Plitvice Lakes

Plitvice Lakes is Croatia's most famous natural wonder and its oldest national park, a UNESCO site where sixteen terraced lakes of impossibly turquoise and emerald water descend in a staircase, linked by countless waterfalls. Wooden walkways and paths wind directly across and beside the water through lush forest, and electric boats and a road train link the upper and lower lakes.

History

The name Plitvice first appears in writing in 1777, from the shallow basins in which the lakes formed. Visitors were already lodged at Velika Poljana in 1861, and for the visit of Crown Princess Stéphanie in 1888 the lakes were laid out for tourism for the first time; in 1893 Gustav Janeček founded a society to preserve them, which built a hotel, and in 1898 a waterfall was named after the opera singer Milka Ternina, who gave money from her concerts for paths and conservation. The national park was founded in 1949 and inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1979 for its series of tufa lakes, caves and waterfalls (Wikipedia, Plitvice Lakes National Park).

Highlights

• The turquoise lakes - the staircase of vivid blue-green terraced lakes.
• The waterfalls - the countless cascades linking the lakes, including the great Veliki Slap.
• The wooden walkways - the paths winding across and beside the water.
• The forest setting - the lush woods around the lakes.

When to go

Late spring and early autumn for the fullest waterfalls, mild weather and thinner crowds; spring brings snowmelt and green forest, autumn brings colour. Summer is hot and very busy, so book a timed entry and go early.

Things to know

It is extremely popular, so in summer the narrow walkways jam with visitors; book a timed ticket and start early. Swimming is forbidden to protect the lakes. It is a long day of walking, so wear good shoes, and note there is no shortcut past the crowds on the boardwalks.

Nearby

The Krka waterfalls and the Dalmatian coast are to the south; Zagreb is to the north.

Key facts