PLITVICE LAKES NATIONAL PARK
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National park with two main entrances - one is more accessible + an auxiliary entrance. All allow you to see the great waterfall and the lakes.
The national park covers almost 30,000 ha. It extends over 22 km of trails, some of which wind through a system of footbridges over the lakes. To help visitors find their way around the lakes, there are two main entrances. Entrance I offers four circuits marked in green on the information panels (programs A, B, C and K1). At Entrance II, a further four circuits begin, marked in orange (programs E, F, H and K2). Choose from these eight programs according to the distances you wish to cover. Expect to spend at least half a day, if not a full day on the site. Much less frequented, auxiliary entrance II (Flora) is located near Plitvica Selo.
Tickets can be purchased at the two main entrances or on the official national park website. From June to the end of August, online booking is highly recommended to choose your day and time. In winter, some programs may be temporarily closed. Tickets (one or two days) include an electric tourist train ride, a boat trip and accident insurance.
Entrance I. PA, 3.5 km (2-3 hours). Starting at the north entrance, this program provides an easy loop through the park. Accessible for families and people with reduced mobility, this is the entrance closest to the largest waterfall (Veliki Slap). It's also the busiest. You then pass through the Donja jezera canyon, past the lower lakes to the Kozjački most bridge, which you cross to reach the starting point of entrance I in the eastern part of the canyon.
Entrance I. PB: 4 km (3-4 hours). Also circular, the tour passes by the lower lakes, crosses the park's largest lake (Kozjak) by electric boat and then continues by hike and panoramic train along the canyon (Donja jezera), back to the starting point. This great loop allows you to see the great cascade, the Sastavci waterfalls, the crystal-clear blue-green lakes of Novakovića brod, Kaluđerovac, Gavanovac and Milanovac, as well as the full extent of Lake Kozjak.
Entrance I. PC: 8 km (4-6 hours). This tour starts at the park's northern entrance and is a combination of programs A and B, with hikes, electric boat rides and a panoramic train. Enjoy the beauty of the largest cascades, the many small waterfalls and the splendor of the lakes in comfort.
Entrance II. PE, PF, PH: 4.6 to 8.9 km (2-3 to 4-6 hours). Located in the south of the park, these tours encompass the upper lakes area, include a boat trip across Lake Kozjak and a walk to Lake Prošćansko. Return trips by scenic train take in the peaceful beauty of the lakes, their wooded shores, waterfalls (Veliki and Mali prštavci) and a host of other waterfalls. Numerous lookouts offer unforgettable views of the lakes.
Programs PK1 and PK2. One of the most beautiful treks in the world, these two hikes begin in the north and the other in the south. They go all the way around the lakes and immerse you in the forest. Between 5 and 7 hours' walking over more than 10 km.
Auxiliary entrance II - Flora near entrance II. This additional entrance is located near Plitvica Selo, close to a boat terminal. There are usually no queues at this entrance.
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Further information
Opening time and information on PLITVICE LAKES NATIONAL PARK
Open all year round, 7-19h (summer), 8-13h (winter). Depending on season and circuit, 1 day ticket (adult): €10 to €40.
Owner's Message
With an area of 296 square kilometers, it includes 16 lakes, connected by 92 waterfalls or small rivers, and a forest of beech and pine trees, home to many rare species of animals and plants, the best known representatives of which are the brown bear and the wolf. The fauna and flora are thriving as evidenced by the richness of the fish in the lakes.
There are several ways to visit the park. There are several routes and trails, the easiest of which is a logging road that circles the park, but it is also possible to visit the park using a scenic train and to cross the larger lakes by boat. Apart from this path and the few facilities for tourists, nature is left in a wild state, with no human intervention allowed.
Important, you can go there in summer as well as in winter, the show will be quite different but just as sumptuous.
Be careful, you can't swim in Plitvice
Our offers and services
Vipers
In the park area, two of the three Croatian viper species Vipera ammodytes (fig. 8) and Vipera berus are represented.
Travertine barrier at Milka Trnina waterfall
The exceptional value of aquatic ecosystems lies in their biodiversity. Three very important Natura 2000 habitat types are represented in the aquatic ecosystems of the National Park: Calcareous oligo-mesotrophic waters with benthic vegetation of Chara spp. (3140), Rivers of the planitiary to montane levels with vegetation of Ranunculion fluitantis and Callitricho-Batrachion (3260) and Travertine cascades of karstic rivers in the Dinaric Alps (32A0).
Le ski
Since the 1980s, skiing has been part of the winter tourist offer in the Plitvice Lakes National Park. A ski resort is located along the D429 national road, more precisely in the village of Mukinje. The ski resort is 2.5 km from entrance no. 2 and the National Park hotel complex. In other words, it's 5 km from entrance no.1 and the well-known Lička kuća restaurant, in the direction of the Adriatic Coast.
The ski resort is equipped with a chairlift, capacity 400 people per hour, which takes skiers to a clearing 700 meters above sea level. From here, skiers descend the slope on several trails to the foot of the hill, 640 meters above sea level.
Rowing
In the Plitvice Lakes National Park, rowing is permitted on the largest lake, Kozjak. Rowing boats can be hired from quay P1 every day of the week.
Boat capacity: 4 persons
Rental price: 13.00 eur (97.95 kn)/h
The fixed conversion rate is 1 EUR = 7.53450 HRK
The rowing boats are out of service during the winter period
With the arrival of spring and its fine weather, rowing boats will be available again!
Oasis of love in Plitvice Lakes National Park
The paradise-like ambience of Croatia's oldest national park will give every wedding ceremony a special charm, and the bride, groom and guests an unforgettable experience of pristine natural beauty.
History and heritage
The Plitvice Lakes National Park area is home to several villages where you can discover the traditional architecture and way of life of yesteryear, including the villages of Korana, Gornji Babib Potok, Donji Babin Potok and Vrelo Koreničko. Their inhabitants live mainly from agriculture and tourism, and offer visitors home-made products such as cheese, honey, brandy and various liqueurs. These and other villages within the park are part of the protected cultural landscape of the Plitvice Lakes National Park.
Program A - Duration 2 - 3 hours; Length: 3500 m
It starts at the northern entrance to the Park (Entrance 1). As part of a circular tour, this program allows you to discover "Veliki slap" (the Great Cascade), the largest waterfall in Plitvice Lakes and Croatia. The walk continues upstream through the canyon "Donja jezera" (Lower Lakes) and "Novakovića brod", "Kaluđerovac", "Gavanovac" and "Milanovac" to the final point of the program located at "Kozjački most" from where, crossing the eastern part of the canyon, the return to the starting point begins (Entrance 1).
Program B - Duration 3 - 4 hours; Length 4000 m
The tour is circular and includes hiking through the Lower Lakes limestone gorge, then crossing Plitvice's largest lake - Lake Kozjak - by electric boat, panoramic train ride and hiking along the top of the gorge on its eastern side to the starting point at Entrance no. 1. As part of this program you'll see the very impressive Great Falls, the Sastavci waterfalls, the magnificent blue-green lakes of Novakovića brod, Kaluđerovac, Gavanovac and Milanovac, as well as the full extent of Lake Kozjak.
Program F - Duration 3-4 hours; Length 4600 m
After a short hike, the tour continues with an electric boat ride across Lake Kozjak, then another hike through the limestone gorge of the Lower Lakes to arrive at the Great Falls. From the Great Falls to the train stop, a steep serpentine path takes you to the eastern side of the gorge, where numerous lookouts offer unforgettable views of the crystal-blue lakes and the rocks rising beside them. Return to the starting point by panoramic train.
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Members' reviews on PLITVICE LAKES NATIONAL PARK
The ratings and reviews below reflect the subjective opinions of members and not the opinion of The Little Witty.
Les sentiers et les pontons sont très bien aménagés, nul besoin d'être aventurier ou randonneur chevronné pour parcourir le parc. En revanche, il faut bien compter la journée pour en faire le tour (le train et les bateaux pouvant cependant aider). Je conseille la traversée en bateaux du grand lac, qui permet un point de vue sympa, même s'il faut faire la queue. Ne pas hésiter à monter au dessus des sentiers en bord des lacs pour les points de vue...
Toutefois par temps de pluie (hélas...), le terrain est vite glissant et les accès aux cascades peuvent être restreints pour raisons de sécurité.
Sinon même en mai, la fréquentation reste importante, aussi évitez à tout prix l'été, vous risquez de visiter à la queuleuleu avec un temps d'attente inévitable pour faire une photo...
Je déconseille aussi les points de restauration sur place, les sandwich/burgers sont chers et manquent cruellement de fraicheur. Nous avons testé uniquement dans le but de nous abriter et sécher un peu après l'orage.
Bref, si le temps est de la partie, préparez le pique-nique et profitez de ce bel endroit.
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Vous pouvez y passer toute une journée, tellement ce parc est immense et vous en prendrez toujours plein la vue (immenses cascades, eau bleu turquoise, végétation, grottes...)
Un bateau vous permettra de rejoindre une autre partie du parc (compris dans le prix d'entrée)