Plitvice Lakes Day Tour from Split: 16 Lakes & Waterfalls

Sixteen lakes, three ways to move through them, one full day

This 12-hour guided tour from Split takes you to Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia's oldest and largest national park, where you hike around the Upper Lakes, take a sightseeing cruise on the Lower Lakes, and finish with a scenic boat ride. Hotel pickup and drop-off in Split, a professional English-speaking guide, and transport are included. Entrance tickets to the park are paid separately and depend on the season and your age.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Plitvice Lakes National Park

• Travel from Split to Plitvice Lakes
• Hike around the Upper Lakes
• Take sightseeing cruise on Lower Lakes
• Enjoy scenic boat ride
• Optional lunch at traditional restaurant
• Return to Split

The experience

How do you see 16 cascading lakes and Croatia's tallest waterfall without renting a car or navigating the route yourself? The tour handles the drive from Split, roughly two hours each way, and brings a guide who knows where the light hits the travertine barriers and which stops let you stand closest to the water. You start with a hike around the Upper Lakes, where the boardwalks thread between pools and the canyon walls rise around you. The walk is short and moderate, not a scramble, so the pace stays steady and you are not exhausted before the afternoon.

After the Upper Lakes, you board a sightseeing cruise on the Lower Lakes. This is where the scale shifts: the water spreads wider, the reflections deepen, and you sit instead of walk. The boat carries you through the largest of the 16 lakes, and the guide points out the geology and the wildlife if they are there. Then comes a scenic boat ride that closes the loop, and the option to stop for lunch at a traditional restaurant before heading back to Split. The whole day runs 12 hours from pickup to drop-off, so you leave early and return in the evening.

Entrance tickets to the park are not included and must be paid on the day: the price changes by season and by age, and children under 7 enter free. The operator holds group tickets, so do not buy in advance. Wear comfortable shoes and clothes you can move in. If you are going in spring, autumn or winter, bring warm layers and an umbrella, as the weather at the lakes can differ sharply from the coast. Bring water and a snack to keep yourself comfortable through the day.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in your Split area.
• transport to and from Plitvice Lakes.
• a professional English-speaking guide.
• and insurance.

Options for this experience

2 options

From SplitGuide in English · 07:00Pickup is included for departures from Split

Tour from TrogirGuide in English · 07:30Arrive by 07:00. Starting point: Trogir Gate to Old Town, Ul. Blaža Jurjeva Trogiranina 1, 21220, Trogir, Croatia. Includes pickup

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 07:00 and 07:30Last departure this season: 15 Nov

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (15 and older) · Child (3 to 14 years) · Infant (under 3)

GroupUp to 50

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 6 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 64

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Šugaman Tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to see all three lake zones (Upper, Lower and the scenic boat route) without driving yourself or piecing together the stops. The guide and the fixed schedule mean the day holds together, and you avoid the confusion of finding the parking, the ticket office and the boardwalk entrances on your own.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 14 years); Infant (under 3).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly do I do on this tour? Is it mostly hiking or mostly sitting on a boat?

You do both. The day splits between a short hike around the Upper Lakes on boardwalks, a sightseeing cruise on the Lower Lakes where you sit, and a scenic boat ride to finish. None of it is strenuous, but you need moderate fitness and comfortable shoes because you are on your feet for the hiking portion.

Does the tour price include the entrance ticket to Plitvice Lakes?

No. The entrance ticket is paid separately on the day you arrive, and the price depends on the season and your age. Children under 7 enter free. The tour operator holds group tickets, so ask them to buy yours rather than purchasing in advance on your own.

How long is the drive from Split to Plitvice Lakes?

The drive is roughly two hours each way. The full tour is 12 hours from hotel pickup to drop-off, so you leave early in the morning and return in the evening.

What's included in the tour price?

Hotel pickup and drop-off in the Split area, transport to and from the park, a professional English-speaking guide, and insurance are all included. Food, drinks and gratuities are not.

Can I choose to start from Trogir instead of Split?

Yes. The tour operates from both Split and Trogir. You choose your departure point when you book.

What should I bring, and what if the weather is bad?

Bring comfortable walking shoes, casual clothes, water and a snack. If you are traveling in spring, autumn or winter, pack warm layers and an umbrella. The weather at the lakes can be cooler and wetter than on the coast. The operator may adjust the itinerary due to traffic or bad weather.