A guide to the parks you must visit in Croatia

Croatia’s diverse landscape makes it one of the best destinations worldwide for nature adventurers. The country is blessed with lush forests, dramatic waterfalls, amazing beaches, long valleys, mountains, and lakes, as well as a rich fauna. And it’s doing a great job to preserve them in its numerous national parks and natural reserves!

If you are planning to explore the natural wonders of Croatia with your loved ones or as a solo traveler, here are 5+1 parks and reserves that you can’t miss: 

1. Mljet National Park
2. Plitvice Lakes National Park
3. Brijuni Islands National Park
4. Krka National Park
5. Risnjak National Park
6. Northern Velebit National Park

The lush forests and incredible salt lake of the Mljet National Park

1. Mljet National Park

Off the coast of Dubrovnik in the Adriatic Sea lies the peaceful and car-free island of Mljet. The idyllic island is covered in green forest and a large part of it is protected as a national park.

With an awesome network of cycling paths and hikings trails, such as the Pomena Trail, the Mljet National Park is full of exploration opportunities, including enchanting bays. Bike, stroll, or try a kayak or canoe adventure, to absorb the park’s fresh air and picture-perfect hidden corners.

One of the Mljet park’s highlights are the two lovely saltwater lakes, Veliko Jezero (Large Lake) and Malo Jezero (Small Lake), connected to each other through a narrow canal. The first one also hosts the tiny islet of Sveta Melita, home to a 12th-century Benedictine monastery.

How to get there: you can catch a ferry from Dubrovnik to 3 ports in Mljet: Sobra, Pomena and Polače. The fastest way to reach the island is the Dubrovnik - Sobra (Mljet) ferry route. You can also reach Mljet from the nearby island of Korčula, thanks to the Korčula - Pomena (Mljet) ferry route.

2. Plitvice Lakes National Park

Attracting over 1 million visitors per year, Plitvice Lakes National Park is among Croatia’s oldest national parks and top natural sights. It has also been proclaimed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

This absolutely scenic and exquisite national park hosts 16 crystalline lakes –changing colors depending on the season, from azure to green– each one falling into another and creating cascading waterfalls. Visitors have the opportunity to not only witness, but also walk among these glorious lakes and cascades on wooden footbridges and trails. The park’s postcard quality is reinforced by thick forest vegetation, rare plant species and rich fauna, including butterflies, turtles and brown bears.

How to get there: Plitvice Lakes National Park is an ideal day-trip destination from Zagreb or Zadar. There are several tourist buses starting from there and other nearby cities. Bear in mind that it’s best to buy your park tickets online at least one day in advance of your visit.

Tip: the best seasons to visit the park are spring, when the waterfalls are at their fullest and the flora is thriving, and fall, when you can admire the unbelievable colors of the leaves.

Strolling over the turquoise waters of the magnificent Plitvice lakes

3. Brijuni Islands National Park

The Brijuni National Park consists of 14 islands stretching along the Istrian coast, about 5 km from the city of Pula, and covering around 7.35 km². This is probably the least “natural” park in Croatia, but its exceptional sights and activity options won’t disappoint you.

Veliki Brijun is the only island out of the 14 that tourists can visit. In the past, it used to serve as Yugoslav President Tito’s summer residence, who created his private zoo hosting exotic animal species, such as zebras, peacocks and elephants, now operating as a safari park. Attractions in the Brijuni Islands also include 200 dinosaur footprints, green meadows, pristine beaches, a Mediterranean garden hosting a 1600-year-old olive tree, a Roman villa, and an ancient Greek settlement.

We recommend renting a bike to get around, and take the chance to play some golf or tennis on the island. Note that there are hotels inside the park, so you can stay there for a few days, as well as a visitor train.

How to get there: there are ferries to the Brijuni Islands departing from the Istrian town of Fažana, where you can purchase your park tickets as well. There are also day-trip cruises from Pula.

Tip: if you wish to travel to Pula and reach the Brijuni Islands from there, bear in mind that you can travel to Pula by ferry from Venice in Italy, as well Zadar in Croatia.

4. Krka National Park

One of Croatia’s most popular tourist destinations, Krka National Park is a spectacular natural oasis in Croatia. The park draws its name from Krka river and hosts 16 impressive cascades in its almost 110 km², forming a fable-like network of pools and streams.

The Skradinski Buk and Roški Slap waterfalls are definitely the park’s highlights, along with the 18-century Visovac Monastery, located on a small island on Krka River. You can use the paths to stoll around the waterfalls, but you can also take advantage of boat trips that take you to the park’s top sights, including Krka Monastery, departing from Roski Slap.

Useful info: swimming is no longer allowed at the popular Skradinski Buk in Krka, but it is allowed in a few other locations of the park, such as Stinice and downstream of Roški Slap. Find out more about Krka and the top 7 waterfalls in Croatia and discover how to visit them on Ferryhopper!

How to get there: the Krka National park is about an 1-hour drive from Zadar and Split in Dalmatia. You can reach it by car or public bus, but there are also tours starting from nearby Šibenik. The entry fee includes a guided tour around the grounds.

The jaw-dropping waterfalls and green landscape in Krka park

5. Risnjak National Park

One of the lesser-known national parks in Croatia, Risnjak is located in the most forested part of Croatia, Gorski Kotar, and it’s around 32 km northeast of Rijeka. Its diverse landscape includes the Kupa river source (50 m above sea level), as well as the peak of Veliki RIsnjak (Great Risnjak) mountain (1528 m above sea level).

Risnjak National Park might not be a tourist favorite, but this only means that you’ll get more of this large adventure playground to yourself to explore! The park offers countless opportunities for hiking, mountaineering, skiing, fishing, and many more outdoor activities in its tranquil surroundings.

Challenge yourself and reach the peak of Veliki Risnjak on foot to admire stunning panoramic views of wonderful green woods, verdant valleys and flourishing meadows blending with grayish white rock formations and the sky’s bright blue, as well as a few villages. In this incredible nature, you might even get a glimpse of bears, deer, lynx, and wolves, the park’s permanent inhabitants.

How to get there: Risnjak National Park is easily accessible by car from the town of Delnice. You can reach Delnice by train from Zagreb in 1.5 hours and from Rijeka in 45 minutes. 

6. Northern Velebit National Park

Northern Velebit is part of the Velebit mountain range, covering 109 km² of their northern section. The area was declared a nature park in 1999 and hosts important botanical reserves, such as Visibaba, a forest reserve, a botanical garden, and mountain caves. It is also a precious habitat for brown bears, lynx and wolves.

This one is an unmissable experience for the more adventurous travelers. Its rugged and rocky landscape attracts tourists looking for the thrills of a good hiking challenge. The national park’s many mountain trails and awesome forest paths network, that could also serve as cycling routes, lead to peaks, valleys and breathtaking views from the top.

You can also seek for short-time accommodation inside the park as there are 4 shepard-style huts. As for rooms, hotels, or campsites, there are several options available in the park surroundings.

How to get there: the main point of departure for visiting the Northern Velebit National Park is the village of Krasno, that you can easily reach from all major towns and cities in Croatia.

On top of the world in Northern Velebit National Park

With amazing beaches, islands, mountains, and waterfalls, one thing’s for sure: the grass is greener in Croatia. And now it’s time for you to touch grass and experience the unbelievable nature the Croatian parks have to offer! Book ferry tickets to Pula, Zadar, Dubrovnik and other starting points for your Croatia adventure on Ferryhopper.

Tip: if you wish to reach your favorite Croatian national park starting from Italy, find out all about ferry routes from Italy to Croatia on Ferryhopper.