Discover Eastern Europe [ Part 3 : Croatia - Plitvice Lakes National Park ]
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
اسلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته
Warning ! This post is a looooooooong one. Read at your own (data plan & time) risk. :P
After an agonising interrogation at the Slovenia Passport Control, we managed to reach Zagreb safely. Alhamdulillah. Pity the other passengers as they had to wait more than 1 hour just for us clarifying our journey and purpose upon entering Croatia. The officers couldn't speak English and we, obviously can't speak Croatian. They had to to confirm with their authorities by phone calls only, there are no internet connection. We were in the middle of nowhere at midnight. Nonetheless, it was all sorted in the end.
Zagreb, Croatia
- Language : Hrvatski / Serbo-Croatian language
- Currency : Croatian Kuna (HRK) [ 1GBP = 10.4HRK , 1EURO = 7.5HRK , 1MYR = 1.8HRK]
We arrived at Zagreb's main bus station, Autobusni Kolodvor Zagreb. Bus station is open 24hours with an operating counter for last minute purchase/query. They provide wi-fi and there are few coffee shops to hang around should you have to wait for your bus to arrive/leave Zagreb.
From the bus station, it took us only 10 minutes to walk to our hostel, The House Hostel Zagreb. It is a budget hostel with shared bathroom (yes, girls and boys together) but with dormitories or private rooms based on your liking. We did not know the bathrooms are shared but our room was amazing. We were there for less than 8 hours anyways. That night, we arrived the hostel at 12am and left around 7am to catch the earliest bus to Plitvice Lakes National Park, the highlight of our entire trip. Unexpectedly, the hostel staff was kind enough to start working at 6am and made us a fabulous breakfast. Pancakes and lots of it. After breakfast, we head to the main bus station and catch a bus to Plitvice Lakes.
Route to Plitvice Lakes National Park
- It took around 2 and a half hour from Zagreb, might be a little longer if you are coming from Split or Zadar.
- Bus tickets could be bought online from Autobusni Kolodvor Zagreb or at the bus station upon arrival or before you leave.
- Price range is from 90HRK to 110HRK for one way.
Bus Tips
- Note that the bus frequency depends on your bus company. Basically there are about 4 different operating company passed through Plitvice Lakes National Park every day. The frequency of each buses from Zagreb are about 2 hours apart and likewise for the return.
- Return buses only starts at 2.30pm the earliest.
- You could only take the same operating bus company if you bought a return ticket.
- The buses are not shuttle/express. These buses mostly are heading to other parts of Croatia and they stopped at Plitvice Lakes just to collect/exit people at a BUS STOP.
- There weren't even a bus station at Plitvice Lakes. Only stops.
- There are no specific bus to Plitvice Lakes only unless you hire a private tour to fit your time schedule.
Plitvice Lakes National Park Tips
- There are 2 entrance for the national park. But fret not, the buses ALWAYS stop at Entrance 1.
- Depending on the season (winter/summer/spring/autumn) the entrance fee varies.
- Basically when we were there, it was in April, our fees were 80HRK for students, 110HRK for adults.
- You could head over to Plitvice Lakes National Park Website for more information about opening hours, routes and seasonal entrance fees.
- And you could plan your route based on how much time you have at your leisure to explore the park. Check here Plitvice Lakes - Plan Your Visit. It says you could spend up to 8 hours for the entire but we managed to finish in less than 5 hours. We are a crazy couple.
- Don't forget to walk along the path provided as there are so much more being offered! There are boats, shuttle buses (if you are too tired to walk for the entire park) and secret pathway with spectacular, breathtaking views of the lake. I'm talking Lake Alberta,Canada kinda view.
Thus, let the pictures begin.
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| This is what you'll see upon entering the Entrance 1. The biggest waterfall at the park. |
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| Enjoying the waterfall I see? ;) |
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| Walk along the pathway so you won't be lost. |
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| And don't forget to enjoy the crystal clear water view! |
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| Me, being excited as always. |
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| The water is extremely deep. Don't be fooled by the crystal-ness. |
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| Only one phrase fit this photo. Masya-Allah. |
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| Allah SWT creation is the best. |
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| If earth is already this beautiful, what would Heaven be like? SubhanAllah. |
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| Bird's eye view from one of the check point. |
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| Not even 1/10 of justice. Can't really capture the whole park in one photo. It's inhumanely huge. |
We explored the park until the end/highest lake it could offer and took the earliest bus from the lake back to Zagreb. When we arrived Zagreb, we remembered we still haven't eat lunch. After hours of going around asking from one kebab shop to another "Is the meat halaal?" finally we end up eating at a small chinese restaurant (they serve no pork alhamdulillah) and had two plates of eggs and vegetables fried rice.
Their definition of halaal was no pork & alcohol. They do not know that the animals need to be slaughtered. But it's okay. Experience makes you realise how lucky you are to be a Muslim. Alhamdulillah.
We went back to our hostel, collect our bags and had a bath before taking an overnight bus to Sarajevo, Bosnia. Even we had already checked out, the staff was so lovely and kind to give us permission to hang around at the lounge and use the bathroom. The House Hostel Zagreb, go check it out.
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