes (2026 Tariff, Check Before 2027)

Prices depend on the season, and in summer on the time of entry.

November–March
adults €10, students €6, children 7–18 €4
April, May and October
adults €23, students €14, children €6
June–September
adults €40, students €25, children €15 before the afternoon cutoff
Summer afternoon entry
€25 adults, €15 students, €9 children (after 16:00 in June–August, after 15:00 in September)
Two-day ticket
adults €15, €39 or €60 depending on season
Children under 7
free

In summer, entry is timed and capped, so buy online for a fixed date and arrival slot. Arrive within your booked window, because late arrivals can be refused. Ticket sales at the gate end mid-afternoon in the off-season, so an arrival after 15:00 in October can mean no entry.

Roughly: a family of two adults and two children aged 7–18 pays €110 in peak summer, but only €68 with afternoon tickets.

03Entrance 1 vs Entrance 2

Entrance 1 (Ulaz 1) is at the top of the Lower Lakes, next to Veliki Slap. It is the closest gate to the main viewpoint, and the best place to start if you want to see the waterfall before the crowds arrive.

Entrance 2 (Ulaz 2) is the gateway to the Upper Lakes and the boat dock area, and sits close to the park hotels and the main parking lot. It is the more practical start for Route C and the longer routes.

In winter, only Entrance 1 is generally operational, and some boardwalk sections and the boat may be closed because of ice or snow.

04One-Day Itinerary: Route C from Entrance 2

Route C is the best single-day option for most visitors. It covers the Upper and Lower Lakes in 4–6 hours and about 8 km, with the shuttle and boat doing the heavy transport work.

07:00–08:00: Arrive at Entrance 2. Parking is paid and fills by 09:30 in July and August.

08:00–10:00: Take the shuttle up to the Upper Lakes stop (St. Hill, Station 3) and walk down the boardwalks beside Gornja Jezera. These lakes have more forest and calmer water, and fewer people than the Lower Lakes.

10:00–12:00: Continue to the Kozjak boat dock. The electric boat crosses Lake Kozjak, the largest lake in the park, in about 20 minutes.

12:00–14:00: Walk the Lower Lakes boardwalks to the base of Veliki Slap. The lower canyon section has the densest boardwalks and the highest crowd levels from 11:00 to 15:00.

14:00–15:00: Climb up to Entrance 1 or take the shuttle back to Entrance 2. A short lunch or snack is available at the kiosks near both entrances.

Short Version: Route A or B (2–3 hours)

Routes A and B suit visitors on a time limit, such as a stop between Zagreb and the coast. Route A is the shortest, at about 3.5 km, and focuses on the Lower Lakes and Veliki Slap. Route B adds a boat ride.

05Two-Day Itinerary

A two-day ticket suits visitors who want a slower pace or a stay near the park.

Day 1: Route C, as above, in the morning. Finish by 15:00, then rest.

Day 2: Walk Route H or K for the least-visited parts of the park. Start at 07:30 and plan for 6–8 hours on Route K, which is about 18 km. Bring food, since options along the trail are limited.

The two-day ticket costs €60 in peak summer. Two summer afternoon tickets cost €50, but they cover fewer useful hours, because the last boat and shuttle leave early in the evening. For a two-day stay in July or August, the €60 ticket is the better choice.

06Optional Extra Day: Rastoke in Slunj

Rastoke is a small village of watermills and cascades in Slunj, around 35 km north of the park on the road toward Zagreb. Walking the village takes 1–2 hours and costs nothing for the public paths. It is a good lunch stop on a transfer day, with the same type of travertine scenery as Plitvice, but without the entry fee or the crowds.

07Best Time to Visit

Late April–May
high water, strong waterfalls, moderate crowds, €23 entry.
September–October
warm days, autumn colours in October, lower prices from October.
June–August
the most crowded period and the highest price (€40). Go before 09:00 or take the afternoon ticket.
Winter
cheap (€10), but with ice, closed sections and reduced transport. Frozen waterfalls are the main attraction.

The lakes are at their clearest in dry weather. Heavy rain turns parts of the water a cloudy green-brown for a few days.

08How to Get to Plitvice Lakes

From Zagreb
about 135 km, roughly 2 hours by car on the A1 and DC1. Direct buses run to the park, taking about 2–2.5 hours.
From Zadar
about 130 km, roughly 1 hour 45 minutes.
From Split
about 230 km, roughly 3 hours.
From Zagreb Airport
about 150 km, around 2 hours.

Bus stations at both entrances make the park easy to reach without a car. Many travellers use the park as a break on the Zagreb–Split or Zagreb–Zadar route. Left luggage is available near the entrances, which helps on a transit day.

09Where to Stay

Three hotels operate inside the park area: Hotel Jezero, Hotel Plitvice and Hotel Bellevue. They put you within walking distance of Entrance 2, and let you reach the gate at opening time. Outside the park, the villages of Plitvički Ljeskovac, Korenica and Jezerce offer many private apartments and guesthouses, typically cheaper in the shoulder season. Book 2–3 months ahead for July and August.

10Local Tips

  • Start early: the first two hours after opening are the quietest. By 11:00 in summer, the boardwalks near Veliki Slap are slow-moving.
  • Walk the Upper Lakes first, then go down: this follows the shuttle and boat flow and keeps most of the walk downhill.
  • Wear shoes with grip: the wooden boardwalks are slippery when wet.
  • Bring water and snacks: food options inside the park are limited and priced higher than in nearby villages.
  • Check the last boat and shuttle times at the first station, particularly in the off-season, when services end earlier.
  • Do not rely on drones, picnics or swimming: drones are prohibited, and lakeside picnicking and swimming are banned.

The €40 peak-summer ticket is the weakest value of the year. For the same walk in late September or October, the price falls to about €23 at a fraction of the crowd, and a visit then is usually the better choice than a midsummer slot.

11Sample Daily Budget (per adult, 2026 prices)

  • Entry: €10–€40
  • Parking: paid, per hour or per day, depending on the lot
  • Lunch or snack in the park: about €10–€15
  • Bus from Zagreb: varies by operator, book in advance in July and August

Guided day trips from Zagreb or Zadar usually start around €75 including entry, and are mostly worth it only for those without a car.