If you love nature and especially lakes, you must visit the Plitvice National Park. Walking through sixteen karst lakes of various sizes and colors, you can feel like in a fairy tale.
Quick Links
By
Ivana Bole
Published: May 13, 2022
Updated: May 27, 2022
Natural wonders of Croatia
"Croatia has been glorious," said Emilia Clarke, actress on Game of Thrones. You have to agree with her, especially when you visit the natural wonders of Plitvice Lakes.
The surrounding nature seems to be from another world. Numerous cataracts, including spectacular waterfalls in the form of narrow streams breaking through tuff sills, have already delighted many travelers.
Plitvice Lakes has been a national park since 1949, and in 1979 it was declared a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site. It covers more than 296 square kilometers, making it the largest national park in Croatia.
Plitvice Lakes' trail
This magical place is visited every year by 1.3-1.5 million people. They walk on wooden footbridges just above the water, take a cruise on the lakes, and admire the fauna and floraof Plitvice Lakes.
How to get to Plitvice?
Plitvice National Park is located in Croatia on the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina, south of Zagreb. It is located close to road 1, and the easiest way to get there is by car, or with a travel agency.
The Kingdom of Lakes is conveniently accessible from Ljubljana. From the Slovenian capital, you can go on Ljubljana to Plitvice Lakes Tour and reach the place by bus in just 3 hours.
You can also think about the Lake Bled to Plitvice Lakes Tour. In the morning you can pack a traditional Bled cake kremšnita for the road, and reach your destination in three and a half hours.
Is there a right time to visit Plitvice? … Yes! Any time! The Croatian National Park delights us throughout the whole year.
In spring, fresh green contrasts with turquoise water, and during the tour, we will have the birds' accompaniment. In summer, the lakes will glisten in the sunshine. In autumn, we will take a break from the crowds, and feel like we are in a real fairy-tale full of colors. I can promise you that the photos will come out amazing! In winter, we will see the kingdom of ice. You will not forget the view of spectacular frozen waterfalls for the rest of your life.
Plitvice Lakes in Spring
Beautiful flora
Plitvice are famous for their lakes. Why? The bodies of water were created by the rock dissolution process. Thanks to this, the water mixes with chemical compounds released during the dissolution and amazing colors are born — from grey through turquoise to green. Coloring is also influenced by the degree of sunshine and the vegetation present.
The vegetation of the park is very diverse. There are around 1100 plant species on its surface, and 70 of them are endemic. All these amazing things are hidden among ancient trees — the oldest ones are even several hundred years old! The forest is dominated by beech, spruce, and fir.
Plitvice Lakes' waterfalls
Fascinating fauna
The animal kingdom is also diverse. In Plitvice National Park there are large predators such as the brown bear and the wolf. An important fauna attraction is Central Europe's most endangered mammal, the otter. The clear water shows us fish, such as minnows, trout, or rudd. Walking around after dark, you might spot bats — there are 15 species of them in Plitvice.
Bat
Touristic trails
The park proposes four types of trails of varying length and difficulty. So everyone will find something for themselves!
Route A: 3.5 km, walking time 2-3 hours — We will start from entrance number 2, through the Great Waterfall, along the lakes Galovac, Milanovac, and Gavanovac.
Route B: 4 km, walking time 3-4 hours — Start is possible from any entrance. We will see the Great Waterfall and the nearby lakes. Part of the route is a boat ride across Kozjak Lake.
Route C: 8 km, walking time 4-6 hours — The route allows us to see the Lower and Upper Lakes and the Great Waterfall. We cross Kozjak by boat and return by bus from the Upper Lakes.
Route K: 18.3 km, walking time 6-8 hours — The longest route, leading along the shores of all the lakes without any means of transport (apart from a short boat ride near entrance number 2).
Plitvice Lakes' trail
Beauty of nature
Plitvice Lakes are beautiful and diverse. They amaze with their fauna and flora. That’s why the Plitvice National Park is an ideal place for relaxation. So don't wait, just choose the date and travel to Plitvice! If you also want to discover other amazing places near Ljubljana check out Day Trips Slovenia.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
Cookie
Duration
Description
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional
11 months
The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy
11 months
The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.