Plitvice, Croatia

Plitvice National Park

Cascading down karst rock, the highest waterfall in the park – and in the whole of Croatia – measures up to 78 meters high. The Veliki Slap leaves you feeling insignificantly small, while other waterfalls such as the smaller Labudovac matches its beauty with a height of “only” 20 meters. Rent a rowing boat or take a boat ride on the lakes to get as close as you can. Just don’t forget to put your valuables in a waterproof case.

Once you complete your chosen loop of wooden pathways around the lakes, hike any of the four additional trails that take you to 800-metre-high peaks, through 700-year-old beech forests or valleys abound with wildlife and butterflies. Enjoy the panoramic views on the steep cliffs, colorful lakes and glimmering streams or rivers that snake through the lush forests.

With the lakes covering only 1% of the park, the Plitvice Lakes National Park also allows skiing and snowboarding at the ski resort in the village Mukinje. With trails of around 400 m in length and a gentle slope gradient (the average is 15%), this is a suitable winter getaway for beginners, recreational skiers and children. The ski resort offers rentals of skiing and snowboarding equipment, as well as sleighs, snow saucers and toboggan sleds for sliding down the slope.

Getting in

With both Zagreb and Zadar a 2-hour drive away from the entrance to the national park, a visit can be a nice day-trip on your holiday in Croatia. When starting in the popular Dubrovnik, the national park requires a drive of at least 5 hours. 

Plitvice Lakes National Park has two entrances from which the trekking loops around the lakes start. Since the main entrances are about 3 km apart, it’s advised to plan your visit in advance.

There are also bus stops, built as small log cabins, at both entrances that connect the park to Zadar (2h) and Zagreb (2h20). Check the timetable of the Zagreb Bus Station or Zadar bus station online. Plan ahead so you don’t get stuck when coming back!

Wildlife and plants

With the surrounding mountains cooling the coastal Croatian temperatures, this region has its own wonderful mixture of Alpine and Mediterranean vegetation. The different soils and altitude levels create unique microclimates with abundant fauna and flora. There are 55 species of orchid, of which a crimson-and-yellow variety, the lady’s-slipper orchid, is a protected species. 

Look closely for signs of life at the lakes and you might be able to spot the European pond turtle in between the fish. This semi-aquatic species is dark in colour and can live up to 60 years. The bright woods around the water is home to a vast array of wildlife such as lynx, deer, wolves and brown bears. The sound of woodpeckers will accompany you on your forest hike, while a soundtrack of frogs and hooting owls announce the end of the day. The Eurasian eagle-owl roams the night as one of the largest of the owl species.

Where to stay

There are plenty of hotels inside the park and even more hotels, B&Bs and appartments for rent within walking distance from the entrance.

Whilst camping within the boundaries of the park is strictly forbidden, there are some camping opportunities in the vicinity of Plitvice National Park. All of them are at least 7 kilometers from the entrance itself, with the large Camping Bear and Camping Korana being the closest.