Pros & cons
PROS
- Iconic, wide-angle views of Veliki Slap and the Lower Lakes
- Multiple vantage points, including the Šupljara Cave stairs detour
CONS
- Crowded by mid‑morning and narrow boardwalks slow movement
- Midday light is harsh for photos; early, late, or overcast is better
Overview
These are the classic high viewpoints above Veliki Slap (the Big Waterfall) where the turquoise pools, snaking boardwalks, and the park’s tallest cascade line up in one frame. It’s the shot you’ve seen on postcards a thousand times—because it really is that good.
Where Exactly Is It?
Start from Entrance 1 and follow the Lower Lakes paths toward Veliki Slap. As you climb toward the top of the waterfall, several side overlooks open up to those postcard compositions. A short, steep detour up the odd stairs at Šupljara Cave delivers another dramatic look back over the lakes and boardwalks.
How People String It Together
A popular loop is: Entrance 1 → Lower Lakes boardwalks → shuttle from ST1 to ST3 → continue toward Entrance 2 → boat from P2 to P3 across Lake Kozjak → hike up to the high viewpoints above Veliki Slap → descend back to Entrance 1. Not everyone makes the final climb to the upper lookouts, so you often get a bit more breathing room up there.
Photography Tips
- Overcast light makes the colors pop and smooths waterfall contrast.
- Low sun also works; midday is harsh and flattens the scene.
- A small tripod helps for silky water, but be courteous—boardwalks are narrow and busy.
- Autumn brings saturated reds and golds; spring has peak flow and fresh greens.
What You’ll See
The Lower and Upper Lakes are terraced by travertine barriers that water has built over thousands of years, creating a staircase of pools and more than 90 waterfalls. Expect fish and ducks cruising the shallows; look for quick little coal tits and nuthatches flitting through the trees while you linger at the overlooks.
Practicalities
Trails are organized A–K with varying lengths—pick based on your time. Buy tickets online in advance, especially in summer, and plan to start right at opening to beat the tour groups that roll in around 9–10 AM. Food inside the park is basic; many visitors carry snacks and eat near the entrances afterward. There are no on-the-spot facilities at the upper overlooks themselves, so use restrooms at service nodes or near the entrances before you climb.
Best Time to Visit
Go at opening for soft light and fewer people; late afternoon can also be lovely once day-trippers thin out. Weekdays are calmer than weekends in peak season. For color, late September–October is superb; for flow and fresh greens, late spring to early summer shines.
Where it is
44.9025, 15.6084Tips for Plitvice Lakes as seen on postcards
- 01Start at Entrance 1 right at opening and buy tickets online in advance.
- 02Take the short detour up the Šupljara Cave stairs for a dramatic angle.
- 03Aim for overcast or low sun; avoid harsh midday if photos matter.
- 04Carry a small tripod but keep it quick and courteous on narrow boardwalks.
- 05Link viewpoints efficiently using shuttle ST1→ST3 and the P2→P3 boat.
Amenities
Near Plitvice Lakes as seen on postcards
All places →All trails →
0 mi awayVeliki Slap (Big Waterfall)Croatia’s tallest waterfall thundering into the Lower Lakes canyonScenic Viewpoint
0 mi awaySastavciWhere the lakes tumble together into the Korana RiverRestroom · Parking
0.1 mi awayNovakovića Brod LakeLast lower lake before Sastavci and the 78 m Veliki SlapScenic Viewpoint
0.2 mi awayVelike kaskadeBoardwalk views of stair-step cascades in the Lower LakesScenic Viewpoint
0.2 mi awayRoute KFull-day circuit of the Upper and Lower Lakes on foot.Moderate · 11.4 mi · 7 hr
0.2 mi awayRoute CSignature loop of lakes, boardwalks, boat ride, and shuttle.Easy · 5 mi · 4.5 hr
0.2 mi awayRoute BLower Lakes loop with a Kozjak boat ride and shuttle returnEasy · 2.5 mi · 3.5 hr
0.2 mi awayRoute AEasy Lower Lakes boardwalk to Veliki Slap and canyon viewsEasy · 2.2 mi · 2.5 hr
