Plitvice Lakes National Park is the largest national park in Croatia that contains a beautiful karst landscape with a mix of forests, meadows, waterfalls, and lakes. Plitvice Lakes National Park contains sixteen emerald lakes split between upper and lower levels resulting in beautiful cascading waterfalls. The lakes cover <1% of the total park area, which is primarily covered in forest vegetation. I recommend avoiding a trip during the peak summer months due to large crowds and expensive entry fees.
How I Booked the Award Flight to Croatia
I used Flying Blue miles to book the Air France business class flight (55K miles and ~$200 taxes) from US to Zagreb (ZAG). It is easy to find a one-way business class for 55K per person as long as you plan the trip in advance.
How to get to Plitvice Lakes National Park
I recommend flying to Zagreb (ZAG) in Croatia (which has the most connecting flights) and renting a car to drive <2 hours to the national park. Zadar (ZAD) is another closest airport to Plitvice (130km), but it may not have as many connecting flights compared to Zagreb. Travelers can decide on either airport depending on flight availability and rental car prices.
Accommodation in Plitvice Lakes National Park
I recommend staying one night in the nearby B&Bs to properly rest and explore the national park the next day. Rushing to drive from Zagreb as a day trip and returning the same day will not give you enough time to explore the massive region. We stayed at Hotel Degenija, located close to the national park.
Plitvice Lakes National Park
The entrance ticket prices vary between (10-24 Euros) based on the season (https://np-plitvicka-jezera.hr/en/plan-your-visit/istrazite-jezera/price-list/) and the ticket price includes electric boat and panorama train transport, visitor insurance, and the value-added tax. Tickets can be purchased online (https://ticketing.np-plitvicka-jezera.hr/index.aspx?l=EN) and can be stored on a smartphone to display at the entrance. There are several dining options inside the national park. Swimming is forbidden inside the Plitvice Lakes National Park.
Plitvice Lakes National Park Routes
The Plitvice Lakes National Park offers visitors seven different routes (programs) incorporated in two entrances with three shuttle bus stops (ST1-ST3), three boat terminals (P1-P3), a panoramic train, and four hiking trails. Routes A, B, and C start at Entrance 1, and routes E, F, and H start at Entrance 2. Program K is a full-day hike (12 miles) through the entire park without taking a boat or shuttle. There are detailed hiking maps with directions on the official website (https://np-plitvicka-jezera.hr/en/plan-your-visit/istrazite-jezera/activities/hiking/#) and also on Alltrails.com (https://www.alltrails.com/parks/croatia/lika-senj/nacionalni-park-plitvicka-jezera).
Recommended Path of Exploration (from C to H routes):
- Route C combines both the lower and upper lakes of Plitvice Lakes National Park (5 miles) and I recommend it for all first-time visitors.
- Start the early morning at entrance 1 of the national park and take the boardwalk on the lower lakes.
- Visit the Veliki Slap waterfall, Vidikovac viewpoint (if stairs are open), and Cliff Views Trail.
- Visit the Supljara Cave (closed sometimes).
- Take the electric boat (which arrives every 30 minutes) ride to the upper lakes and explore the area (Galovac lake).
- If you did not pack lunch, eat at some of the restaurants there.
- Take the panorama train from ST-3 back to the lower lakes ST-1.
Plitvice Lakes National Park Scenery
Summary
Plitvice Lakes National Park should be on the bucket list of destinations for all travelers. Croatia can be easily reached from the US and award booking flights with points is possible with several programs like Flying Blue or Iberia Avios.