Instagraming Around Plitvice
Have you ever seen a picture that made you want to plan a trip to see the scene in all its glory? It’s an affliction that Tim and I suffer from often. The phrase “Wow, that looks gorgeous! Let’s go!” is a regular part of our vocabulary. And photos of Plitvice Lakes had us wanting to go for two years now. I looked forward to finally seeing them in all their sparkling jade-green glory for our entire road trip through Croatia, Montenegro, Albania, and Bosnia. Plitvice Lakes was our very last stop before finally heading home.
Oh Plitvice Lakes, how you let me down!
I’ve thought about this. I’ve struggled with it even. With nearly 40 countries under our belts, this is the very first place I have ever been disappointed by. Was it the cloudy, cold weather? Was I just tired after eleven days and four countries? Were my expectations just unrealistic? Sure, those things probably played a factor. But honestly, I would have been even more disappointed had we planned to spend a whole weekend at Plitvice Lakes.
Admittedly, the weather dashed my hopes of capturing the cascading pools of water in a photo people would ooh and ahh over. After complaining nearly all summer of the stifling heat that seemed to follow us from Greece to Provence, we arrived to gray skies and cold temperatures. After eleven days in nearly 100 F temperatures, I was less than prepared. I didn’t even have a cardigan. Thankfully, I always carry a pashmina with me.
We were visiting the park on a Monday. In September. I figured it would be great because kids had gone back to school and the infamous month-long European holiday had ended. Boy was I wrong! Just as we blissfully walked hand-in-hand over the wooden bridge from the parking area to the entrance to the park, I spotted the line and nearly gasped. And just as I was picking my mouth up off the ground, more tour buses pulled up and began to unload.
Just how long was the line? Well, I stood in line while Tim went and had breakfast. And then we switched while I had breakfast. And then we waited some more.
Once inside the park, I felt like we were in a herd of cattle. There are walkways made of logs that are maybe about four feet wide. It was nearly impossible to pass and so I grudgingly shuffled along behind the hoards of tourists in front of me.
The sun did come out, but it didn’t make a difference. The water just wasn’t the shade of jade green I’d always seen in photos, the waterfalls were narrow and weak, and the paths weren’t well signed to easily decipher the different routes.
I won’t say it wasn’t pretty and we enjoyed hiking around, especially when the longest route finally broke us away from the unbearable crowds. But it didn’t knock my socks off as I had expected after hearing rave reviews. I guess I just expected more from the #2 destination in Croatia.
Know Before You Go
There are 1 day tickets for 110 kuna (approximately $20) per adult or 2 day tickets for 180 kuna (approximately $31) per adult. The ticket includes entrance to the park, the bus service, and the electric ferry boat. Credit cards are accepted.
Parking is not included and only kuna is accepted. There is no ATM on site, so come prepared with kuna for parking.
There are number of routes that range from 2 hours to 6 hours.
Where To Stay
There are no shortage of guesthouses in the area. We stayed at House Sebalj in Grabovac, just 6 kilometers from the park, and our hostess was wonderful. While the room was simple, we did have a private bathroom and wifi. Our hostess offered us cold beers and cheese on her terrace. And she even sent us home with a wheel of cheese upon our departure.
Jennifer Dombrowski
Jennifer Dombrowski is a location independent globe trotter and bases herself in Prata di Pordenone, Italy. She works as a social media and innovation strategist in higher education and is a regular contributor on johnnyjet.com. Her website, jdombstravels.com, is the 2012 Destinology Travel Bloggy Best Newcomer award winner. Google+
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We’re Jennifer and Tim and we love traveling! We are just one ordinary couple who have found that travel brought us closer together, taught us patience, the art of compromise, and how to truly appreciate the diversity of this extraordinary world. So far, we've visited 37 countries, lived in the United States and Italy, and Tim has lived in Korea. And we do it all while both holding down full time jobs. 
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Helene Zenia
October 2, 2012 at 4:19 pm (UTC 2) Link to this comment
Hello,
It's the end of summer…water is low and running slowly all over the Northern Hemisphere. Yes, these lakes have been on my list too. Sorry!
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Amanda
October 2, 2012 at 6:43 pm (UTC 2) Link to this comment
I just wrote a similar post about how disappointed I was by Athens.
I’ve never been to Plitvice Lakes, but I would be worried about this happening to me, too. So many people gush about this place, that I feel like my expectations are high without me even knowing it.
Amanda recently posted..Athens, I’m Just Not That Into You
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Jennifer Dombrowski Reply:
October 3rd, 2012 at 12:27 am
I read your post about Athens today, Amanda. What a shame!
I’ve been disappointed by a tour or attraction before, but never a destination. I don’t look forward to my next experience with being disappointed by a destination, but know it is inevitable. As much as I want to love everywhere we go, I know that won’t be the case.
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Helene Zenia
October 2, 2012 at 5:17 pm (UTC 2) Link to this comment
Oh bv the way, I have an amazing video of the Croatian healer, Braco. Part of it was filmed at the Plitvice lakes. It looks beyond beautiful! So, perhaps in the spring?
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Jdomb's Travels Reply:
October 2nd, 2012 at 11:50 pm
It may have been the time of year coupled with the extremely dry summer we've had in Europe. Perhaps the falls would be better in the spring.
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Cate Brubaker
October 2, 2012 at 5:42 pm (UTC 2) Link to this comment
I was just there in August. The crowds were definitely a huge issue for us as well, but I still enjoyed it quite a bit!
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Jdomb's Travels Reply:
October 2nd, 2012 at 11:51 pm
Glad to hear you enjoyed it there, Cate! It wasn't that we didn't enjoy our day, but that we didn't enjoy it as much as we thought we would. We got fresh air, exercise, and did have fun together.
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Audrey | That Backpacker
October 4, 2012 at 5:24 am (UTC 2) Link to this comment
Yikes, sometimes places disappoint like that – it can be the cold, the clouds, or the masses of people. You did manage to take some really nice photos though. I especially like the one with the leaves turning red.
Audrey | That Backpacker recently posted..Inside My Korean Apartment
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Jennifer Dombrowski Reply:
October 6th, 2012 at 12:34 pm
Thanks, Audrey! We did think it was pretty, just overcrowded.
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jill
October 4, 2012 at 10:46 pm (UTC 2) Link to this comment
Oh I don’t know, those pics look amazing. But the large number of crowd would’ve put a damper on it, I’m sure.
jill recently posted..What’s It Like to Live in San Francisco?
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Jennifer Dombrowski Reply:
October 6th, 2012 at 12:35 pm
Thanks, Jill!
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Andrew
October 5, 2012 at 9:25 pm (UTC 2) Link to this comment
These are pretty high on my list to see too, but I REALLY hate crowds. So I can well imagine that I would not have been thrilled there too. Though the weather wouldn’t necessarily bother me. I like forests and waterfalls, just not being pushed or rushed.
Wonder what a nice quiet time to be there would be. November?
Andrew recently posted..Prague Castle and Cathedral
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Jennifer Dombrowski Reply:
October 6th, 2012 at 12:37 pm
There are some other waterfalls that are similar nearby Split. I wish we would have checked out that park to see if it is less crowded than Plitvice. Maybe in the spring.
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