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Plitvice Lakes
Croatia’s most famous national park, a chain of turquoise lakes linked by waterfalls and wooden boardwalks
Croatia’s most famous national park, a chain of turquoise lakes linked by waterfalls and wooden boardwalks
A deep canyon of lakes ending at Veliki Slap, Croatia’s tallest waterfall at around 78m. The viewpoints near Entrance 1 give the classic overview.
Photo: Mark Ahsmann, CC BY-SA 3.0
Larger lakes surrounded by forest, linked by many small waterfalls and long boardwalks; quieter than the Lower Lakes.
Photo: Mini1300, CC BY-SA 4.0
Wooden paths run just above the water and across cascades. Electric boats cross Lake Kozjak, the largest lake, to connect the two parts of the park.
Stay on the boardwalks; they can be slippery when wet.
Photo: Alessio Milan, CC BY-SA 2.0
Restaurants at the entrances and in nearby villages serve Lika specialities such as lamb, trout, štruklji and hearty soups.
Bring water and snacks; food options inside the park are limited.
Plitvice is about two hours by road from Zagreb or Zadar, and around three hours from Split. Buses stop at the park entrances. Driving gives you the most flexibility to arrive early.
Croatia is in the EU and the Schengen area and uses the euro. EU citizens need only an ID card; citizens of the UK, US, Canada, Australia and many other countries can visit visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, with biometric registration under the EU Entry/Exit System. An ETIAS travel authorisation is also due to be introduced. Check current rules before you travel.
Entry tickets are much higher in summer. Book online for a specific entry time in high season. Croatia has used the euro since 2023. Prices on the coast rise sharply in July and August.
Lower and Upper Lakes.
Enter early at Entrance 1, see Veliki Slap and the Lower Lakes, then cross Lake Kozjak by boat.
Walk the Upper Lakes circuit, ideally early on a second morning when it is quiet.
🛂 Entry rules: EES and ETIAS
Croatia is in the Schengen area, which has two EU border systems for non-EU visitors.
EES (in force): since 10 April 2026 the EU’s Entry/Exit System registers non-EU visitors’ passport details, fingerprints and a photo the first time they enter the Schengen area, replacing passport stamps. Allow extra time at the border on your first trip; later crossings are quicker. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens are not registered.
ETIAS (not yet running): a €20 online travel authorisation for visitors who don’t need a visa, such as UK, US, Canadian and Australian citizens. It hasn’t started and no start date has been confirmed, so nobody can apply yet; ignore websites that offer to “pre-register” you for a fee.
Visa-free visitors can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the whole Schengen area, not per country.
Official information: EU: Travel to Europe (EES & ETIAS) · Reviewed September 2026
Buy tickets online for a set entry time in summer; numbers are limited.
Arrive at opening time; tour groups arrive by mid-morning.
Swimming, feeding animals and leaving the paths are prohibited.
It is cooler and wetter than the coast; bring a jacket.
Quick answers for planning time in Plitvice Lakes.
Yes, Croatia joined the Schengen area and adopted the euro on 1 January 2023.
No, swimming is not allowed anywhere in the park.
Most routes take 4 to 6 hours; staying nearby lets you start early.
In high season it is strongly recommended to book online for a specific entry time.
About two hours by road.
Google Maps works well; download offline maps for islands and national parks.
Free
Croatian is the language; English is widely spoken in tourist areas.
Free
Bookable boat trips, walking tours and national park excursions.
Free
Planning a wider trip? Our Croatia travel guide covers getting there, costs, when to go and more.