Plitvice Lakes National Park is one of Croatia’s most beautiful destinations - a place of stunning turquoise lakes, cascading waterfalls, and lush forest trails. Recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it draws over a million visitors a year and is widely considered a must-see for anyone traveling through Croatia.

We visited on Easter Monday, arriving by car from Knin and spending a few hours exploring the park’s lower lakes and waterfalls. I’ll walk you through the highlights of our visit, share practical tips for planning your own trip, and explore what makes this part of Croatia so unique, from its rural heartland in Lika to its locally made cheese and honey!

Where is Plitvice?

Plitvice Lakes National Park is located in central Croatia, in a region called Lika. It lies roughly halfway between Zagreb and Zadar and is easily reachable by car from several major cities. We drove from Knin, which took just under two hours on quiet scenic roads.

The park covers almost 300 square kilometres and is best known for its 16 interconnected lakes that flow into each other via waterfalls and cascades. These are natural lakes formed by the deposition of travertine, a type of limestone that slowly builds up, creating dams, terraces, and new waterfalls over time.

Plitvice is divided into upper and lower lakes, with two main entrances: Entrance 1 (which leads to the lower lakes and the largest waterfall) and Entrance 2 (closer to the upper lakes and longer walking routes).

This area was about 9m deep! We saw lots of fish near here

A quick history of Plitvice Lakes National Park

Plitvice was declared Croatia’s first national park in 1949 and became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. Its geological processes, particularly the way the lakes and waterfalls are constantly forming and changing, are considered rare and globally significant.

Beyond its natural beauty, Plitvice also has a deep history. The surrounding Lika region was long a frontier zone between empires, first the Romans, then the Ottomans and Habsburgs. During the war in the 1990s, the park was briefly occupied but escaped major damage and has since been fully restored.

Today, Plitvice is one of the most visited natural sites in southeastern Europe and is protected as a natural monument in Croatia.

Driving from Knin and exploring the Lika region

Our journey began in Knin, and the drive to Plitvice took us through the mountainous landscapes of Lika. The region is known for its quiet roads, dense forests, and wide natural basins known as polje - large, flat-floored karst fields bordered by hills.

Lika is one of Croatia’s least populated regions. Its isolation has helped preserve its natural beauty and traditional way of life. You’ll pass family-run farms, wooden houses, grazing livestock, and small roadside stands selling homemade goods.

Lika is also known for its high quality local products, particularly honey, cheese, and fruit rakija. Many families here make and sell their own lički sir (Lika cheese), often smoked or aged, along with jars of wildflower or forest honey, which are especially popular in spring.

Buying tickets and entering the park

We booked our tickets online in advance via the official Plitvice Lakes website. The process was quick and easy: you select an entrance, a date, and a specific time slot. We chose Entrance 1, which leads directly to the lower lakes and the park’s largest waterfall.

When we arrived at 11am, the car park was already busy (not surprising for a public holiday!). There are designated parking areas for buses, motorhomes, and cars. We parked lower down in the forest and then walked five minutes uphill to the main lot. From there, a wooden bridge leads over the main road and into the entrance area, where there’s a ticket booth and souvenir shop. Although we were booked for a specific hour, they allowed us to enter 15 minutes early, meaning we didn’t have to wait around.

Starting the walk: main waterfall and lower lakes

Within minutes of entering the park, we reached the viewpoint overlooking Veliki slap, also called the “Main Waterfall.” At 78 metres, it’s the tallest waterfall in Plitvice. A series of switchbacks took us down through the forest until we reached a wooden bridge across the river and stood almost at the base of the falls. The force of the water and the sound was incredible, and the mist in the air was very refreshing.

View of the main waterfall as we entered the park

We took our time walking back up through the lower lakes area and Tufa Cascades (“the age of the active tufa barriers has been estimated at between 6,000 and 7,000 years, which corresponds to the theory that they began to grow following the end of the last Ice Age’’, according to the official website), following the wooden pathways that wind across the water. These paths let you get close to the lakes, streams, and smaller falls. Some parts of the lakes here reach depths of 9 to 11 metres, and the clarity of the water was amazing, we could see huge rainbow trout swimming just below the surface.

Although it was busy with visitors from all over the world, the atmosphere was still peaceful. The bridges are narrow and have no railings, so take your time, especially in crowded spots.

Wildlife and nature in Spring

Even with all the people, there was no shortage of wildlife. We saw rainbow trout in the lakes, along with smaller fish that looked like European minnows or dace. We also spotted two frogs, most likely either European tree frogs or common frogs, both of which are active in the spring months.

Birdsong was constant, even if most of the birds stayed hidden. Plitvice is home to over 160 species of birds, including owls, woodpeckers, and golden eagles. Larger animals like brown bears, wolves, and lynx live deeper in the park’s forests but are rarely seen on the main trails.

Spring is one of the best times to visit Plitvice. The water levels are high, the waterfalls are powerful, and the forests are full of new leaves and blooming wildflowers. The diversity of plants here is impressive and over 1,200 species grow in the park, including many that are endemic to the region.

Caves and ancient finds

Although most visitors come for the lakes and waterfalls, Plitvice is also home to a number of caves tucked into the cliffs and karst fields nearby. These include Mračna špilja (“Dark Cave”), Golubnjača, and Vile Jezerkinje, also known as the Lake Fairies’ Cave. Ranging from around 100 to 160 metres in length, they’re found near the Lower Lakes and fields like Homoljačko polje.

Several caves - Vile Jezerkinje, Šupljara, and Golubnjača - have been under special protection as geomorphological nature monuments since 1964. They’re significant not only for their formations but also for their palaeontological value. In Mračna špilja and Rodića Cave near Sertić Poljane, remains of prehistoric cave bears have been found, offering a fascinating glimpse into the ancient wildlife that once roamed this landscape.

Trail options and planning for next time

There are over 20 kilometres of trails in Plitvice, ranging from short loops to full-day hikes. The park is divided into route options (A–K), each marked with estimated times and lengths. Some include electric boat rides and panoramic shuttle buses that help you cover more ground.

We spent about two to three hours walking and stayed close to the main route around the lower lakes. Next time, I’d love to return for a longer visit and try one of the extended loops, perhaps Route C or H, to see more of the upper lakes and quieter trails.

Final thoughts

Even in a short visit, Plitvice Lakes left a lasting impression. It’s a place that’s just as magical in real life as it is in photos and one that deserves to be explored at a slower pace. From the powerful waterfalls to the peaceful forest paths, from local cheeses to clear mountain air, it’s a perfect example of the natural beauty that Croatia has to offer.

If you’re planning a trip to Croatia, don’t miss the chance to visit this extraordinary park, or even camp or stay at the apartments or hotels nearby. And if you're coming from the south or the inland regions like Knin, take your time because the journey through Lika is part of the experience!

Plitvice Lakes in April