I was privileged enough to visit the Plitvice Lakes twice while galavanting around Croatia for three weeks. Each visit presented different sets of circumstances giving me a great platform to present to you with some things you may want to keep in mind if you ever plan on visiting the lakes.
Getting to the Plitvice Lakes
This will completely depend on where you are traveling from. Personally, I arrived from Zagreb both times I visited the lakes. Regardless, the best way to reach Plitvice Lakes National Park is via bus. I took the bus leaving at 6:30 AM which got me to the parks around 9:00 AM. The trip should cost you around $10 – 15 USD. Get your tickets online here. You can also rent a car, or join an organized tour to reach the lakes. Unfortunately, public transpiration is not an option in this case.
Luggage Storage
If, like myself, the Plitvice Lakes are a pit stop between two destinations in Croatia, you can store your luggage, free of charge, at Plitvice Lakes National Park. You will store it alongside multiple other bags, and basically anyone is allowed in the locked room once given a key from the information office. Both visits to the lakes I stored my suitcase and purse with no trouble at all. Bring a lock with you to ensure your belongings are safe.
Arriving at the Plitvice Lakes
There are many factors that will effect your arrival experience to the lakes. For example, I visited on a Friday around 9:00 AM and was met with a queue that wrapped around the entire entrance grounds. It took us an hour to get to the ticket office, meaning we entered the park around 10:00 AM. We did have nearly perfect weather forecasted that afternoon, which might have had something to do with it.
I returned to the lakes on a Tuesday at the same time {9:00 AM} and immediately purchased tickets and entered the park. The weather was less appealing the second time around, which might have had an impact of the amount of tourists visiting the park. I think it will completely depend, but mid-week was definitely less crowded.
The price to enter the park varies depending on when you visit. For an adult ticket in January, February, March, November and December, you will pay 60 HRK {approximately $9 USD}. In April, May, and October you will pay 100 HRK {approximately $15 USD}. And finally in June, July, August and September you’ll pay between 150 – 200 HRK {approximately $23 – 31 USD}. Find out more here.
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Which Hike Should I Choose?
When you enter the park, you’ll find three different hiking options. The first hike is 2-3 hours, the second is 4-6 hours, and the third is 6-8 hours. Both times, I opted for the 4-6 hour hike. It was perfect for my personal hiking style. There were only a few uphill climbs, and even those were tame. I was able to see both main waterfalls, as well as travel via ferry across a beautiful lake.
The first time I visited Plitvice Lakes National Park, I had no idea how accurate the timeframe was. For example, would 4-6 hours account for eating lunch, waiting in queues, pit stops for taking pictures? I had a bus to catch at 4:30 PM, so I rushed a bit during my first visit.
The second time around, I took my time, ate lunch, stopped multiple times, and still finished within 5 hours. You should calculate the free shuttle ride at the end of your journey {about 15 minutes} and the short 15 minute walk it will take from the drop off point to get back to the entrance, but the accuracy of these routes are pretty spot on. You can finish that specific hike in 4 hours if you don’t stop for lunch, photo opportunities, or diversions. That being said, the longest it should take you is 6 hours. Even if you have long queues for the ferry, etc. {which we will get to next} .
What to Expect
The hike along the path included the beautiful waterfalls that I had anticipated for so long. While a majority of the journey is rather flat, there were also stretches of the hike that felt like an actual hike. It was easy to just sit and stare for a few minutes, capturing the surrounding scenery. Whatever you do, don’t rush through the park.
At different points on our trail, we were stopped in a queue. An obvious queue was for the ferry that brings you to the next leg of the journey when you are about halfway through with your hike. The other queues were simply there because people were taking photos of a given waterfall and the narrow walkways make it impossible to pass those standing in the way.
There are a couple points that diverge from the main trail. One of them takes you to the main waterfall, and is at the very beginning of the journey. To be honest, I think this waterfall is the most impressive of them all. Therefore, leave your expectations at the door after you visit it since it is somewhat of a highlight.
The other divergence from the main trail takes you to a cave. They are both worth stopping for, and are accounted for in the timeframe. Also, make sure to keep your eyes peeled as you walk back to the entrance. You will get a birds eye view of many points along the trail. They offer a great perspective of the entire hike.
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What to Bring
Definitely bring a picnic. While there are a couple select places to eat at the entrance, and at the ferry “port”, the prices are exaggerated. Both times I brought sandwiches and fruit to nibble on alone the way. You should also bring lots of water. The trail is exposed for a majority of your hike, so make sure to wear sunscreen or bring a hat. You should wear comfortable shoes and prepare for certain areas of the trail that become a bit slippery.
Overall, I was extremely impressed by the Plitvice Lakes. I highly recommend making the journey to this part of the country. Whenever you go, prepare to be blown away by the beauty of these waterfalls. They are absolutely worth chasing.
