The best time to visit Plitvice Lakes
The same park all twelve months, but the ticket changes price three times a year, and the boardwalks can close when snow covers the wood.
- Best
- May–Jun · Oct
- Coldest
- January, averaging about 2 °C
- Warmest
- July, averaging about 22 °C
On Plitvice the calendar affects both how packed the boardwalks feel and what the ticket costs. May–Jun · Oct land in the middle for both. Summer pushes crowds and prices to their peak. Winter drops the ticket to its cheapest point of the year, though part of the route then closes under snow.
Month by month
Temperature is the mean over the whole day (not the daily high), and a rainy day has at least 1 mm of rain; averages for 2021–2024.
The ticket changes price three times a year
The price depends on the date of arrival: €10 winter · €23 spring/autumn · €40 summer (by 4pm) / €25 (after). Summer also counts the entry hour, after four in the afternoon it's cheaper since less daylight is left for the visit.
Why May–Jun · Oct
May and June hold the temperature above fifteen degrees without summer's crowded time slots, and October adds autumn colour at a lower ticket price than high season. July and August bring the most visitors and the most expensive ticket on the same day.
Winter
Some routes around the upper lakes can close because of ice on the boardwalks, and the boat and train run a reduced schedule: off-season, roughly Nov–Mar/Apr (weather and ice dependent). The ticket is at its cheapest seasonal price then.
Before you go
Short answers to what people ask most before setting out.
When is the best time to visit the Plitvice Lakes?
May–Jun · Oct — the trails are less crowded than in summer, and the ticket is cheaper than in July and August.
Does the ticket cost the same all year?
No. €10 winter · €23 spring/autumn · €40 summer (by 4pm) / €25 (after).
Is the park open in winter?
Yes, none (open year-round), but some routes and the boat and train schedule depend on ice and snow.
Ready for Plitvice Lakes?
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