Approximately in the middle of the Zagreb – Zadar route, central Croatia is one of the oldest national parks in South East Europe and the largest in the country, Plitvice . It is particularly well-known for its unparalleled beauty, its 16 lakes. This is a guide to your day trip to Plitvice National Park!
A short history
Towards the end of the 19th century the area was starting to get particularly ” touristic”. The first hotel / motel was built in 1896, and in 1949 the Communist government of Yugoslavia proclaimed the entire area as a National Park . In 1979, it was proclaimed a World Heritage Site by UNESCO for the its excellent beauty and the production of porous stone.
The Park was tragically found in the midst of the Croatian and Serbian war in 1991, and during that time UNESCO put Plitvice lakes in “monument to danger” list because literally there were mines all over the park! After the end of the war and after the Park was occupied by Croatia, there was immediate clearance of the area and in 1998 the title of the UNESCO World Heritage Site was restored!
Some Information
The Park occupies an area of 294.82 sq. Km, while the 16 lakes occupy only 8 km. The highest point of the Park is at 1.280 m, while the lowest at 380 m. There are 1,267 plant species, of which 75 are indigenous , including 55 different species of orchid. The area is also a haven for many different animals and birds.
The Lakes
The 16 lakes are located at different levels between rivers and waterfalls, and the exceptionally beautiful shades of turquoise are obtained due to the density of water in trace minerals and minerals. Twelve of the lakes are on top and the other four are lower.
The biggest lake of all is Kozjak 3 km long and the last of the Upper Lakes. In the center there is a small oval islet that has a restaurant and around it you will find most of the hotels in the area. Of course the highlight of the Park is the Veliki Slap waterfall, which is 70 m high.
Activities
Many people choose to stay for at least two days in the park area (there are many choices of accommodation), but I do not recommend it unless the main purpose of your visit is hiking or you want to stay in the nature for relaxation and activities in the nature. In other circumstances, a daily visit is enough.
Hiking is par excellence the main activity in the Park. The paths near the entrance of the Park are extremely well-marked and there are routes for everyone but also for people who use a wheelchair .The most popular is an hour’s route near the largest lake.
Arriving at the Park there is a detailed map and recommended routes according to your physical condition and the time you have available.
How to get there
From Zagreb, regular buses leave every day. You can book your ticket online at a price of around 8-9 euros, depending of course on the shuttle company. The duration of the journey is about 3 hours, which makes it quite tiring for a day trip. Of course, the better way to get to the Park is to rent a car and enjoy the journey through the nature of Croatia.
There are two entrances for the Park , Entrance 1 is the best choice to start your route. You can check the official site for more information : https://np-plitvicka-jezera.hr/en/about-the-park/general-information/
Tickets
Range of ticket prices varies depending on the period of your visit while there is a choice of daily and two-day tickets. For the high season of August, for example, an adult’s daily ticket can reach 34 euros. Bare in mind that the period between June and September is the worst time to visit the Park, the amount of the people is terribly big. We visited the Park in October and paid about 12 euros for the daily ticket, while the crowds was still big but bearable. Included in the price are any transfers with the trains that ride in the Park or the boats you will see floating in the lakes.
Remember that there is no fire, swimming and camping allowed in the Park. Unfortunately your dog can not ride without a strap because the bears living in the Park are quite a few.
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