Which place is cheaper, Plitvice Lakes National Park or Plovdiv?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Plovdiv or Plitvice Lakes National Park?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Plovdiv and Plitvice Lakes National Park can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Plovdiv or Plitvice Lakes National Park?
Plovdiv
Located in a large, hilly plain between the Rhodope Mountains in the south of Bulgaria and the Balkan Range in the central part of the country, Plovdiv sits uniquely spread across six hills. It is one of the oldest continuously-inhabited cities in the world, dating back roughly 8,000 years. Some of its best features are its ancient ruins and historic architecture.
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 Bulgaria, The Best Adventure Tours to Bulgaria, 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 dayPlovdiv $80Plitvice Lakes National Park $133
The average daily cost (per person) in Plovdiv is $80, while the average daily cost in Plitvice Lakes National Park is $133. 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 Plovdiv and Plitvice Lakes National Park in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPlovdiv $44Plitvice Lakes National Park $64
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPlovdiv $88Plitvice Lakes National Park $128
Compare Hotels in Plovdiv and Plitvice Lakes National Park
Looking for a hotel in Plovdiv 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: Plovdiv Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Plovdiv $22Plitvice Lakes National Park $28
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Plovdiv
Also for Plovdiv, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Varna: Private Transfer from Varna to Plovdiv: $378
- Private Transfer from Plovdiv to Varna: $356
- Private Transfer from Plovdiv to Burgas: $263
- Transfer from Plovdiv to Burgas city/airport with sedan/minivan/minibus: $191
- Private Transfer from Pamporovo to Sofia (SOF) Airport: $160
- Sofia: Private Transfer from Sofia to Plovdiv OR vice versa: $148
- Private Transfer from Plovdiv to Sofia / vice versa: $148
- Transfer from Plovdiv to Sofia: $104
- Transfer Plovdiv to Sofia airport/city with a car 3+1: $98
- Transfer from Pamporovo to Sofia: $98
- Transfer from Plovdiv to Pamporovo: $89
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Plitvice Lakes National Park
Also for Plitvice Lakes National Park, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Plitvička Jezera to Zagreb Airport (ZAG): $232
- Private Transfer from Plitvička Jezera to Zadar Airport (ZAD): $271
- Plitvice lakes Guiding with Transfer: $182
- From Zadar: Round-Trip Transfer to Plitvice Lakes: $42
- From Plitvice Lakes to Zagreb private one-way transfer: $150
Is it cheaper to fly into Plovdiv or Plitvice Lakes National Park?
Prices for flights to both Plitvice Lakes National Park and Plovdiv 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 dayPlovdiv $21Plitvice Lakes National Park $43
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Plovdiv $15Plitvice Lakes National Park $36
Tours and Activities in Plovdiv
For Plovdiv, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 5-Day Guided Tour to Sofia, Plovdiv and Istanbul: $488
- Bachkovo Monastery & Asen's Fortress - day tour from Plovdiv: $82
- Communist Heritage Tour- Buzludzha and The Might of the East Block Aviation: $98
- Day Tour from Plovdiv - Magical Koprivshtitsa, Landscapes & Wine: $156
- Day Tour from Plovdiv full with History, Nature & Forgotten Village Experiences: $144
- Exclusive Private Tour in the Thracian Valley from Sofia: $94
- Food Walk: Bulgarian Food and Culture Tour in Plovdiv: $38
- From Bachkovo Monastery & Asen’s Fortress Tour: $81
- From Musala Peak Full-Day Trekking Tour: $130
- From Sofia - A Story of an Ancient State Day Tour: $95
- Full Day Archeological tour of Plovdiv and the Region: $97
- Full Day Eco Private Tour in Koprivshtitsa and Plovdiv: $150
Tours and Activities in Plitvice Lakes National Park
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Plitvice Lakes National Park.
- 3,5 hours Guided Buggy Tour in Plitvice lakes: $76
- Abandoned military airbase Zeljava -2h guided tour: $55
- Croatia Walking Tour in a Wonderland: $174
- E-Bike tour Plitvice Big Waterfall Viewpoints & Tito's Villa: $87
- From Split and Trogir: Plitvice Lakes Economy Group Tour: $48
- From Split: Plitvice Lakes Guided tour: $70
- Full Day Private Tour of Plitvice Lakes from Split & Trogir: $738
- Half day tour around Plitvice Lakes: $29
- PLITVICE LAKES FULL DAY TOUR WITH LOCAL: $182
- Plitvice Countryside Bike Tour with Barac Caves: $76
- Plitvice Guided Tour- Tickets only RESERVED: $44
- Plitvice Lakes Guided Tour: $36
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPlovdiv $9.57Plitvice Lakes National Park $15
Sample the Local Flavors in Plovdiv
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Plovdiv:
- Chateau Copsa Wine Tasting Tours & Activities: $21
- Plovdiv Exquisite Wine Tasting: $64
- Old Town Exploring Guide Roman Ruins & Wine Tasting: $80
- Thracian Valley wine tasting - private day tour from Plovdiv: $92
- Private Day Trip From Plovdiv To Wine Cellars And Wine Tasting: $108
- From Sofia: Plovdiv and Perushtitsa Tour With Wine Tasting: $134
- Half-Day of Horseback Adventure with Wine Tasting: $168
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Plovdiv and Plitvice Lakes National Park, we can see that Plitvice Lakes National Park is more expensive. And not only is Plovdiv much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Plovdiv would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Plovdiv 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 Plovdiv.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Plovdiv 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.