Plitvice Lakes National Park

The Plitvice Lakes National Park not only is a UNESCO World Heritage site, but it's also a must-see when you travel to Croatia!

Plitvice National Park Is located between Zagreb and Zadar, and contains 19.5 hectares of forest, lakes, and waterfalls making this national park one of Croatia's most beautiful destinations!

If you plan on visiting Croatia any time in the near future, be sure you take a trip to Plitvice National Park if you want to see the natural beauty that this country really offers the tourist.

The beauty of the Plitvice Lakes National Park is astounding - it shouldn't be a surprise that it's the country's most popular national park and has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The park contains sixteen lakes of an amazing turquoise color that you have to see to believe. The waterfalls and bubbling streams are like no other in the world.

Photo of Plitvice Lakes National Park

The ecology of the park is interesting as well - it's different from the other national parks in Croatia for one main reason. It's the only one that rests upon karst, giving it a strange topography. Karst is basically highly porous limestone and dolomitic rock that water seeps through leading to underground streams.

At various points across the park what appears to be stone is actually a form of petrified plant called travertine. It forms because the water that flows through the area absorbs minerals from the dolomite under the lakes, coating the plant life until it becomes porous travertine stone.

On top of the travertine, moss and plants start to grow continuing the process. Every segment of travertine that separates the lakes is always evolving and changing due to the nature of the natural processes in that area.

Wooden Walkways Through The Park

Photo of a wooden walkway in the park

The park contains many wooden walkways so you can view different areas of the park and often even walk right through the water. Hiking trails through the woods are also readily available.

There are no lakes that you can swim in, but there are many opportunities to view different species of birds, dear, boar, and even bears.

Sightseeing in Plitvice National Park is an unforgettable experience you can't miss if you find yourself in Croatia!

So When's Best Time To Visit The Park?

It doesn't really matter - the park is beautiful and offers the visitor an interesting experience whether you visit in the winter or the summer. In the winter the waterfalls become frozen, which is an amazing sight.

In the summertime the greenery of the woods is mesmerizing. In spring and fall the water volume is at its highest. Of course, expect many tourists to visit the park in July and August. To avoid the crowds, it's suggested you come by early in the morning or later in the afternoon after the tour buses have departed the area.

Easily Get To Plitvice Lakes National Park

It's not difficult to reach the park, as it is located on the main road between Zagreb and Zadar. Another wonderful national park that contains waterfalls, in the immediate area, is Krka Natioanl Park.

If you're going to be in the coastal area of Croatia, a visit to both parks is probably a good idea. You can take a bus to the park or drive there by car - it's about a two-hour drive from Zagreb or Zadar.

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