Plitvice Lakes National Park Guided Day Tour from Split

Recommended by 95% of travelers

Badge of Excellence

Split, Croatia

Popular pick

Booked 10+ times last week!

12 hours (approx.)
Pickup offered
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

4.8

· Andrew_P ·

Jun 2026

Barry was a fantastic guide (knowledgeable, funny, and organized). And the park is so beautiful. Barry took us on a path where we saw upper and lower lakes. We never felt hurried and got to see so many amazing sights. Highly recommend.

· Gina_S ·

Jun 2026

This was a great day. Our guides Mia and Sanja were excellent. They provided great information in a very engaging and fun way.The falls are very impressive and the water rely was turquoise on the sunny day we visited.

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Overview

Lose yourself in the UNESCO-listed landscapes of Croatia's Plitvice Lakes National Park—and enjoy a tour option that takes care of the sightseeing logistics—on this full-day tour from Split. With round-trip coach transit and pickup from select hotels, getting there is made simple and hassle-free. Upon arrival, head into the park (admission own expense), and discover its cascading pools, waterfalls, and other scenery.

Get up close and personal with a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Have the option to enjoy lunch at a traditional restaurant (own expense)
Exploring with a guide makes it easier to see the sights
Great-value tour includes round-trip transportation from Split

What's Included

Transport
Hotel pickup and drop-off in Split selected area on request
Professional English speaking tour guide
Insurance

Entrance ticket to the National Park Plitvice:
Entrance fee - April, May & October: *Child (7-18 yrs) EUR 5, *Student: EUR 13, *Adult:

€21.00 per person
Entrance fee - June-September: *Child (7-18 yrs) EUR 13, *Student: EUR 24, *Adult:

€35.00 per person
The entrance ticket price is per person, payable only with cash.
A valid student ID is required for the discounted student price.
Children up to 7 years old enter the park free of charge
Food and drinks
Gratuities

Meeting and Pickup

You can head directly to your preferred meeting point, or request pickup.

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Pickup details

Pick-up service is possible from selected hotels only. If you don't choose any of the selected hotels, your meeting point is the main meeting point.

Meeting points

Select a meeting point

Type to search

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Itinerary

Make an early start with morning pickup from select hotels in central Split, and soak up Croatia's inland scenery on the drive to Plitvice.

On arrival at Plitvice Lakes National Park, follow your guide on a hike, stopping to take photos of the park’s glittering lakes, cascading waterfalls, and dramatic canyons.

Start with a walk around the Upper Lakes, where you can get up close to native wildlife and enjoy dazzling views over the lakes. Then, head to the Lower Lakes to admire towering waterfalls.

Finally, tuck into a tasty Croatian-style lunch at a local restaurant (optional; own expense) before hopping back in the vehicle and setting out on the return journey. End your tour at your original departure point.

Plitvice Lakes National Park

4 hours • Admission Ticket Not Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Near public transportation
Infants must sit on laps
Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
Wear casual clothes and comfortable shoes for walking if possible
If you are taking a tour in spring, autumn or winter, don’t forget to bring warm clothes and an umbrella
Bring a snack and water with you to make your trip as comfortable as possible

Guests must be at the meeting point at least 15 minutes prior the departure
Sugaman tours keeps the right to alter or adjust the itinerary due to traffic, or bad weather conditions
Entrance tickets to the National Park are not included in the price of the tour and depend on the season and the age.
Please do not purchase entry tickets in advance. Tour operator has a group ticket for the Park.
Please check the weather forecast for Plitvice lakes on the day of your travel and dress accordingly. Weather forecast can be different than at the coast.
Pets are not allowed on tour.
Not recommended for participant with walking disabilities
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 50 travelers

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Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Featured review

michelle_w

Barry was a wonderful tour guide—knowledgeable, friendly, and genuinely fun to spend the day with. He handled our large group of 20 with ease and kept everything well organized from start to finish. Before entering the park, he clearly explained what to expect, and then guided us through the stunning waterfalls and lakes with confidence and enthusiasm. It was clear he has led many tours here and truly loves what he does. He also provided engaging narration during the drive from Split to the park and back, always checking in to see if anyone had questions. Overall, he made the entire experience smooth, informative, and very enjoyable.

Reviews

4.8

based on 2,043 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Sort by: Most insightful

Bari Saves the Day!

John_K, Jul 2026

It was a great day on 1 July! Bari was masterful in adjusting plans around bus issues and ended up giving us an even better experience. His style was perfect and knowledge impressive.

Amazing lakes and...

Pragnesh_P, Jun 2026

Amazing lakes and waterfalls. Perfectly planned and a great guide. I recommend to all who visits Croatia.

Barry was a fantastic...

Andrew_P, Jun 2026

Response from Host, Jun 2026

Dear Guest, Thank you for your feedback. We're glad you enjoyed the beautiful park and that Barry made the experience knowledgeable, fun, and well organized for you. Safe travels, Šugaman Tours

A must see in Croatia

Kevin_H, Jun 2026

Plitvice Lakes was definitely worth the trip from Split. Barry, our guide was great, along with his painter/driver Evan. Beautiful park.

Response from Host, Jun 2026

Dear Guest, Thank you for your feedback. We're glad you enjoyed the trip to Plitvice Lakes and that Barry and Evan made the experience enjoyable for you. Safe travels, Šugaman Tours

Fun full day trip. The...

Serena_S, Jun 2026

Fun full day trip. The views of the lakes and waterfalls make it worth the drive. Our tour guides (Mia and Sanya) were friendly, funny, and kept us on track. Also big thanks to our driver!

Response from Host, Jun 2026

Dear Guest, Thank you for your lovely review. We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed the stunning lakes and waterfalls and found the trip worthwhile. It's wonderful to know that Mia and Sanja helped make the day fun and well-organized, and we will be sure to pass along your kind words to them and our driver as well. Kind regards, Šugaman Tours

An impressive day out

Gina_S, Jun 2026

Response from Host, Jun 2026

Dear Guest, Thank you for your feedback. We're glad you enjoyed the impressive waterfalls and that Mia and Sanja made the day engaging, fun, and informative for you. Safe travels, Šugaman Tours

Really recommend this lovely day trip from Split

Eliezer_G, Jun 2026

Really lovely trip to the waterfalls, really informational and funny guides. Thank you Mia and Sanja!

A very pleasant day

Lynn_G, Jun 2026

Very beginning to end this trip was great. The bus which picked us up was new and air-conditioned. There was beautiful scenery on the way to the park. Our guide Mia was informative but didn't talk your ears off! The tour was a bit physically wearing at times but nothing one cannot handle. The natural beauty of the lakes, waterfalls and surrounding nature was amazing. In the park we had two guides . Very helpful and full of good humor.. highly recommend this trip

Fantastic excursion you cannot miss

Christina_K, May 2026

Wonderful excursion. Must see, cannot miss. Our guide, Ana and driver, Igor were great! Lakes are so amazing in person

Plitvice essentials

Ecaterina_A, May 2026

Our guide and group coordinator, history teacher Mate was very well organized and entertaining. He had great info to share, made sure we kept time and did not miss the essentials on this trip.

Response from Host, Jun 2026

Thank you for your kind review! We're delighted to hear that Mate's knowledge, organization, and enthusiasm helped make your trip enjoyable and memorable. We'll be sure to pass along your compliments. Kind regards, STours

Do this tour- Barry will make it well worth the trip.

michelle_w, Apr 2026

Response from Host, Jun 2026

Thank you for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear you had such an enjoyable experience and that Barry made the day smooth, fun, and well-organized. It’s great to know his knowledge and enthusiasm helped bring the Krka experience to life. We truly appreciate your kind words! Best regards, Stours

Mia & Ivan did an...

Linda_L, Apr 2026

Mia & Ivan did an excellent job. Mia made the tour both historical and magical. It was a great tour overall and highly recommended.

Response from Host, Jun 2026

Dear Guest, Thank you for your kind review. We’re glad to hear Mia and Ivan made your tour both informative and memorable. We truly appreciate your recommendation. Kind regards, STours

Bummer

Lori, Mar 2026

Our local guide cancelled our tour 6 hours after the 24 hr deadline due to a blizzard at Plitvice National Park. They said to contact my vendor and they would approve my refund. I questioned many times the two days previous if the tour would take place but received no answers. Online Viator’s customer support offered no refund (I’m assuming due to being outside the 24 hr window) and it was impossible to find a phone number to talk with a human. Hopefully my Visa can work things out with Viator.

Lovely way to spend a cool fall day in Split

Elaine_A, Nov 2025

Plitvice is a beautiful national park with many waterfalls. Even inbthe fog, it was lovely. We took the last tour of the season in November until next spring. Our tour guides Mia & Sonia were excellent and knowledgeable. They spoke perfect English. Most of the day the weather was foggy and cold. 40-45 degrees Fahrenheit. Thankfully, we dressed in layers and brought hats and gloves. It is a very long ride from Split. Approximately 12 hours round trip. Three hours each way on a comfortable bus, so be prepared. We wore hiking shoes, brought water and our breakfast. There is one midway quick bathroom stop where you can but food & drinks. None of us opted for the biat tro Spagran because everything was closed there. Mia told us there was nothing there at thus time of the season. The park tour ends around 2:30pm. There was a warm and cizy restaurant to have a quick lunch before we left. We were told that during the hot sumner months the oark is packed and everything takes much longer because of the crowds and the heat. All in all it was a pleasant small group of 15. Very manageable.

Enchanting Plitvice!

Adrian_F, Oct 2025

Great all in 1 Hop on... Hop off n u r there at this great national park! I just wish lunch could be earlier so we get the deserved break Enjoyable n good introduction from the guides Mia n Sonja The driver Miki is a great guy too

Great tour at Plitvice national park

Ken_C, Oct 2025

Totally excellent with Sanja & Mia as guides. Very well organized and very informative in clearly spoken English

Great Tour

Estefania_R, Oct 2025

Mia and Saja were great guides! Very informational tour and the areas near by. It was a perfect amount of time to explore the lakes and waterfalls.

I enjoy the tour so much...

Travelwith_C, Oct 2025

I enjoy the tour so much though it’s a bit tiring haha. Nice weather, nice view. Sanja and Mia delivered lots of information about the park and Croatia. I recommend all people should come the Plitvace Lake at least once in the life.

Incredible Day at Plitvice Lakes!

Vivian_F, Oct 2025

I had an amazing time on the Plitvice Lakes National Park Guided Day Tour from Split! Our guide, Barry, was fantastic—his passion and knowledge made the experience unforgettable. The park's stunning beauty is breathtaking, and Barry ensured we saw all the highlights. Highly recommend this tour for anyone visiting Croatia!

Wonderful Waterfall-filled day at Plitvace!

Nicole_n, Oct 2025

Barisa was a wonderful tour guide - full of insightful history and anecdotes about the National Park and waterfalls. He made our trip to Plitvače seamless and memorable. Barisa pointed out wonderful stops to take pictures and also helped this solo traveler take photos where I could actually be in the photo versus behind the lens! I also want to share that Dado was a fabulous driver. He handled the bus with care during the high winds that we experienced and safely got us to and from Split with ease. I felt safe and well cared for all day thanks to Barisa and Dado. I highly recommend Šugaman Tours for your adventures in Croatia.

Wonderful day out

Tracey_V, Sep 2025

Wonderful day out exploring Plitvice Lakes. It does get quite busy however our guide Ivanka was great & kept everything running smoothly. Scenery is amazing & the waters are something else!

Response from Host, Sep 2025

Thank you for your lovely review! We’re glad Ivanka helped make your day smooth despite the crowds. Plitvice Lakes truly is a stunning place, and it’s great to hear you enjoyed the amazing scenery and waters. Šugaman Tours

National park.

Kari_D, Sep 2025

Easy walk. Some stair climbing. Not suitable if you have mobility or footing issues. Beautiful park. Worth the trip

Response from Host, Sep 2025

Thanks for the feedback! Glad you enjoyed the park, it's indeed a beautiful place. And yes, the stairs can be a bit challenging for some, so it’s good to keep that in mind. Šugaman Tours

Underwhelming NP and Presumptuous Guide

Telesforo_U, Sep 2025

I wasn’t impressed by Plitvice because I’ve seen better parks like Yosemite, Grand Teton, and Yellowstone National Parks in the USA. Plitvice is very ordinary and nothing compared to them despite all the rave reviews you read in Croatia. What I hated was that the Guide from Gray Line tours by the name of Mia was so presumptuous. Imagine she held a hat asking for gratuity as she approached each guest while we were waiting for the bus. On the way back, we approached each guest as showed a QR code for the TripAdvisor review page for this Trip and dictated to each guest to identify her as the Guide and to give her an Excellent Rating and also dictated what she would want us to write. This is unacceptable and this is the first time I’ve encountered a guide who extends a hat to each guest for gratuity and dictates to us what to put in each review.

Most beautiful National Park in the world

Holly_H, Sep 2025

Unreal beauty with the best local guide Ivanka. One of themost beautiful parks I have visited. Every turn is jaw dropping beautiful. Our guide was excellent, history, nature, the park itself. Very helpful and willing to give each person on the tour tips on the best things to do, see and experience while in Croatia. 5 stars

Response from Host, Sep 2025

Thank you so much for your fantastic review! We’re glad to hear Ivanka made your visit to the “Most Beautiful National Park in the World” truly unforgettable with her knowledge and helpful tips. With views like that, it’s hard to disagree! We’re so gappy you enjoyed the breathtaking beauty and all that Croatia has to offer. Thanks for the 5 stars — we hope to welcome you back soon!

Admire Nature at its best

GIOVANNA_P, Sep 2025

We had a great tour guide Ivanka ( I believe her name was) she was great she go to know us all personally ; Ivanka also knew so much about the Park and its history very passionate about her work and history she made it very interesting. I recommend the tour if you are interested in nature beautiful waterfalls never seen before. The walk is long but a slow steady walk that anyone could do. Walking shoes recommended a water proof jacket incase of water sprays , a bottle of water, poncho .... great day out...

Response from Host, Sep 2025

You’re absolutely right, the guide’s name is Ivanka! She’s wonderful at connecting with everyone and sharing her passion and knowledge about the park and its history. Thanks for the great tips too, walking shoes and a waterproof jacket are definitely must-haves. Glad you had such a great day out!

Franke - Guide

Diane_D, Sep 2025

We were really looking forward to this tour, but unfortunately, our experience with the guide, Frank, was disappointing. He appeared disinterested from the start and provided very little information about the region, the trail, or the park itself. During the hike, a lost and confused senior briefly joined our group. At first, Frank refused to let him stay, but after a group member insisted, he reluctantly agreed. The situation could have been handled with more compassion and professionalism. Throughout the tour, there was a noticeable lack of direction and insight. Frank avoided answering questions about the park’s history and features, didn’t offer to take any group photos, and even discouraged us from visiting the final waterfall due to light rain — something most of us were still eager to see. While the park itself was stunning, we left feeling like we missed out on a fuller experience due to the guide’s lack of engagement and enthusiasm. It was clear why this was the smallest tour group of the day. We truly wish we had been paired with someone more passionate and knowledgeable.

Response from Host, Sep 2025

Thank you for your feedback. We're truly sorry the tour didn’t meet your expectations, especially since you were so looking forward to it. Frane is usually appreciated for his knowledge and focus on safety, though we understand that his approach may have felt disengaged in this instance. The situation with the lost hiker was handled with protocol in mind, but we agree it could have been approached with more warmth. As for skipping the final waterfall, Frank made a call based on safety due to weather, though we understand your disappointment. We'll work on improving communication in such situations. We're glad you enjoyed the park itself and truly hope to welcome you again for a more fulfilling experience.

Absolutely stunning!

Kelsey_V, Aug 2025

This tour is a really long day from Split (3.5ish hours each way) but absolutely worth it. Because of that, it starts early in the morning but the bus is really comfortable so you are able to sleep there & back. We were in between Plitvice Lakes & Krka as we only had enough time to pick one and could not be happier with our decision. We saw pictures online ahead of time but the lakes were even more beautiful in person. While the tour does not include meals, you do stop twice on the ride (once there and one on the way back) where you can have a snack break. There are also restaurants and cafes at the park (so don’t think you need to pack things for the entire day). It also ended up raining for part of our tour but you are able to buy ponchos/rainjackets/umbrellas at the souvenir shop if needed which was really convenient. Our tour guide, Mia, was incredibly knowledgeable and it was very helpful having someone guide you around the park because it is a really big park and you have to take different modes of transportation once there to see different areas of the park. We got to see both the upper and lower lakes on this tour. Highly recommend this trip!

Beautiful

Lisa_D, Aug 2025

Interesting, but I would do a tour that provided transportation only so we could explore on our own (nothing wrong with tour, just personal preference). Stopped for snacks on the way there and at a great little lunch spot on the way home. Ivanka was a great guide. Side note - the gift shop there is very reasonably priced. I saw some items there that were way more expensived in Dubrovnik and Split.

Response from Host, Aug 2025

Thanks for sharing your thoughts! Totally get wanting to explore on your own, that personal freedom can make a big difference. Glad Ivanka was a great guide and that you enjoyed the stops along the way. Good tip about the gift shop too, it’s always nice to find better prices! Appreciate the honest feedback.

Magic Day at Plitvice Lakes National Park

Caren_L, Aug 2025

I had an amazing day at the Plitvice Lakes National Park. Our guide Ivanka made it truly fantastic and unforgettable. It’s a long drive each way from Split and she filled the time with so much great information and made it truly special. and the Plitvice Lakes National Park itself was one of those magical places I’ve ever visited and I’ve traveled to so many countries and well-known places throughout the world. This is definitely worth the time to visit if you’re going to be anywhere near Split or near this park!

Response from Host, Aug 2025

Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful experience. We’re thrilled to hear that Ivanka made your day at Plitvice Lakes National Park truly fantastic and unforgettable. It’s great that she filled the long drive with interesting information and made the journey special. We couldn’t agree more Plitvice is truly a magical place worth every moment of the visit. We hope to welcome you again soon on another amazing adventure!

WOW! Breathtaking!

Conrado_A, Aug 2025

Beautiful Park with breathtaking scenery. Lots of walking on uneven trails and stairs. The guide, Mate, was very knowledgeable and friendly. Long drive (3 1/2 hours each way) but worth it. Clean comfortable bus with toilet/snack stop in the way. 100% Recommended!!!!

Response from Host, Aug 2025

Thank you for your enthusiastic recommendation! We’re glad you enjoyed the breathtaking scenery and appreciated Mate’s knowledgeable and friendly guidance. Although the drive is long, it’s great to hear that it was worth it, and that you found the bus comfortable with convenient stops. We hope to see you again soon for another adventure!