A Simple Guide To Visiting Plitvice Lakes
Things to Consider:
Buy your tickets in advance. Plitvice can get quite crowded in the summer and the park limits the amount of people allowed in on a given day.
Bring good walking shoes. You can potentially walk more than 5 miles or 8 km.
Pack your lunch and bring your own water. They do have places to eat at and buy drinks, but they are not in the most picturesque places. We packed our lunch and ate at a lovely spot. We had daypacks with us, so I would invest in a good daypack especially if you are serious about getting into hiking.
Arrive early. I hate being stuck behind a large crowd going at a snail's pace. The boardwalks in Plitvice are quite narrow and this will happen to you if you arrive late when all the bus crowds are making their way through the park. Arrive early and get ahead of the hoard of people.
Stay near the park. If you bus in from another city, chances are you will be stuck in or behind a large crowd. Staying near the park allows you the opportunity to arrive early and beat the crowds.
Now for the good stuff. You will read articles recommending certain entrances, but it really doesn't matter what entrance you choose. The traffic will be heavy regardless in the summer. It is important to note that if you visit in the winter entrance 2 will be closed. We chose entrance 1 because we wanted to do route C, so it all depends on what route you want to do.
Book your Admission Ticket HERE
View from Entrance 2 overlooking the Lower Lakes
I recommend choosing route C as it is the most comprehensive route. If you do choose route C, then be aware that you will walk a minimum of 5 miles or 8 km. You will start at entrance 1 above the lower lakes which is perhaps the most spectacular view in the entire park. You will continue your descent into the park. There will be many forks in the road but just keep your eyes out for the sign with an arrow that has the letter C on it and you will not go wrong.
Route C
Route C will continue to take you along the lower lakes with many beautiful waterfalls along the way. Eventually you will get to Kozjak lake and you will take a ferry across the lake to access the upper lakes. There is a place to eat near the ferry at lake Kozjak, so if you did not pack your lunch, it would be a good place to refuel at. When your ferry drops you off, continue along the boardwalk and soak in all the amazing views and eventually you will find yourself at entrance 2. At entrance 2 you will board a shuttle that will take you back to entrance 1. Route C will take you anywhere from 4 to 6 hours depending on how much you stop and how fast or slow you go. This is an all day activity, so no rush, go at your own pace and enjoy the amazingly beautiful and unique nature of Croatia. There is nothing like the waterfalls and lakes of Croatia in the world. They are one of a kind, and Plitvice is definitely worth your time if you choose to visit Croatia.
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After walking all day, we showered and made our way to Restaurant Plitvice. This restaurant is located in an upscale camping ground. We ate outside and enjoyed the nice cool summer air before making our way back to our Airbnb and settling down for the night.
