01 · Opening · Lika, Croatia
Over wooden boardwalks, along turquoise lakes and from one waterfall to the next.
First momentAt Veliki slap, less than 400 metres from Entrance 1: the Plitvica stream drops 62 metres (203 ft) into the first pool, the highest waterfall in Croatia.
with names, plus several smaller ones without
of the park is water, or just under
national park, Croatia's first
UNESCO World Heritage
Tufa grows where water tumbles over obstacles and carbon dioxide escapes: calcium carbonate precipitates and settles as tiny crystals. Mosses and micro-organisms in the water speed up the process. This is how the barriers that dam the water grow, and why walking on the barriers and swimming in the lakes are prohibited.
The active tufa barriers are estimated to be 6,000 to 7,000 years old. They grow about 13.5 mm a year, around 17 times faster than lake sediment is deposited, which is why the water levels are rising. Each barrier has its own pace: the one at the outflow of Lake Kozjak grows about 5.6 mm a year, the one at Prošćansko jezero about three times as fast.
UNESCO inscribed the park on the World Heritage List in 1979 under criteria (vii), (viii) and (ix). Following its extension in 2000, the World Heritage site now covers the entire catchment area and most of the lakes' underground water system, 29,581.71 ha in total. From 1992 to 1997 the park was on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Choose your entrance, programme and entry time together.
With an online ticket, the entrance and time slot you select are binding.
Programmes A, B and F lead through the Lower Lakes to waterfalls, bridges and viewpoints; the park authority recommends them if you are short on time or want an easier walk. Programme E crosses Lake Kozjak by boat and heads upstream to Prošćansko jezero, returning by panoramic train.
Programmes C and H link the Upper and Lower Lakes and combine the panoramic train and electric boat; they need a little more time and fitness. For long hikes there is programme K, where you choose the entrance yourself.
Day trip
Guided day trip by bus with a stop in Rastoke. Park entrance is included. Boat and panoramic train rides in the park depend on the season and operations.
Departure Zagreb
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Provider's product photo · GetYourGuide
Scenic flight
Private scenic flight for up to three people from Piket airfield in Sinj near Split: over the Krka waterfalls and Visovac monastery, the slopes of Velebit and, as the highlight, over the Plitvice Lakes, then back to Sinj. The provider's description and list of inclusions both say the route passes over the lakes; the page gives neither the altitude nor the exact line. No landing or park visit is included, nor is getting to the airfield. The list of inclusions speaks of a helicopter flight, the description of a private plane; clarify this before booking.
Departure Sinj (Piket airfield)
Scenic flight without landing, no park visit
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02 · Canyon, Veliki slap and Šupljara
Four lakes in a deep, steep-walled limestone canyon. At the end the water plunges over the Sastavci, and the Korana rises below.
In the canyon
Four lakes in a deep, steep-walled limestone canyon; at the end the water plunges over the Sastavci and becomes the Korana.
The highest fall
For many it is the image of the Plitvice Lakes, yet none of the 16 lakes feeds it: the water comes from the Plitvica stream, whose source is three kilometres away.
Park authority: interesting facts about the national park (in Croatian) ↗
The only cave open to visitors
The only cave in the park you may enter, formed when the floor of a sinkhole collapsed.
Guided tour
Walk with a local guide in a small group or privately, starting when the park opens, before most visitors arrive: boardwalks at the Lower Lakes, the Great Waterfall, photo stops; the crossing of Lake Kozjak and the panoramic train are included according to the list of inclusions, and depend on park operations according to the description. The provider calls it a sunrise tour but describes a start at park opening. The description mentions a warm drink, the list of inclusions does not. The list of inclusions and the notes exclude park entrance, yet one of the three booking options is called “+ entry tickets”; clarify this before booking.
Departure Entrance 1 (Rastovača)
Park entrance not included according to the list of inclusions
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03 · The largest lake, and the only one with boats
82 hectares, 47 metres (154 ft) deep, the boundary between the Upper and Lower Lakes. Electric boats shuttle between the docks, and the panoramic train runs on land.
An old waterfall under water
The largest and deepest of the Plitvice Lakes, and the only one with tourist boats.
Park authority: the sunken barrier of Lake Kozjak (in Croatian) ↗
Across the water and through the forest
Electric boats run on Lake Kozjak, and a panoramic train on land. Both are free to use with a valid entrance ticket; seven of the eight programmes include at least one of the rides.
The electric boats shuttle on a short line between P1 and P2 and on a long line between P2 and P3. The panoramic train links stop St2 with St1 and with St3. The park authority publishes the timetables with its hours of operation.
Until about 400 years ago there were two lakes here, separated by a tufa barrier about 400 m wide and 36 m (118 ft) high. Today it lies about 6 m (20 ft) below the surface, and on sunny days you can see it from the boat as a pale ridge in the depths. It was long thought that the barrier at the Kozjak bridges grew faster and dammed the lake; dives in autumn 2019 suggest instead that part of the old barrier broke away.
Park authority: the sunken barrier of Lake Kozjak (in Croatian) ↗
04 · Twelve lakes on dolomite
The more spacious part of the park: more lakes, more waterfalls and trails through dense forest. From Tomićevo pogledalo, opened in 2024, you can see five of the lakes.
„Sixteen named lakes cascading into one another, over tufa barriers that are still growing today.“
Plitvička Jezera National Park · UNESCO World Heritage since 26 October 1979
More water, gentler shores
The more spacious part of the park: more lakes, more waterfalls, and trails through dense forest along emerald-green lakes.
Forest and wildlife
Forest covers three quarters of the park; the beech and fir forests give bears cover and quiet. In the north-west lies the Čorkova uvala old-growth forest: 84 ha at 860 to 1028 m (2,822 to 3,373 ft), where all natural processes run undisturbed. One fir there is over 500 years old and 58 m (190 ft) tall.
Park authority: interesting facts about the national park (in Croatian) ↗
Brown bear, wolf, lynx and otter live in the park; according to the park authority, their presence shows how well the forest and water habitats are preserved. So far 168 bird species, 22 bat species and 321 butterfly species have been recorded.
In winter
The Upper Lakes are usually closed in winter. Whether they open depends on the weather; the Lower Lakes are normally accessible.
05 · Eight routes, two entrances
The park authority runs the trails as fixed programmes. Length, duration and entrance decide which one suits your day; your ticket must match the entrance you choose.
Choosing an entrance
The two entrances serve different programmes. The ticket you book must match the entrance you choose.
The routes
3.5 km (2.2 mi) · 2–3 hours · Entrance 1 · Lower Lakes.
4 km (2.5 mi) · 3–4 hours · Entrance 1 · with park transport.
8 km (5 mi) · 4–5 hours · Entrance 1 · Upper and Lower Lakes.
5.1 km (3.2 mi) · 2–3 hours · Entrance 2 · with boat and panoramic train.
4.6 km (2.9 mi) · 3–4 hours · Entrance 2 · by electric boat across Lake Kozjak and back by panoramic train.
8.9 km (5.5 mi) · 4–6 hours · Entrance 2 · with park transport.
16.5 km (10.3 mi) · 6–8 hours · Entrance 1 · extended hiking loop.
17.5 km (10.9 mi) · 6–8 hours · Entrance 2 · extended hiking loop.
Guided tour
Guided walk on site with a reserved park ticket. The entrance ticket is not included in the tour price and is paid in cash on arrival. Choose the language and meeting point to match your option.
Reservation is not a paid entrance ticket
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06 · What the park asks of you
The trails are narrow and run over wooden boardwalks along the shores. Leaving them is not allowed, and nor is swimming: the barriers that dam the water are still growing.
The rules
The trails are narrow and run over uneven ground and wooden boardwalks along the lake shores. For your safety and to protect the landscape, leaving them is not allowed. The rocks are very slippery when wet, especially in Šupljara cave.
The rules of conduct prohibit, among other things, picking plants, damaging trees or rocks, feeding or disturbing animals, shouting, lighting fires, fishing and camping in the national park.
Remote-controlled aircraft for aerial filming are banned in the national park. Photos for personal use are allowed; commercial filming requires an application.
Dogs must be kept on a lead. Check the rules for transport and facilities when planning your visit.
Not all trails are accessible. Staff at the entrance will recommend a route to suit your mobility.
Free luggage storage is offered at Entrance 1, Entrance 2 and the auxiliary Flora entrance. Ask on site where to leave it.
Swimming in the lakes is not allowed.
07 · Bus, parking, hotel and camping
Scheduled buses stop at both entrances, which are about three kilometres (1.9 mi) apart. If you stay at Hotel Jezero or at the park's campsites, you can have your ticket extended at reception.
With and without a car
Scheduled buses stop at Entrances 1 and 2. Check the timetable and return journey with Zagreb bus station or Likaline; the entrances are about 3 km (1.9 mi) apart.
There are paid visitor car parks at both main entrances. Match your car park and time slot to the same entrance.
Korana and Borje offer organised transfers there and back. Ask at reception for departure times.
Where to stay
Hotel · in the park · Hotel near Entrance 2 and Lake Kozjak. The park authority lists parking, Wi-Fi and pet-friendly rooms, among other things. Check terms directly with the hotel.
Guests of Hotel Jezero and Camping Korana/Borje can have their first-day ticket extended at reception for the further days of their stay, before their next park visit.
The official campsite pages give no opening period. Ask the campsite directly about the season, your arrival day and the type of pitch you want before booking.
By the Korana canyon
The larger of the park's two campsites, by the Korana canyon. Pitches for motorhomes, caravans and tents, plus bungalows; you can choose your own pitch.
Near Korenica
The smaller, quiet campsite on the edge of the national park, surrounded by pine forest between Lička Plješivica and Mrsinj.
Guided tour
By bus from Split to the lakes, followed by a guided park visit with boat and panoramic train rides. The meeting point is the Booker Travel Agency office.
Departure Split
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Guided tour
Organised day trip from Zadar with a park visit and return journey. You pay the park entrance separately in cash on the day. Choose the meeting point and pick-up option before booking.
Departure Zadar
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Guided tour
Private tour with pick-up from seven places to stay around the park, including Plitvice Holiday Resort, Hotel Degenija and Lyra Hotel Plitvice. After a drive of about 15 minutes you walk for about three hours over the boardwalks, with a lake crossing and panoramic bus, then return to your accommodation. According to the list of inclusions, park entrance, the crossing and the panoramic bus are included; lunch, drinks and tips are not.
Departure Accommodation around the park
Private group, pick-up from seven places to stay
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08 · Before you leave
The park authority's film shows Veliki slap and the terraces of lakes below it from the air. You may not fly here yourself: drones are banned in the park.
Official park film
Film by the park authority about the Great Waterfall and the terraces of lakes below it.
Source: Javna ustanova NP Plitvička jezera · View channel ↗
Field book · Plitvice Lakes National Park
checked 17 Sep 2026
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Operating conditions rather than blanket travel promises.
The park is open all year. Opening hours of individual services change with the seasons.
The seasonal cut-off times for the cheaper ticket are listed with the automatically updated fees.
Check the opening hours and available programmes for your day with the park authority.
Climate through the year
Best months by the climate data: May to August. Average daytime highs of 19 to 28 °C, lows of 9 to 15 °C, 69 to 108 mm of precipitation a month. The wettest month is November (141 mm), the driest July (69 mm).
| Month | High °C | Low °C | Precipitation mm |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 3.1 | −3.2 | 95 |
| February | 4.4 | −2.6 | 103 |
| March | 9.5 | 0.5 | 89 |
| April | 15.1 | 4.7 | 94 |
| May | 19.4 | 8.9 | 108 |
| June | 23.8 | 12.9 | 86 |
| July | 27.4 | 14.9 | 69 |
| August | 27.7 | 14.9 | 85 |
| September | 21.2 | 10.5 | 140 |
| October | 16.0 | 6.6 | 124 |
| November | 10.1 | 2.9 | 141 |
| December | 4.5 | −1.7 | 111 |
| Year | 1,245 |
Modelled values, not a weather station: NASA POWER (MERRA-2) for a grid cell of about 55 × 50 km around the park's reference point (44.88° N, 15.62° E), with an average cell elevation of about 480 m. Averages for 2001–2020. Higher ground and valleys can differ markedly.
Source: NASA POWER, climatology 2001–2020 ↗ · retrieved 3 Oct 2026
Getting there and getting around: choose the entrance that fits your visit.
Taken automatically from the official source: 3 Oct 2026 14:06 UTC.
The source gives no period of validity. This is the most recently published schedule, not a guarantee for the day of your visit.
| Place / connection | Published time |
|---|---|
| Entrance 1 – Rastovača | 07:00 – 18:00 |
| Entrance 2 – Hladovina | 07:00 – 18:00 |
| Auxiliary entrance Flora | 07:00 – 18:00 |
| Ticket sales | until 15:00 |
| Car park at Entrance 1 | 07:00 – 19:00 |
| Car park at Entrance 2 | 07:00 – 19:00 |
| Electric boat P1–P2 | 07:00 – 18:00 (as needed) |
| Electric boat P2–P3 | 08:00 – 16:30 (every 30 min) |
| Electric boat P3–P2 | 08:30 – 17:00 (every 30 min) |
| Panoramic train St2–St1 | 08:00 – 17:45 (every 30 min) |
| Panoramic train St1–St2 | 08:15 – 18:00 (every 30 min) |
| Panoramic train St2–St3 | 07:30 – 17:00 (every 30 min) |
| Panoramic train St3–St2 | 08:00 – 17:30 (every 30 min) |
GetYourGuide · Day trip
Guided day trip by bus with a stop in Rastoke. Park entrance is included. Boat and panoramic train rides in the park depend on the season and operations.
Departure Zagreb
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GetYourGuide · Guided tour
By bus from Split to the lakes, followed by a guided park visit with boat and panoramic train rides. The meeting point is the Booker Travel Agency office.
Departure Split
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GetYourGuide · Guided tour
Organised day trip from Zadar with a park visit and return journey. You pay the park entrance separately in cash on the day. Choose the meeting point and pick-up option before booking.
Departure Zadar
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GetYourGuide · Guided tour
Private tour with pick-up from seven places to stay around the park, including Plitvice Holiday Resort, Hotel Degenija and Lyra Hotel Plitvice. After a drive of about 15 minutes you walk for about three hours over the boardwalks, with a lake crossing and panoramic bus, then return to your accommodation. According to the list of inclusions, park entrance, the crossing and the panoramic bus are included; lunch, drinks and tips are not.
Departure Accommodation around the park
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Ad · we may earn a commission if you book through this partner link. Offer details checked 27 Sep 2026. See official ticket information.
What the day costs, and when. The standard adult fee and the conditions under which it applies.
| Founded | 8 April 1949, as Croatia's first national park |
|---|---|
| UNESCO World Heritage | since 26 October 1979 |
| Area | just under 300 km² (116 sq mi), boundaries extended in 1997 |
| Lakes | 16 named, plus several smaller unnamed ones |
| Share of lakes | just under 1% of the park's area |
| Trails | seven circular routes and four hiking trails |
| Counties | Lika-Senj 90.7%, Karlovac 9.3% |
Plitvice is the oldest and largest national park in Croatia. What defines it is not a single lake but a process that is still going on today.
The park lies in the uplands between Mala Kapela to the west and north-west and Lička Plješivica to the south-east. It is mostly covered by forest; the lakes it is famous for make up just under one per cent of its area.
Sixteen named lakes and several smaller unnamed ones cascade into one another. The twelve Upper Lakes, from Prošćansko jezero to Kozjak, formed on impermeable dolomite and have larger, more gently curving shores. The four Lower Lakes, Milanovac, Gavanovac, Kaluđerovac and Novakovića Brod, cut into permeable limestone and lie in a deep gorge with steep walls. At the end the water plunges over the Sastavci waterfalls; the Korana rises at their foot.
The park was not recognised for a view but for tufa formation: UNESCO considers the growth of the travertine barriers, which creates the lakes in the first place, to be of outstanding universal value.
Taken automatically from the official source: 3 Oct 2026 14:06 UTC.
Rate B: June–August after 16:00, September after 15:00. Reductions and other ticket types are listed in the official price list.
GetYourGuide · Day trip
Guided day trip by bus with a stop in Rastoke. Park entrance is included. Boat and panoramic train rides in the park depend on the season and operations.
Departure Zagreb
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GetYourGuide · Guided tour
Guided walk on site with a reserved park ticket. The entrance ticket is not included in the tour price and is paid in cash on arrival. Choose the language and meeting point to match your option.
View tour ↗Ad · partner link · checked 17 Sep 2026
GetYourGuide · Guided tour
Private tour with pick-up from seven places to stay around the park, including Plitvice Holiday Resort, Hotel Degenija and Lyra Hotel Plitvice. After a drive of about 15 minutes you walk for about three hours over the boardwalks, with a lake crossing and panoramic bus, then return to your accommodation. According to the list of inclusions, park entrance, the crossing and the panoramic bus are included; lunch, drinks and tips are not.
Departure Accommodation around the park
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GetYourGuide · Guided tour
Walk with a local guide in a small group or privately, starting when the park opens, before most visitors arrive: boardwalks at the Lower Lakes, the Great Waterfall, photo stops; the crossing of Lake Kozjak and the panoramic train are included according to the list of inclusions, and depend on park operations according to the description. The provider calls it a sunrise tour but describes a start at park opening. The description mentions a warm drink, the list of inclusions does not. The list of inclusions and the notes exclude park entrance, yet one of the three booking options is called “+ entry tickets”; clarify this before booking.
Departure Entrance 1 (Rastovača)
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Ad · we may earn a commission if you book through this partner link. Offer details checked 27 Sep 2026. See official ticket information.
Plan your accommodation and park entrance together.
Facilities as stated by the park authority, taken on 18 Sep 2026. Prices and availability are not shown here; check both directly with the campsite.
Campsite · nearby · Pitches and bungalows by the Korana canyon near the park. Check the season and the type of accommodation you want directly with the operator.
Campsite · near Korenica · Campsite run by the park authority near Korenica. For your park visit, allow for the onward journey to your chosen entrance.
All year. The opening hours are in the field book under How to get there and are taken daily from the park authority. Opening hours of individual services change with the seasons.
The fees for every season are in the field book under Tickets & fees. They are taken daily from the park authority's official price list.
Between 2 and 8 hours, depending on the official programme you choose. The length and duration of each route are listed under Hikes & routes.
Yes, on a lead. Check the rules for transport and facilities when planning your visit.
Yes, at Hotel Jezero, a hotel in the park near Entrance 2 and Lake Kozjak. The park authority lists parking, Wi-Fi and pet-friendly rooms, among other things. Check terms directly with the hotel.
Yes, the park authority runs 2 campsites: Camping Korana (6 km (3.7 mi) to Entrance 1) and Camping Borje (16 km (9.9 mi) to Entrance 2). Facilities and capacity are listed under Where to stay. From two nights, guests can have their park ticket extended for their whole stay at no extra cost.
Neither is better in general: the two entrances serve different programmes. Routes A, B, C and K1 start at Entrance 1, routes E, F, H and K2 at Entrance 2. The ticket you book must match the entrance you choose.
Both main entrances have paid visitor car parks. Match your car park and time slot to the same entrance, because your booked ticket must match the entrance you choose.
No. Swimming in the lakes is not allowed. The lakes are dammed by tufa barriers that are still growing, which is why walking on the barriers and swimming are prohibited.
Yes. Brown bears live in the park, as do wolves, lynx and otters. According to the park authority, their presence shows how well the forest and water habitats are preserved.
It depends on how much time you have. If you are short on time or want an easier walk, the park authority recommends programmes A, B and F through the Lower Lakes. Programmes C and H link the Upper and Lower Lakes and need more time and fitness; programme K is for long hikes.
By scheduled bus: there are stops at Entrance 1 and Entrance 2. Check the timetable and the return journey with Zagreb bus station or Likaline; the two entrances are about 3 km (1.9 mi) apart.
One day covers any official route. The short programmes take 2–3 hours, Route C through the Upper and Lower Lakes 4–5 hours, and the long circuits K1 and K2 (16.5 and 17.5 km, 10.3 and 10.9 mi) 6–8 hours.
Where the information comes from, traceable back to the official source.
Fetched automatically: 03 Oct 2026 14:06 UTC.
Original posts from the park authority. The feed also contains events and general park news. The date comes from the feed and does not confirm current openings, closures or offers.
Researched 17 Sep 2026. Not a live status. Dates apply only to the year stated. A successful automatic fetch is not an editorial confirmation; outdated automatic values are hidden and replaced by the source link.
Current information from the park ↗
Location sources: Individual places, where listed: from the linked park authority. Markers do not imply that access is permitted. Base map © OpenStreetMap contributors. Coastlines of the chapter map: Natural Earth.
End of the field book · Park authority ↗
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