What are the best things to do in Plitvice Lakes?
Start with Veliki Slap (Great Waterfall), Sastavci Waterfalls, and Prošćansko Lake. This guide maps 53 curated places in Plitvice Lakes, including sights, activities, food and shopping.
Photo: Antonio Pejić / CC BY-SA 4.0
Your complete guide to Plitvice Lakes: the landmarks worth your time, the food locals love, the quiet corners most visitors miss, plus what's on while you're here. Discover it all in the CroVenture app.
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Plitvice Lakes travel questions, answered
Quick answers based on 53 curated places.
Where can I find hidden gems in Plitvice Lakes?
The guide currently includes 11 hidden gems in Plitvice Lakes. Start with Veliki Slap (Great Waterfall), Sastavci Waterfalls, and Prošćansko Lake and use the city sections to see each place alongside nearby sights and routes.
How should I plan a day in Plitvice Lakes?
Use the category sections to combine nearby sights, activities and places to eat. All 53 curated places are grouped so you can build a plan that fits your interests.
Tours and tickets
Browse all Plitvice Lakes experiences Book things to do in Plitvice Lakes
Guided walks, boat days and skip-the-line tickets in and around Plitvice Lakes, bookable in a couple of taps with free cancellation on most.
Walking and city tours
Get your bearings with a local guide and see the highlights first.
View availabilityBoat trips and islands
Island hops, sea caves and swim stops on the water.
View availabilityDay trips and tickets
National parks, wine country and skip-the-line entries nearby.
View availabilityAffiliate disclosure: Croatia Atlas may earn a commission when you book through these links, at no extra cost to you. Prices and availability are handled by the provider.
Don't miss
Hidden gems in Plitvice Lakes
Legendary
Sight
Veliki Slap (Great Waterfall)
Croatia's tallest waterfall, about 78 m, at the canyon's mouth.
Photo: Antonio Pejić / CC BY-SA 4.0
Legendary
Sight
Sastavci Waterfalls
A cluster of small falls where the lake chain's waters finally join into one stream.
Photo: Donald Judge from England / CC BY 2.0
Legendary
Sight
Prošćansko Lake
The highest and largest lake of the upper chain, opening the park's cascade of waters.
Photo: Jason Rogers from Hemel Hempstead, UK / CC BY 2.0
Places
Explore Plitvice Lakes by category
Open the category you need now, then take the full set with you in the app.
Sights
35
Sights
35 Legendary
Sight
Veliki Slap (Great Waterfall)
Croatia's tallest waterfall, about 78 m, at the canyon's mouth.
Photo: Antonio Pejić / CC BY-SA 4.0
Legendary
Sight
Sastavci Waterfalls
A cluster of small falls where the lake chain's waters finally join into one stream.
Photo: Donald Judge from England / CC BY 2.0
Legendary
Sight
Prošćansko Lake
The highest and largest lake of the upper chain, opening the park's cascade of waters.
Photo: Jason Rogers from Hemel Hempstead, UK / CC BY 2.0
Legendary
Sight
Galovački Buk
One of the upper lakes' most photographed waterfalls, its name simply meaning 'the roar'.
Photo: Krzysztof Bergier / CC BY-SA 3.0
Legendary
Sight
Plitvice Lakes National Park
Croatia's oldest and most visited national park, with 16 lakes and waterfalls.
Photo: Donarreiskoffer / Public domain
Hidden gem
Sight
Drežnik Old Town
A medieval fortress at the edge of Drežnik Grad village near Plitvice.
Photo: Antonn Balzer / CC BY-SA 1.0
Plus 29 more, unlocked as you explore in the CroVenture app.
- Krčingrad
- Špoljarićeva pilana
- Vodenica Špoljarić
- Veliki Prštavac Falls
- Lake Galovac
- Upper Lakes
- Lower Lakes
- Lower Lakes Viewpoint
- Lake Kozjak
- Lake Milanovac
- Lake Gavanovac
- Lake Kaluđerovac
- Novakovića Brod Lake
- Ciginovac Lake
- Okrugljak Lake
- Labudovac Waterfall
- Pevalekovi Waterfalls
- Batinovac Lake
- Vir Lake
- Gradinsko Lake
- Burgeti Lakes
- Korana Village
- Speleon Centre
- Drežnik Old Town
- Mrsinjgrad Ruins
- Šupljara Cave
- Plitvica Selo
- Smoljanac Village
- Mali Prštavac Falls
Activities
15
Activities
15
Legendary
Activity
Rastoke Watermills
A cluster of old wooden watermills perched over small cascades at Rastoke.
Photo: Walter Della Schiava / CC BY-SA 3.0
Activity
Lakeside Boardwalks
Kilometres of wooden walkways skimming just above the water.
Photo: Sandor Bordas / CC BY-SA 3.0
Activity
Barać Caves
A show cave near Rakovica, its chambers strung with stalactites and stalagmites.
Photo: Modzzak / CC BY-SA 3.0
Activity
Electric Boat across Kozjak
A silent boat ride linking the lower and upper lakes.
Photo: Aleksandr Zykov / CC BY-SA 2.0
Activity
Panoramic Train
An open road-train shuttling along the forested plateau.
Photo: dronepicr / CC BY 2.0
Activity
Entrance 1 Rastovača
The park's first gate, where the trails and boardwalks of Plitvice begin.
Photo: Chmee2 / CC BY 3.0
Plus 9 more, unlocked as you explore in the CroVenture app.
- Ranch Deer Valley
- Entrance 2 Hladovina
- Kozjak Boat Dock P1
- Kozjak Boat Dock P2
- Panoramic Train Station 1
- Panoramic Train Station 3
- Adrenalin Park Plitvice
- Zipline Beware of the Bear
- Gola Plješivica
Shopping
3
Shopping
3
Shopping
Korenica Town Center
The practical town hub near the park, with everyday shops and services.
Photo: Silverije / CC BY-SA 4.0
Plus 2 more, unlocked as you explore in the CroVenture app.
- Mukinje Market
- Rakovica Market
Read
Plitvice Lakes stories & guides
Local know-how to make the most of your visit.
GuideWhat to see at Plitvice Lakes: the Great Waterfall, Kozjak and the growing barriers
Sixteen lakes stacked in a staircase, separated by barriers that are still growing about a centimetre a year. Knowing that changes what you are looking at.
10 August 2026Plitvice Lakes4 min
NaturePlitvice Lakes in summer 2026: choose the right route
Plan the park around your entrance, available time and the official lake programmes, not around a single waterfall photo.
8 August 2026Plitvice Lakes3 min
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