The land in Croatia is beautiful and the landscape varied. From forest
to coast are national parks sure to please the explorer that lives inside every vacationer.
There are eight national parks in Croatia, each with their own flavor and personality. Each
is worth the visit if you have the time – or you can pick and choose the one you prefer.
In 2010 some 2 million tourists have visited the 8 national parks, which is about 20% of
the total 2010 visitor numbers to Croatia.
Brijuni
The Brijuni national park is made up of a group of 14 islands off the Croatian coast. This
park was created in 1983, and offers a number of three star hotels for guests to the islands.
Kornati
The southern portion of the Kornati Archipelago (made up of more than 130 islands) was made
a national park in 1980. It is a great place to relax, take a hike, and breathe in the salty sea air. There is no
natural spring water on the islands, so be sure to bring your own.
Krka
Established in 1985, the Krka National Park is located in Dalmatia and is just a few miles
outside Sibenik. This park is most famous for the clear lakes and gorgeous waterfalls. To say it is picturesque
would be an understatement.
Mljet
The national park of Mljet, which was established in 1960, is an island located a short
boat ride from Dubrovnik. Mljet is a beautiful island with two deep bays for which it is famous. The land is
covered with thick green vegetation and is very inviting.
North Velebit
This is the youngest of Croatia’s national parks, created in 1999. It contains mountains,
trees, and even a cave system that is a delight for spelunkers around the world.
Paklenica
This is a beautiful river canyon located in northern Dalmatia, and is well known for hiking
and mountain climbing. Paklenica was established as a national park in 1949.
Plitvice Lakes
This is one of the most well known national parks in Croatia, and it is also one of the
most visited. It was created in 1949 and has been churning out happy hikers ever since. There are a group of
sixteen lakes, all of which are connected through a series of waterfalls and streams. It is a truly beautiful sight
covered with forests and meadows and populated by a variety of wildlife.
Plitvice Lakes video - panoramic and close up views of this beautiful and serene national park,
its emerald, crystal clear lakes and waterfalls
Plitvice Lakes National Park now visits nearly one million visitors annually. It is the
most visited national park in Croatia. In 2010 there were 750,000 visitors by the end of August. That was an
increase of 5% on 2009 visitor numbers. Most of those visitors come from Germany, Italy, France, Russia, Israel,
and Japan.
Risnjak
Established in 1953, this park is located in Gorski kotar, which is the most mountainous
and heavily forested area in Croatia. This is a hiker’s paradise.
No matter the type of park in which you want to spend your vacation, you are certain to
find somewhere wonderful in Croatia.
