Rastoke & Plitvice

• Highlights
• Perfect day
• Map & getting there
• Where to stay
• When to go
• Mistakes to avoid
• Quick answers

Two kinds of waterfall country, one road

Picture old wooden watermills perched right on top of waterfalls, with the river running under and around the houses. That's Rastoke, where the Slunjčica river tumbles into the Korana. People have lived and milled grain here for centuries.

Half an hour down the road is Plitvice: 16 turquoise lakes stepping down through a forest, linked by hundreds of waterfalls and miles of wooden boardwalks. It's one of Croatia's best-known national parks, founded in 1949, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The lakes are still growing. Natural rock barriers called travertine build up between them a little more every year, and the colour of the water changes with the light, from emerald to bright blue.

What to see

• The mills of Rastoke: walk the little paths between the old watermills and wooden houses, with water rushing under your feet.
• The Great Waterfall (Veliki slap): 78 metres high, at the end of the Lower Lakes.
• The Lower Lakes boardwalks: the classic Plitvice views: the paths cross the water right at the foot of the falls.
• The boat across Kozjak: a free electric boat crosses the biggest lake and links the Lower and Upper Lakes.
• The Upper Lakes: quieter, greener and full of small cascades. Most day-trippers never make it up here.

Swimming is banned everywhere in Plitvice to protect the water. Please keep out of the water in Rastoke too.

The perfect two-stop day

Sleep near the park the night before. You get Rastoke in the evening light and Plitvice's boardwalks before the tour buses arrive.

1. Afternoon beforeStop in Rastoke on the drive down from Zagreb. An hour or two is enough to walk around the mills.
2. EveningSleep in a guesthouse near the park entrances, so you're first in line in the morning.
3. Early morningBe at the gate when it opens. The Lower Lakes and the Great Waterfall are almost empty.
4. Late morningTake the boat across Kozjak and walk up through the Upper Lakes.
5. AfternoonThe crowds peak around midday. Head back down on the panoramic train and grab a late lunch.

Where it is and how to get there

Both are in central Croatia, between Zagreb and the Adriatic coast.

• By car The easiest way. Zagreb to Rastoke takes about 1.5 hours, and Plitvice is another 30 minutes south.
• By bus Buses run from Zagreb to Plitvice in roughly 2 to 2.5 hours. Check the timetable first, as services vary by season.
• Tickets Adult day tickets for 2026 cost €10 (1 November to 31 March), €23 (April, May and October) and €40 (1 June to 30 September, until 4 pm; until 3 pm in September). Later in summer the price drops to €25. Buy online and choose your entrance and entry time, as you can't enter before it.

Entrances: Entrance 1 (Rastovača) and Entrance 2 (Hladovina) are both open from 7 am to 6 pm, and ticket sales end at 3 pm. The car parks open from 7 am to 7 pm.

Where to stay: Rastoke or by the park?

When to go

• Spring April to June. Snowmelt makes the waterfalls the strongest of the year. Our favourite. Tickets are €23 until the end of May, then €40 from June.
• Summer June to September. Warm and green, but the busiest and most expensive time, at €40 before 4 pm.
• Autumn October and November. Red and gold forests and fewer people. Tickets are €23 in October and €10 from November. September still costs the summer price.
• Winter Frozen waterfalls and snow on the boardwalks. The Lower Lakes are usually open, but the Upper Lakes are usually closed until early April, depending on the weather. Check the park's current conditions page before you go.

Our tips for Rastoke & Plitvice

• Stop in Rastoke. It's right on the way, and most tourists drive straight past it.
• Be at Plitvice when it opens. By noon the narrow boardwalks turn into a queue.
• Book Plitvice tickets online in summer. Your ticket has an entry time, and the ticket lines are long.
• Wear shoes with grip. The boardwalks are wet and can be slippery.
• Stay on the paths. Leaving the boardwalk or swimming is banned, and rangers can fine you. The lakes are fragile.

Don't make these mistakes

• Doing Plitvice as a rushed day trip from the coast. Five hours of driving for a few hours in the park. Sleep nearby instead.
• Arriving at midday in July. That's peak crowd time, and the paths barely move.
• Swimming, fishing or feeding animals. All three are banned to protect the park.
• Skipping the Upper Lakes. They're quieter and just as beautiful.
• Missing Rastoke. It takes an hour and you pass it anyway.

Quick answers

A note on prices: fees, opening hours and timetables change, and we update them every year. The details in this guide were checked in autumn 2026 and may be different by the time you travel, so please confirm them on the official website before you book.