Plitvice Lakes National Park
Plitvička Jezera, Croatia
Nacionalni park Plitvička jezera
Terraced turquoise lakes and waterfalls on boardwalks, in Croatia's oldest national park.
Checked 7 October 2026
Plitvice is a chain of turquoise lakes stepped down a forested valley, linked by waterfalls and kilometres of boardwalk, with an electric boat and a panoramic train included in the ticket. Tickets are sold for a chosen entrance and a one-hour entry slot, and the price swings with the season: on the park's 2026 list an adult pays €40 on a summer morning, €25 late in the afternoon, €23 in April, May and October and €10 in winter.
About Plitvice Lakes National Park
Plitvice Lakes is a national park in the hills of central Croatia, about halfway between Zagreb and Zadar. Its heart is a staircase of 16 named lakes and many smaller ones, cascading into each other over natural dams of tufa (travertine). The lakes cover less than 1% of the park's almost 300 km², but that is where nearly every visitor goes, on 22 km of paths and wooden walkways laid just above the water.
The park splits into two parts. The twelve Upper Lakes sit on dolomite: wider, wooded shores and long chains of small cascades. The four Lower Lakes are cut into limestone, in a narrow canyon with cliffs and caves, ending at the Great Waterfall (Veliki slap), 78 m high and the tallest in Croatia. Kozjak, the largest lake, sits between the two and is crossed by electric boat.
What makes Plitvice special is that it is still building itself. Moss, algae and bacteria help calcium carbonate settle out of the water, so the tufa barriers grow, shift and create new falls. That living process is why the park was declared Croatia's first national park in 1949 and put on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979.
The park also has a darker history: in March 1991 it was the scene of the first fatal clash of the Croatian War of Independence, and it was occupied until 1995. Today it is one of the most visited places in the country, with well over a million visitors a year, which is why tickets are now sold by hour and entrance.
What to see
Great Waterfall (Veliki slap)
The 78 m fall at the end of the Lower Lakes, where the Plitvica stream drops into the canyon. A viewpoint about 100 m from Entrance 1 shows it from above; the path down to its foot is part of routes A, B, C, F, H and K.
Lower Lakes canyon
Novakovića Brod, Kaluđerovac, Gavanovac and Milanovac in a limestone gorge, with boardwalks right over the water. This is the most photographed and most crowded stretch: walk it first thing in the morning or late afternoon.
Kozjak and the electric boat
The largest and deepest lake (47 m), crossed by silent electric boats between docks P1, P2 and P3. The ride is included in the ticket; in summer the queue at P1 and P3 can take longer than the crossing.
Upper Lakes and the Prštavci falls
Twelve lakes on dolomite with wooded shores, the Veliki and Mali Prštavac falls and countless small cascades. Quieter than the Lower Lakes; usually closed in winter and opened, weather permitting, in early April.
Viewpoints on the east rim
From the top of the canyon above the Lower Lakes, the paths between Entrance 1 and train station St1 give the classic postcard view down onto the lakes and boardwalks. Routes A, B and F climb up here by a steep zig-zag path.
Tomićevo pogledalo
A newer viewpoint on the long walking routes K1 and K2 (16.5–17.5 km, 6–8 hours), for anyone who wants to see most of the lake zone on foot.
Plitvice Lakes National Park tickets: which to buy and where
Buy a day ticket on the park's own ticket site for the entrance your route starts from (Entrance 1 for routes A, B, C, K1; Entrance 2 for E, F, H, K2) and pick an hourly entry slot. You may not enter before your slot and may be at most one hour late, and a ticket validated at the wrong entrance counts as no ticket. Prices below are the park's 2026 list; the park publishes a new list each year and reserves the right to change prices, so check it for 2027 visits.
The official ticket site
Javna ustanova Nacionalni park Plitvička jezera (Plitvice Lakes National Park Public Institution)
The park's own web shop at ticketing.np-plitvicka-jezera.hr, linked from the official site np-plitvicka-jezera.hr. Card payment only; you store the ticket on your phone or print it. Unless sold out, tickets are also sold at Entrance 1, Entrance 2 and the auxiliary Flora entrance (cash or card) and from ticket machines at both main entrances.
Day ticket, summer (1 June–30 September)
€40 adult; after 16:00 in June–August and after 15:00 in September €25; students €25 / €15; children 7–18 €15 / €9; under 7 free
Official ticketsSkips the ticket line
- Includes
- Entry at the chosen entrance and hour, electric boat and panoramic train on your route, toilets, accident insurance
- Best for
- Most summer visitors; the afternoon price suits a late visit or anyone staying nearby
Official site · as of October 2026See this ticket → (opens in a new tab)Day ticket, spring and autumn (April, May, October)
€23 adult; students €14; children 7–18 €6; under 7 free
Official ticketsSkips the ticket line
- Includes
- Entry at the chosen entrance and hour, boat and train on your route, insurance
- Best for
- The best-value season: full routes open, autumn colours in October
Official site · as of October 2026See this ticket → (opens in a new tab)Day ticket, winter (November–March)
€10 adult; students €6; children 7–18 €4; under 7 free
Official ticketsSkips the ticket line
- Includes
- Entry, usually Lower Lakes only; boat and train run on a reduced timetable or not at all in snow
- Best for
- Quiet, snowy visits; check conditions by phone (+385 53 751 015) before you drive
Official site · as of October 2026See this ticket → (opens in a new tab)Two-day ticket
€60 adult (June–September), €39 (April, May, October), €15 (November–March); students €40 / €20 / €9; children 7–18 €20 / €10 / €7
Official ticketsSkips the ticket line
- Includes
- Two consecutive days from the date of sale; the visitor's name must be entered on the ticket
- Best for
- Doing the Upper Lakes one afternoon and the Lower Lakes early the next morning
Official site · as of October 2026See this ticket → (opens in a new tab)Day trip from Zagreb with park ticket included
from €74
ResellerSkips the ticket line
- Includes
- Transport from Zagreb, a stop in Rastoke, about 4.5 hours guided in the park with boat (and train in season), park ticket included
- Best for
- Visitors without a car who want transport, ticket and guide in one booking
GetYourGuide (provider: Petros) · as of October 2026See this ticket → (opens in a new tab)
How to buy
- Choose your route first (see the lake tour programmes on np-plitvicka-jezera.hr): it decides whether you need Entrance 1 or Entrance 2.
- On ticketing.np-plitvicka-jezera.hr pick the date, the entrance, the hourly slot, and a one-day or two-day ticket; pay by card (your bank may ask for app or token approval).
- Keep the ticket on your phone or print it, and validate it at the entrance you chose, no earlier than your slot and no more than one hour late.
- Students and visitors with a disability over 50% show their card at the entrance; children under 7 and disabled visitors and their companions get a free ticket at the ticket desk without booking.
- Staying at Hotel Jezero or the Korana or Borje campsites? Buy a ticket for the first day only and have it extended at reception for each further day.
Look-alike sites
The only official sources are np-plitvicka-jezera.hr (information) and its ticket shop ticketing.np-plitvicka-jezera.hr. Many travel-agency sites use 'Plitvice Lakes' and 'tickets' in their domain names and look official; they are tour sellers, not the park. The park also sells through GetYourGuide under a partnership announced in 2023, but resold tickets cost more. Check that the address bar shows np-plitvicka-jezera.hr and that the price matches the park's own price list (€40, €25, €23 or €10 for an adult in 2026).
We can never guarantee a ticket seller, tour company or deal. Prices, opening hours and what is included change, often without notice: check the details on the seller’s own page before you pay, and book through the official site where you can. How to avoid ticket scams · Disclaimer.
Guided tours of Plitvice Lakes National Park
You do not need a guide: routes are signposted, and the park's paper map or free app is enough. A tour is worth it mainly for transport, since there is no train and buses are few, or if you want someone to steer you away from the busiest boardwalks. Expect about 4–4.5 hours in the park on a fixed route, usually 5–9 km on foot.
Group day trip by coach
From Split: Plitvice Lakes Guided Tour with Entry Tickets
Booker (Split travel agency)Sold on GetYourGuide. About 3.5 hours each way by coach, 4.5 hours guided in the park with boat and train; park ticket included. Meets at the Booker office, Marulićeva 4, Split. Some reviewers find the pace in the park rushed.
Group day trip; small-group option with pick-up
Zadar: Plitvice Lakes National Park Tour with Boat and Train
Zadar In and Out ToursLocal Zadar operator, sold on GetYourGuide. About 2 hours each way, 4.5 hours in the park covering Upper and Lower Lakes, about 10 km of walking. Meets at their office, Ul. Alesandra Paravije 5, Zadar; includes a free Zadar old-town walk on any evening.
from €45, park ticket extra (paid in cash on the day)
See this tour → (opens in a new tab)Group or small-group day trip
From Zagreb: Plitvice & Rastoke Guided Tour with Ticket
PetrosPark ticket included. 45 minutes in Rastoke, the mill village of Slunj, then 4.5 hours in the park, about 8–9 km on foot. Meets opposite the Ethnographic Museum in Zagreb; hotel pick-up with the small-group option. November–March only the Lower Lakes and a shorter day.
Licensed park guide for organised groups
Official park guide (groups)
Plitvice Lakes National Park
Only for groups of at least 15 people, booked in advance through the park's sales department; in Croatian, English, Italian or Spanish. One guide takes up to 50 people. Worth knowing for families or clubs travelling together.
€120 half day (up to 4 hours), €170 full day (5–6 hours), per guide, plus tickets
See this tour → (opens in a new tab)
We can never guarantee a ticket seller, tour company or deal. Prices, opening hours and what is included change, often without notice: check the details on the seller’s own page before you pay, and book through the official site where you can. How to avoid ticket scams · Disclaimer.
Plitvice Lakes National Park deals and discounts
The official ticket is the best buy, and the timing is the deal: on the 2026 list the same summer ticket costs €25 instead of €40 after 16:00 in June–August (after 15:00 in September), and October costs €23 with the autumn colours. There are no free days.
Afternoon price in summer
On the 2026 list the adult ticket drops from €40 to €25 for entry after 16:00 from 1 June to 31 August, and after 15:00 in September. Long summer evenings leave time for route B or E, and the crowds thin out.
Off-season prices
April, May and October cost €23 for an adult with all routes normally open; November to March costs €10, usually with only the Lower Lakes open.
Children under 7 and disabled visitors free
Children under 7, visitors with a disability over 50% and their personal assistant enter free; collect a free ticket at the ticket desk by showing a valid card. Children 7–18 pay a reduced price.
Student price for any university
Students pay €25 (summer morning), €14 (April, May, October) or €6 (winter) on showing a valid student card; the park accepts cards from any university worldwide.
Free extra days for park hotel and campsite guests
Guests at Hotel Jezero and the Korana and Borje campsites pay for the first day only and have the ticket extended at reception for each further day. Some Hotel Jezero packages include the ticket for the whole stay.
Best time to visit Plitvice Lakes National Park
Time of day: be at the gate for the first slot (7:00 in season) or come in the late afternoon in summer, when the price drops. The park's own visitor advice names 10:00–14:00 as the crowded window, when coaches fill the Lower Lakes boardwalks and the boat queues, and says entry may be stopped for a while at those times.
Season: May, June and late September to October are the best balance of open routes, water and space. Mid-October brings the beech and maple colours. July and August are the busiest months.
Winter (November–March) is cheap and quiet, often snowy, but usually only the Lower Lakes are open, the boat and train may not run, and paths can be icy. Opening hours and ticket-sale hours change through the year and the park announces them in seasonal posts, so check the hours page before you go. Spring after snowmelt has the strongest waterfalls.
Tips and tricks
Gathered from travel forums, locals and the sight’s own advice, rewritten in our own words. What worked for others, not a guarantee.
Choose the route before you choose the entrance
Routes A, B, C and K1 start at Entrance 1, routes E, F, H and K2 at Entrance 2, and the ticket only works at the entrance you booked. B (3–4 h) or F (3–4 h) show the Lower Lakes and Kozjak; C or H (4–6 h) cover both lake groups.
From Plitvice Lakes National Park, lake tour programmes, 2026
Walk against the flow
Visitors and tour itineraries suggest most coaches start at Entrance 1 and walk the Lower Lakes first. Starting with the Upper Lakes (route H from Entrance 2, or taking the train up first) puts you behind the main wave rather than in it.
From Tour operator itineraries and visitor reviews, 2026
Split the visit over two half days
With a two-day ticket, walk the Upper Lakes in the late afternoon and the Lower Lakes first thing the next morning. Visitors who did this report having the canyon nearly to themselves before the coaches arrive.
From Rick Steves Croatia forum, 2019–2022
Bring a layer and proper shoes
The park is inland and in the hills, noticeably cooler than the coast, and tour operators tell guests to bring a jacket from September. Boardwalks are often wet and uneven: wear shoes with grip, even in summer.
From Plitvice Lakes National Park tips page, 2026; tour reviews, 2026
Do not step off the boardwalk
Leaving the marked paths, swimming, feeding fish or ducks, and flying drones are all banned to protect the tufa barriers, and rangers patrol. The water is not for paddling, even at the edge.
From Plitvice Lakes National Park rules of conduct, 2026
Plan around the boat and train timetables
In October 2026 the long boat route runs every 30 minutes from 8:00 until 16:30 (back until 17:00) and the last train to Entrance 1 leaves station St2 at 17:45. Miss them and you face a long walk; summer timetables run later, so check the current times on the park's hours page.
From Plitvice Lakes National Park hours of operation, 2026
Leave your bags at the entrance
If you arrive by bus with luggage, the park stores bags for free at Entrance 1, Entrance 2 and the Flora entrance. Ask at the entrance.
From Plitvice Lakes National Park FAQ, 2026
Eat before or after, not on the trail
Lička kuća at Entrance 1 is the main sit-down restaurant, with more places by Entrance 2; inside the lake zone the choice is thin. Bring water and a snack for routes over three hours.
From Plitvice Lakes National Park FAQ and restaurant pages, 2026
How to get to Plitvice Lakes National Park
- By bus from Zagreb: FlixBus (often run by a local partner) and other lines on the Zagreb–Zadar road stop at both entrances; about 1 h 50 min, from about €14. Check all operators on the Zagreb bus station site (akz.hr).
- By bus from Zadar: about 1 h 30 min, from about €14 on FlixBus, a few departures a day. From Split: about 3 h 30 min, from about €21, around two direct buses a day, all via Zadar. The bus stops are small shelters by the D429 road near the footbridges to each entrance; there are stops on both sides, one towards Zadar and one towards Zagreb.
- By car: the D429 runs past both entrances (Entrance 1 Rastovača in the north, Entrance 2 Hladovina about 3 km south) and is the road from Zagreb and Zadar; from the A1 motorway, the D52 via Otočac and Korenica reaches the park from the west.
- Parking: paid on leaving at machines at both entrances. Cars €2 an hour in June–September and €1.50 an hour in March–May and October–November; campers €18 a day in summer, €15 otherwise. When the car parks are full, do not park on the main road or on the grass.
- Staying nearby: Hotel Jezero is next to Entrance 2; the Korana campsite is about 6 km from Entrance 1 and the Borje campsite further out, both with a shuttle bus to the park. Private rooms and guesthouses fill the villages around both entrances.
Scams and problems to watch for
Resold tickets at a mark-up
Agency sites with 'Plitvice' in the name sell 'tickets' that are really their own package or a resold official ticket at a higher price. Tell-tale sign: the domain is not np-plitvicka-jezera.hr, or the adult price is not €40, €25, €23 or €10 (2026 list).
Tour price that excludes the park ticket
Many cheap day trips from Zadar and Split do not include the park ticket and ask you to pay it in cash on the day, which can add €23–40 per adult. Check 'not included' before comparing prices, and carry euros in cash if your tour requires it.
Fixed short routes on coach tours
Coach tours spend about 4–4.5 hours in the park on a set route at group pace, timed around the same peak hours as everyone else. If you want the Upper Lakes properly, the long routes or quiet hours, travel by bus or car and go on your own.
Wrong entrance or slot
A ticket validated at the other entrance, or used more than an hour after the booked slot, counts as no ticket under the park rules. Tell-tale sign: a third-party booking that does not show which entrance and hour you are booked for.
Fines for leaving paths, swimming or feeding fish
Rangers patrol the lake zone, and visitors who break the park rulebook can be fined: it bans leaving the marked paths, swimming, wading, feeding animals and flying drones. Selfie spots off the boardwalk are not worth it: the tufa edges are fragile and the water deep.
Accessibility
The lake zone is not wheelchair accessible as a whole: the lakes drop 134 m from first to last, and the boardwalks have steps and steep sections. Two parts can be reached: the viewpoint over the Great Waterfall and Sastavci about 100 m from Entrance 1, and, from Entrance 2 past Hotel Bellevue and the Flora entrance along the access road, boat dock P1 for an electric-boat ride on Kozjak, with space for wheelchair users and staff help when boarding. Staff at the entrances suggest the most accessible route. Entry is free for visitors with a disability over 50% and their personal assistant on showing a valid card (the European Disability Card is accepted). Hotel Jezero has adapted rooms, a lift and step-free access, and all park car parks have marked accessible spaces. Dogs are allowed on a lead, also on the boat and train.
Combine it with
Rastoke
The old mill village at Slunj, about 30 minutes north by road, where the Slunjčica river falls into the Korana between houses and footbridges. An easy stop on the way to or from Zagreb, and part of many Zagreb day trips.
Barać Caves
Show caves near Rakovica, north of Entrance 1, with guided visits. A good rainy-day or afternoon add-on.
Mukinje and the park's winter area
The park's village near Entrance 2 has a small ski and sledging slope with a lift that the park has run in snowy winters; check the park website for whether it is open.
Dubrovnik City Walls
On SightsaleAnother Croatia sight, far away at the southern end of the coast: a long day's drive from Plitvice, so plan it as a separate part of a Croatia trip, not a day out from here.
Questions people ask about visiting Plitvice Lakes National Park
How much does it cost to visit Plitvice Lakes?
On the park's 2026 list an adult day ticket costs €40 from June to September (€25 after 16:00 in June–August, after 15:00 in September), €23 in April, May and October, and €10 from November to March. Children under 7 are free; children 7–18 and students pay less. The park sets a new list each year, so 2027 prices may differ.
Do you need to book Plitvice tickets in advance?
Yes in summer: tickets are sold for a set entrance and hourly slot, and visitors report that July and August morning slots go first. You can still buy at the entrance (cash or card) if a slot is not sold out, but expect queues. In winter and shoulder season, booking a day or two ahead is usually enough.
Which entrance is better, Entrance 1 or Entrance 2?
Entrance 1 is by the Great Waterfall and the Lower Lakes and serves routes A, B, C and K1; it is the busier one. Entrance 2 is near Hotel Jezero and serves routes E, F, H and K2, which start with the boat across Kozjak. Pick your route first, then the entrance.
How long do you need at Plitvice Lakes?
Allow 3–4 hours for the Lower Lakes and Kozjak (route B or F) and 5–6 hours to see the Upper and Lower Lakes (route C or H). The all-day walking routes K1 and K2 take 6–8 hours.
Can you swim in Plitvice Lakes?
No. Swimming, wading, fishing and feeding the fish are all banned anywhere in the park, and so are drones. You must stay on the marked paths and boardwalks.
Is the boat and train included in the Plitvice ticket?
Yes. The electric boat across Kozjak and the panoramic train are included in every entrance ticket, along with accident insurance. In winter they may run on a reduced timetable or stop in snow.
Is a guided tour of Plitvice worth it?
Not for the walking itself: routes are well signposted and the park needs no guide. A day tour from Zagreb, Zadar or Split (from about €45 plus ticket, or €74–89 with ticket) is mostly worth it for the transport, if you have no car.
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