We Planned You Pack

Compare all 8 suggested trail combinations and choose the one that’s right for your visit.

Croatia’s Plitvice Lakes trails are one of the highlights of Croatia’s most popular national park—but which trail you choose matters. It can make the difference between a peaceful day in nature and following crowds for hours.ƒ

When we visited Plitvice Park we’d been told to go early and head straight to the Upper Lakes. It seemed counterintuitive.  The big waterfall was famous and in all the photos. Why wouldn’t we see it first? Lakes are just, well, lakes. But we listened. We bought 7 a.m. entrance tickets and headed for the Upper Lakes. All I can say about those first 30 minutes…they were magical. Rushing water, clear pools with tiny trout, wooden boardwalks, a new waterfall at every turn — and no one else around. It truly was the highlight of our five-week trip to Eastern Europe.

Later that morning, as the park’s Panoramic Vehicles unloaded and filled the boardwalks with visitors, I realized how lucky we’d been. The rest of the park — even crowded spots like Veliki Slap — was still spectacular. But that quiet first hour exploring the Upper Lakes was the best possible introduction.

Route Overwhelm

When I began planning the visit I looked at the park website. It features maps and descriptions of 8 different hiking trails to see the park. A through H (no D or G) and K1 and K2. Each combine walking, ferry rides and shuttles in different ways. I ended up clicking back and forth as I tried to answer the basic questions. Which ones include both the Upper and Lower Lakes? Which use the ferry? Which require the least walking and uphill sections? It was very frustrating to try and compare them.

So that you won’t have to build your own Xcel spreadsheet, I’ve summarized Plitvice Lakes trails below and then matched them to the type of visits they fit best.

Lake Tour Programs (routes) map and description link.

Which Tour Best Fits Your Visit?

If You Want To…..	Best Route	Why
See the Great Waterfall with minimal walking	A	The shortest route and an excellent intro to the Lower Lakes.
Enjoy the Lower Lakes plus a scenic boat ride	B	Adds the Lake Kozjak ferry while keeping walking reasonable.
See both the Upper and Lower Lakes	C	The classic first-time route.
Focus on the Quieter Upper Lakes	E	Waterfalls, forest and fewer visitors.
See the entire park starting at Entrance 2	H	Similar to Route C but begins with Upper Lakes. My first choice.
Spend a full day hiking	K1 or K2	Covers both lake systems on foot.
Have only 2-3 hours	A or E	Choose A for the Great Waterfall or E for the Upper Lakes.
Prefer the easiest walking.	A or B	Excellent scenery with modest walking.

Tickets

This is the official website for tickets. Tickets often sell out during busy seasons. Buy them well in advance but you need to have an idea of where you’re going to stay as you’ll be choosing an entrance and entry time. Be careful about other online vendors who may charge you higher prices.

Accessibility

Overall, I would describe Plitvice Lakes trails as having limited accessibility. Some overlooks and transportation options may work for visitors with mobility limitations, but many of the park’s most memorable sections involve uneven wooden boardwalks, steps, slopes and wet surfaces. Railings are inconsistent and not child-proof.  However, we did see several visitors successfully navigating with metal assistive canes.  Fortunately there’s an excellent article that goes into depth about the accessibility options at the park. It even gives a specific accessible itinerary for visitors with significant mobility limitations. Accessibility Guide.

Should You Spend One Day or Two?

One day is probably enough if you…

• Want to see the highlights.
• Have another destination to reach.
• Enjoy waterfalls but don’t feel the need to hike every trail.
• Use one of the longer trails, such as C or H, or a similar custom itinerary.

Consider two days if you…

• Love hiking.
• Enjoy photography.
• Prefer a slower pace.
• Want to explore side trails
• Like returning to the park early before the crowds arrive.

We spent one morning in the park because we were driving to Rovinj that afternoon. Looking back, we saw the highlights, but wished we had stayed two nights. We would have enjoyed hiking more of the upper trails in the park.

What Surprised Us

The boardwalks did not feel over-engineered. They were made from rough planks in varying widths, with occasional step-ups and only intermittent railings. That added to the natural atmosphere, although I had to pay attention where I placed my feet.

A roadside viewpoint in Plitvica Selo was our favorite.  It impressed us even more than the official park overlooks.

The park was larger than expected.  Plitvice is not simply a collection of waterfalls connected by short paths. It could easily serve as a full day-hiking destination.

The experience was immersive. Unlike most hikes, Plitvice surrounded us with the changing colors of the water, sounds from the waterfalls and rushing streams, and texture of the rough wood walkways and rock canyon walls.

The water was astonishingly clear.  We could see brown trout of different sizes swimming beneath the boardwalks, the limbs and rocks below and the color of the water seemed to change from one lake to the next.

Additional Tips

1. Reserve the earliest timed entry available.
2. Choose the route that best fits your time and interests, but be open to change due to crowds or other issues.
3. Spend less time checking the map and more time looking around.
4. Wear comfortable shoes with good grip.
5. Carry drinking water and a small snack.
6. Use the ferry and Panoramic Vehicle when needed.
7. Do not worry about seeing every trail.
8. Leave more time than you think you will need.
9. Take both photographs and short videos—the movement and sound are part of the experience.  
10.  Ask someone to take at least one photograph of you instead of just selfies.

▶ Watch (6 seconds): Listen to the sound of rushing water along the Lower Lakes boardwalk.

Plitvice Lakes National Park is one of those rare places that lives up to the photographs—and then exceeds them. Long after I forget which trail we took or where we boarded the shuttle, I will remember the rushing water, the clear lakes, and the early morning in the Upper Lakes. I hope this guide helps you spend less time worrying about the route and more time simply enjoying one of Europe’s most remarkable national parks.

Continue Exploring the Balkans

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• Durmitor National Park: Montenegro’s Uncrowded Alps

I’d Love to Hear From You

Have you visited Plitvice Lakes National Park? Please share your experiences.