How to get from Split to Plitvice Lakes
Why visit Plitvice Lakes?
Plitvice Lakes National Park is an emerald beauty in Croatia’s northern mountainous region. The country’s largest national park boasts 16 terraced lakes, cascading waterfalls, and a glorious karst landscape. Visitors can admire this from the numerous trails that wind through the park or on a relaxing boat ride on one of the lakes.
As majestic as the lakes are, they comprise only 1% of the National Park’s land area. The remaining 99% is lush forest, home to a variety of wildlife – brown bears, wolves, and lynx, as well as a huge array of birds and bats. Plitvice Lakes has seven viewing paths around the lakes and four hiking trails. For safety reasons, tourists are not allowed to stray from these routes, and swimming is strictly prohibited.
Not sure which route to take? Our detailed Plitvice Lakes guide will tell you everything you need to know to plan your perfect visit.
Visiting in summer? It’s important to buy your tickets beforehand to skip the long queues at the park. Prices are the same whether you book through GetYourGuide online or at the ticket booths on-site. An entrance ticket to Plitvice Lakes costs €40 ($46) in summer, €23 ($26.50) in spring and autumn, and €10 ($11.50) in winter.
What are the 4 ways to travel from Split to Plitvice Lakes?
There are 4 ways to travel the 270 kilometre (168 miles) distance from Split to Plitvice Lakes. You can choose between the bus, private transport, day trip and Overnight Stay at Plitvice Lakes. The journey takes 2 hours 30 minutes to 2 days and the quickest way is by private transport. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by overnight stay at plitvice lakes with tickets starting at €19 ($22).
Split to Plitvice Lakes by Bus
Taking the bus is the cheapest way to travel from Split to Plitvice Lakes. Tickets cost around €23 ($26.50), and the journey takes about 3 hours 30 minutes to 4 hours 30 minutes, depending on traffic.
Knezevic – Puntamika operates on this route.
Departure and arrival stations
Buses depart from Split Bus Station, between the port and the train station in the city centre.
You will be dropped off at Plitvice Lakes Bus Stop in front of Entrance 1. The ticket office is near the bus stop, so you can buy your tickets to the national park directly from this entrance if you haven’t bought them in advance.
Bus schedules from Split to Plitvice Lakes
We highly suggest booking your bus tickets beforehand via BookAway, especially if you’re travelling in the summer.
Return bus from Plitvice Lakes to Split (DIY day trip)
If you’re planning to visit the national park on your own, you can buy your round-trip tickets through BookAway or book a self-guided tour via GetYourGuide.
With BookAway, you can take the first bus out of Split at 07:00 and the last bus from Plitvice Lakes at 18:00. This should give you about 7.5 hours at the national park. Round-trip bus tickets cost €45 ($52) on BookAway.
Another option is a self-guided tour on GetYourGuide, which arranges all transportation for you. The tour takes about 12 hours, including the 7-hour round-trip transportation, and costs €50 ($57).
Booking you round-trip tickets with BookAway is slightly cheaper. But with GetYourGuide, you get the privilege of skipping the line at the entrance. Note that these prices don’t include the entrance ticket.
Bus schedules from Plitvice Lakes to Split
Keep in mind that fewer buses are available outside of the summer months (June-September).
Split to Plitvice Lakes by Day Trip
A convenient option to visit Plitvice Lakes from Split is to join an organised group tour. With this, all you need to do is show up at the meeting place, and everything else will be arranged for you.
Most group tours are around 12 hours, with 7 hours of that being the round-trip transportation. This leaves you with about 5 hours at the national park, which is still a good enough time to see a good portion of Plitvice.
A full-day tour of Plitvice National Park costs around €65 ($75) per person. This tour includes a guide, transportation and a boat ride. Entry tickets are not included, but you’ll get to skip the ticket line if you reserve your entrance ticket online.
Several other tours with different inclusions are also available on GetYourGuide:
Split to Plitvice Lakes by Private Transport
Given the 270 km distance between Split and Plitvice Lakes, private transport is the most expensive option.
A 3-passenger car costs around €280 ($320). Divide the cost, and that’s €93 ($105) per person.
Alongside the extra privacy and convenience, one of the biggest advantages of private transport is that you can be picked up from the airport, ferry port, or your hotel in the city centre. You can also be dropped off at any entrance or hotel at the national park.
Travel time is just 2 hours 30 minutes to 2 hours 45 minutes one-way, and you’ll be travelling comfortably, ready to explore Plitvice Lakes!
Private Transport options from Split to Plitvice Lakes
Split to Plitvice Lakes by Overnight Stay at Plitvice Lakes
With everything that Plitvice Lakes National Park has to offer, a day trip might not be enough! We suggest staying at least two days to fully appreciate the park’s wonders.
There are a few hotels conveniently located within walking distance of Entrances 1 and 2. Due to their close proximity to the park, they are often fully booked, so it’s best to reserve a room in advance!
If you want a more unique experience, you can also check the campsites about 5-7 km north of Entrance 1: Campsite Korana and Camping Plitvice. You can pitch your own tent or try their mobile homes! These campsites also offer different activities and free transportation to the national park. Rates for an overnight stay start at €19 ($22) per person.
Many hostels are located in Jezerce Village, about 2 km away from Entrance 2. To get to the park from Jezerce, you can board a 2-minute bus from Mukinje Bus Stop costing around €2 ($2.30).
Rounding it up
We hope this guide was helpful in planning how to get from Split to Plitvice Lakes. If there's anything else you're wondering about, drop us a comment and we'll do our best to answer you within a few days.
PS: If you've recently travelled this route, share your experience with fellow travellers and help us improve this post. Thanks for helping out our travel community!
Frequently Asked Questions about Split to Plitvice Lakes
What is the distance from Split to Plitvice Lakes?
The distance from Split to Plitvice Lakes is 270 kilometre (168 miles).
What is the fastest way to get from Split to Plitvice Lakes?
The fastest way to get from Split to Plitvice Lakes is by private transport and takes 2 hours 30 minutes.
What is the cheapest way to get from Split to Plitvice Lakes?
The cheapest way to get from Split to Plitvice Lakes is by overnight stay at plitvice lakes with ticket costs starting from €19 ($22).
Abby is a writer who finds joy in mountains, beaches, and road trips. She considers her solo backpacking trip to the rice terraces of Bontoc one of the most fulfilling moments in her life. She’s loyal to the islands of her home country, the Philippines, but Thailand’s beaches also have a special place in her heart.
Based in Bali, Maarten’s passion for travel is undeniable. In 2016, he decided to quit his job as a stock analyst and started doing what he always dreamed of: travelling through South East Asia and helping other people plan their trips. When he is not working on Gecko Routes, you’ll find him surfing in the ocean or exploring the best gems of Indonesia.
Faye is a writer and full-time mom. She loves planning trips to the beach, tasting new cuisines and discovering gems in the Philippines. But if she had to choose, London is her favourite place in the world and she can't wait to travel there again with her hubby and baby!
