Hello. I'm hoping to get advice on the best transportation method from Split to Plitvice Lakes and then the next day transferring to Zagreb. I'm guessing seeing the park the following day after arriving to the Lakes is best because of the long drive? I see you can take the bus pretty easily, but I'm wondering if there is a benefit to using a tour service for this to help expedite entry into the park.
Posted by
5964 posts
It is just a matter of your preference and budget, etc. You don't say what month, and the park gets very large crowds, especially in season. Most recommend visiting in the late afternoon/evening on arrival and the following morning before departing. I found the bus easy and staying in one of the park hotels gave me great proximity to walk right into the park.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
We are going in mid August, so I'm guessing it'll be at peak busyness. If a tour made the crowds easier, we would be willing to pay more than a bus would be. Thank you for the advice of going later in the afternoon and first thing in the morning.
Posted by
Zagreb
6 posts
It is best to visit on your own, typically recommend staying overnight and entering the park right as it opens to avoid the worst of the crowds. Problem is the crowds are often people coming in on the tours.
Try an afternoon bus to Plitvice, there is no reason to get there early the night before, visit the next morning, head to Zagreb on an early afternoon bus.
Posted by
Chicago
962 posts
It is about 3 hours from Split to Plitvice and then another 2 onto Zagreb, so the
plan of getting leaving Split late morning, spending part of the day (the park is
open until 8pm) and the next morning, then getting a bus to Zagreb, makes
sense.
The park is laid out in kind of a figure 8 shape, and it pays to study the map
and figure out how to get around, but it does lend itself to doing ~half each day.
Posted by
Zagreb
6 posts
Two day tickets are 60€ per person while a one day ticket is 40€ and you can easily see it in one, no need to rush to get there from Split.
Posted by
1200 posts
You definitely want to schedule a night here. I did the itinerary you describe, and it was all pretty straightforward in the end. Check getbybus.com for schedule options, the best fit may not be through the same company on each leg.
A tour company is actually the worst option because they will land you in the park in the middle of the day. On your own, you can visit late afternoon as the crowds thin out. The best time is entering the park the minute they open. I had an entire trail to myself. The park hotels aren’t cheap or particularly great, but the convenience and proximity make up for it. Admission is also tied/discounted/extended for hotel guests. It sounds like they’ve changed how this works recently.