Plitvice Lakes day tour from Zadar: 10 hours with boat and train

Ten hours inside Croatia's only UNESCO site, riding across clear lakes and through forest on electric boat and train.

A 10-hour guided day tour from Zadar to Plitvice Lakes National Park with entry ticket, local guide, electric boat cruise on Kozjak Lake, scenic train through the forest, and access to Veliki Slap waterfall. The tour includes a separate guided walking tour of Zadar Old Town available at 6:00 PM on any day during your stay. Purchase options vary: you can book without the entrance ticket, with it included, or as a small group with hotel pickup and entry combined.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Plitvice Lakes and Zadar Old Town

• Travel from Zadar to Plitvice Lakes
• Explore nature trails around lakes
• Enjoy electric boat cruise on Kozjak Lake
• Take scenic train ride through forest
• Admire Veliki Slap waterfall
• Return to Zadar
• Join guided walking tour of Old Town

The Experience

Ten hours means you spend roughly four of them inside the park itself, following carefully selected routes through the Upper and Lower Lakes on wooden boardwalks that run above the water. A local guide leads the way, pointing out the wildlife and the geology that made this the only UNESCO World Heritage site in Croatia. You'll see Veliki Slap, the country's highest waterfall, and the water stays clear enough that you notice the depth beneath the boardwalks.

The boat and train rides break up the walking. An electric boat carries you across Kozjak Lake—a panoramic cruise that lets you sit and take in the scale of the place without moving on foot. Then a scenic train winds through the forest, another chance to rest and watch the landscape shift. The air-conditioned bus handles the drive from Zadar through the Croatian countryside and back, so the day doesn't wear you down with logistics.

Back in Zadar by evening, you have the option to join a guided walking tour of the Old Town at 6:00 PM on any day of your stay. It's included in the experience, so you can take it the same day you return from the lakes or pick a different evening. The tour is available to join whenever suits your schedule during your time in Zadar.

What’s included

• Entry to Plitvice Lakes National Park (if selected at checkout).
• knowledgeable local guide in English.
• panoramic electric boat ride across Kozjak Lake.
• scenic electric train ride through the forest.
• air-conditioned bus transportation.
• guided walking tour of Zadar Old Town at 6:00 PM on any evening of your stay.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Zadar In And Out

Is this one for you?Choose the option with hotel pickup if you want to avoid arranging your own transport to the meeting point; the small group size keeps the pace manageable and the guide's local knowledge makes the four hours inside the park feel shorter than the distance you cover. If you're staying several days in Zadar, you can take the Old Town walking tour on a separate evening, so the lake tour doesn't have to squeeze both experiences into one exhausting day.

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Top questions

What exactly happens during the four hours inside Plitvice Lakes National Park?

You walk nature trails on wooden boardwalks that run around and above the Upper and Lower Lakes, learning about the park's wildlife and geology from your local guide. You'll see Veliki Slap, Croatia's highest waterfall, and the routes are chosen to show the clearest views of the crystal-clear water without requiring difficult hiking.

Does the tour include the entrance ticket to Plitvice Lakes, or do I pay separately?

Entry to Plitvice Lakes National Park is included if you choose the "With Entrance Ticket" or "Small Group Tour with Pickup and Entry Ticket" option at checkout. If you book the "Without Entrance Ticket" option, you'll arrange entry separately.

How does the Zadar Old Town walking tour work if I'm doing the lake tour the same day?

The Old Town guided walking tour runs at 6:00 PM on any day during your stay in Zadar, so you can join it the evening you return from Plitvice Lakes or choose a different evening. It's included in your tour package and you pick which day works for you.

What's included in the boat and train rides at Plitvice Lakes?

A panoramic electric boat cruise takes you across Kozjak Lake so you can rest and view the landscape from the water. A scenic electric train then winds through the forest, giving you another break from walking while you move through the park. Both are included in the tour.

Do I need to arrange my own transportation from Zadar to Plitvice Lakes?

An air-conditioned bus handles all transportation from Zadar to the park and back. If you book the "Small Group Tour with Pickup and Entry Ticket" option, hotel pickup and drop-off in Zadar are included. Otherwise, you'll meet the group at a designated point.

Is lunch provided during the 10-hour tour?

Lunch is not included in the tour. You'll have time to eat during the day, and you can bring food or purchase it near the park.