3-Day Zagreb Tour: Plitvice Lakes, Bled & Ljubljana

Three days threading Zagreb, waterfalls and Alpine towns without building the itinerary yourself

A private 3-day guided tour from Zagreb that combines the city's historic squares and neighborhoods with Plitvice Lakes National Park's 16 turquoise lakes and cascading waterfalls, then crosses into Slovenia to visit Lake Bled's clifftop castle and Ljubljana's Old Town. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, skip-the-line entry is guaranteed, and a professional English-speaking guide handles the route and timing so the three days hold together as one continuous journey.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Zagreb City Tour

• Visit Ban Jelačić Square
• See Zagreb Cathedral
• Explore Bloody Bridge
• Walk Upper and Lower Towns

Day 2: Plitvice Lakes and Rastoke Villages

• Tour Plitvice Lakes National Park
• Walk wooden footbridges and trails
• Boat ride on Lake Kozjak
• Train ride through park
• Return to Zagreb

Day 3: Bled and Ljubljana

• Visit Bled Castle and terraces
• Boat to Bled Island
• Taste kremšnita dessert
• Tour Ljubljana Old Town
• See Triple Bridge and Dragon Bridge
• Funicular ride to Ljubljana Castle
• Return to Zagreb

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Zagreb.
• private transport throughout the 3 days.
• professional English-speaking guide.
• skip-the-line entry to Plitvice Lakes National Park and the main attractions.
• bottled water.

Times

• Every day 09:00

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Before you book

Group Private

Live guide English

Meeting point and pickup Hotel pickup included. You can choose from 43 pickup points.

Book up to 12h before

Ages Adult (4 and older) · Under 4: can't be booked

Cancellation and refunds Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Good to know

Low physical effort Public transport nearby

Operated by Zico Tours

Prices and times updated 14 days ago

Traveler reviews

5.00 ★★★★★ Exceptional 2 verified traveler reviews

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The experience

Day one stays in Zagreb itself, moving between Ban Jelačić Square, the Cathedral, the Bloody Bridge and the Upper and Lower Towns on combined driving and walking routes that let you see the neighborhoods without piecing together the sequence. The guide handles the stops and the pacing. You move through the city's vibrant heritage without planning which square comes next.

Day two immerses you in Plitvice Lakes National Park, a UNESCO-listed site where 16 turquoise lakes connect through over 90 cascading waterfalls. You'll walk wooden boardwalks and trails through the Upper and Lower Lakes, ride an electric boat across Lake Kozjak, and take a panoramic train past highlights like Veliki Slap, Croatia's tallest waterfall at 78 meters. The 4-hour immersion in the park's lush forests and mist-shrouded cascades ends with a drive back to Zagreb in the late afternoon.

Day three crosses into Slovenia. You start at Lake Bled, where an 11th-century castle sits on a 130-meter cliff above an emerald lake and its tiny island church. From the castle terraces, the Alpine peaks frame the view. Below, traditional pletna boats ferry visitors to the Church of the Assumption on the island. The route includes time to taste kremšnita, Bled's signature vanilla custard cake, at a lakeside café. Then you move to Ljubljana, where a guided walk covers the medieval Old Town, the New and Old Markets, the Triple Bridge (a Plečnik design with three pedestrian spans), and the green dragons of Dragon Bridge. A funicular ride climbs to Ljubljana Castle for panoramic views of the city and the Ljubljanica River before the drive back to Zagreb in the late afternoon.

Top questions

What exactly happens on the Plitvice Lakes day?

Plitvice Lakes National Park's 4-hour tour includes walking wooden boardwalks through the Upper and Lower Lakes, an electric boat ride across Lake Kozjak, and a panoramic train journey with views of Veliki Slap (78 meters, Croatia's tallest waterfall) and surrounding caves. The park's 16 turquoise lakes are linked by over 90 cascading waterfalls through lush forest.

Does the tour include entry to Plitvice Lakes and Bled Castle?

Skip-the-line entry is guaranteed, so you avoid the queues at the attractions. The itinerary covers both Plitvice Lakes National Park on day two and Bled Castle on day three, with the guide managing access so you move straight through.

What is included in the price?

Hotel pickup and drop-off in Zagreb, private transport throughout the three days, a professional English-speaking guide, bottled water, and skip-the-line entry to the main attractions are all included. Food and drinks beyond the water are not covered, though the itinerary includes time to eat at your own expense.

How much walking is involved each day?

Day one combines driving and walking through Zagreb's neighborhoods and squares. Day two includes a 4-hour walk on wooden boardwalks and trails at Plitvice Lakes, with boat and train rides built in. Day three involves walking through Ljubljana's Old Town and climbing to the castle by funicular, plus time at Lake Bled. The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels.

What is the difference between this tour and a 2-day version?

This 3-day tour adds a full day at Plitvice Lakes National Park with the boat and train rides, plus the entire Slovenia leg: Lake Bled's castle and island, and Ljubljana's Old Town and castle. A shorter tour would compress or skip one of these sections.

Do I need to arrange my own transport between the cities?

No. Private transport is included for all three days, with hotel pickup at the start and drop-off at the end. The guide travels with you and manages the route, so you don't arrange transfers between Zagreb, Plitvice, Bled and Ljubljana.