If you don’t want to rent a car, here are some awesome (and convenient) door-to-door tours depending on where you are coming from:

Are you in Croatia, searching for a bus from Zagreb to Plitvice Lakes, for example?

You should know that there are many buses departing from all the major Croatian cities that are quite cheap and they run frequently You can check the schedule and buy tickets online here. There is even a bus that departs directly from Zagreb Airport in case you do not want to stay in the city!

NOTE1: Keep in mind that you will have to pay a small luggage fee similar to the one you pay to low-cost airlines (from 7 to 10 kunas, ~1 Eur). You can usually save about 5% by booking your ticket online for bus companies like Arriva. They also have Wi-FI on board by the way!

NOTE2: the fee for parking once you arrive in the park is 7 kunas/hour (1.3 Euros)



7. When is the best time to visit Plitvice Lakes?

Anytime you can because seriously, as Plitvice weather is almost always nice and welcoming. I wa there in early October when the weather was still nice and the water was incredibly turquoise. But every season is different in its beauty. Thinking of visiting Plitvice in the winter? I bet it looks gorgeous covered in snow as well!

In short, it does not matter when, just go there, don’t miss the chance! 🙂

Whatever the season, hiking shoes are not necessary because the road is nicely done and you will be just fine wearing regular shoes. But remember, as Plitvice National Park is located in a mountain area, it gets pretty cold in the evening, so don’t forget to take warm clothes!

8. Can you swim in Plitvice Lakes?

Are you in the mood for some Plitvice Lakes swimming? Unfortunately for you, swimming has been forbidden in the park since 2006. But I have some good news, too! In case you really want to swim in some wonderful, turquoise water, you can do so in Krka Waterfall National Park in Dalmatia. This park is only 2 hours away from Plitvice and you can soak there for however long you please, although you can’t actually swim under the waterfalls.

So, Krka or Plitvice? My answer is: both, if you have the time!

Both parks have stunning waterfalls, views and nature, but different atmospheres. If you really want to swim, then you should add Krka to your itinerary as well 🙂

Where can you stay in Plitvice Lakes National Park?

UPDATE: In case you are searching for hotels near Plitvice Lakes, I have written a blog post about the Best hotels to stay at around Plitvice Lakes – they are all hand-picked, have fabulous reviews are sorted by price for your convenience – enjoy! 🙂

There are getting to be more and more accommodations around the national park and home-stays are popping up like mushrooms after the rain!

I stayed in Villa Mukinja, which I can definitely recommend; it is one of the best places to stay in and the perfect Plitvice accommodation!

This family run hotel has been open for more than 30 years. It was there even before the tourist boom and it is a great value for the money! My room was spacious and clean, all amenities needed were provided.

Dinner is an extra option, but you will miss so much if you opt out since local food is a part of the Plitvice experience! You will get an AMAZING dinner that you will remember for a long time! What I had for my dinner was an appetizer (could have been easily a dinner by itself), a salad, a soup, one of the 3 local specialties of your choice (fresh catch of the day, meat dish or a vegetarian plate) and a dessert. Crazy!

All I wanted to do afterwards was to melt in the Jacuzzi and relax in the sauna, which is free of charge for all Villa Mukinja guests.

The breakfast was another huge meal. I don’t think I have ever had a bigger breakfast anywhere else! Just to give you an example – me alone, I had 5 pitchers of different types of drinks – a pitcher of milk, tea, coffee, water and juice. Did they seriously think I could drink it all by myself?

The owner told me that if their guests stay for 2 days or longer they get used to the amount of food offered, but at first it comes as a shock.

Oh, and by the way, the place is located a 10-15 minute walk from the park. It is an enjoyable walk through the forest. I loved the location!

If you arrive by bus, just give them a call or tell them in advance what time you arrive, and they will pick you up from the bus station.

Book your stay with Villa Mukinja here!