Plitvice Lakes: Day Tour from Zagreb
- Duration: 10h 30mins
- Live guide in English
- Group of max. 8 people
1 option • from $104.31
Witness the ethereal beauty of Croatia's Plitvice Lakes
Explore walking trails, stunning viewpoints, gushing waterfalls, and boardwalks suspended over turquoise waters
Spot wildlife and amazing birds among the majestic Croatian scenery
No Croatian vacation is complete without visiting Plitvice Lakes National Park, so make sure you add this natural wonder to your itinerary and discover some of the most beautiful scenery in Europe.
Plitvice Lakes National Park tickets include:
Roundtrip from Zagreb to Plitvice Lakes National Park, including a panoramic train ride and electric boat ride
Full-day tour featuring waterfalls and rivers
Opportunities to spot and learn about local flora and fauna
English-speaking guide during the whole experience
Belongings and luggage can be stored free of charge at Entrance 1, Entrance 2, and the Flora auxiliary entrance
Pets are permitted however they must be kept on a leash at all times
Not all of the trails and lake routes are accessible for wheelchair users, but the staff will help point out the ones that are
Swimming in the lakes is strictly prohibited
The use of drones or other guided aircraft for aerial photography is prohibited at Plitvice Lakes National Park
With all the wonderful nature and scenery, you'll want to flash your tickets to Plitvice Lakes National Park early and spend all day there! Plitvice Lakes National Park has a number of easy walking and hiking trails that are also quite well organized. You'll find different routes that will take anywhere between two and eight hours. Just pick the one you have time for and enjoy.
The routes are named as trails A, B, C, E, F, H and K, with a length of between 3 km to 18 km.
You can reach Plitvice Lakes on a day trip from Zagreb, Zadar or Split, but there's so much to do that you might want to plan at least two days for your visit to Plitvice Lakes National Park.
There are many places to eat at Plitvice Lakes National Park including a handful of delicious and well-established eateries that serve bowls of grah (bean stew), sausages, and simple grills, all local faves.
Hungry hikers will also find many stalls dotted around the main park entrances. These sell various homemade treats that are all famous in the Lika region. Try the tangy yellow skripavac cheese, and don't miss out on a tasty cherry strudel.
The most popular place for a sit-down meal is at the Licka Kuca restaurant. There are also a couple of pizza places in Grabovac and Rakovica, just a short drive north of Entrance 1 on the road to Karlovac.
Flash your Plitvice Lakes National Park tickets at any time to guarantee a beautiful day. But the best time to see the Plitvice Lakes waterfalls is when they're not surrounded by tour groups. Head there in the early morning (from 07:00-10:00) or late afternoon (after 16:00). Midday can also be busy as it's when people line up to catch the boat back across the lake.
The shoulder season (April, May, September, October) is a good time to go, when the weather tends to be mild and comfortable for long walks.
You can join an organized day tour from locations like Zagreb, Zadar or Split. You can also take local public transport or rent a car and drive to Plitvice Lakes National Park. Lots of people arrive by car and there are parking lots available everywhere.
The only public transport from Zadar to Plitvice National Park is a bus, which can take anywhere between two to three hours. Unfortunately getting there by train is not an option.
Unfortunately, while the lakes look very tempting in their turquoise glory, swimming is forbidden in Plitvice Lakes National Park. This is because the lakes also act as a reservoir for drinking water. It's a look-but-don't-touch situation. If you're dying for a swim, the nearest place to do it is in the little river, Slunjčica in the beautiful village of Rastoke.
There are many highlights to explore with your Plitvice Lakes National Park tickets, including an abundance of walking trails, beautiful viewpoints, gushing waterfalls, and boardwalks cleverly suspended over turquoise water. There's something for every age group to admire.
A highlight for many, or maybe those with weary feet, is a ride on the panoramic train. The upper lakes section is known to have some of the most beautiful waterfalls and boardwalk trails, while the road that runs along the western cliffs offers excellent aerial views over the lakes.
Founded in 1949, Plitvice Lakes National Park (Nacionalni park Plitvička jezera) is one of the oldest and largest national parks in Croatia. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979.
The area consists of 16 natural lakes and 90 waterfalls, spread across two tiers. Wooden walkways over the lakes allow visitors to get up close to this wonder of nature.
The park is located in the mountainous karst area of central Croatia, near the border of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Being one of the most popular tourist destinations in Croatia, Plitvice is easily reachable by car via the national route D1 Zagreb–Split.