Plitvicka Jezera National Park Travel Answers

the upper lakes loop is shorter than the southern lakes loop - and it's just as spectacular (not to mention less crowded). have fun there rhia

I also vote for the Upper lake tour. You get to the second entrance to the park (not the main one; the one further from Zagreb), take the bus to the point St4 (they call it "to the mountain" - the uppermost point you can get by bus, lake Ciginovac), and then make your way down along the left side of the lakes and falls. In the end of the day, you come to the pier (P2) and take a short boat ride back to P1. (the same entrance). Depending on your speed, this could be 2 to 4 hr. If this is not enough, take a bus to the main gate and spend the rest of your time exploring lower lakes. We have seen both in 6hr with a 2-old-year kid who was walking all along. But if you really want to enjoy the park, probably the Upper Lakes are just enough.

Same vote from me. Go all the way to the top of the Upper Lakes trail, where there are far less people and very beautiful sights. You can either take the bus to the top and walk down to the boat, or walk the entire loop from boat-top-back to boat. We did the latter and I'm sure it didn't take more than three hours. It's not really very far. You'll get a map when you pay the entrance fee. Don't pay too much attention to what the staff tell you at the park office. The girl who took our money was very surly and practically barked at me that I should absolutely, positively do Walk #2 (or whatever it was called). We went our own way and had a great time, seeing a lot more than we would have if we'd followed her instructions.

When entering rhe park you'll be given a small pocket plan with routes. Take any of them, they a;; circulate around the park. Upper and Lower lakes are bothy included, no matter where to start, it only depends on the entrance you're taking. there are 3 entrance gates. We were "in the middle", which was close to Lower lakes, so it was our starting point. But we saw all of them anyway. And for coming back you can take the small train. Have a pleasant walk

I agree with all of the above. Enter the park at the 2nd entrance (from the Zagreb direction - in Croatian known as "Ulaz 2"). The trail everyone is talking about is the "red trail" if I remember correctly. Best time to go is when the park opens (8am), which means sleeping over the night before in the area. Adult entrance fee (last summer): 90 kuna or about 12 Euros.

Let me say something as the local one who was there many times and visiting NP at least twice each year. Visiting NP is not the race and you cannot plan your time when there if depending on transters; boat over Lake of Kozjak or train-bus tour which take you to the most Upper Lakes. I agree that the Upper Lakes are very beautiful and less crowded, however, if you don't see Sastavci - the landmark of Plitvice - which is situated close to Ulaz 1 (Entrance 1) you cannot say you was there. In case you have only 3-4 hours to visit the NP, then I strongly suggest you to visit the Lower Lakes where you depend on yourself. However, Im sure you'll change your plan when there and stay longer, because such a wonder of nature you cannot see elswhere.

The "red trail" (which I did) included the lower lakes as well. If I remember correctly, we finished the trail near Ulaz 1, and took the "train" back to Ulaz 2, where our car was parked. We did the trail in about 4 hours, but you should allow 5 to be sure (depending on how much you want to stop along the way). We took a half hour break at the restaurant in the park.

Though I have no idea what it is that will restrict your time at Plitvice, I strongly suggest you do away with that restrictive factor. One should not go visiting natural parks to see as much as possible in the shortest time possible. Why having beautiful nature if we cannot set aside time to enjoy it? It's your call, of course.

Thank you all for the great advice. I can’t wait for my trip to Croatia. If I can find a way to cut some time here or there I will try to get to the lakes earlier....but of course that means missing something else. What I need is more time! I only have 5 days in Croatia unfortunately, will be flying into Dubrovnik and leaving into Italy from Istria, driving between (rough plan: 1 night in Dubrovnik, 2 night on Hvar, 1 night in north Dalmatia (Split to Zadar), 1 night near Plitivicka, and one night in Istria).