Plitvice National Park
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Plitvice Lakes Entrances | A Detailed Guide on How to Access the National Park

Where is Plitvice Lakes National Park?

Plitvice Lakes National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site and Croatia’s oldest and largest national park. It is located in central Croatia in the Lika-Senj and Karlovac counties, near the national border with Bosnia and Herzegovina.

How to Access the Plitvice Lakes Entrances?

By Bus: Intercity public transport buses from Zagreb, Zadar, or Split will drop you off at bus stops located near the Plitvice Lakes Entrances on the D1 national highway.

By Car: You can drive down to the national park from Zagreb, Zadar, or Split. From Zagreb, you can reach the national park entrances by taking the E65 and D1 highways. To reach from Zadar, take the E71 and D1 highways. From Split, your route will take you via Zadar on the E71 and D1 highways.

​Getting to Plitvice Lakes National Park

Plitvice Lakes Entrances

There are two main entrances to Plitvice Lakes National Park – Entrance 1 and Entrance 2. They are both located on the D1 national highway about 3 kilometers apart. They provide access to different areas of the national park and its attractions. All visitors have to purchase a ticket to enter the national park.

Plitvice Lakes Entrances | Location and Getting There

Entrance 1 of Plitvice Lakes

Plitvice Lakes Entrance 1

Entrance 1 or the North entrance is located near the Lower Lakes.

How to reach: You can reach Plitvice Lakes Entrance 1 by car or by bus via the D1 highway. If you arrive from the direction of Zagreb, it will be on your right side and you will reach this entrance first. If you arrive from the direction of Zadar or Split, it will be on your left side and you will have to cross Entrance 2 to reach it.

Timings: Plitvice Lakes National Park is open every day but public access hours from Entrance 1 vary depending on the season.
April to May: 7 AM to 7 PM
June to August: 7 AM to 8 PM
September to October: 7 AM to 7 PM
November to March: 8 AM to 4 PM

Average wait time: Booking your tickets online in advance can help you skip the queue and enter the national park in about 10-15 minutes at any time of the year. Without prior reservations in the peak season, queues can be very long and it can take up to an hour based on the number of people visiting the attraction on the day of your visit.

Facilities: Parking Area (P1), Skip-the-line Access, Tourist Information Booth, Restrooms, Restaurants, Luggage Storage Area, ATM Cash Machines, Gift Shop, Intercity Bus Stop.

Plitvice Lakes Entrance 2

Plitvice Lakes Entrance 2

Entrance 2 or the South entrance is located next to the Upper Lakes.

How to reach: You can reach Plitvice Lakes Entrance 2 by car or by bus via the D1 highway. If you arrive from the direction of Zagreb, it will be on your right side and you will have to cross Entrance 1 to reach it. If you arrive from the direction of Zadar or Split, it will be on your left side and you will reach this entrance first.

Timings: The national park is open every day but the timings differ from season to season. Since the Upper Lakes are closed during winter, Entrance 2 is closed from November to March.
April to May: 7 AM to 7 PM
June to August: 7 AM to 8 PM
September to October: 7 AM to 7 PM
November to March: Closed

Average wait time: If you book your tickets online in advance, you can avoid waiting in line and enter the national park in 10-15 minutes. But during the busy summer months, you may have to wait in queue for up to an hour to purchase tickets if you don’t have an early reservation.

Facilities: Parking Areas (P2 and P3), Skip-the-line Access, Tourist Information Booth, Restrooms, Restaurants, Luggage Storage Area, ATM Cash Machines, Gift Shop, Intercity Bus Stop.

Which Plitvice Lakes Entrance Do I Choose?

You can choose either Plitvice Lakes Entrance 1 or 2 to begin your tour of the national park.

Entrance 1 is the North entrance and is located near the Lower Lakes. If you plan to start exploring the national park from the Lower Lakes, you can enter from here.

Plitvice Lakes Entrance 2, the South entrance, is located next to the Upper Lakes. If you want to visit this section of the national park first, you can use this entrance.

​Plan Your Visit

Frequently Asked Questions About Plitvice Lakes Entrances

Where is Plitvice Lakes National Park?

Plitvice Lakes National Park is located at Znanstveno - stručni centar “Dr. Ivo Pevalek” | HR 53231 Plitvička Jezera.

How many entrances does Plitvice Lakes National Park have?

Plitvice Lakes National Park has two entrances: Entrance 1 or the North Entrance, and Entrance 2 or the South Entrance.

Where are the Plitvice Lakes entrances located?

The Plitvice Lakes entrances are located about 3 km apart on D1, the national highway.

What is the main entrance to Plitvice Lakes National Park?

Both Plitvice Lakes Entrance 1 and 2 work as the main entrances.

Which entrance to Plitvice Lakes should I use if I don’t have entry tickets?

You can use Plitvice Lakes Entrance 1 or 2 of the national park if you have to have to buy tickets. Keep in mind that ticket queues can be long, with long waiting times, especially during the peak seasons. You can book your ​Plitvice Lakes National Park tickets online in advance to gain guaranteed entry.

Is there a separate entrance for Plitvice Lakes National Park ticket holders?

Ticket holders can use either of the two entrances to enter the national park.

Which Plitvice Lakes entrance do Skip-the-line ticket holders use?

Skip-the-line ticket holders can use either Entrance 1 or Entrance 2 to enter the park.

What time should I visit Plitvice Lakes National Park to avoid waiting in line?

It is better to begin your visit to Plitvice Lakes National Park at the opening time, which is at 7 AM from April to October and 8 AM from November to March. The park can become crowded later in the day as more visitors arrive.

Where is Plitvice Lakes Entrance 1 located?

Entrance 1 is located on the northern side, near the Lower Lakes.

Where is Plitvice Lakes Entrance 2 located?

Entrance 2 is located on the southern side of the national park near the Upper Lakes.

What facilities are available at Plitvice Lakes Entrance 1?

At Plitvice Lakes Entrance 1, visitors can access Skip-the-line entry, the tourist information booth, restrooms, restaurants, luggage storage area, ATM cash machines and a gift shop. The P1 parking area and the intercity bus stop are also located near this entrance.

What facilities are available at Plitvice Lakes Entrance 2?

Visitors can find Skip-the-line entry, the tourist information booth, restrooms, restaurants, luggage storage area, ATM cash machines and a gift shop at Plitvice Lakes Entrance 2. Two parking areas, P2 and P3, and the intercity bus stop are also located near this entrance.

More Reads

How to get to Plitvice Lakes National Park

Plitvice Lakes National Park Opening Hours

Plan Your Visit to Plitvice National Park

Plitvice National Park
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