No other natural attractions in Croatia can match the enchanting beauty of Plitvice Lakes National Park. This beautiful destination is a sequence of sparkling turquoise lakes, verdant hills, and rushing rapids that opened its doors to the public in 1949 as a national park.
Despite its current size of over 115 miles, it managed to remain an exceptionally well-organized attraction. Wooden walkways will take you near the foaming cataracts while a fleet of tourist trains and electric boats ferry visitors to different parts of the park.
A full-day tour is a must to enjoy the unique ambiance of the Plitvice Lakes National Park
However, with its location well inland from the Croatian coast, Plitvice isn’t something you can just visit quickly during beach trips. It’s highly recommended to plan your visit. But the moment you see the spellbinding beauty of the lake, you’ll be happy that you went the extra mile.
Don’t even try visiting for just a few hours, either. You won’t be able to see its best parts in just an hour or two. A full-day tour is a must to enjoy the unique ambiance of the park. You can also choose from a variety of accommodation in the nearby villages if you wish to stay overnight.
Things to Do
Almost everything you see in Plitvice Lakes National Park is spectacular so you can look forward to having unforgettable moments you can bring back home with you no matter how short or long your visit is.
The park has a couple of entrances, with Entrance 1 located at the system’s northern end while Entrance 2 is two miles to the south. The two entrances have massive car parks enshrouded by forests, cafes, and cash machines.
Europe’s #1 most beautiful National Park Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia in 4K
If your time is a bit limited, you might want to head over to Entrance 2 since this is directly linked to the internal network of electric boats and bus trains of the park. If you plan to stay for the day, you can kick off your exploration at Entrance 1 and allow yourself to bask in the beauty of the place at leisure.
You can find the concentration of the lakes and burbling and rushing falls Galovac, Gradinsko, and Okrugljak in the center of the system that you can access from Entrance 2 via boardwalk. The largest and most stunning single waterfall of the park is Veliki Slap or Grand Fall which sprays on nearby visitors and is located at the park’s northern end.
If you have more energy and time to spare, Lake Prošćansko at the southern end of the park is the biggest and most serene of the lakes. Its calm waterside trails stretch away from the areas of the park where day trippers often flock.
One of the most fun activities, if you venture this far inland, is to go for a wild swim in the rivers of Croatia. While swimming is prohibited in Plitvice Lakes National Park itself, you will find a famous riverside beach at Slunj just 18 miles north with a grass-covered waterside meadow and drinks sold at a kiosk.
The park has eight designated walking routes, four each from the two entrances. The routes also known as programs or tours differ in distance and length. The shortest one takes about 2 hours while the longest one comes in at 8 hours.
When to Visit
Spring to September is the most ideal time to visit Plitvice Lakes National Park. This is the time of the year when the park shines the most under the sun with blossoming vegetation and the ever-changing colors of the lake water shades.
Activities reach their peak from July to August when tourists are crowded in areas that are within an hour or two of walking from the two main entrances. Taking photos might also be a serious ordeal, especially if you want to make sure that your shots won’t be filled with strangers.
Best time to visit Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia is spring to September
If you wish to be up close and personal with nature, you might want to stay longer and then head over to the more distant paths of the park. Prepare for high temperatures during June and August and make sure you have lots of water and the correct headgear with you.
The combination of evergreen and deciduous trees in the park creates a gorgeous backdrop of gold and greens of autumn. The colors become more subdued when winter comes. However, the cold spells also turn the park into a sparkling fairy tale landscape of trees covered in frost and frozen waterfalls.
Camping
The Plitvice area is one of Croatia’s most unspoiled parts characterized by the picturesque woodland and rolling meadows, making it a joy to go camping here. Several sites are within walking distance of entrances to the camp. Just make sure you have your transport and be patient enough while waiting for the rare buses to enjoy it to the fullest.
Several sites for camping in Plitvice Lakes National Park are within walking distance of entrances to the camp
Camping Plitvice is the nearest one just 2.5 miles north of Entrance 1. This is an organized place with a children’s playground, café restaurant, and self-catering bungalows that cover the hillside in a semicircle.
Further north at 6 miles, the Plitvice Holiday Resort is equipped with shaded tent pitches, teepees, tree houses lodged amidst towering pines, and lakeside bungalows.
B&Bs and Hotels
The cluster of hotels run by the authorities of the national park has a convenient location right next to Entrance 2. While these aren’t necessarily luxurious, they boast a relaxing feel reminiscent of resorts. Comfort-wise, the best choice is Hotel Jezero. But if you have always wanted to stay in a masterpiece of socialist0era modernism, the 1958-vintage two-star Hotel Plitvice is worth checking out.
Best places to stay, things to do, see and eat in Plitvice, Croatia
The region’s selection of family-run accommodations that range from modern villas fitted with apartments to farmhouse stays offers the perfect chance to relax amid rustic surroundings. If you will come via public transport, you might want to opt for a place within a short distance of park entrances and bus stops.
One place you can consider is Rastovača village located close to Entrance 1. Just 10 minutes away from Entrance 1 is House Marko Špehar offering cozy and neat studio apartments and double rooms complete with manicured gardens filled with mood-inducing flowerbeds.
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