Plitvice Lakes are included in the list of the most beautiful places not only in Croatia, but throughout Europe. The pristine, majestic nature of the park is sincerely admired by millions of tourists. According to many vacationers, Plitvice Lakes in Croatia is a paradise with a unique atmosphere. In 1979, this part of the country was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Photo: Plitvice Lakes.
general information
A huge natural area spreading over 300 m2. The hilly area is decorated with lakes with clear water, resembling scattered aquamarines, connected by waterfalls, straits and framed by a forest.
Sightseeing in Croatia is part of the Licko-Sensk and Karlovac counties. The nearest town is Slun.
Historical excursion
The uniqueness of the lakes in the amazing history of the appearance – without human intervention. Nature itself worked on the park, creating a bizarre landscape.
Interesting fact! The oldest park in Croatia. The first mention of the lakes dates back to 1777. Until the middle of the last century, not everyone could visit them, since there were no hiking trails.
After the war, many mines and shells remained in the park, but today the territory is completely cleared. The history of the origin of the park is shrouded in legends, here is the most interesting.
Once upon a time, the Black Queen lived in Croatia, praying for the sky to rain and stop the drought, the heavens had mercy, and the rainwater formed the Plitvice Lakes. In addition, there is a belief according to which the lakes will be preserved while bears live in this area.
The highest point is 1280 meters, the lowest is 450 meters. Guests come to the upper gate to the conservation area and stroll down. Each step reveals amazing natural beauty.
Lakes
On the map of Plitvice Lakes in Croatia there are 16 large, as well as many small ponds. All of them are cascaded, the distance between the highest and the lowest is 133 meters.
Interesting fact! The largest lake is called Kozyak – covers an area of more than 81 hectares, the deepest point is about 46 meters. Then follow the lakes: Proshchansko and Galovac. They form a large part of the water surface of Plitvice Lakes.
Lakes originate from two rivers – Tsrna and Bela, and water bodies are filled with other rivers. A spacious observation deck is organized above the Koran River.
Waterfalls
The number of waterfalls on Plitvice Lakes in Croatia is increasing annually. Today there are 140 of them, but water gradually breaks up stones, forming new ways. The main Plitvice waterfalls: Veliké cascade, Kozochki, Milanovachki.
Interesting fact! The most beautiful Sastavtsi Falls is more than 72 meters high.
Caves
There are 32 caves on the lakes in Croatia. Most visited: Crna pechina, Golubnyacha and Shuplyara. Many archaeologists have discovered traces of ancient settlements.
Forests
A considerable area of Plitvice Lakes is covered with forests, mainly coniferous, as well as beech. These thickets can be found in the small village of Chorkova Uvala, located in the northwest of the park.
Interesting fact! In total, more than 1260 different plants grow on the lakes, 75 of which are unique, and you can see them only here. They do not clean the area from fallen trees, they form natural fences.
Animal world
Plitvice Lakes of Croatia – a habitat for a large number of animals. Here you can meet a brown bear, squirrels, martens, wolves, wild boars and badgers, deer, roe deer and otters. In total, about two hundred different animals and more than 150 species of birds live in the conservation area. Trout is found in the lakes, but fishing is prohibited here, but you can feed fish with bread. Of great interest is the unique population of butterflies, there are more than 320 species.
Good to know! In summer, the air temperature varies between + 25- + 30 degrees, the water warms up to +24 degrees. In winter, the lakes completely freeze.
Tourist routes
Photo: Plitvice Lakes in Croatia.
Plitvice Lakes is Croatia’s largest national park. For tourists there are several walking paths of different lengths and degrees of difficulty. The paths are wooden flooring, comfortable for walking. In addition to walking in the park, they also travel by electric trains, boats, and ferries. Of course, using transport is more convenient, but in this case it is impossible to get to the most hidden corners of the Plitvice Lakes.
It is important! The conservation area is accessible only to rangers, tourists are not allowed to walk here.
Each route combines the possibility of walking and traveling by transport. The ticket price includes a boat trip and a panoramic train. The average duration of each route is 3 hours.
The most interesting places are concentrated above and hidden from view, it is not easy to get to them. If you have the time, set aside two days for a visit to the Plitvice Lakes, especially since there are comfortable hotels and affordable accommodation on their territory. Travelers with good physical fitness choose longer routes with organized excursions.
Each route is indicated by letters from A to K. The ticket price does not depend on the selected route. Throughout the park there are signs indicating the route and the road to the exit.
Good to know! On the territory of Plitvice Lakes picnics are prohibited, you can not make fire and swim in the ponds. There is a cafe for guests.
Conventionally, the park is divided into two parts – upper and lower. From the entrance located at the top, follow the routes – A, B, C and K (has two entrances – at the top and bottom). Routes K, E, F and H follow from the entrance to the lower part of the park. The longest routes K and H follow; it will take 6 to 8 hours to inspect them.
Interesting fact! Most tourists come to this part of Croatia from June to August, much less visitors in spring and autumn. Each route is equipped with convenient benches and, of course, take a camera with you to take amazing photos to remember the trip.
How to get to Plitvice Lakes from Zagreb
The easiest way to get to a natural attraction is by bus. Transport leaves from the bus station, located 1.7 km from the central railway station and 17 km from the airport at Avenija Marina Držića 4. If you can walk from the railway station, it is better to get from the airport by bus, which leaves every 30 minutes, the ticket price is about 23 kunas.
From the bus station, buses run every 1-2 hours daily. Tickets can be purchased at the box office, but in the summer, given the influx of tourists to get to Plitvice calmly, it is better to buy a ticket on the official website of the bus station.
The ticket price depends on the carrier company and varies from 81 to 105 kunas.
All buses that go to Plitvice are passing, so the driver must be warned to stop at the main entrance or as close to the park as possible. The road takes from 2 to 2.5 hours. The cost of a return ticket is fixed – 90 kunas. You can buy it directly on the bus or at the box office at the entrance No. 2.
From Zagreb to Plitvice Lakes can be reached by direct road 1. Many people confuse the highway with the A1 Autobahn, but the fare on it is paid. The desired road 1 is narrow and free.
Good to know! Karlovac can be reached by a toll road, and then follow the road 1.
- To get by taxi, the trip will cost about 170 euros or 1265 kunas.
- To get from Zagreb as part of an excursion tour, in order to purchase such a tour, it is enough to contact any agency. The price is approximately 750 kunas. During the tour you can explore the Plitvice Lakes and see the villages located nearby.
Practical information
Plitvice Lakes are very popular among vacationers, therefore, excellent conditions for tourists are created here. You can rent a hotel room or stay at the campsite. By the way, campsites are in demand among Western tourists, there are quite comfortable living conditions, vacationers spend the night in tents, which are sometimes more spacious than a hotel room. In addition, campsites are located in picturesque places of the park, on their territory there are showers, toilets, places where you can wash dishes and wash clothes, equipped kitchens.
You can get acquainted with the rates and book a tent or caravan on the official site of the camping.
Prices for hotel accommodation are, of course, higher. On average, a budget single room with breakfast will cost 560 kunas and a double room will cost 745 kunas.
It is important! Tourists traveling by car, prefer to stay 20-40 km from the Plitvice Lakes, the prices are much lower, and the road to the entrance will take about 10-15 minutes.
Information about ticket prices is regularly updated on the official website of Plitvice Lakes. In addition, the site provides detailed information about each route.
Ticket price for one day:
- children under 7 years old admission is free;
- children from 7 to 18 years old: from January to April and from November to January – 35 kunas, from April to July and from September to November – 80 HRK, in July and August – 110 HRK (until 16-00), 50 HRK ( after 16-00);
- adult – from January to April and from November to January – 55 kunas, from April to July and from September to November – 150 HRK, in July and August – 250 HRK (until 16-00), 150 HRK (after 16-00) .
Ticket price for two days:
- children under 7 years old admission is free;
- children from 7 to 18 years: from January to April and from November to January – 55 kunas, from April to July and from September to November – 120 HRK, in July and August – 200 HRK;
- adult – from January to April and from November to January – 90 kunas, from April to July and from September to November – 250 HRK, in July and August – 400 HRK.
If you decide to get to Plitvice Lakes by car, you can leave it in a paid parking lot, cost 7 HRK per hour. For cars with a trailer and buses, the cost of parking is 70 kuna per day. Motorcycles and scooters can be parked for free.
Prices in the article are indicated for March 2018. The relevance of prices can be checked on the official website of the national park np-plitvicka-jezera.hr.
Useful Tips
- The most interesting routes start at the second entrance.
- The park occupies a vast territory, the distance between lakes and waterfalls is quite large, so it is better to think over the route in advance.
- At the entrance, tourists are given cards that you can navigate.
- There are employees in the park who will always tell you the way.
- Plitvice Lakes in Croatia are beautiful at any time of the year, in summer there is a huge influx of tourists, so it is better to visit the reserve in May or September.
- If you rented an apartment in a private hotel near the entrance to the park, it is best to go for a walk early in the morning.
- Guests of hotels located in the Plitvice Lakes receive certain benefits, for example, they can use an unlimited number of one-day tickets. You can buy tickets directly at the hotel.
- There are certain restrictions on the protected area: you can’t have picnics, make bonfires, feed animals, listen to loud music and pluck plants.
- At the end of summer, blueberries and blackberries ripen here, and delicious berries can be purchased at the entrances.
- When traveling through a park in Croatia, care must be taken as there are no fences in some places.
- Be sure to choose comfortable clothes and shoes, preferably sports.
- Plitvice Lakes has a special climate, it often rains, the weather changes often. In addition, the average temperature here is lower than in the rest of Croatia.
- The sightseeing train leaves every 30 minutes, you can wait for the flight in the cafe.
Croatia is a European country in which the life of ordinary citizens is a bit lazy and unhurried, but on weekends many of them go to the park as a family. Plitvice Lakes is a vast territory where, in addition to the natural beauties, small private farms work, here you can buy trout, honey, natural cosmetics.
Video about Croatia in general and Plitvice Lakes in particular. Enjoy watching!
