Which place is cheaper, Plitvice Lakes National Park or Budva?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Budva or Plitvice Lakes National Park?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Budva and Plitvice Lakes National Park. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Budva or Plitvice Lakes National Park?
Budva
A coastal resort in Montenegro, Budva is probably the country's most popular tourist destination. Not only does it host a number of great beaches, but it is also home to a picturesque old town center located on a small peninsula. Some of its best features include narrow winding lanes, historic buildings, churches, and small squares.
Plitvice Lakes National Park
One of the most beautiful natural sights in Europe, Plitvice Lakes National Park is an area of green forests laced with a system of interconnected turquoise lakes. It was set aside as a national park in 1949, and was later designated an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Montenegro, The Best Adventure Tours to Montenegro, The Best 10-Day Tours in Croatia, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Croatia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBudva €91Plitvice Lakes National Park €125
The average daily cost (per person) in Budva is €91, while the average daily cost in Plitvice Lakes National Park is €125. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Budva and Plitvice Lakes National Park in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBudva €37Plitvice Lakes National Park €60
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBudva €74Plitvice Lakes National Park €120
Compare Hotels in Budva and Plitvice Lakes National Park
Looking for a hotel in Budva or Plitvice Lakes National Park? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Budva Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Budva €20Plitvice Lakes National Park €26
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Budva
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Budva are as follows:
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Daily Car Rental€65
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Budva
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Budva:
- Taxi Transfer Budva to Tirana: $294
- Private Transfer from Budva to Dubrovnik: $272
- Private Transfer from Budva or Becici to Dubrovnik airport: $240
- Private Transfer from Sveti Stefan to Dubrovnik airport: $218
- Budva to Dubrovnik one way transfer: $179
- Herceg Novi to Budva one way transfer: $144
- Transfer from Podgorica Airport to Kotor: $139
- Private Transfer from Bar to Tivat Airport (TIV): $117
- Tivat to Budva one way transfer: $102
- Private Transfer from Bar to Podgorica Airport (TGD): $97
- Private Transfer from Petrovac to Tivat airport: $82
- Montenegro Airport Transfer: $65
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Plitvice Lakes National Park
Also for Plitvice Lakes National Park, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- From Plitvice Lakes to Zagreb private one-way transfer: $150
- From Zadar: Round-Trip Transfer to Plitvice Lakes: $42
- Plitvice lakes Guiding with Transfer: $182
- Private Transfer from Plitvička Jezera to Zadar Airport (ZAD): $271
- Private Transfer from Plitvička Jezera to Zagreb Airport (ZAG): $232
Is it cheaper to fly into Budva or Plitvice Lakes National Park?
Prices for flights to both Plitvice Lakes National Park and Budva change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayBudva €31Plitvice Lakes National Park €40
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Budva
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Budva.
- Cooking Class with dinner/lunch in Ulcinj Montenegro : $49
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Budva €22Plitvice Lakes National Park €34
Tours and Activities in Budva
Here are a few actual costs in Budva for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 1-Hour Guided Lipa Cave Adventure in Montenegro: $15
- Blue Cave Tour on Kayaks in Montenegro: $82
- Budva 1 hour Private walking tour: $66
- Budva Bay Boat Tour - Exploring Budva With A Local: $70
- Budva Bay SUP & Kayaking Tours to Coastal Caves: $44
- Budva old town private tour: $172
- Budva private day tour from Kotor: $310
- Budva/Petrovac: Premium Paragliding Experience: $107
- 3-Hour Paddle Board or Kayak Tour to Coastal Caves: $43
- City Private Tour: $126
- Exploring Caves & Private Boat Tour: $70
- Hidden paradise tour with snorkeling and lunch: $214
Tours and Activities in Plitvice Lakes National Park
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Plitvice Lakes National Park.
- Plitvice Lakes: National Park Official Entry Ticket: $11
- Plitvice Lakes National Park Admission Ticket: $14
- Half day tour around Plitvice Lakes: $29
- Plitvice Lakes Guided Tour: $36
- Plitvice Lakes: Guided Walking Tour and Boat Ride: $36
- Plitvice lakes: Guided walking tour with a boat ride: $37
- Private Guided Fairy Tale Tour in Ogulin: $38
- Plitvice Guided Tour- Tickets only RESERVED: $44
- From Split and Trogir: Plitvice Lakes Economy Group Tour: $48
- Abandoned military airbase Zeljava -2h guided tour: $55
- From Split: Plitvice Lakes Guided tour: $70
- Plitvice Lakes National Park - Inspiration Buggy Tour: $75
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBudva €14Plitvice Lakes National Park €14
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Budva and Plitvice Lakes National Park, we can see that Plitvice Lakes National Park is more expensive. And not only is Budva much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Budva would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Budva and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Plitvice Lakes National Park would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Plitvice Lakes National Park than you might in Budva.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Budva Expensive? and Is Plitvice Lakes National Park Expensive?.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.