Often bypassed for other tourist attractions in the region, Plitvice Lakes National Park is a gem tucked away in inland Croatia’s rolling green hills.
Besides being one of the oldest national parks in southeastern Europe and the largest park in Croatia, it also is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The park boasts beautifully clear blue lakes with cascading waterfalls, miles of rickety wooden walkways and luscious greenery. Tourists typically gravitate to other hot spots: Split, Dubrovnik (think “Game of Thrones”) and the smattering of islands up the Dalmatian Coast, but Plitvice is worth the trip.
Attempting to travel to the park from Zagreb, the capital, or the popular coastal city of Split with a tour group can delay your arrival time until early afternoon. Bus Croatia, the country’s public bus line, is a more reliable option. The ride lasts only two hours and winds down scenic roads. Arrive at the park early in the morning to avoid the maze of tourists. Ticket prices fluctuate: about $26 from July 1 to Aug. 31 and $8 to $16 during off-season.
The park is divided into two sections, an upper level of 12 lakes and a lower level with four more. Several rivers converge and divide the two parts. Minerals in the lake create a distinct clear blue hue, making it possible to see 15 feet down to the lake floor.
The scenery is nearly impossible to describe; every turn of the head offered another unexpected panorama of crashing water and deep blue pools. I dipped my feet in the arcticlike water and breathed in the scenery, the rugged openness, the fresh air — not something I’ll ever forget.
Lizzie Johnson is a freelance writer.