# Plitvice Lakes

Croatia's oldest national park (1949) and a World Heritage site since 1979. Sixteen lakes of turquoise water terraced over travertine barriers, which you tour on wooden boardwalks, by electric boat and on a panoramic train.

Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/croacia/lika/plitvice-lakes · Revisado: 2026-11-12

## Do you need to buy the ticket in advance?

In season, yes. The ticket is bought on the park's official website for one day, one entry (1 or 2) and a time slot. You cannot enter before your time and only an hour's delay is allowed. The online purchase cannot be changed or refunded. At the ticket office there are tickets if they have not sold out, but in summer do not count on it.

2026 prices for an adult: €10 from November to March, €23 in April, May and October, and €40 from June to September. In summer it falls to €25 if you enter after 16:00 (after 15:00 in September). Under-7s do not pay and ages 7 to 18 pay between €4 and €15. The ticket includes the electric boat on Lake Kozjak and the panoramic vehicles. Croatia has used the euro since 2023: you do not need to change money, and the exchange offices at the entrances are closed.

## Can you swim in the lakes?

No. Swimming is banned throughout the park, including in the lower lakes and in summer. Drones are not allowed either. Dogs may enter, always on a lead. If you want water, there are rowing boats on the Kozjak, and half an hour away, in Rastoke, the Korana river.

## Which route should I choose?

The park marks its programmes with letters. From Entrance 1, A (3.5 km, 2–3 h) sees the lower lakes and the Great Waterfall; C (8 km, 4–5 h) covers almost everything. From Entrance 2, E (5.1 km, 2–3 h) goes to the upper lakes and H (8.9 km, 4–6 h) is the most comfortable full loop. The K routes, of 16.5 and 17.5 km, are for a whole day on foot.

## How do you get there from Spain?

By plane to Zagreb, Zadar or Split. From Zagreb it is about 130 km: the tolled A1 motorway to Karlovac and then the free D1 road to Entrance 1. From Zadar it is about two hours. Croatia has been in the Schengen area since 2023, so an ID card is enough. The buses between Zagreb and Zadar or Split stop at both entrances, on the D1.

## Dónde está
- Zonas: Dinaric Alps

## Qué hacer
- **Programme A: Lower Lakes and the Great Waterfall** (2 h 30 · 3.5 km · All ages · Included in the ticket): What programme A is
It is the shortest route marked by the park from Entrance 1 (Rastovača), the northern one: 3.5 km in a circuit, 2 to 3 hours. It walks the canyon of the lower lakes, the most photographed stretch of Plitvice, and returns along the east edge without using the boat or train. It is the option if you have half a day, are going with small children or are passing through on the way to the coast.
There are four lower lakes: Novakovića Brod, the lowest in the whole system, at about 503 m altitude, Kaluđerovac, Gavanovac and Milanovac. They sit in a canyon with limestone walls and are separated by tufa barriers, the porous rock that the water gradually deposits and that forms the waterfalls. At the far end drops the Great Waterfall (Veliki slap), the highest in Croatia: 78 m to the small pool at its base. It does not come from the lakes, but from the Plitvica stream, which plunges over the edge of the canyon; below, it joins the water from the lakes at the Sastavci, where the Korana river is born.
The route step by step

Entrance 1. You validate your ticket and go down from the rim to the bottom of the canyon. From above you see the stepped lower lakes and the Great Waterfall opposite.
To the Great Waterfall. Already at the bottom of the canyon, a short detour leads to the foot of the waterfall. It is the busiest spot in the park.
Boardwalks upstream. You continue along the wooden boardwalks beside Novakovića Brod, Kaluđerovac, Gavanovac and Milanovac, at water level and with small waterfalls on both sides.
Kozjak bridge. At the end of the lower lakes you reach the Kozjak bridge area, at the foot of the park's largest lake.
Climb and return along the east. From there you climb the east slope of the canyon and return along the top to Entrance 1, with another round of views from above.

Almost all the ascent is in the initial descent and the final climb. The rest is flat, on wood.
When to go
Programme A can be done all year: the park says that in winter the lower lakes usually stay open even when the upper ones close. In May and June the waterfalls carry more water. In July and August, the canyon fills up mid-morning; enter in the first slot or with the afternoon rate.
In November 2026 the entrances open from 8:00 to 15:00 and ticket sales close at 13:00. Check the season's hours on the park website before going.
Tickets and price
The programme is included in the park's general ticket, which is bought with a day and time slot on the official website. In 2026 an adult pays €10 from November to March, €23 in April, May and October and €40 from June to September; in summer it falls to €25 if you enter after 16:00 (after 15:00 in September). Under-7s do not pay and ages 7 to 18 pay €4 to €15, depending on the season. You cannot enter before your time and only an hour's delay is allowed.
Getting there and parking
Entrance 1 is next to the D1 road, at the northern end of the park. The car park is paid on leaving: €2 an hour from June to September and €1.50 in spring and autumn. The buses between Zagreb and the coast stop on the D1 on both sides, and there is free left-luggage for your suitcase.
With children, a pushchair or a dog
It is the simplest programme for children: short, with no changes and with water at every step. A pushchair is not a good idea because of the steps and the climb; better a baby carrier. The park warns that the routes are not wheelchair accessible in their entirety and that at the entrance they tell you the most practicable route. Dogs may go, always on a lead. Swimming is banned in all the lakes.
If you want more, programme C starts the same way and continues to the upper lakes. For lunch on leaving, Lička kuća is opposite Entrance 1.
- **Programme C: From the Lower to the Upper Lakes** (4 h 30 · 8 km · Some habit of walking · Included in the ticket): What programme C is
It is the day crossing from Entrance 1 (Rastovača): an 8 km circuit that joins the lower and upper lakes. You walk the canyon below, cross Lake Kozjak by electric boat, climb on foot through the lakes above and return almost the whole way in the panoramic vehicle. The park gives it 4 to 5 hours on its English page and 4 to 6 on the Croatian one: count on almost a whole day if you stop for lunch.
It is the programme that sees almost all the park with a single ticket and without doing the 17 km of the K routes. If you come from Zagreb or sleep in the north, it is the natural choice.
The route step by step

Lower lakes. You go down from Entrance 1 into the canyon and walk the boardwalks beside Novakovića Brod, Kaluđerovac, Gavanovac and Milanovac. At the start you have the Great Waterfall (Veliki slap), 78 m, the highest in Croatia, which falls from the Plitvica stream and joins the lakes at the Sastavci, where the Korana is born.
Electric boat across the Kozjak. On reaching the foot of the Kozjak, the park's largest lake (81.5 ha), you board the boat and cross it lengthways. The boat is included in the ticket; on the long line it leaves every 30 minutes.
Upper lakes on foot. From the other end of the Kozjak you begin to climb the chain of upper lakes: Gradinsko, Galovac, Milino, Vir and the others, separated by tufa barriers and dozens of small waterfalls. The highlights, according to the park, are the Veliki and Mali Prštavac.
Return in the panoramic vehicle. From the end of the walking stretch, the panoramic train takes you down towards Entrance 1. The park says the return is "mostly" in this vehicle, which is also included.

The climb through the upper lakes is gentle and continuous. The most tiring stretch is usually the beginning, going down and up the canyon of the lower lakes.
When to go
Programme C needs the upper lakes open. The park explains that in winter they usually close and that they reopen in early April, depending on the weather, so in practice it is a spring-to-autumn plan. May and June bring more water to the waterfalls; September and October, fewer people.
The boats and train have timetables: in November 2026 the long boat line leaves from 8:00 to 14:30 and the panoramic vehicles run until 15:30–16:00. If you enter late, you may be left without transport to return. Check the season's hours on the park website.
Tickets and price
It is included in the general ticket, with day and time slot. In 2026 an adult pays €23 in April, May and October and €40 from June to September (€25 after 16:00, or after 15:00 in September, although at that hour you do not have time to do C). Under-7s do not pay; ages 7 to 18, €6 to €15. The online purchase cannot be changed or refunded.
Getting there and parking
Entrance 1 is next to the D1. The car park is paid on leaving, by the hour: with 5 or 6 hours inside, allow €10–12 in summer. The Zagreb to Zadar and Split buses stop next to the entrance and there is free left-luggage.
Water, food and rests
It is 8 km and several hours inside: carry water and something to eat in your rucksack. For a coffee and something sweet, the park has Kozjak Caffe & Pastry; ask at the entrance where it is in relation to your route. On leaving, Lička kuća, opposite Entrance 1, serves Lika cooking.
With children or a dog
With children who already walk well it is manageable, because the boat and train split the day. With a pushchair, no: there are steps and narrow boardwalks. Dogs may go, on a lead along the whole route. Swimming is banned in the whole park.
If you prefer to start at the top and finish at the Great Waterfall, programme H does a similar route from Entrance 2.
- **Programme H: the Full Loop from Entrance 2** (5 h · 8.9 km · Some habit of walking · Included in the ticket): What programme H is
It is the full loop of the lakes area from Entrance 2 (Hladovina): 8.9 km in a circuit, 4 to 6 hours. The panoramic vehicle takes you up at the start and from there you walk down through the upper lakes, cross the Kozjak by electric boat, walk the canyon of the lower lakes to the Great Waterfall and return along the east edge by train. The park presents it as the programme that lets you see "the whole lakes area".
The advantage over programme C, which sees almost the same from Entrance 1, is the direction: here you start at the top and the walking stretch is mostly downhill, and you finish at the Great Waterfall instead of starting there.
The route step by step

Entrance 2 and train. After a short walk from the entrance, you take the panoramic vehicle to the upper part of the park.
Upper lakes on foot. You go down beside the chain of lakes above, between the Prošćansko, at about 636 m, and the Kozjak: Ciginovac, Okrugljak, Batinovac, Veliko and Malo jezero, Vir, Galovac, Milino and Gradinsko, with small waterfalls over tufa barriers.
Boat across the Kozjak. On reaching the park's largest lake, of 81.5 ha, you board the electric boat and cross it to the north end. On the long line it leaves every 30 minutes.
Canyon of the lower lakes. You continue on foot along the boardwalks beside Milanovac, Gavanovac, Kaluđerovac and Novakovića Brod, the lowest lake, at about 503 m.
Great Waterfall. At the end of the canyon the Veliki slap falls, 78 m, the highest waterfall in Croatia, fed by the Plitvica stream. Below, at the Sastavci, the Korana river is born.
East edge and train back. You climb to the top of the canyon along the east, with views over the lower lakes, and take the panoramic vehicle back to Entrance 2.

The hardest climb of the day is the last: from the Great Waterfall to the top there is, according to the park, a steep switchback.
When to go
It needs the upper lakes open. The park says they usually close in winter and reopen in early April, depending on the weather, so it is a spring-to-autumn plan. May and June bring more water; July and August, the canyon below is full at midday.
Calculate the hours backwards from the last transport. In November 2026 the long boat line leaves until 14:30 and the panoramic vehicles run until 15:30–16:00. The timetable changes with the season: check it on the park website for your date.
Tickets and price
It is included in the general ticket, with day and time slot, bought on the official website. In 2026 an adult pays €23 in April, May and October and €40 from June to September. The afternoon rate (€25, after 16:00) leaves no time for this programme. Under-7s do not pay; ages 7 to 18, €6 to €15. The online ticket cannot be changed or refunded.
Getting there and parking
Entrance 2 is next to the D1, beside the Hotel Jezero. The car park is paid on leaving, by the hour. If you come by bus, the D1 stop is next to the entrance and the left-luggage is free. From the Korana and Borje campsites there is a bus to the park.
Food, water and pace
It is between 4 and 6 hours: carry water and something to eat. The Kozjak crossing, halfway, is a good time to stop. Afterwards, Black River is on foot from Entrance 2 and the Degenija Restaurant is next to the road, 5 km from Entrance 1.
With children or a dog
With children who walk well it works, because train and boat split the day and almost everything is downhill. With a pushchair, no: there are steps and narrow boardwalks. Dogs enter on a lead. Swimming is banned in all the lakes.
- **Programme E: Upper Lakes from Entrance 2** (2 h 30 · 5.1 km · All ages · Included in the ticket): What programme E is
It is the route round the upper lakes from Entrance 2 (Hladovina), the southern one: 5.1 km in a circuit, 2 to 3 hours. You cross Lake Kozjak on the short electric boat line, climb on foot along the chain of lakes above to the Prošćansko, the highest in the park, and return in the panoramic vehicle. Boat and train are included in the ticket.
There are twelve upper lakes and they occupy the upper part of the valley, between about 636 m altitude at the Prošćansko and the Kozjak, further down. They do not have the canyon or the Great Waterfall of the lower ones; instead, the path passes through forest and dozens of small waterfalls over tufa barriers, the rock the water has been depositing for thousands of years. The park highlights the Veliki and Mali Prštavac. There are usually fewer people than below.
The route step by step

Entrance 2 to the jetty. From the entrance you go down a short stretch to the shore of the Kozjak.
Electric boat, short line. You cross the lake in a few minutes. This line runs on demand, without a fixed timetable.
Climb through the upper lakes. You walk upstream on boardwalks and paths beside Gradinsko, Galovac, Milino, Vir, Malo and Veliko jezero, Batinovac, Okrugljak and Ciginovac. The gradient is gentle and continuous.
Prošćansko jezero. You reach the highest lake, about 2.5 km long, surrounded by forest.
Panoramic vehicle back. From the station in the upper area, the train takes you back to Entrance 2.

When to go
Programme E depends on the upper lakes being open. The park says they usually close in winter and reopen in early April, depending on the weather. From spring to autumn it is done without problems; May and June bring more water and September and October, fewer people.
Mind the train timetable: in November 2026, the last panoramic vehicle from the upper area to Entrance 2 leaves at 15:30. Check the season's hours on the park website.
Tickets and price
It is included in the general ticket, which is bought with a day and time slot. In 2026 an adult pays €23 in April, May and October and €40 from June to September; in summer it falls to €25 if you enter after 16:00 (after 15:00 in September). Under-7s do not pay; ages 7 to 18, €6 to €15 in season. You cannot enter before the time on the ticket and an hour's delay is allowed.
Getting there and parking
Entrance 2 is next to the D1, in the hotel area. The car park is paid on leaving: €2 an hour from June to September and €1.50 in spring and autumn. If you sleep at the Hotel Jezero, you are next to the entrance. From the park campsites there is a bus to the entrance.
With children, a pushchair or a dog
Together with A, it is the easiest programme for small children: short, with a boat and train, and without the descent and climb of the canyon. A pushchair is still awkward because of the narrow boardwalk stretches and the odd step; bring a baby carrier. Dogs may go on a lead. Swimming is banned.
If you also want to see the lower lakes from the same entrance, programme H adds the canyon and the Great Waterfall. For lunch afterwards, Black River is on foot from Entrance 2.
- **Programmes K1 and K2: the Whole Park on Foot** (7 h · 17.5 km · Fit · Included in the ticket): What programmes K1 and K2 are
They are the park's two long loops, done almost entirely on foot: K1 leaves from Entrance 1 (Rastovača) and is 16.5 km; K2 leaves from Entrance 2 (Hladovina) and is 17.5 km. The park estimates 6 to 8 hours for either. They only use a short stretch of electric boat to cross the Kozjak; there is no panoramic vehicle.
It is the plan for anyone who wants to see all the lakes on foot, unhurriedly and away from the groups doing the short programmes. In return, it is a whole day of walking, although the gradient is moderate: the water drops about 133 m between the Prošćansko, at 636 m, and Novakovića Brod, at 503 m.
The K1 route, step by step

Great Waterfall and lower lakes. From Entrance 1 you go down into the canyon, pass the 78 m Veliki slap and walk the lower lakes along the boardwalks.
West shore of the Kozjak. Instead of taking the long boat, you continue on foot along the west shore of the park's largest lake, 81.5 ha.
Upper lakes and Prštavci. You climb the chain of lakes above to the Veliki and Mali Prštavac waterfalls and the Tomićevo pogledalo viewpoint, which the park recently opened.
Return the other way. You come back through the rest of the upper lakes to the Kozjak and cross to the east shore on the short boat line.
East shore and canyon rim. You walk along the east shore of the Kozjak and along the high rim of the lower-lakes canyon to Entrance 1.

The K2 route
It is the same loop starting and finishing at Entrance 2. You go along the east shore of the Kozjak and the east rim of the canyon to the Great Waterfall, climb upstream along the west shore of the Kozjak to the Prštavci and the Tomićevo pogledalo, return through the rest of the upper lakes and finish by crossing the Kozjak on the short boat line to Entrance 2.
Choose K2 if you sleep next to Entrance 2 or want to finish with a short boat ride instead of the final climb out of the canyon.
When to go
Both pass through the upper lakes, which according to the park usually close in winter and reopen in early April, depending on the weather. Do them from May to October, with long days. In summer set out in the first slot to have light and margin; in spring and autumn, watch the closing time carefully.
In November 2026 the entrances open from 8:00 to 15:00 and the short boat runs from 8:00 to 16:00 on demand. The timetable changes with the season: check it on the park website.
Tickets and price
They are included in the general ticket, with day and time slot. In 2026 an adult pays €23 in May and October and €40 from June to September; the afternoon rate is no use for an 8-hour route. Under-7s do not pay; ages 7 to 18, €6 to €15. If you prefer to spread it out, the two-day ticket costs €39 in spring and autumn and €60 in summer, and then you can do a programme A and a programme E on different days.
Getting there and parking
Both entrances are on the D1 and have paid parking, by the hour, paid on leaving. With 8 or 9 hours, allow €16–18 in summer. If you sleep at the Hotel Jezero or in the park campsites, you save the car: the hotel is next to Entrance 2 and from the campsites there is a bus.
What to bring and what to do if the weather changes
Bring water, food for the whole day, a waterproof and light mountain footwear that grips on wet wood. In heavy rain, the boardwalks are slippery and the day gets long: you can shorten it with the Kozjak long boat or the panoramic vehicle, which are included in the ticket. If you are unsure at the start, ask at the entrance about the state of the stretches.
With children or a dog
It is too much for small children; with teenagers used to walking, yes. Dogs may go, always on a lead. Swimming is banned throughout the park.
- **Rowing Boat on Lake Kozjak** (1 h · All ages · €15 per boat per hour): What it is
It is the only way to be on the water inside the park. Swimming is banned in all the lakes, but on the Kozjak, the largest, rowing is allowed. The park hires out rowing boats at the P1 jetty and each takes up to four people. You row yourself, without a guide, at your own pace.
The Kozjak covers 81.5 ha and is the lake that separates the upper lakes from the lower ones. The park's electric boats also sail on it, but there is plenty of room to stay away from their lines and see the forested shores from the water, something you do not get from the boardwalks.
Hours and price
According to the park, the boats are hired every day of the week, from 10:00 to 15:00, at €15 per boat per hour. The website does not publish season dates or whether the service is suspended in winter or in bad weather: if you go outside high season, ask at the entrance before walking to the jetty.
The hire is paid separately from the park ticket, which you need anyway to reach the lake. In 2026 the adult ticket costs €10 from November to March, €23 in April, May and October and €40 from June to September; under-7s do not pay.
Where to pick one up
The P1 jetty is on the shore of the Kozjak near Entrance 2 (Hladovina), a short walk from the entrance. It is also the stop of the short electric-boat line, the one that crosses the lake and is used by programmes leaving from that entrance, such as programme E or programme H.
If you enter by Entrance 1, you will reach the Kozjak at the end of the lower lakes; from there the electric boat brings you to the P1 area.
How long and how to fit it in
An hour is enough for an unhurried circuit of the lake. The most practical thing is to slot it into the middle of a programme that passes through P1: you do the upper lakes in the morning, hire the boat at midday and carry on. Bear in mind the hire ends at 15:00 and the park's last boats and trains also finish early in autumn and winter.
With children, a dog or bad weather
The boats suit families: the lake is calm and they hold four. The park's website does not say whether it provides life jackets or from what age children may board; ask at the jetty. Dogs may enter the park on a lead, but the website says nothing about taking them in the boats: ask there.
In wind or storm, do not go out on the lake: the Kozjak is large and open. Remember you cannot swim even from the boat.
Before or after
For lunch on leaving, Black River is on foot from Entrance 2, and for a coffee and something sweet the park has Kozjak Caffe & Pastry. The panoramic vehicle and electric boat are included in the ticket; the rowing boat is not.
- **Rastoke Mills, in Slunj** (1 h 30 · All ages · Public street free · Vodene tajne route €5): What it is
Rastoke is the mill district of Slunj, about 30 minutes by car north of Plitvice's Entrance 1 along the D1. It is built over the waterfalls where the Slunjčica river falls over the tufa and joins the Korana. The water forms leaps, rapids and small lakes among the houses, and for centuries it drove grain mills and fulling mills for cloth.
Written sources cite it from the 17th century, although it is believed to be earlier; most of the houses you see are from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. When it was protected, in 1962, it had 22 mills, 4 fulling mills, 7 vats for washing fibres and dyes and 28 houses. In 1969 it entered the register of cultural monuments.
What you see and what it costs
Walking along Rastoke's public street is free. What you pay for, €5, is the Vodene tajne route card: it includes the new bridge (Novi most), below the Jarebov mill, and the walkway that zigzags down into the Korana canyon. It is the part that gives views of the waterfalls from below.
The card is bought at the Slunj Town Council's online shop or at three automatic kiosks: at Entrance 1, at the start of the walkway; at Entrance 3, next to the St John bridge (Most sv. Ivana), and at the new bridge. The kiosks only accept cards, not cash. It can be bought at any time, and the walkway and street are open all year.
Some mills, restaurants and shops charge their own entry, and there are private houses that do not admit visits. Among those that open, the tourist website cites Slovin Unique Rastoke, closed on Tuesdays and in winter, and the OPG Jarebovi mlinovi farm, which is visited by arrangement by email.
How long
Allow one to two hours: a walk along the street, the descent to the canyon by the walkway and some time on the new bridge. If you have lunch there, half a day. The tourist website divides Slunj and Rastoke into five visiting zones, in case you want to extend through the town.
Getting there and parking
By car from Plitvice, follow the D1 towards Karlovac to Slunj. Parking is paid by the hour in three zones:

Zone 1, Rastoke: €2 an hour, daily from 8:00 to 18:00.
Zone 2, Gojka Šuška street: €0.40 an hour, Monday to Saturday from 8:00 to 18:00.
Zone 3, Braće Radić street and Franje Tuđmana square: €0.40 an hour, daily from 8:00 to 18:00.

You pay at the parking meter, in cash or by card; payment by SMS only works with Croatian numbers. Zones 2 and 3 are further away, but cost a fifth.
The tourist information office is at Rastoke 2. It is open Monday to Thursday from 9:00 to 16:00 and Friday and Saturday from 10:00 to 16:00; closed on Sundays.
With children, a pushchair or a dog
The Vodene tajne walkway zigzags down into the canyon, so with babies bring a baby carrier rather than a pushchair. With children, watch them near the water: the waterfalls pass between the houses and next to the street. The tourist website gives no rules on dogs on the walkway; ask at the tourist office.
Where to sleep and what to combine
If you want to have dinner and sleep there, the Hotel Mirjana & Rastoke is in Slunj. On the way from the park you can stop at the Barać caves, in Rakovica.
- **Upper Barać Cave, with a Guide** (1 h · All ages, with a coat · Adults €16, children aged 4 to 18 €8 (2025 rates)): What it is
The Barać caves (Baraćeve špilje) are at Nova Kršlja, in the municipality of Rakovica, about twenty minutes by car north of Plitvice's Entrance 1. They are run by a public institution, and the one you visit is the upper cave, always with a guide. Inside there are galleries with stalactites and stalagmites, remains of cave bears and archaeological finds; among them, the cave's website cites a medieval bronze bracelet. It is also a bat refuge, and that is why it closes in winter.
It is a good plan for the afternoon after the lakes or for a rainy day, because inside the weather does not change: the temperature is 9 °C all year.
Hours and season
According to the caves' website, the upper cave opens daily on these dates:

April, May, June and September: from 10:00 to 18:00.
July and August: from 9:00 to 19:00.
October: from 10:00 to 17:00.

The last visit leaves half an hour before closing. From November to April the upper cave closes for the bats' hibernation; the website announces closure from November 2026 to April 2027. The Speleon visitor centre opens daily from 10:00 to 18:00.
Price and booking
The published prices are from 2025 and include the guide: €16 adults, €8 children aged 4 to 18 and €10 students, pensioners, mountaineers, scouts, cavers and geologists with their accreditation. Under-4s do not pay. You pay in cash, by card or by bank transfer. Confirm the year's rate on the website before going.
There is no need to book if you are fewer than 15. Visits leave on arrival, with 15 to 40 minutes between groups. Groups of 15 or more must give two days' notice and have their own price.
What the visit is like
It lasts 45 to 60 minutes and is done with a compulsory helmet, which they give you there. The guide goes with you all the time: you cannot enter independently or leave the marked paths. You can take photos without flash; filming video, eating, drinking or making noise are not allowed. If enclosed spaces bother you, the guide accompanies you outside when you ask.
Bring a coat and closed shoes even if it is hot outside: at 9 °C, in short sleeves you will be cold.
Getting there and parking
The address is Nova Kršlja 47A, Rakovica. There is no direct bus from nearby villages: you get there by car, bike, on foot or by taxi. There is free parking nearby, from which a 500 m educational trail leads to the cave. The mouth is about 200 m from the information centre, up steps.
In the area there is a children's playground, play fields and a souvenir shop. No food is sold; the information centre has drinks, ice cream and snacks.
With children, a pushchair or a dog
Children of any age can go in accompanied. A pushchair is no use: there are steps up to the entrance and the floor inside is not suitable. Babies who do not yet walk must be carried in a front baby carrier, with your hands free. There is no wheelchair access for now; people with more than 50% disability enter free.
Dogs cannot enter the cave. The website says there is a space to leave them while you visit the cave, on a lead and in sight of the staff.
Combine it with
From Rakovica continue north to the Rastoke mills, in Slunj, or return towards the park to have dinner at Lička kuća, opposite Entrance 1.
- **Zip Line over the Korana Canyon** (Teenagers and adults): What it is
It is a 300 m zip line that crosses the Korana river canyon at Selište Drežničko, about 3 km from Entrance 1 of the Plitvice Lakes. It is run by Adrenalin Park Plitvice, an adventure park next to the Gajina pećina cave. You hang from a cable in a harness, from one side of the canyon to the other, at a speed the operator puts at up to 70 km/h.
It is a short plan for the afternoon, after doing the lakes in the morning. The Korana is the river that is born at the foot of the Great Waterfall, at the end of the lower lakes, and here it already runs hemmed in between rock walls.
Hours and season
According to its website, it is open daily from 1 April to 1 November, from 11:00 to 19:00, and closes when it rains. The operator adds that other dates can be agreed. In November 2026 it is out of season.
Price, age and booking
The Adrenalin Park Plitvice website does not publish prices, minimum age or weight or height limits. To find out, and to confirm that they are open on the day you are going, write to info@adrenalin-park-plitvice.com or call +385 91 177 7445, the details given on its contact page. If you are going with teenagers, ask specifically about the minimum age and weight before travelling.
The operator announces other activities in preparation, such as climbing and abseiling, a 12 m giant swing and zorbing; for now the one that runs is the zip line.
What to bring
The operator asks for sporty outdoor clothing and footwear, such as trainers and shorts in summer.
Getting there
Selište Drežničko is on the D1, north of Entrance 1, towards Rakovica and Slunj. The address the operator gives is Gajina pećina, Selište Drežničko. The website does not indicate parking or coordinates: if in doubt, call first. If you sleep in the area, the Hotel Degenija and its restaurant are on the same road.
If it rains or the weather changes
In rain it does not operate. If the day turns bad, a covered alternative nearby is the Barać caves, in Rakovica, open from April to October.
Combine it with
In the morning do programme A from Entrance 1, 2 to 3 hours, and leave the zip line for after lunch: it is 3 km away. If you continue north, the Rastoke mills, in Slunj, are on the same river.

## Dónde comer
- **Lička kuća** (Restaurant, Entrance 1, €€€). Qué pedir: lamb under the bell (peka), trout and local cheeses, with štrudla for dessert.
- **Black River – Steak & Pasta House** (Restaurant, Entrance 2, €€€). Qué pedir: an aged steak or handmade pasta.
- **Degenija Restaurant** (Restaurant, Selište Drežničko, €€). Qué pedir: the traditional Croatian dishes on the menu.
- **Kozjak Caffe & Pastry** (Café, Plitvička jezera, €). Qué pedir: a coffee and a slice of cake before going in.
- **Plitvice Holiday Resort Shop** (Supermarket, Grabovac, €). Qué pedir: bread, cold cuts and fruit for the route sandwich.

## By car: The usual: a car and a night next door
Most arrive by car from Zagreb or on the way to the coast. Sleeping ten minutes from an entrance lets you take the first slot and see Rastoke or the Barać caves in the afternoon.
Presupuesto orientativo: 90–140 € por persona y día.
### Dónde dormir if you're driving
- **Hotel Jezero** (Hotel, desde 132 € / night): The park hotel, next to Lake Kozjak and open all year. You walk down to Entrance 2 at opening time, and with two nights the park ticket is valid for the whole stay. The price is the 2026 summer package per person with breakfast.
- **Guesthouse Bor** (Small hotel): A guesthouse in Mukinje, the village of the park's workers, about fifteen minutes' walk from Entrance 2. Without a car, it is the cheapest alternative to the park hotel. Pets are not accepted.
- **Hotel Degenija** (Hotel): A four-star hotel on the D1, with its own parking and a restaurant next door. It puts you five minutes by car from Entrance 1 and is open all year, even when almost everything else closes.
- **Plitvice Holiday Resort** (Campsite): A large campsite on the D1, with 99 pitches, bungalows, tree houses and rooms. It has a pool, playground and shop, and accepts dogs. Useful if you travel as a family and want a place with everything for two nights.
- **Hotel Mirjana & Rastoke** (Hotel): For those combining the lakes with the Rastoke mills who want to have dinner in Slunj. It is half an hour from Entrance 1 along the D1, and at night the town is free of excursionists.
### Servicios
- **Entrances 1 and 2 Car Park**: €2/h from June to September · motorhome €18/day · paid on leaving
- **Panoramic Vehicle and Electric Boat**: Included in the ticket · between the stations on the route you choose
- **Electric Charging at Hotel Jezero**: At the Hotel Jezero, next to the entrance · ask at reception

## By campervan: Easy, if you sleep at a campsite
The motorhome enters without problem along the D1 and parks at the entrances for €18 a day in summer. For sleeping, the park's own campsites and the one at Grabovac.
Presupuesto orientativo: 50–80 € por persona y día.
### Dónde dormir in a campervan
- **Plitvice Holiday Resort** (Campsite): A large campsite on the D1, with 99 pitches, bungalows, tree houses and rooms. It has a pool, playground and shop, and accepts dogs. Useful if you travel as a family and want a place with everything for two nights.
- **Camp Korana** (Campsite): The park's campsite, on 35 hectares above the Korana canyon. You choose your pitch, there are 47 simple bungalows, a laundry, shop and restaurant, and a bus takes you to the entrance. With two nights, the park ticket is valid for all days.
- **Camp Borje** (Campsite): The park's other campsite, smaller and to the south, under pines. It has a laundry, restaurant and playground, and a bus to the entrance. It is the option if you arrive from Split or Zadar and Korana is full.
### Servicios
- **Entrances 1 and 2 Car Park**: €2/h from June to September · motorhome €18/day · paid on leaving
- **Panoramic Vehicle and Electric Boat**: Included in the ticket · between the stations on the route you choose
- **Campsite Bus to the Park**: From the park's Korana and Borje campsites · paid separately · timetables at reception

## Camping: Three campsites and no wild camping
In Croatia it is forbidden to camp outside campsites, and inside the park you cannot even light a fire. The park's campsites have shade, a bus to the entrance and, with two nights, the park ticket included.
Presupuesto orientativo: 35–60 € por persona y día.
### Dónde dormir if you're camping
- **Plitvice Holiday Resort** (Campsite): A large campsite on the D1, with 99 pitches, bungalows, tree houses and rooms. It has a pool, playground and shop, and accepts dogs. Useful if you travel as a family and want a place with everything for two nights.
- **Camp Korana** (Campsite): The park's campsite, on 35 hectares above the Korana canyon. You choose your pitch, there are 47 simple bungalows, a laundry, shop and restaurant, and a bus takes you to the entrance. With two nights, the park ticket is valid for all days.
- **Camp Borje** (Campsite): The park's other campsite, smaller and to the south, under pines. It has a laundry, restaurant and playground, and a bus to the entrance. It is the option if you arrive from Split or Zadar and Korana is full.
### Servicios
- **Panoramic Vehicle and Electric Boat**: Included in the ticket · between the stations on the route you choose
- **Campsite Bus to the Park**: From the park's Korana and Borje campsites · paid separately · timetables at reception

## Car-free: It can be done, and with a suitcase
The buses between Zagreb and Zadar or Split stop on the D1 next to both entrances, and the park keeps luggage free. Inside you get around on foot, by panoramic train and by boat, all included in the ticket.
Presupuesto orientativo: 80–130 € por persona y día.
### Dónde dormir without a car
- **Hotel Jezero** (Hotel, desde 132 € / night): The park hotel, next to Lake Kozjak and open all year. You walk down to Entrance 2 at opening time, and with two nights the park ticket is valid for the whole stay. The price is the 2026 summer package per person with breakfast.
- **Guesthouse Bor** (Small hotel): A guesthouse in Mukinje, the village of the park's workers, about fifteen minutes' walk from Entrance 2. Without a car, it is the cheapest alternative to the park hotel. Pets are not accepted.
### Servicios
- **Panoramic Vehicle and Electric Boat**: Included in the ticket · between the stations on the route you choose
- **Zagreb – Zadar – Split Bus**: Stops on the D1 next to both entrances, one towards Zadar and one towards Zagreb
- **Free Park Left-Luggage**: Entrances 1 and 2 and Flora · ask at the ticket office

## By plane: Flight to Zagreb or Zadar and a Car to Plitvice
Plitvice lies between Zagreb and the coast. Croatia Airlines flies direct to Zagreb from Madrid and Barcelona and Ryanair from several Spanish airports; Zadar and Split, on the coast, receive seasonal flights. From Zagreb or Zadar it is about two hours by car to the park entrances, and the buses between Zagreb and the coast stop next to both entrances.
### Dónde dormir if you're flying
- **Hotel Jezero** (Hotel, desde 132 € / night): The park hotel, next to Lake Kozjak and open all year. You walk down to Entrance 2 at opening time, and with two nights the park ticket is valid for the whole stay. The price is the 2026 summer package per person with breakfast.
- **Guesthouse Bor** (Small hotel): A guesthouse in Mukinje, the village of the park's workers, about fifteen minutes' walk from Entrance 2. Without a car, it is the cheapest alternative to the park hotel. Pets are not accepted.
- **Hotel Degenija** (Hotel): A four-star hotel on the D1, with its own parking and a restaurant next door. It puts you five minutes by car from Entrance 1 and is open all year, even when almost everything else closes.
- **Hotel Mirjana & Rastoke** (Hotel): For those combining the lakes with the Rastoke mills who want to have dinner in Slunj. It is half an hour from Entrance 1 along the D1, and at night the town is free of excursionists.
### Servicios
- **Entrances 1 and 2 Car Park**: €2/h from June to September · motorhome €18/day · paid on leaving
- **Zagreb – Zadar – Split Bus**: Stops on the D1 next to both entrances, one towards Zadar and one towards Zagreb

## As a family: Routes shortened by boat and train

With children of different ages it works to choose a half-day programme and let the boat and train do the long stretches. Entry is free up to age 7 and costs €15 for ages 7 to 18 in summer.

### What works best
Programme E, from Entrance 2: upper lakes, boat and train back, 2–3 h

The rowing boat on the Kozjak: €15 an hour and up to four people

The Rastoke mills in the afternoon, with water running between the houses

The Barać cave, at 9 °C, when the heat bites

### Where to sleep
Hotel Jezero, next to the entrance, to start without a car

Plitvice Holiday Resort, with a pool and playground

Camp Korana, with simple bungalows

### Where to eat
Lička kuća, with trout and štrudla

Your own sandwich: inside the queues are long at midday

### Keep in mind
You cannot swim: tell them beforehand, because the water is tempting

With the two-day ticket you split the park into two mornings

C and H are 8–9 km: only with children who already walk

### Qué hacer as a family
- Programme A: Lower Lakes and the Great Waterfall
- Programme C: From the Lower to the Upper Lakes
- Programme H: the Full Loop from Entrance 2
- Programme E: Upper Lakes from Entrance 2
- Rowing Boat on Lake Kozjak
- Rastoke Mills, in Slunj
- Upper Barać Cave, with a Guide

## With young children: With a baby carrier, not a pushchair

For children up to age six the park works in short doses: a two- or three-hour programme, the boat, which they love, and a stop for a snack. They enter free.

### What works best
Programme A, from Entrance 1: the Great Waterfall and the lower lakes in 3.5 km

Programme E, with train and boat to rest the legs

The rowing boat, with a life jacket, on the calm shores of the Kozjak

Rastoke: a short walk among mills and small waterfalls

### Where to sleep
Hotel Jezero, to go back to the room at midday

Plitvice Holiday Resort, with a playground and pool

### Where to eat
Kozjak Caffe & Pastry, for a quick snack

Bring water and food: the park stalls have queues

### Keep in mind
The boardwalks have no handrail in many stretches: always hold hands

There are steps and wet wood: the pushchair gets stuck

In summer, the first slot avoids heat and crowds

### Qué hacer with young children
- Programme A: Lower Lakes and the Great Waterfall
- Programme E: Upper Lakes from Entrance 2
- Rowing Boat on Lake Kozjak
- Rastoke Mills, in Slunj

## With teenagers: A long day and a bit of vertigo

A teenager gets bored on the boardwalks at midday, among queues. They get hooked on the long route, on rowing on their own or on the zip line over the Korana.

### What works best
Programme K: 17 km and the whole park in one day

The 300 m zip line over the Korana canyon, at 70 km/h

Rowing on the Kozjak and taking turns at the oars

The Barać cave, with a guide and at 9 °C

### Where to sleep
Camp Korana, with space and bungalows

Plitvice Holiday Resort, with a pool and sports area

### Where to eat
Black River, for anyone who wants meat and pasta

Sandwiches for the long route: you eat when you stop

### Keep in mind
The zip line closes in rain

Programme K requires setting out in the first slot

Up to age 18 they pay a reduced entry: bring their ID card

### Qué hacer with teenagers
- Programme C: From the Lower to the Upper Lakes
- Programme H: the Full Loop from Entrance 2
- Programmes K1 and K2: the Whole Park on Foot
- Rowing Boat on Lake Kozjak
- Upper Barać Cave, with a Guide
- Zip Line over the Korana Canyon

## With a dog: The Plitvice Lakes with a Dog on a Lead

Plitvice park admits dogs on all its routes, always on a lead, and two of its accommodations, the Hotel Jezero and Camp Korana, accept them too. Outside the park, the Plitvice Holiday Resort makes it easy, with an agility area and a dog shower. What it cannot do is swim: it is banned in all the lakes.

### Routes
Programme A, lower lakes and Great Waterfall: short, always on a lead

Programme E, upper lakes: with boat and train

Programmes C, H and K: long crossings, on a lead the whole route

### Where to sleep
Hotel Jezero, next to Entrance 2: accepts dogs

Camp Korana, above the Korana canyon: accepts dogs

Plitvice Holiday Resort: €20 per dog per night, telling them beforehand; on a lead and not at the pool

### Keep in mind
Swimming is banned in the whole park, also for the dog

Dogs do not enter the Barać caves

The Holiday Resort shuttle to the park does not accept dogs

The Guesthouse Bor does not accept pets

### Qué hacer with a dog
- Programme A: Lower Lakes and the Great Waterfall
- Programme C: From the Lower to the Upper Lakes
- Programme H: the Full Loop from Entrance 2
- Programme E: Upper Lakes from Entrance 2
- Programmes K1 and K2: the Whole Park on Foot

### Dónde dormir with a dog
- Hotel Jezero: Dogs accepted; check conditions when booking
- Plitvice Holiday Resort: €20 per dog per night, telling them beforehand; on a lead, never alone and not at the pool
- Camp Korana: Dogs accepted; check conditions when booking

## Consejos

### Buy the first slot
First thing, the boardwalks of the lower lakes can still be walked. From eleven there is a queue on the narrow stretches.

### Choose the entrance by the route, not by proximity
The Entrance 2 routes go down more than up, because the train takes you up to the upper lakes. From Entrance 1 you begin with the Great Waterfall.

### Left-luggage is free
At entrances 1 and 2 and at Flora they keep your suitcases. Useful if you arrive by bus on the way to the coast.

### Wear shoes with grip
The wood is wet from the waterfalls' spray. In the rain, it is slippery.

### Check the winter hours
From November to March the entrances open from 8:00 to 15:00 and ticket sales close at 13:00. The train and the boat run less often.

## Preguntas frecuentes

### How much time do you need?
One day. With 3–4 hours you see the lower or the upper lakes; with 6 hours, almost everything. Two half-days, with the two-day ticket, is the most relaxed way.

### Can you go with small children?
Yes. Programmes A and E last 2–3 hours and the boat and train shorten the walk. A baby carrier is better than a pushchair: there are steps and narrow boardwalks without a handrail.

### Can you take a dog?
Yes, on a lead along the whole route.

### What happens if I'm late for my slot?
You have an hour's margin. Before your time they do not let you in and the online ticket cannot be changed or refunded.

### Is it worth it in winter?
Yes, if you don't mind the cold. The ticket costs €10, the lakes partly freeze and there are hardly any people. Some stretches and the boat may close because of snow or ice.

### Can you go without a car?
Yes. The Zagreb to Zadar and Split buses stop at both entrances and there is free left-luggage. The Hotel Jezero is next to Entrance 2.