Plan Your Next Escape!Book early and enjoy up to 20% off on select stays this season.
Explore Croatia's oldest national park, featuring 16 terraced lakes connected by waterfalls, wooden boardwalks, and extensive forested hiking trails.
Plitvice Lakes National Park is a forest reserve in central Croatia recognized for its chain of 16 terraced lakes connected by cascading waterfalls. The park covers nearly 300 square kilometers, with the lake system divided into the Upper Lakes (Gornja Jezera) and Lower Lakes (Donja Jezera). The water flows through a limestone and dolomite canyon, creating dramatic elevation drops. Visitors explore the site via a network of wooden boardwalks and dirt hiking trails that wind around the water's edge and directly over the cascades. The lakes are famous for their distinct water colors, which constantly shift between bright emerald green, deep blue, and pale grey depending on the mineral content, organisms in the water, and the angle of sunlight. The park operates a system of eco-friendly electric boats on the largest lake, Lake Kozjak, and panoramic shuttle buses that help visitors navigate the expansive terrain. Dense forests of beech, spruce, and fir surround the water, providing habitat for diverse wildlife including brown bears, wolves, and numerous bird species. The primary attraction is Veliki Slap, the Great Waterfall, which drops 78 meters at the end of the Lower Lakes.
Phone: +385-53-751-015
Email: info@np-plitvicka-jezera.hr
Explore upcoming events, concerts, expos and experiences near you
Plitvice Lakes National Park, State Route D1, Lika Region, Plitvička Jezera, Lika-Senj, Croatia
Air
Zagreb Franjo Tuđman Airport is the nearest major international airport, located 140 km away (approximately 2 hours by road). Zadar Airport is 130 km away.
Train
Train travel is not recommended. The nearest railway station is in Karlovac, 80 km away, requiring a bus transfer for the remainder of the journey.
Road
Located directly on the D1 state highway that connects the capital city Zagreb with the coastal city of Split. It is 130 km from Zagreb (2 hours) and 120 km from Zadar (1.5 hours).
Local Transport
Within the park, travel is strictly on foot, supplemented by the park's electric boats (crossing Lake Kozjak) and panoramic shuttle buses that connect the upper and lower sections. Both are included in the ticket price.
Nearby restaurants near Plitvice Lakes
No restaurants found nearby
From cozy city hotels to luxury resorts — book the best stays at unbeatable prices.
Sign up to get the latest travel deals, insider tips, and destination guides straight to your inbox.
