Plitvice Lakes National Park is one of the most spectacular things to see in Croatia. Its 16 multi-colored lakes and incredible waterfalls are part of the UNESCO World Heritage. They are wonderful! You can also get to know them through their comfortable hiking routes through the park. More than 1 million tourists visit the park each year. What is the best time to visit Plitvice Lakes? In this post we tell you everything you need to know to visit the Plitvice Lakes: the best itinerary, prices, tips and much more!
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| Plitvice Lakes Waterfall |
Plitvice Lakes is one of the most significant natural attractions in Croatia. On the territory of the national park, which covers an area of 29.5 hectares, there are picturesque waterfalls, caves, reservoirs, lakes and beech-spruce forests where you can meet roe deer, forest cats and watch rare bird species. In 1979, the Plitvice Lakes National Park was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The lakes and waterfalls of the reserve attract tourists from all over the world. Water streams form 16 large karst lakes with rich turquoise water, communicating with each other due to the cascading arrangement. Foamy waterfalls, lost in forests and thickets, create unique landscapes of the natural park. New waterfalls appear in the high mountain valley every year: the limestone cliffs surrounding the Plitvice Lakes supply the reservoirs with calcite, the crystals of which turn plants, leaves and branches that fall into the water into solid deposits. Hiking trails in the protected area are laid along the most relief and colorful landscapes: a walk on wooden decks, riding ferries and pleasure boats, and a trip on a panoramic bus take from two to eight hours.
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| Plitvice Lakes Waterfall |
Council
The national park has two entrances - upper and lower (ST1 and ST2), but be careful: most of the most interesting routes start from the second entrance. Both have parking lots where you can leave your car for a few hours. Parking is paid, 7 HRK (~$1.1) per hour per car; motorcycles and scooters can be left free of charge. Parking hours during the high season are from 7:00 to 22:00.
Inside the park, there are quite large distances between the waterfalls, so if you have limited time, it is better to think over the route in advance. It is not necessary to compose it yourself: at the entrance you can take a map of different trails, marked with the letters of the Latin alphabet - A, B, C, G1, G2, E, F, H and K. Each tour is designed for a certain amount of time - from two to six to eight hours. Special employees are on duty in the park, from whom you can ask for advice and the way to the waterfalls. You can learn more about the routes along the Plitvice Lakes on the official website en.np-plitvicka-jezera.hr.
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| Plitvice Lakes Waterfall |
During the summer months, especially in July and August, the Plitvice Lakes National Park attracts a huge number of tourists. To avoid crowds, it is better to choose calmer months for visiting the reserve - May, June, September or October. Or arrive early in the morning, but in this case, you should prefer accommodation near the lakes, in small private hotels or apartments. It is better to book accommodation in advance, especially if you are traveling during the summer months. Some benefits are provided for guests of the park hotels, in particular, unlimited use of one-day entrance tickets: they can be used during the entire stay at the hotel, renewing at the front desk.
Swimming in the Plitvice Lakes, as well as making fires and having picnics in the national park is prohibited.
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| Plitvice Lakes Waterfall |
How to get there
The Plitvice Lakes are located 105 kilometers southwest of Zagreb and 10 kilometers south of the village of Grabovac. The travel time to the national park from the coastal areas is on average three to four hours, depending on the remoteness of a particular resort. If you are traveling in a rented car, it is worth using expressways (entrance to most of them is paid). On the roads leading from the coast to the lakes, there are enough sections with high mountain serpentines and sharp turns. Finding the right direction is not difficult, there are enough signs on the roads in the direction of the national park.
Mood
The Plitvice Lakes are located on the territory of the national park of the same name, in the Litsko-Senj and Karlovac counties, in the central part of Croatia.