Croatia boasts a diverse and stunning natural landscape. One particularly beautiful location is the Plitvice Lakes National Park. The Plitvice Lakes make up the oldest and largest national park in Croatia. Covering an area of approximately 300,000 hectares, the park is home to numerous protected plant and animal species, as well as 16 lakes and a multitude of waterfalls.
You can explore the park on your own, but there are several clearly described routes that serve as suggested tours. Entrance 1 offers four visitor programs marked in green. At Entrance 2, there are also four programs, marked in orange. These help you navigate the national park more easily.
To transport visitors, electric boats and panoramic vehicles operate within the park. To use these, a valid admission ticket is required.
Although the tours are similar, each one offers different sights and activities. The routes also vary in length and difficulty. Here, we briefly introduce each visitor program.
This tour starts at the park’s northern entrance (Entrance 1). It takes about 2–3 hours and covers 3.5 km. A highlight is the Veliki Slap (Great Waterfall), the largest waterfall in the Plitvice Lakes and in all of Croatia. The trail leads upstream through the Donja jezera (Lower Lakes) gorge and past the lakes Novakovića brod, Kaluđerovac, Gavanovac, and Milanovac. The resting area Kozjački most is the final stop of this route. From there, a climb up the eastern slope of the gorge returns you to the starting point at Entrance 1.
Also starting from the northern entrance (Entrance 1), Program B is a bit longer. The tour lasts around 3–4 hours and spans 4 km. It includes a walk through the limestone canyon of the Lower Lakes, a boat ride on the largest of the Plitvice Lakes (Kozjak), a panoramic vehicle ride, and a return hike along the canyon’s eastern side. You’ll see spectacular waterfalls such as Veliki slap and Sastavke, and breathtaking blue-green and turquoise lakes like Novakovića brod, Kaluđerovac, Gavanovac, and Milanovac, as well as the vast Kozjak Lake.
If you're up for a longer walk, this tour covers 8 km in 4–6 hours, starting again from Entrance 1. It forms a circular route including both the Lower Lakes and the Upper Lakes. You’ll experience a combination of walking, electric boat rides, and panoramic vehicle rides, with plenty to see and do. Highlights include Veliki Slap, Veliki and Mali prštavac waterfalls, as well as many smaller falls and lakes. With so many beautiful views, it’s hard to resist taking pictures all the time.
This route begins at the southern entrance (Entrance 2) and takes about 2–3 hours over 5.1 km. It explores the Upper Lakes (Gornja jezera). A short ferry ride on Lake Kozjak provides a fresh perspective. After the boat ride, you hike upstream to Prošćansko jezero, where a panoramic vehicle takes you to a viewpoint with fantastic views over the wooded, waterfall-dotted shores of the Upper Lakes.
Although this tour is shorter at 4.6 km, it takes around 3–4 hours. Starting from the southern entrance (Entrance 2), it begins with a walk, followed by a boat ride on Lake Kozjak. The tour continues through the limestone canyon. A steep serpentine path from the Great Waterfall leads to the eastern side of the canyon, offering several viewpoints with stunning views of the clear lakes and rocky cliffs. A panoramic vehicle returns you to the start.
This 8.9 km route lets you explore the entire lake area of the park in 4–6 hours, including walks, a boat ride, and panoramic vehicle rides. You'll see both the Upper and Lower Lakes, along with waterfalls and incredible views—perfect if you want to see as much as possible.
This visitor program is temporarily closed. We recommend checking for updates before your visit if you are planning to follow this route.
Once available again, the 16.5 km, 6–8 hour tour starts from Entrance 1 and features numerous highlights, including the Upper Lakes, waterfalls like Prštavci, and a walk through the Lower Lakes gorge. A new attraction is the viewpoint Tomićevo pogledalo. After a boat ride to the eastern shore of Lake Kozjak, you hike above the eastern side of the gorge back to Entrance 1.
This is a more challenging route and should only be attempted with proper preparation.
This visitor program is temporarily closed. Please check for updates before your trip if you are interested in this tour.
When available, the 17.5 km, 6–8 hour route starts at the southern entrance (Entrance 2). The hike follows the eastern shore of Lake Kozjak, then above the eastern side of the Lower Lakes gorge to the Veliki Slap waterfall, then along the western shore of Kozjak. The tour passes many waterfalls and reaches the new viewpoint Tomićevo pogledalo. You’ll see the Upper Lakes on the return journey, finishing with a boat ride back to Entrance 2.
Like Program K1, this route is more demanding and should be done with adequate preparation.
Plitvice National Park is home to a diverse and unique range of plants, making it one of Croatia’s most botanically valuable areas. Many species are protected and listed as highly endangered.
Please help preserve this rich plant life by not littering or damaging the vegetation.
More than 50 different mammal species live in the park, including deer, wildcats, Eurasian lynxes, otters, and brown bears—the park’s symbol. The lakes are home to a variety of fish and amphibians. The birdlife is also rich, with over 157 species, and there is an incredible variety of insects, especially butterflies. With some luck, you may spot some of these animals and enjoy their presence. Bring your camera to capture these special moments.
Please respect the animals' privacy and keep a safe distance. While most will avoid humans, getting too close can make them feel threatened and lead to dangerous situations for both animals and people.
Cycling is actually not allowed inside the national park. However, there are 60–80 km of cycling trails around the park’s perimeter that you can use.
You can explore the park freely or follow one of the visitor programs and related trails. Be sure to review your route in advance and prepare accordingly—some trails require more gear or stamina.
Many tours include boat rides on the lakes with a valid ticket, offering a different view of the park’s beauty. When the scenery reflects on the lake's surface, it's a truly magical sight. It’s a great way to relax and take a break between hikes.
The best time to visit isn’t necessarily summer, due to the intense heat. Spring and autumn offer milder, more pleasant conditions. However, always check the weather forecast before your trip to ensure there are no storm warnings.
We wish you a fantastic journey filled with amazing experiences. If you still need a vignette, you can easily and conveniently purchase it from us. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us: [email protected]!
