There are eight official national parks located in Croatia, which is quite impressive for such a small country! From stunning waterfalls, breathtaking coastlines and verdant forests to rocky mountains and picturesque islands, Croatia seems to have a little scattering of everything you want in nature. We have broken down what to expect from each national park below so you can prepare for your holiday to Croatia.
Plitvice National Park is without a doubt the most known and popular in Croatia. The cascading, bright blue lakes and lush surroundings are plastered on brochures and instagrams all over the world, showcasing the natural beauty of Croatia. You can easily walk around the main section of the park in a day, all the areas are connected by wooden walkways over the water and everything is signposted. The park gets very busy during the summer and there can be queues along the walkways with no room to overtake, so be aware of this when planning your trip. The best idea is to book accommodation nearby and enter the park as soon as it opens, when very few people are there. All Tucan Travel tours that visit Plitvice Lakes stay in the park giving you plenty of time to explore at your own pace.
Best for: Travellers who want to see some beautiful scenery without hiking and aren’t bothered about swimming, which is forbidden at Plitvice.
Named after the Krka River, the park encompasses an area of over 142 square kilometres with the biggest draw being the beautiful Skradinski Buk Falls. It’s possible to explore the park in a day on a trip from Split, or if you would rather have more time then you should visit the town of Skradin where there are various hotels and guesthouses. Krka National Park is also home to a variety of wildlife, in fact four species on the European endangered list can be found here. These are the greater horseshoe bat, otter, wolf and wild cat. Due to the sheer size of Krka National Park there are a huge variety of activities for nature lovers. Enjoy walking trails, rent a bike, swim in the lagoon or take a boat ride across the lake.
Best for: Travellers who want a little more action and space to enjoy nature, including a beautiful swimming spot!
Located in the southern section of the Velebit mountain range, Paklenica National Park covers an area of just under 100 square kilometers. The park is known for its two canyons – Velika Palkenica and Mala Paklenica. There are also various caves, some of which you can visit. These geological highlights are what sets Paklenica apart from other national parks. There are a few lodges and mountain huts in the park, as well as a camping ground on the coast which is open from March to November.
Best for: Those who like more of a challenge. While there are some gentle walking trails, you can also find several challenging hikes and climbing spots.
Mljet National Park covers the entire north-western section of Mljet Island, encompassing a total of 5400 hectares of land. The two main towns are Polace and Pomena, where there is a small but decent range of accommodation if you wish to stay in the park for a few days. Mljet borders two saltwater lakes, known as Veliko and Malo Jazero (big and small lake). Both lakes stretch out around 4 kilometres with a small island dotted in the middle. This is where the Benedictine monastery sits, a popular image you will see of Mljet Island. There are plenty of well marked paths around the lakes so you can either walk or cycle to take in the views, or you can kayak and swim in the lakes.
Best for: Those staying in Dubrovnik and looking for the perfect day trip. Catamarans run regularly and take only one hour from Dubrovnik.
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