What to expect when visiting 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 ($44) in summer, €23 ($25) in spring and autumn, and €10 ($11) in winter.
Plitvice National Park entrance fees
Plitvice Lakes is open all year. However, some areas may be closed at times, especially in winter, for the safety of visitors. This is one reason why entrance fees to the park vary depending on the season you’re visiting.
You can see the seasonal rates below.
| Season | Months | Costs |
|---|---|---|
| Winter | January, February, March, November, December |
€10.80 ($11.90) |
| Spring & Autumn | April, May, October | €24 ($27) |
| Summer | June, July, August, September |
€40 ($45) |
These rates are for when you buy your tickets directly at the park entrance.
Want to avoid the long queue at the entrance? Buy your entrance tickets online! With Viator, you can get a summer ticket for €57 ($63) and a spring ticket for €33 ($36).
If you join any of the day trips mentioned below with GetYourGuide, you can also buy your entrance ticket through them for €40 ($44) in summer and €23 ($25) in spring.
3 ways to get from Zadar to Plitvice Lakes
There are 3 ways to travel the distance of 120 kilometers (75 miles) from Zadar to Plitvice Lakes by bus (1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours 50 minutes), day Trip (7 to 9 hours) and overnight Stay (21 hours). The journey duration ranges between 1 hour 30 minutes to 21 hours and the quickest way is by bus. The lowest priced tickets start from €12.90 ($14.20) for the bus.Zadar to Plitvice Lakes by Bus
The bus is the only form of public transportation you can take from Zadar Bus Station to Plitvice Lakes. During the peak season (June to September), there are three bus operators plying this route: Autobusni Prijevoz Varazdin, Knezevic - Puntamika and Polet Vinkovci.
We recommend travelling with Knezevic – Puntamika, as it has the shortest travel time at only 1 hour 45 minutes. It also offers several departures throughout the day. A ticket costs €15 ($16.50).
The other bus company — Autobusni Prijevoz Varazdin — makes several stops, so the trip to Plitvice Lakes takes 2 hours and 40 minutes. On the good side, this option is slightly cheaper at €12.90 ($14.20).
If you have just a day to spend at Plitvice Lakes, it’s best to take the first bus, which departs at 06:00.
Bus schedules from Zadar to Plitvice Lakes
Return bus from Plitvice Lakes to Zadar (DIY day trip)
It’s possible to make your own DIY day trip from Zadar to Plitvice Lakes. During the peak summer season (June to September), there are several bus trips daily.
You can take the first bus out of Zadar in the morning and, on the way back, the last trip from Plitvice Lakes.
A round-trip bus transfer costs around €30 ($33). The bus will drop you off at Zadar Bus Station.
Bus schedules from Plitvice Lakes to Zadar
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PRO TIP: Take the last bus that departs at 15:00 to make the most of your time in Plitvice Lakes!
Keep in mind that fewer buses may be available outside of summer. If you’re visiting on a day trip in spring, autumn, or winter, getting a roundtrip transfer with tour operators might be best, like this highly recommended two-way shuttle ride with GetYourGuide.
Zadar to Plitvice Lakes by Day Trip
Not keen on arranging the transport yourself? Join an organised day trip from Zadar.
An organised day trip saves you the hassle of worrying about your transfers to and from the park. Most day trips also include a skip-the-line ticket, which will save you a lot of time if you’re visiting Plitvice Lakes in summer!
Day trips normally take 8 to 9 hours, with 3 hours of that being your journey to and from Plitvice Lakes. Keep in mind that the rates for day trips do not include the entrance fee to the park, which varies depending on the season of your visit.
Option 1: Group Tour
There are several group day trips available from Zadar to Plitvice Lakes.
Basic day tours include:
- roundtrip transfers
- a professional guide
- boat ride
- skip-the-line ticket
We recommend GetYourGuide’s Plitvice Lakes Full-Day Guided Tour because of its great value and skip-the-line ticket. Regardless of these extras, this tour is among the cheapest, with rates starting from €45 ($49) per person.
Group tours normally kick off at 08:00 in the morning, and you’ll be picked up at an agreed-upon pick-up point in Zadar.
Option 2: Roundtrip Transfers
Not a fan of organised tours but don’t want the hassle of finding your way through public transport?
Shared roundtrip transfers are convenient when travelling between Zadar and Plitvice Lakes. They are especially efficient in off-peak months when local buses don’t operate as frequently as they do in summer.
- The bus departs from Zadar at 08:00 in the morning from a previously agreed meet-up point.
- You’ll arrive at Plitvice Lakes at around 09:30 and will have 5 hours to explore the park.
- Your return bus will leave Plitvice Lakes at approximately 15:00.
- For this tour, you also get the great bonus of a skip-the-line ticket.
Rates for round-trip transfers from Zadar to Plitvice Lakes start from €49 ($54), excluding the entrance fees.
Option 3: Private Tour
Fancy a day trip with just your group? You can also get a private tour of Plitvice Lakes, which is 7-8 hours long. You will be picked up and dropped off directly at your hotel, so you really won’t have to worry about anything apart from showing up!
Like the group tours, a private day trip includes the following:
- roundtrip transfers
- hotel pickup and drop-off
- a walking tour with your own private guide
Costs for a private day tour from Zadar to Plitvice Lakes start from €560 ($615) for a group of up to seven people. This price excludes the entrance fee at Plitvice Park.
Zadar to Plitvice Lakes by Overnight Stay
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 or a campsite in advance! Rates start at €15 ($16.50) per person for an overnight stay at a campsite.
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.
Looking for a more budget-friendly accommodation? 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 ($2.20).
Frequently Asked Questions about Zadar to Plitvice Lakes
What is the distance from Zadar to Plitvice Lakes?
The distance from Zadar to Plitvice Lakes is 120 kilometers (75 miles).
What is the fastest way to get from Zadar to Plitvice Lakes?
The fastest way to get from Zadar to Plitvice Lakes is by bus and takes 1 hour 30 minutes.
What is the cheapest way to get from Zadar to Plitvice Lakes?
The cheapest way to get from Zadar to Plitvice Lakes is by bus with ticket costs starting from €12.90 ($14.20).
Rounding it up
We hope this guide was helpful in planning how to get from Zadar 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!
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Ela is a storyteller, content producer, solo traveller and a mermaid-in-training. When she’s not in front of her laptop, you will find her barefoot and living her best tan on some island in the Philippines… Or exploring the depths of its seas as a budding freediver. An island girl at heart, she’ll be happy anywhere there is sea, sand, sun and coffee.
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.
