The 5 most fascinating National Parks in Croatia

The realm of bears, mongooses, salt lakes, and thundering waterfalls

Croatia scores highly with its incomparably beautiful coastline, an extraordinary island world, and cultural monuments that reveal thousands of years of rich history. The nature to be found in this Eastern European country is unique, boasting an unbelievably rich variety of flora and fauna. In order to protect these natural gems, 8 areas in Croatia have been declared national parks and a further 11 as nature parks. A wise decision, as more than ever it is necessary to preserve unique nature in this ever faster-changing world!

#1 Plitvice Lakes

Croatia’s largest and most famous national park is the Plitvice Lakes National Park, founded in 1949 and located near Korana, not far from the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina, on the D1 road which leads from Zagreb to Split. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979, the Plitvice Lakes cover an area of almost 297 km². That means you could fit New York's Manhattan Island in this national park 5 times!

The nature reserve is home to a total of 16 cascading lakes connected by 90 thundering waterfalls, streams, and underground cave systems. The largest waterfall “Veliki Slap” is an incredible 78 meters in height and is most easily reached from Entrance 1 “Rastovača”.

The connecting lakes stretch through a limestone gorge and can be explored on a network of hiking trails of almost 50 km in length, many of which run along the shores and across the water. An electric ferry connects the 12 upper lakes with the 4 lower lakes, allowing you to also enjoy the national park from the water.

A visit to the Plitvice National Park is possible all year round. It is especially beautiful in spring when the young leaves turn the whole park into a symphony of green. A visit in autumn is also spectacular, with the colourful leaves of the deciduous trees giving the park a beautifully warm atmosphere. In summer, the park is gorgeous but often very crowded. For us, winter is the most magical time to explore Plitvice National Park, when cold and snow transform the lakes and waterfalls into a huge fairy-tale ice kingdom.

#2 Risnjak

A place where foxes and rabbits bid each other good night? Here you're more likely to find wolves, bears, and lynx (Croatian: ris), the animal that gave the park its name! Risnjak is the least well known of Croatia's national parks. This 64 km² park located in the north of the country was founded in 1953 and is located only 15 km from the Adriatic coast. Risnjak is a paradise for those longing for untouched nature and tranquillity.

Anyone looking for major settlements will be left disappointed: Only 60 people live in the region of this national park. In place of urban cityscapes, you will find a simply astounding abundance of nature, with over 1,100 plant species, 110 bird species, 89 butterfly species, red deer, reptiles, wolves, lynxes, and one of the largest brown bear populations in Europe.

The best way to experience this wonderful biodiversity, along with the typical stone and wood "goranske" houses typical of the region, is to explore the 4.2 km long Leska nature trail that leads through the park. Cycling is permitted in the park as and there are mountain bikes available to rent.

A particularly idyllic place in the middle of the national park is the Kupa spring, which forms a spectacular turquoise lake. Those who love fly fishing can purchase a fishing license online before their visit. Designated fishing spots are located about 2 km from the Kupa spring. The motto here is "catch and release".

#3 Krka

The Krka River, with its seven waterfalls, countless river bends, and the many fortress ruins, mills, and monasteries that line its banks, is probably the most beautiful river in Dalmatia. The Krka River flows into the sea not far from the medieval town of Šibenik, and the resulting brackish water makes it the ideal place for mussel farming, an industry that is practiced there on a large scale.

The section of the river between the towns of Knin and Skradin was declared the Krka National Park in 1955. The largest waterfall in this protected area is the Manojlovac Waterfall reaching an impressive 60 meters in height.

The easiest way to reach the national park is from the town of Skradin. From here, an excursion boat brings visitors very close to the famous Skradinski Buk waterfall on the lower course of the Krka River. At Skradinski Buk, the water flows over a series of 17 limestone terraces, a truly impressive natural spectacle. And best of all: Swimming is permitted at the base of the waterfall. A refreshing dip under the rushing water is a very welcome way to cool off, especially during the summer months.

At the Skradinski Waterfall you can also find the ruins of the hydroelectric power plant that Nikola Tesla had built in 1895 to supply electricity to the town of Šibenik, which thus became the first municipality in the world to generate and use electric power.

The trail through the natural park follows well-maintained paths and boardwalks over the water and is a fascinating nature experience for both young and old. You can also visit the small island of Vicovac by boat, where a picturesque Franciscan monastery is located.

#4 Kornati

When God created the world, a handful of pebbles remained. On the eighth day of creation, he threw them without thought over his shoulder. Shortly after, he turned around looked in amazement at the miracle that he had created quite by accident: the Dalmatian archipelago of Kornati, consisting of 89 islets strung together like pearls on a necklace. Well, so the legend goes! The Kornati archipelago is a true natural wonder, now protected as the Kornati National Park!

The archipelago takes its name from Kornat, the largest island with a size of 33 km2 . The name is said to originate from the Italian "isola coronata", the crowned island. The names given to some of the smaller islands by the locals, such as "hat", "ball", "basket", "dead man", "little whore" and "grandmother's butt", are extremely original, ranging from funny to bizarre to not entirely PG. It is said that the fishermen were so bored in these isolated waters that they made a joke out of naming the islands in this unusual way.

The Kornati Islands are arguably the most beautiful stony desert in Croatia today. There is no vegetation here! The group of islands, reminiscent of a lunar landscape, appears all the more spectacular with its fantastic steep cliffs and such pristine waters that even coral can be found here. There is also an abundance of fish unparalleled in the Mediterranean. Most of the islands are uninhabited, but the bays hide some of the best anchorages in the Adriatic as well as a number of great restaurants, from cosy konobas to gourmet temples. If you want to explore the Kornati Islands yourself, it is important to note that anchoring and swimming are only allowed in designated areas.

#5 Mljet

The legendary island of Mljet is located not far from Dubrovnik in the very south of Croatia. Evergreen, full of legends, inhabited by mongooses, with two salt lakes running through its centre - there are many good reasons to visit Mljet. The most densely wooded island in the Adriatic is said to have once been the home of the nymph Calypso, who held the Greek hero Odysseus captive here for seven whole years. Is this true? Who knows! Depending on where you are, Calypso’s island is claimed by Croatia, Italy, Spain, or Greece.

And what are mongooses? The small day time predators from the genus of mongoose have made themselves a little too comfortable on Mljet. They were released on the island in 1909 to eradicate the island’s poisonous snakes. They succeeded, but, unfortunately, they eat all kinds of other animals. Mongooses have no natural enemies on Mljet, which is why they multiplied disproportionately and are now the island's furry "problem".

The north-western third of Mljet has been under protection as a national park since 1960. This area encompasses the two picturesque salt lakes, both of which are enclosed by evergreen forests. In the larger of the two salt lakes, there is a mini island dedicated to St. Mary, on which Benedictine monks built a monastery in the 12th century. This picturesque monastery can justifiably be called an architectural gem. In 1997, parts of Mljet's coast were also incorporated into the national park to protect the Mediterranean monk seal colony living there.

The national park is best explored on foot, but cycling is also allowed. You can reach the monastery island of Sveta Marija either by canoe or with the excursion boat that runs every hour. A detour to Polače, where you can visit the remains of a Roman mansion is also very worthwhile.

On the guided bike and boat trip – National Parks Dalmatia – you have the unique opportunity to experience three nature reserves up close from the water, on your bike and on foot. You spend the night on a boat and enjoy all the advantages of traveling with your accommodation. This allows you to get from place to place without the hassle of packing your suitcase. Two experienced guides will accompany you through Croatia’s diverse nature and share their extensive knowledge of the region and its inhabitants with you.