Plitvice Lakes National Park is the crowning jewel of Croatia. The erstwhile chalk and limestone have been overflown with tumultuous waters over several years to create organic dams, Croatia waterfalls, and lakes. The coastline itself spans 1.778 kilometers and a whopping 1185 islands.
The natural beauty of the park is amplified by the surrounding forests that house exotic animals such as wolves and bears.
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How to reach Plitvice Lakes National Park?
Here are a few routes that you can take to reach Plitvice Lakes, National Park:
From Zagreb to Plitvice Lakes: You can opt for a connecting bus from the terminal building at the Zagreb Airport to the Zagreb bus station. Take another bus from this station. You will reach Plitvice Lakes within three hours.
From Split to Plitvice Lakes: Buses are the only modes of public transport from Split to Plitvice Lakes. You can also sign up for the organized day tours to reach the Croatia National Park. It will take around four hours to reach Plitvice Lakes from Split through the bus service.
From Zadar to Plitvice Lakes: Plitvice Lakes National Park is approximately 130 kilometers away from the Zadar Airport. You can take a connecting bus from this airport to Zadar Bus Station and then venture toward Plitvice by boarding a different bus. The entire journey spans two hours.
In case you are in any other part of Croatia and wish to visit the Plitvice Lakes, you may board a bus to any of the three locations mentioned above and take another bus once you reach there.
When to visit Plitvice Lakes National Park?
Our recommendation will be to visit this Croatia National Park between June and September. There’s a significant influx of tourists between July and August and during the morning hours. The scenery is picturesque and the crowds are sparse from 7 a.m. onwards so you should seriously consider exploring this part during this tranquil time.
However, don’t let this restrict you. There’s a seasonal perk to visiting this during all seasons – the beauty of the peak of the waterfalls during spring as the water levels increase. On the other hand, fall showcase the wondrously changing colors of nature while winter allows visitors a look at the frozen lakes and the winter wonderland in general.
What should you visit when come to Plitvice Lakes National Park?
It lives up to its status as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The park comprises around 90 waterfalls, lakes that date back to thousands of years, and a diverse ecosystem with different varieties of flora and fauna.
Plitvice is a great place for adventure lovers. You can go hiking on the mountains or forest trails, opt for horse riding or kayaking, or just book a buggy ride.
You can fit in a trip to Smiljan, which is the birthplace of Nikola Tesla, and houses a museum with his mementos. It is only 65 kilometers away, so the opportunity is ripe!
If you wish to kick things up a notch and visit a unique tourist destination that puts you at peace, Plitvice Lakes is the place to be!