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 ($10.90) in winter.
4 ways to get from Zagreb to Plitvice Lakes
There are 4 ways to travel the distance of 130 kilometers (81 miles) from Zagreb to Plitvice Lakes by bus (1 hour 50 minutes to 2 hours 40 minutes), private Transfer (2 hours), day Tour (10 hours) and overnight Stay (21 hours). The journey duration ranges between 1 hour 50 minutes to 21 hours and the quickest way is by bus. The lowest priced tickets start from €11 ($12) for the bus.Zagreb to Plitvice Lakes by Bus
Several bus companies cover the Zagreb to Plitvice Lakes route daily. However, not all bus departures give you enough time to explore the park on the same day.
Some buses arrive late in the afternoon when the park is almost closed for the day. If you take these afternoon bus trips, you’ll need to stay in a hotel overnight and explore the national park the next day.
Travel time by bus is around 1 hour 50 minutes to 2 hours 40 minutes with rates from €11 ($12).
Departure and arrival station
All buses depart from Zagreb Bus Station, which is about 1.5 km from the train station in the city centre.
Ines Tours – Drnis and Knezevic buses arrive at the bus stop in front of Plitvice Lakes Entrance 1. The ticket office is near this bus stop, so you can buy tickets there before entering the park (if you didn’t purchase your tickets online).
Meanwhile, Autopromet Slunj heads to Plitvice Jezera bus stop near Entrance 2.
Bus schedules from Zagreb to Plitvice Lakes
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To make sure you get the bus at the time you want, especially if you want to take a morning trip, you should book your tickets in advance via BookAway.
Return bus from Plitvice Lakes to Zagreb (DIY day trip)
Given the short distance between Zagreb and Plitvice Lakes, you can visit the national park without joining a day tour.
During the summer, entrance fees cost €40 ($44) per person, with discounted rates available in the off-peak season.
Plitvice Lakes National Park opens at 7:00 and closes at 17:00. To make the most out of your trip, take the first bus out of Zagreb at 06:30 and the last bus from Plitvice Lakes at 18:30. Round-trip bus tickets on BookAway cost around €25 ($27).
With this option, you’ll have almost the entire day to explore the national park, and you can take on one of the longer hiking trails! Read our Plitvice Lake guide to explore which trail you should take.
Bus schedules from Plitvice Lakes to Zagreb
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Note that fewer buses may be available outside the summer season. If you’re making a day trip in spring, autumn, or winter, consider booking a private transfer instead of taking the bus.
Zagreb to Plitvice Lakes by Private Transfer
If you’re travelling in a large group and want private transport to the national park, you can book a private car or minivan.
This option includes hotel pick up and drop off in Zagreb and Plitvice Lakes. You can also choose your preferred departure time.
Since you won’t have to make stops along the way like the bus, you can get from Zagreb to Plitvice Lakes in only 2 hours.
Cars for three people are available with rates from €205 ($220). This option is the most expensive, but costs can be lower for larger groups. Check GetYourGuide for more details.
Zagreb to Plitvice Lakes by Day Tour
Several day tour packages are available from Zagreb to Plitvice Lakes. Most of these tours include a short trip to Rastoke, a 300-year-old village that is also famous for its waterfalls.
A GetYourGuide tour includes round-trip transportation and a tour guide. Entry tickets are already included in the price, and the tour offers skip-the-line access, bypassing long waits at the park entrance.
The tour takes 10 hours, including around 4 hours of round-trip travel. Day tour rates start from €98 ($105).
Zagreb to Plitvice Lakes by Overnight Stay
With the travelling involved in a day trip, you might not have enough time to explore all that Plitvice Lakes National Park has to offer. We recommend staying in the area at least the night before so you can be at the entrance when the park opens.
There are a few hotels located within walking distance of Entrances 1 and 2 of Plitvice Lakes. Due to their close proximity to the national park, these hotels are often fully booked, so make sure to reserve your room a few months in advance!
For a more unique experience, check the campsites 5-7 km north of Entrance 1: Campsite Korana and Camping Plitvice. Here, you can pitch your own tent or stay in a mobile home! These campsites offer different activities and provide free transportation to the national park.
Rates start at €15 ($16.40) per person for an overnight stay at a campsite. If the nearest hotels are already fully booked, you can also book a room in Grabovac Village, about 9 km from Entrance 1. To get to the national park, you can take a 15-minute bus which costs around €4 ($4.40).
Frequently Asked Questions about Zagreb to Plitvice Lakes
What is the distance from Zagreb to Plitvice Lakes?
The distance from Zagreb to Plitvice Lakes is 130 kilometers (81 miles).
What is the fastest way to get from Zagreb to Plitvice Lakes?
The fastest way to get from Zagreb to Plitvice Lakes is by bus and takes 1 hour 50 minutes.
What is the cheapest way to get from Zagreb to Plitvice Lakes?
The cheapest way to get from Zagreb to Plitvice Lakes is by bus with ticket costs starting from €11 ($12).
Rounding it up
We hope this guide was helpful in planning how to get from Zagreb 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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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.
