How to travel from Plitvice Lakes National Park to Cres, Croatia
The distance between Plitvice Lakes National Park and Cres is around 213km (133 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to drive and then take a ferry which takes around 3h 15m.
5 routes found
We've found 5 different ways to get from Plitvice Lakes National Park to Cres by bus, ferry and car. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.
👋 Also check out Cres → Plitvice Lakes National Park if you're planning a return trip.
Bus and Ferry
Take the bus to Karlovac and then to Rijeka bus station then take a ferry to Cres.
- Duration4h 20m
- Departs5 times a week
- Typical costHRK 235($31)
Multiple operators
3 similiar routes
We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.
Car and Ferry
Drive to Valbiska then take a ferry to Merag.
- Duration3h 15m
- Departsevery 3 hours
- Typical costHRK 280($37)
Multiple operators
Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Plitvice Lakes National Park and Cres
Popular questions
There are several options for getting from Plitvice Lakes National Park to Cres by bus, ferry and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus and then take a ferry which costs around HRK 180 ($24) and will take around 4h 45m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can drive and then take a ferry and arrive in approximately 3h 15m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately HRK 280 ($37).
The distance between Plitvice Lakes National Park and Cres is around 213km (133 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 95km (59 miles)
It takes around 4h 20m to get from Plitvice Lakes National Park and Cres by bus and ferry.
The quickest way to get from Plitvice Lakes National Park to Cres is to drive and then take a ferry which takes around 3h 15m and will set you back approx HRK 280 ($37).
The cheapest way to travel between Plitvice Lakes National Park and Cres is to take the bus and then take a ferry which will typically cost around HRK 180 ($24) for a standard one-way ticket.
Train travel
There is no train service that runs between Plitvice Lakes National Park and Cres. We recommend that you drive to Valbiska then take a ferry to Merag. instead which will take 3h 15m.
Bus travel
Sorry, looks like there is no bus service that runs between Plitvice Lakes National Park and Cres. We recommend that you drive to Valbiska then take a ferry to Merag. instead which will take 3h 15m.
Flights and Airlines
It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Plitvice Lakes National Park to Cres. We recommend that you take the bus to Karlovac and then to Rijeka bus station then take a ferry to Cres. instead which will take 4h 20m.
The closest major airport to Cres is Pula Airport (PUY) (PUY) which is approximately 36km (22 miles) from Cres. Rijeka Airport (RJK) (RJK) and Zagreb Airport (ZAG) (ZAG) are also nearby and might be a better alternative airport depending on where you are flying from.
Drive yourself
No, its not really possible or feasible to drive from Plitvice Lakes National Park to Cres. We recommend that you take the bus to Karlovac and then to Rijeka bus station then take a ferry to Cres. instead which will take 4h 20m.
If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Plitvice Lakes National Park to Cres is to take the bus and then take a ferry which takes, on average, 4h 20m and will usually cost around HRK 235 ($31).
Compare travel optionsbetween Plitvice Lakes National Park and Cres
| Transport option | Duration | Cost | Frequency | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Bus and Ferry + 3 similar | 4h 20m | HRK 235($31) | 5 times a week | 238km (148 miles) |
| Bus to Karlovac, ferry | 4h 45m | HRK 180($24) | once daily | 239km (149 miles) |
| Bus to Karlovac, ferry | 4h 45m | HRK 250($33) | once daily | 244km (151 miles) |
| Bus to Karlovac, ferry | 4h 50m | HRK 195($26) | once daily | 245km (152 miles) |
Car and Ferry | 3h 15m | HRK 280($37) | every 3 hours | 213km (133 miles) |
Top Carriersoperating between Plitvice Lakes National Park and Cres
Bus companies
Autobusni Promet
Autotransport Šibenik
Nomago
Croatia Bus
Ferry operators
Jadrolinija
Airports near Cres
The following major airports near Cres offer regular flights to various popular destinations within Croatia and internationally.
Pula Airport (PUY)
- Distance
- 36km (22 miles) from Cres
Rijeka Airport (RJK)
- Distance
- 39km (24 miles) from Cres
Zagreb Airport (ZAG)
- Distance
- 161km (100 miles) from Cres