Woyzeck

We are planning to stop in the Plitvice region for 2 nights in August on the way from Split to Zagreb. We plan on arriving in the area in the late afternoon, spending the next whole day hiking the park, and departing the next day to make our way to Zagreb.

We will have a rental car with us for the trip, which I hope will afford us some flexibility in our travels. I am searching for a suggestions for a location where we can find lodging within a reasonable drive from Plitvice. Since we have a car with us, we won't need to stay directly in the park itself. I thought of staying north of the park, so that we will be that much closer to Zagreb on our departure date. Lodging in the area obviously reflects peak season prices at this time, so are there recommended villages or towns within a 30-minute drive that might be worth a 2-night stay? I'm not sure if Slunj is too far as a base or to be recommended? We are relatively unfussy travelers open to vacation rentals, private rooms, B + B. We will have time on the evening we arrive and the morning we depart to sightsee a little bit, if there are other small attractions in the vicinity. Any ideas?

Andrew

I recommend spending the extra money and staying in or near the park - and maybe spending only a single night. In August, the park will be absolutely mobbed from mid-morning probably until late afternoon. Your best bet is probably to arrive mid-afternoon so you can hike late afternoon and the following morning (park opens at 7AM) to avoid the big groups. I haven't been to Plitvice at high season, but numerous reports from those who have say it's dreadfully crowded then. It was crowded enough mid-day when I was there in May and in October - can't imagine it in August.

If you spend two nights and hike just the single day, expect lots and lots of people in the middle of the day. I guess you could take a break for half the day and get out of the park and head back in late afternoon, if you want.

If the overpriced park hotels are even still available at this late date for August, one advantage they offer for multiple-day visits to Plitvice is that you don't have to pay each subsequent day to enter the park - the park hotel can stamp your ticket from the previous day so you can enter again on the same ticket.

But if you don't want to stay at the park, one obvious town to stay at would be Karlovac, north of the park (maybe 30 min?) and near the A1. I didn't spend any time in the town, but you drive through it between the A1 and the park on the two lane highway. Karlovac is a reasonably sized town that should have restaurants at least; you won't find much of that around Plitvice itself.

Plitvice is an easy two hour drive to Zagreb, though I didn't have to deal with tourist traffic in August. Can't imagine it will be bad once you drive up to the A1 highway.

Woyzeck

I wanted to follow up on this. We ended up booking 2 nights in a vacation apartment in the village of Slunj. The vacation rental was great and the town was pleasant (only 25 minutes north of Plitvice).

However, given the driving/parking, the massive crowds at the Park, and the entrance fees, I think Andrew offers sound advice about staying in the park for 1 night. This was something we hadn't considered that thoughtfully, since the in-park hotels seemed pricey, but we paid around $85 to enter the park (2 adults/2 kids) in peak season.

Slunj worked out fine and the lodging was comfortable and affordable, but people should look closely at staying in the park to get the best out of their time and money.

Andrew

Thanks for the update - glad it turned out well. FYI, people have been reporting that the park hotels show as completely booked even in September, so it may be hard to book them unless you book far in advance.

kja

Thanks for your update, Woyzeck, but ...

I'm confused! Do any of the hotels within the boundaries of the park actually provide tickets to enter the main footpaths of the park? I thought the fees were separate, but I could be wrong, or things could have changed since I was there....

Or maybe you are simply referring to the added convenience of staying as near the park as possible???

Woyzeck

Hi kja,

I'm sorry for the confusion. As I understand it (now), hotels within the park allow for free entrance to the park after the first day.

kja

Thanks, Woyzeck, that makes much more sense to me. According to the park's website -- as I understand it -- each ticket is for one day only, but park hotels can validate them for a 2nd day. My recommendation to anyone in doubt about that 2nd day would be to contact one's lodging directly to see whether they are able to provide that validation.