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Outdoors

Plitvice Lakes Boardwalk Hike

You walk the boardwalks and paths through the Lower Lakes canyon to the Great Waterfall, cross Lake Kozjak by electric boat, and continue through the Upper Lakes past the Veliki and Mali Prštavac falls. The panoramic train brings you back most of the way to the start.

For The Reps · Updated

hike scenery for Plitvice Lakes Boardwalk near Plitvice Lakes
Photo: A bridge in Plitvice lakes national park, Croatia by Someone35, CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0). Via Wikimedia Commons.
Where
Plitvice Lakes, Croatia
Distance
8 km
Time
4-5 hours

The route

Plitvice Lakes Programme C from Entrance 1 (Lower and Upper Lakes).

Start at Entrance 1 (north) on the D429 road, which has a paid car park. Buses on the D429 between inland Croatia and the coast stop near both entrances.

When to go

The park is open all year; tickets cost most from June to September and least from November to March.

Permits and fees

You need a park ticket, best bought online with an entry time slot. In 2026 an adult day ticket costs €40 from June to September (€25 after 4 pm in June to August and after 3 pm in September), €23 in April, May and October, and €10 from November to March; boat and train rides on your programme are included.

Before you go

  • Book online and pick an entry time to avoid queuing at the gate.
  • In summer, a later entry gets you the cheaper afternoon price.
  • Car parking at the entrances is charged by the hour (€2 an hour from June to September).
  • Wear comfortable shoes with grip for the wooden walkways.

What to bring

  • Shoes with grip that you have already worn in
  • At least 1.5 litres of water
  • Food you will actually want to eat
  • A warm or waterproof layer
  • The route, saved offline
  • Sun cream and a hat

Getting ready for it

If your longest walk lately is under two hours, do a few longer walks first, ideally with some climbing and the pack you will carry.

Step-ups and lunges twice a week make the descents much easier on your knees.

Staying safe

  • Swimming is banned in the lakes, and you must stay on the boardwalks and marked trails.
  • Tell someone your route and when you expect to be back.
  • Turn around if the weather turns or the footing gets sketchy. The trail will still be there.

Route details checked September 30, 2026 against np-plitvicka-jezera.hr, np-plitvicka-jezera.hr, np-plitvicka-jezera.hr and np-plitvicka-jezera.hr. Rules and closures change, so check before you go.