PLITVICE LAKES NATIONAL PARK - Croatia and Slovenia - page 141

Buses leave from Zagreb's main bus station in the direction of Plitvice (trip takes 2-2.5
hours). Various bus companies handle the route; the best option is an express bus that
runs daily in summer, operated by a local company, Prijevoz Kneževi ć (departs Zagreb
8:15, arrives Plitvice 10:20, late June-early Sept only, confirm schedule at www.prijevoz-
knezevic.hr ; also see here . If they won't sell you a ticket for the Prijevoz Kneževi ć express
at the main ticket window, ask at the window for “Croatia Zovko Bus.” If the express
doesn't suit your schedule, you can just go to any ticket window and ask for the next depar-
ture. Non-express buses run from Zagreb about hourly until about 16:00; avoid the sporad-
ic late-night buses, which don't get you to the park until after midnight (for schedules, see
www.autobusni-kolodvor.com or www.akz.hr ; look for “Plitvi č ka Jezera”).
En Route: By car or bus, you'll see some thought-provoking terrain between Zagreb
and Plitvice. Exiting the expressway at Karlovac, then heading south on D-1, you'll pass
through the village of Turanj —part of the war zone from two decades ago. Notice the mil-
itary museum (on the right as you drive through), with tanks, heavy-artillery cannons, and
other war machines that actually saw action. The destroyed, derelict houses belonged to
Serbs who have not come back to reclaim and repair them. Farther along, about 25 miles
before Plitvice, you'll pass through the striking village of Slunj, perched picturesquely on
travertine formations (like Plitvice's) and surrounded by sparkling streams and waterfalls.
Themosttraditionalpartofthetown,perchedjustabovethewater,iscalled Rastoke, which
has a memorable restaurant (see here ) . If you're driving, this is worth a photo stop. This
town, too, looks very different from how it did before the war—when it was 30 percent
Serb. As in countless other villages in the Croatian interior, the Orthodox church has been
destroyed...and locals still seethe when they describe how the Serbs “defiled” the town's
delicate beauty.
From Split
Drivers headnorthontheA-1expressway,exitingatGornjaPlo č a;fromhere,you'llfollow
road D-1 about an hour north (passing Udbina and Korenica) to the park.
Twodaily express buses runfromSplittoPlitviceinsummer(departing15:30lateJune-
late Sept, with additional departure at 10:15 July-Aug, 4-4.5 hours, operated by Prijevoz
Kneževi ć , www.prijevoz-knezevic.hr ; also see schedule on here ). Many other non-express
options run a similar route (about 7-8/day in summer, 4/day in winter, 4-6 hours).
Park Signs and Symbols