Plitvicka Jezera National Park Travel Forum

Hi guys! I really hope this forum can help me out and give me some good advice about staying in Croatia. I'm going with 3 friends of mine to Istria for 12 days. Our goal is to travel around with tent along the coastline. Enjoying the view, snorkling and try to visit towns like Pula, Umag, Porec and such. Or there things i really should visit in Istria?

And my second question, the more interesting to me, is: I've read about Croatia a lot and it seems that the lakes in Plitvice are really a must. I wander if we could go by bus from Rijeka to Plitvice? Which bus company should we use then (I tried Autotrans, but it says they don't have connections from Rijeka to Plitvice in September) ? And is it possible to stay overnight in Plitvice, like on camp sites and such? Or is going to Plitvice just too far away from the peninsula of Istria and not really a good idea to do?

Thnx a lot in advance!

Your plan about touring the western coast of Istria sounds fine, and can be relatively easily done by public transport. There are campsites in all major tourist centers.
Old towns of inland Istria are really worth exploring, but this is unfortunately not so easy without a car. Still, since you'll have 12 days I would recommend at least a short visit to Motovun or some other place in the interior of the peninsula. Local buses are not very frequent but do exist.

Regarding Plitvice lakes - by public transport it is rather tricky from this region since you'd have to go either to Zadar or to Karlovac (even Zagreb) to catch a regular bus there. But there are numerous travel agencies that offer daytrips to Plitvice by coach - just ask at the tourist office in Pula, Rovinj or Porec. These tours usually include bus transport and an entrance ticket to the National park, and you'll be back in Istria the same evening.

Should you decide to go on your own and stay there, there is a campsite "Korana" nearby - you will find details on Plitvice NP page.

Hope this helps.

This really does help! I allready thought it would be hard getting there, but as you mentioned, we'll try to ask and arrange a day trip from Pula. Thnx a lot!

Btw, can I get your e-mail plz to contact you? Maybe I will have some other things to ask about the next days. Since you live in Croatia, you could be a great help. (My e-mail is demeyer.thomas@gmail.com)

If you go on my profile here you can simply click on "Email me" link and send me an email. I log on on this site every day so I'll read it for sure.
I'll also send you an email so you can just reply to it.

katarina-line.hr do a bus trip from Opatija to Plitvice on tues, wed and thur of every week. The cost is about 45 euro.