If you are planning to visit Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia, my #1 recommendation is to stay overnight close to the park so that you can maximize your time for exploring the park to your heart’s content and discover some of the most Instagrammable lakes and waterfalls in Croatia. What you need is an awesome vacation bed and breakfast in the heart of Plitvice Lakes National Park such as Plitvica River House.
What’s even better than an awesome vacation rental? An awesome bed and breakfast with equally awesome hosts. When you arrive at Plitvica River House, owned and managed by Lucy and Ante Sarlija, you are warmly welcomed. When you leave, you feel as though you have become part of the family.
Where is Plitvica River House?
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Plitvica River House is located near the entrance to Plitvicka Jezera Nacionalni Park. Situated in the heart of Plitvica Selo, Croatia, Plitvica River House offers a quiet escape for travelers seeking a vacation stay near Plitvice Lakes National Park. This is the perfect place to stay when planning your international travel itinerary.
This tranquil vacation rental is a short 0.3 miles (500 m) walk from the highest waterfall in the park, as well as 0.3 miles (500 m) from Entrance 3 of the National Park, and only 0.37 miles (600 m) away from the biggest lake—Lake Kozjak.
- Plitvica River House from Split: 2.5 hrs and 150 miles (241 km)
- Plitvica River House from Dubrovnik: 4 hours 50 minutes and 271 miles (437 km)
- Plitvica River House from Zagreb: 2 hours and 91 miles (147 km)
- Plitvica River House from Rab Island: 2.5 hours and 75 miles (119 km) including time on the ferry
- Plitvica River House from Zadar: 1.5 hours and 75 miles (119 km)
15 Reasons to Stay at Plitvica River House
Plitvica River House is one of the popular Plitvice Lakes National Park accommodations when you plan to spend a day or two exploring the National Park. Not only are Lucy and Ante delightful hosts but they have also created a bed and breakfast that is charming, ideally situated close to the park, and peaceful. In addition, meals are prepared by Ante who is a talented chef.
1. Lucy’s Guide for Exploring the Park
Lucy’s instructions once you arrive at the Plitvice Lakes National Park help you to navigate through the park:
- Walk downhill along the road into the park and follow the posted signs to the Big Waterfall and the Lower Lakes.
- Once you have finished exploring the Lower Lakes, follow the signs to ST1
- Take the train from ST1 to ST3 (the train will stop at ST2 but don’t get off)
- Walk around the Upper Lakes at ST3
- There is a bit of a climb to the Tomićevo Pogledalo Viewpoint, but the lakes, waterfalls and views are totally worth the effort. Plus, this trail is not as busy as not all park visitors choose to take this route.
- Follow posted signs to the Boat Stop at P2.
- Take the boat from P2 to P3
- From P3 walk uphill back to Entrance 3
If you follow Lucy’s recommendations, you will be in the park for most of the day. You could also walk from the vacation rental to Entrance 3, but I would recommend driving there and parking. You’re gonna be tired after a long day of exploring and discovering the amazing waterfalls in Croatia and will be grateful you can drive back to the vacation rental.
2. It is a Short Walk to the Plitvice Lakes Postcard Viewpoint
After our delicious dinner on our first night at the Plitvica River House, Lucy directed us on a short 15-minute walk to the Plitvice Lakes Postcard Viewpoint. This is one of those moments when you’ll take a quick intake of breath and whisper, “Wow!” The big waterfall and surrounding lakes at sunset are stunning.
3. Proximity to Plitvice Lakes National Park
When you are a guest at Plitvica River House, Lucy shares her tried and true directions for getting to the park just a short distance away.
“From Plitvica River House, drive up the street until you reach the first turn. Turn on the first left and continue driving until you reach the end of the street. Turn left again. Drive for two minutes until you reach the Booth at Entrance 3″ (Auxiliary Entrance Flora on the map above).
Street parking is available by the entrance, but you’ll want to arrive early to get a good spot.
If you stay at the Plitvica River House (which I highly recommend), Lucy will explain these instructions to you and answer any questions if you have them.
NOTE * When you enter the park at Entrance 3, you will need to have purchased your ticket in advance as an online ticket is the only option for entrance here.
4. Peaceful Ambiance
Chris and I spent two nights with Lucy and Ante at their Plitvica Selo location. The first night we walked to the Plitvice Lakes Postcard Viewpoint. On the second night, we wandered around the neighborhood. This pond is at the beginning of Lucy and Ante’s driveway and offers its own picture postcard view.
5. Free Parking
I would totally recommend renting a car for your visit to the national park and surrounding area. There is plenty of free parking available at Plitvica River House.
6. Onsite Restaurant
Ante is an acclaimed chef who worked for years with Celebrity Cruise Lines as their Head Food and Beverage Manager. In fact, that is where he and Lucy met! Ante brings his cooking skills, creativity, and ability to incorporate local products in his creations. All meals are home cooked and artfully presented. The whole family helps in the preparation and serving.
The hosts offer:
- Indoor and outdoor seating
- Dining times at 6 pm and 7 pm
- Pre-selection of your meals
- Delightful conversation
- Desserts
- Local wines
- Optional breakfast buffet
- Sack lunches to take with you to the park
- Locally sourced ingredients
- Quiet dining
- Ability to work with dietary needs: Vegan, Vegetarian, Halal, Gluten-free, and Dairy-free
- May accommodate walk-in guests from nearby rentals
7. A Breakfast Buffet
You have the option of enjoying a breakfast buffet before you set out to discover some of the most amazing waterfalls in Croatia in Plitvice Lakes National Park. The buffet includes:
- Milk
- Juices
- Coffee and tea
- Eggs made to order
- Homemade breads and jams
- Hard-boiled eggs
- Sausage
There are extra fees for both the dinner and breakfast buffet.
8. Pre-order Your Lunchbox
If you wish, Ante will pack a lunch for you to take into the park. There is food available in the park, but bringing a sack lunch allows you to stop at any idyllic spot and enjoy your lunch. Just let Lucy or Ante know and it will be ready when you are in the morning. The sack lunch contained a sandwich, fruit, and brownie.
Be sure to practice “Leave no Trace” principles in the park and pack up all of your trash to carry out and put in a garbage can.
There is an extra fee for the sack lunch.
9. Warm Hospitality
One of the moments that immediately impressed Chris and I after we parked was Lucy and Ante’s two children who stopped playing basketball and came to introduce themselves and shake our hands. No doubt, you’ll feel the welcoming and warm hospitality of the whole family during your visit.
Plitvica River House receives an Exceptional 9.8 from 951 reviews on Booking.com.
10. Comfortable Rooms
When Chris and I made our initial reservation through Booking.com, we chose the only rooms that were still available. That meant we had to choose one room for one night and another room for the next. We were grateful that Lucy was able to make some changes and put us in the same room for our two-night stay.
The bed and breakfast consists of three levels with the dining area and the owners’ suite on the bottom floor. The main floor has the reception area, a powder bath, and three guest rooms. The upper floor includes a small sitting area and three more guest rooms.
Our room was on the upper floor of the house and included a queen-size bed, small fridge, a desk, a twin bed, closet storage, and a three-piece bathroom.
11. Family Accommodations
Bringing your children to Plitvica River House is perfect as some of the rooms offer extra sleeping areas. In addition, Lucy and Ante’s children are friendly and happy to hang out with younger guests. There is a play structure, a basketball standard, a mini football field, and lots of room to run and play. No electronics needed!
Cribs and extra beds are available upon request for an additional cost.
12. Included Room Amenities
Each guest room offers free WiFi, air conditioning (though you may not need it), tea/coffee maker, and flat screen televisions. Toiletries include shampoo, conditioner, lotion and soap as well as a hair dryer. Rooms are clean and spacious with plenty of room for luggage.
13. Multi-Lingual Hosts
Between Lucy and Ante, they speak five languages: German, English, Spanish, Croatian, and Portuguese.
14. Daily Housekeeping
If you wish to have a change of towels or linens, just let Lucy know when you check-in as daily housekeeping is an option during your stay.
15. Additional Things to Know
Plitvica River House is a smoke-free, pet-free property and quiet hours are observed between 10:00 pm and 7:00 am.
- Check-in: 2:00 pm to 9:00 pm
- Check-out: 7:00 am to 10:00 am
Are There Additional Vacation Rentals in the Area if Plitvica River House is Full?
To be fair, Plitvica River House is not the only vacation rental near Plitvice Lakes, but it is one of the most popular ones. Once you have pinned down your dates for visiting the park, be sure to check for availability and book as soon as possible.
There are a variety of rentals and hotels near the park. Change the DESTINATION NAME in the box below to “Plitvice Lakes National Park” to populate additional options for your stay.
Are Guided Tours Available for the Park?
There will be MANY tours happening in the park during your visit. If you would prefer to have a guided tour instead of following Lucy’s self-directed tour, I recommend tours through Viator. The benefits to signing up for a guided tour are:
- You can relax and let someone else worry about the details and logistics.
- You learn about the facts and lore of the park.
- You learn about the park’s ecology and history.
- You make friends with people from all over the world.
- You still get to see the amazing lakes and waterfalls in the park.
Airports Close to Plitvica Selo
The nearest airports to the National Park and vacation rental are:
- Rijeka, Croatia – 122 miles (197 km)
- Pula, Croatia – 161 miles (259 km)
- Zagreb, Croatia – 80 miles (130 km)
- Ljubljana, Slovenia – 170 miles (274 km)
- Trieste, Italy – 140 miles (225 km)
- Venice, Italy – 240 miles (386 km)
Camera Equipment
If you are hoping to capture stunning photos of waterfalls, mountainscapes, idyllic ponds, and turquoise lakes, you will definitely need a phone or some camera gear. Whichever camera or phone you choose to bring, have them ready for the picturesque, Instagrammable moments.
- Canon Powershot G1 X Mark III – A point and shoot with Manual mode options
- Canon t8i plus a lens kit – Perfect for beginners
- Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS – My favorite lens for the Canon t8i
- Canon 6d Mark II DSLR – An upgraded camera for intermediate photographers
- Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM Lens for the Canon 6d Mark II
- iPhone
You can see more of my photography gear recommendations on my Amazon Storefront. Click below to “Take a Look!”
Things to Bring for Exploring the Park
Beyond what you would normally pack for a European vacation, you will want to make sure that you also bring some hiking essentials to ensure you are prepared for your day in the park.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you pronounce Plitvice?
Plitvice is pronounced as PLEET-vee-tseh. The “c” is soft, like “ts” in “cats,” and the stress is on the first syllable.
Where is Plitvica River House?
Plitvica Selo 47/1, 53231 Plitvica Selo, Croatia
What is the closest large town to Plitvice Lakes National Park?
The nearest large town to Plitvice Lakes National Park along the coast is Zadar.
What is the best time to visit the national park?
The off season months of May, June, September and October are typically the best months to visit the park. Weather will be more temperate and the park might be less crowded.
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Plan Your Stay at Plitvica River House
You never know what type of experience you will have when you visit a vacation rental. If you do your research as Chris and I always do, you have a good idea of the quality of the rental from reviews and pictures. Let me give my two thumbs up on Plitvica River House.
Chris and I were not compensated for our visit or for this review; this review is from our own experience. I would 100% recommend a stay with Lucy and Ante if you happen to be visiting the national park nearby. Don’t wait though, they fill up fast!
PS While this rental is great for families, I highly recommend it for a quiet couples getaway too.
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