The Plitvice Lakes are such a marvelous natural wonder that if you are in Zagreb and love nature, I highly recommend visiting the region. Fortunately, Plitvice Lakes National Park offers a wonderful day trip option from Zagreb.
Let’s explore your options for spending a wonderful day at the Lakes.
Getting From Zagreb to Plitvice Lakes
You have basically two options for getting to the lakes from Zagreb: either you rent a car (or use your own) or you take the bus.
By Car
The driving time is around 2 hours. Take the A1 motorway from Zagreb to Karlovac, then take route 1 in the direction of Split. It’s easy; just follow the Plitvička Jezera (Plitvice Lakes) signs that are visible already from the motorway. The first section, up until Karlovac, is a toll road.
By Bus
There is a direct line operated by Knežević every day at 6:45 AM. The bus departs from Avenija Marina Držića 4, 10000 Zagreb, which is the main bus station in Zagreb. It is recommended to arrive at the bus station at least 15 minutes prior to departure. This bus arrives at 9:00 AM at Plitvička Jezera, which is essentially Entrance 2. Check Flixbus’ website and Zagreb Bus Station’s websites for current timetables from Zagreb to Plitvice Lakes.
Avenija Marina Držića 4, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
On the way back, the bus is operated by Flixbus and it departs at 5:15 PM from Plitvička Jezera (Entrance 2). It will get you to Zagreb around 7:05 PM.
Prepare With The Tickets
The highlight of the region is the Plitvice Lakes National Park. Why would you miss out on it once you’re here?
It is highly recommended to buy your National Park tickets online, especially during the high season. Tickets are issued per hour, so you roughly have to know at what time you are going to enter the park. Also, make sure you pick the right entrance. Read our recommendations on which entrance to choose, 1 or 2.
Find more information on Plitvice Lakes National Park tickets by clicking on the link.
National Park Tour
On a typical day trip, you’ll have roughly 4-8 hours to spend in the park. This is, after all, the pinnacle of the day.
Fortunately, there are 4 very well-posted and organized walking routes starting from both entrances. Routes marked in green start from entrance 1, while those marked in orange start from entrance 2. Choose the one that best fits your fitness level. Almost all routes include bus or ferry rides, which are included in the ticket price.
If you get hungry during your walking tour, there are places located in the park selling sandwiches and quick bites.
Have a Wonderful Meal
We recommend having a nice meal at one of the excellent restaurants in the Plitvice Lakes region. Once you’re here, why not spice up that day trip and try local cuisine?
If you come by car, the options are limitless. Just browse our Plitvice restaurant reviews to find the place that you like the most.
By bus, it’s a bit trickier as you are not as free to move around. You can always take a taxi, but that might be out of reach for many of you reading this.
But even just on foot, you still have many options. There are some restaurants operated by the national park, check out the list on the link.
We highly recommend Lička Kuća which can be found near entrance 1, right at the parking lot.
