By air
Zagreb (ZAG), ~2 h by road
Europe · Croatia
Plitvice Lakes, Croatia
Terraced lakes linked by waterfalls
Getting there
Best time to visit
April to June and September to October — full falls, fewer crowds
Don't miss
Veliki Slap
The Upper Lakes
The Lower Lakes
Kozjak Lake
Things to do
The boardwalk trails
The electric boat on Kozjak lake
Where to eat
What to pack
Walking shoes
A quieter corner
The quieter upper lakes early in the morning
Questions travellers ask
When should I see the Plitvice Lakes?
April to June and September to October, when the falls are full and the crowds are fewer.
How do I reach the Plitvice Lakes?
Fly into Zagreb (ZAG); the lakes are about 2 h away by road.
How do I explore the Plitvice Lakes?
Follow the boardwalk trails in walking shoes, and take the electric boat on Kozjak Lake. Make time for Veliki Slap and both the Upper and Lower Lakes.
Is there a quieter time to see Plitvice?
Early in the morning, when the upper lakes are quieter. Afterwards, refuel with trout or roast lamb.
About Plitvice Lakes
- Lakeside
- Forest
Where it is
Plitvice Lakes National Park lies in the mountainous karst of central Croatia, in the Lika region between Zagreb and Zadar, close to the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina.
History
The lakes formed over thousands of years as mineral-rich water laid down barriers of travertine that dam the valley into a staircase of pools. Founded in 1949, the park is one of Croatia's oldest and largest national parks, and in 1979 it was added to UNESCO's World Heritage List.
People
Only a few small villages lie in and around the park, where people speak Croatian and live from tourism, farming and forestry. The Lika region is known for hearty mountain food such as Lika potatoes, lamb and sheep's cheese.
Known for
- Sixteen terraced lakes linked by waterfalls
- Veliki Slap, a waterfall about 78 m high
- Wooden boardwalks over the water
- Beech and fir forests home to bears and wolves
- Water shifting from azure to green and blue
Did you know?
The lakes are still being built: mosses and algae help trap calcium carbonate from the water, and the travertine barriers can grow by up to 13 mm a year.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.