How to Get From Split to Plitvice Lakes
Bus · Day Trip · Private · Overnight Stay at Plitvice Lakes
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In this in-depth route guide, you'll find the best ways to travel the 270 kilometre (168 miles) distance from Split to Plitvice Lakes. By the end of this guide, you'll know exactly how to get there — whether you want to travel on a budget, reach Plitvice Lakes as fast as possible, or enjoy the ride in comfort. We base our information on verified schedules, ticket prices, and on-the-ground insights from recent travellers.
What are the 4 ways to travel from Split to Plitvice Lakes?
There are four ways to travel the 270 km distance from Split to Plitvice Lakes. You can choose between the bus, day trip, private, and overnight stay at plitvice lakes.
The journey takes between 2h 30m–12h and the quickest way is by private (2h 30m). If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by overnight stay at plitvice lakes with tickets starting at €14 ($16).
3h 30m - 4h 30m
€22 ($25)
12 hours
€65 ($55)
2h 30m - 2h 45m
€275 ($320)
2 days
€19 ($16)
Split to Plitvice Lakes by Bus
Taking the bus is the cheapest way to travel from Split to Plitvice Lakes. Tickets cost around €23 ($27), and the journey takes about 3h 30m - 4h 30m, depending on traffic.
Knezevic - Puntamika operates on this route.
Departure and arrival stations
Buses depart from Split Bus Station, between the port and the train station in the city centre.
You will be dropped off at Plitvice Lakes Bus Stop in front of Entrance 1. The ticket office is near the bus stop, so you can buy your tickets to the national park directly from this entrance if you haven’t bought them in advance.
Bus schedules from Split to Plitvice Lakes
Ready to book your bus?
We highly suggest booking your bus tickets beforehand via BookAway, especially if you're travelling in the summer.
Return bus from Plitvice Lakes to Split (DIY day trip)
If you’re planning to visit the national park on your own, you can buy your round-trip tickets through BookAway or book a self-guided tour via GetYourGuide.
With BookAway, you can take the first bus out of Split at 07:00 and the last bus from Plitvice Lakes at 18:00. This should give you about 7.5 hours at the national park. Round-trip bus tickets cost €45 ($53) on BookAway.
Another option is a self-guided tour on GetYourGuide, which arranges all transportation for you. The tour takes about 12 hours, including the 7-hour round-trip transportation, and costs €50 ($59).
Booking you round-trip tickets with BookAway is slightly cheaper. But with GetYourGuide, you get the privilege of skipping the line at the entrance. Note that these prices don’t include the entrance ticket.
Bus schedules from Plitvice Lakes to Split
Ready to book your bus?
Booking Tip
Split to Plitvice Lakes by Day Trip
A convenient option to visit Plitvice Lakes from Split is to join an organised group tour. With this, all you need to do is show up at the meeting place, and everything else will be arranged for you.
Most group tours are around 12 hours, with 7 hours of that being the round-trip transportation. This leaves you with about 5 hours at the national park, which is still a good enough time to see a good portion of Plitvice.
A full-day tour of Plitvice National Park costs around €65 ($76) per person. This tour includes a guide, transportation and a boat ride. Entry tickets are not included, but you'll get to skip the ticket line if you reserve your entrance ticket online.
Several other tours with different inclusions are also available on GetYourGuide:
Split to Plitvice Lakes by Private Transport
Given the 270 km distance between Split and Plitvice Lakes, private transport is the most expensive option.
A 3-passenger car costs around €275 ($320). Divide the cost, and that’s €91 ($105) per person.
Alongside the extra privacy and convenience, one of the biggest advantages of private transport is that you can be picked up from the airport, ferry port, or your hotel in the city centre. You can also be dropped off at any entrance or hotel at the national park.
Travel time is just 2h 30m - 2h 45m one-way, and you’ll be travelling comfortably, ready to explore Plitvice Lakes!
Private Transport options from Split to Plitvice Lakes
Split to Plitvice Lakes by Overnight Stay at Plitvice Lakes
With everything that Plitvice Lakes National Park has to offer, a day trip might not be enough! We suggest staying at least two days to fully appreciate the park’s wonders.
There are a few hotels conveniently located within walking distance of Entrances 1 and 2. Due to their close proximity to the park, they are often fully booked, so it’s best to reserve a room in advance!
If you want a more unique experience, you can also check the campsites about 5-7 km north of Entrance 1: Campsite Korana and Camping Plitvice. You can pitch your own tent or try their mobile homes! These campsites also offer different activities and free transportation to the national park. Rates for an overnight stay start at €19 ($23) per person.
Many hostels are located in Jezerce Village, about 2 km away from Entrance 2. To get to the park from Jezerce, you can board a 2-minute bus from Mukinje Bus Stop costing around €2.00 ($2.40).
Rounding it up
We hope this guide was helpful in planning how to get from Split to Plitvice Lakes. If there's anything else you're wondering about, drop us a comment and we'll do our best to answer you within a few days.
PS: If you've recently travelled this route, share your experience with fellow travellers and help us improve this post. Thanks for helping out our travel community!
Frequently Asked Questions
The distance from Split to Plitvice Lakes is 270 km.
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Abby is a writer who finds joy in mountains, beaches, and road trips. She considers her solo backpacking trip to the rice terraces of Bontoc one of the most fulfilling moments in her life. She's loyal to the islands of her home country, the Philippines, but Thailand's beaches also have a special place in her heart.
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