Getting from Zagreb to Plitvice Lakes National Park and Plitvice Lakes to Zagreb involves just a few options – you can get there by bus, taxi, Uber, or private transfer. There are no flights or train connections between Zagreb and Plitvice.
How far is Zagreb from Plitvice Lakes National Park? The distance between Zagreb city center and Plitvice Lakes is 132 kilometers, while from Zagreb Airport the distance is 141 km.
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Zagreb to Plitvice Lakes by Bus
If you are traveling solo, getting there by bus is the cheapest option. Driving, taxi, Uber, or private transfer are the faster and more comfortable, but also the most expensive options, and they work fine if your party is of at least several people.
Zagreb Airport to Zagreb Bus Station
If you are arriving at Zagreb airport and would like to go straight to Plitvice National Park, then first – get a bus from the Airport to Zagreb’s main bus station/terminal (Autobusni Kolodvor Zagreb, Avenija Marina Držića 4, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia). The distance is 13 km, about 20 minutes bus ride. The buses are very frequent. The bus ticket costs 35 HRK (4.6 Euro). See the current airport bus timetables here.
The alternative is Uber or taxi which costs from 80 HRK (11 Euro). Here is a screenshot:
Zagreb Bus Terminal to Plitvice
Buses from Zagreb’s main bus station to Plitvice are fairly frequent. Currently, there are at least 10 bus rides a day. The latest bus departs at 19:30, so make sure you arrive before its departure. Check the detailed bus schedule here: akz.hr. A one-way bus ticket costs 45 Kuna (6.5 Euro) and you can book it in advance here. Note that an additional charge applies for each bag stored in bus storage which is about 1.5 euros per bag.
Driving from Zagreb to Plitvice Lakes
With the shortest and the fastest driving route, you can reach Plitvice Lakes from Zagreb in 2 hours. The driving distance is 138 km ( 98,1 miles ) via E65, E71, and D1 roads (see map below).
Driving tips
- If you are driving from Zagreb to Plitvice in the warmer parts of the year, as you are driving towards the South, choose if you can the morning drive instead of the afternoon one. You will avoid sunshine from getting straight into your eyes. For Plitvice to Zagreb drive, this is not so important as you will be heading towards the North.
- If you are driving in autumn/fall/winter the temperatures may get very low (below zero), the roads can get slippery and often foggy, so under these weather conditions count that your journey will be much slower (see below photo)
Driving from Zagreb Airport (ZAG) to Plitvice
If you are driving from Zagreb airport, just get out of the airport parking towards the E65 road and from there follow the signs to Karlovac and from there to Plitvice Lakes. The roads are well marked and you should have no difficulty reaching your destination.
Map
More details about parking & entrance to park; also see detailed Google map
Private Transfer, Taxi or Uber
A taxi or Uber ride between Zagreb and Plitvice will take you to your destination in about 2 hours. The current price quoted by Uber is between 680 and 1200 HRK (between 100 and 160 euros). This is a good option if 3 or more people travel together, but for a single traveler, the cheapest option is a bus.
Private transfers between Zagreb and Plitvice are also available. Check current offers here.
