August 2, 2015 ---- I'm a waterfall lover and Plitvička jezera is the most beautiful waterfall I have ever seen in my life! I think it's prettier than Niagara Falls, but sometimes it's hard to compare when they are totally different. The Niagara Falls are majestic and powerful, but Plitvička jezera is more like a paradise with dozens of cascades and gentle flows of emerald-color water. I put Plitvička jezera on the top of my must-see-in-Croatia list. I didn't care much about the coast even though it seemed to be the reason most tourists go.
Nathan and I booked a round-trip bus ticket from Zagreb to Plitvička jezera online (https://croatiabus.getbybus.com/en/) because we were afraid that it would be full during high season. However, the bus companies will always increase bus service if there is high demand, so you can also buy the ticket at the bus terminal or on the bus. It took over 2 hours on a winding road in the mountains to get to the national park. We got off at Entrance 1 where we had lunch at a small cafe next to the entrance area. The line to get into the park can be really long because everyone has to buy the ticket as they go in, but once you are inside, you are free to explore as long as you want. At the time we were there, there was a ton of people, sometimes making it difficult to enjoy the scenery....
Nathan and I bought a Day-Ticket, which already included a boat ride and a bus ride within the park. (Ticket info: http://www.np-plitvicka-jezera.hr/en/plan-your-visit/operating-hours-and-prices/) We picked to hike on "Trail C" so that we could see the entire park in about 4 hours. The walk was pretty easy because there were boardwalks all over the park and a gentle assent to the upper pools. The boat ride on the lake was also nice and ran frequently so we didn't have to wait long. The upper lakes are as pretty as the lower lakes, but if you don't want to walk a lot or don't have much time to explore, you should just go to Entrance 1 and walk to the overlook point to get the best view of the entire park.
Overall, Plitvice Lakes National Park is really well worth a visit, and I highly recommend everyone to go once in a lifetime and get lost in this paradise. :-)
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| Bus Stop at Entrance 1 |
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| Lunch at the cafe next to Entrance 1 |
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| The line to buy tickets and get into the park at Entrance 1 |
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| The best vista point from Entrance 1 |
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| The sign for hiking trails |
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| A boat ride on the lake |
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| The water just goes into the hole... |
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| The upper lake |
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| A bus ride down to Entrance 1 & 2 |
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| Celebrated at the end of the hike |
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| The bus stop at Entrance 2 |