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Split to Zagreb: Plitvice Lakes Day Trip & Transfer

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Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/10

Duration12h

GroupUp to 53

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

The 16 Lakes Between Two Cities

You get picked up in Split or Trogir, driven to Plitvice Lakes National Park where an English-speaking guide leads you through both the Upper and Lower Lakes, including a train ride, boat crossing, and the 78-meter Veliki Slap waterfall. Lunch is optional at a local restaurant. The day ends with a transfer to Zagreb, with luggage stored safely in the vehicle the entire time.

12h

Step-by-step itinerary

Depart from Split or Trogir
Guided walk through Plitvice Lakes
Ride train and boat inside park
Visit Upper and Lower Lakes
See Veliki Slap waterfall
Optional lunch at local restaurant
Continue to Zagreb
Drop off in Zagreb

The Experience

You don't expect a national park to fit between a morning pickup and an evening arrival in another country, but Plitvice Lakes makes it work. The route runs from Split or Trogir straight through to Zagreb, but the real day happens in the middle — a guided walk through a UNESCO-protected park where 16 interconnected lakes drop into each other through waterfalls, some of them 78 meters tall. Your guide handles the pacing and the route, which means you're not deciding where to stop or how long to linger; you're just walking through it, taking pictures, and letting the landscape do what it does.

The tour starts at the Upper Lakes, where the water is clearer and the walking is gentler, then moves down to the Lower Lakes where things get steeper and the views open up. Somewhere in the middle you'll ride a small train through the park, and later a boat across one of the larger lakes — these aren't scenic extras, they're built into the route because the park is too spread out to walk all at once. The highlight is Veliki Slap, the Big Waterfall, which is exactly what the name says: a single drop of water so tall it takes a moment to process. Your guide, who speaks English and knows the park, will point out the rare plants and explain why the water changes color between lakes. The whole walking section covers about 5 kilometers on uneven surfaces, which is why the additional info mentions comfortable shoes — not because it's brutal, but because the terrain is real and you'll be on your feet for several hours.

After the park closes around you, there's an optional lunch at a local restaurant if you want to eat before the final drive to Zagreb. If you skip it, you'll arrive in Zagreb in the evening with the day behind you and a full day of travel done. The minivan or bus is air-conditioned, road tolls and parking are covered, and your luggage stays in the vehicle while you walk — one suitcase and one carry-on per person, which matters if you're moving between cities. The whole thing, from pickup to drop-off, takes around 10 hours.

What’s included

Your day includes pickup from Split or Trogir in a comfortable air-conditioned minivan or bus, entry to Plitvice Lakes National Park, a guided walking tour led by an English-speaking guide, a train ride and boat crossing within the park, and a one-way transfer to Zagreb.
Road tolls and parking are covered.
Lunch at a local restaurant is optional and paid separately.
Each traveler can bring one suitcase and one carry-on bag, stored safely in the vehicle during the park visit.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Tours in Croatia

Is this one for you?Choose this if you're traveling between Split or Trogir and Zagreb anyway and want to see Plitvice Lakes without arranging separate transport, park tickets, or timing the stops yourself — the fixed itinerary handles all three, turning a long drive into a full day out.