Visit Plitvice Lakes, Croatia - Cruises, Sailing Holidays, Tours & Sightseeing

The Plitvice Lakes National Park is certainly worth visiting. A UNESCO World Heritage Site and part of the Natura 200 protected habitats and species of Europe, this area is postcard-perfect. From verdant forest mountains and lush grasslands to a series of spectacular lakes and waterfalls, its scenic beauty is jaw-dropping.

Cruise Croatia manages all logistics in getting you to this area. Several of our Dalmatian Coast cruises in 2024 offer a side trip pre or post cruise to this stunning location. We can assist with day trips from Split & Zagreb to the lakes. Speak to our team to find out more!

The best way to see Plitvice Lakes is on a Cruise Croatia sailing holiday! Why? Because we remove the stress and hassle of getting to the area. We take care of your transport, ensuring effortless access to this stunning area.

Once you’re there, we recommend walking on any of the four routes (choose the duration and intensity that best suits you).

This area is stunning to visit any time of year. Each season brings its own beauty.

Spring and Summer provide abundant flowers (depending on the time of year, think snowdrop, liverwort, violet, primrose, and creeping marshwort) and rich forestation. Autumn sees many trees, such as oaks, mountain elms and beeches, turn from lush green to rustic reds and bronze. It is not uncommon for snow to fall over Winter and for lakes to begin freezing over, bringing a quiet and majestic stillness.

You might be surprised to hear that summer is relatively short-lived and can rain quite a bit compared to other parts of Croatia. That said, it is glorious in any weather. However, we recommend always wearing comfortable hiking shoes and packing a rain jacket just in case!

Clients often ask us how long to spend at Plitvice Lakes. Provided your interests are general, you can get a great sense of the park’s beauty and uniqueness during a day trip. A 2-3 hour walk will cover most of the main sights and if you have more specific goals (e.g., full day hiking and row-boating), you would probably need to spend a night and two days in the area.

Walk, stroll & hike to soak up the atmosphere and enjoy the beauty of this natural paradise. Most guests simply enjoy the walks and the views. There are trails to suit most various fitness levels from a few hours to a full day.

Many wild animals call the Plitvice Lakes home. Keep your eyes open for beers, lynxes, wolves, red deer, wild deer, bats, raptors, singing birds, crayfish, otters, trout and more.

No, swimming in this national park is not permitted. Feeding animals, removing vegetation, littering, or venturing off the designated touring paths is also prohibited.

Unlike English, the Croatian alphabet is pronounced phonetically. So, the correct pronunciation of Plitvice is ‘Plit’ (like Split) Vits-Uh.