Croatia is the land of wonders. There are many things to explore in this beautiful place, and national parks in Croatia are one of them.
Therefore, the European country has some significant, lovely shorelines and friendly cities adoring its coast. Croatia is a well-known place among tourists.
Every year, numerous travel enthusiasts visit this delightful destination, and the welcoming atmosphere of this region satisfies their wanderlust.
The weather and the atmosphere are beautiful; tourists gladly enjoy the pleasant beauty of it. The country has everything, from valleys to mountains and rivers to beaches.
The green and beautiful national parks are some heart-melting spots for visitors.
1. The Top 5 National Parks in Croatia
Croatia’s national parks are filled with great excitement, and visitors love to go there. When you see the lovely scenery of these national parks, your heart will order your eyes not to move from there.
In the parks, you can enjoy hiking, climbing, watching the beautiful waterfalls, exploring many small islands, and using your guided tour to explore every corner of the parks.
You will genuinely learn about Croatia’s natural beauty and fall in love with it by visiting the national parks.
The top 5 national parks in Croatia are listed below.
1.1 Plitvice National Park
It is a beautiful national park in the country. It is also known as the Plitvice Lakes National Park. Inside this national park is a chain of lakes and 16 galleries.
This charming lake is joined by beautiful waterfalls that delicately flow into a limestone canyon. You will find numerous hiking trails as well as fantastic walkways.
The weather is always charming at this place, and the pleasant winds will take all your stress away from you.
Electric boats are available for boating. However, this beautiful national park in Croatia is home to many unknown species of flora and fauna.
During boating, you will find the upper 12 lakes are connected with four lower lakes. Therefore, you can visit this national park at any time of the year.
You have to book tickets to go to Plitvice Lakes National Park. The park is open for 12 hours from 7 AM to 7 PM.
The distance of this national park from the Zagreb Airport is 139 kilometres. You can get direct buses from the airport to your destination.
By bus, it will take about 150 minutes to reach the park. Adult entry in the national park from January to March and November to December is 11.85 dollars, while from April to May and October, it costs 26.5 dollars.
However, from June to September, the entry fee is 44.5 dollars for adults. If you are going for the trip with your little one, age 7 to 18, from January to March and November to December, it is 5.2 dollars, while from April to May and October, it costs 7.5 dollars. From June to September, the entry fee is 44.5 dollars for 18 dollars for your kid.
1.2 Krka National Park
This beautiful national park in Croatia is beside the bank of the Krka River in the south. Visitors love to visit the national park in Croatia.
Here, you will find seven continuous waterfalls and a unique atmosphere. You will find a beautiful watermill near Skradinski waterfall, located towards the park’s southern part.
Krka National Park is one of the two sanctuaries in the country where you can enjoy lakes and waterfalls.
A forked walkway with planks of wood makes the pathway entertaining for visitors.
June and September are best for experiencing the beautiful moments of the national park. The entrance of Skradinski Buk is open from 8 am to 8 pm, while the entry of Roski Slap is open from 9 am to 8 pm.
Krka National Park is located 58 kilometres away from the Capital City airport. The entry fee in July and August is 27 dollars; from April to June and from September to October, it is 15 dollars; from November to March, it is 4 dollars for adults.
However, for kids aged 7 to 18, it will cost 16 dollars in June and August; from April to June and from September to October, the fee will be 11 dollars.
Lastly, from November to March, the fee is 2.70 dollars. To reach the Krka National Park, you can travel by bus.
1.3 Risnjak National Park
This Risnjak National Park is packed with mountains and deep forested regions in Croatia. It is located just a few miles away from Rijeka.
Inside the park, you will see many lush virgin forests with few settlements. Risnjak National Park covers a vast area and provides an excellent opportunity for hikers, climbers and adventurers to inspect.
You can also enjoy the promenade onto the circular walkway. Beside the walkway, various realistic vegetation, beech, and pine trees are covered with meadow flowers.
This park organizes the watching of wild animals. You can visit this beautiful national park any time of the year.
Risnjak is open from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday. However, it is open from 8 am to 6 pm on Saturday, Sunday or other holidays.
It is situated 118 kilometres away from the capital city’s Airport. The entry fee for adults is 6 dollars, while for children between 7 and 18 years, it is 3 dollars.
1.4 Paklenica National Park
The Paklenica National Park is secure because of its two dolomite limestone canyons. Mala Paklenica and Velika are two limestone canyons.
It is the second oldest national park after Plitvice National Park. You will see many karst rocks and dense black pine forests in the park.
You can also go hiking, and if you have enough strength in your legs to reach the top of the highest peak of Vaganski, which is 1757 meters long, you can witness the beautiful view of the park.
There are many shelters inside the park to rest at the end of the day. For visitors, there is a beautiful café just outside the entrance of Paklenica National Park named Denko’s café.
To witness the most beautiful offerings of the national park, visit during the early days of spring or the late summer.
Although the national park is too far from the Zagreb Airport, you must cover 275 kilometres to reach it.
For adults, the entrance fee is 5.75 dollars, and for children between 7 and 18 years, it is 2.87 dollars. At the same time, the park is open from 6 AM to 8 PM.
1.5 Kamenjak National Park
It is one of the most refreshing natural parks in Croatia. However, it would be best if you did a bit of hustle to reach the entrance of the Kamenjak National Park.
The entrance point is located 12 kilometres south of Pula. A 30-kilometre-long uneven coastal line bordered the national park.
Twenty bays, beaches, and colonized islands make this sanctuary a famous hang-out place for tourists during summer.
For entertainment, you can go hiking, trekking and swimming as well. This attractive national park is situated on the Premantura Peninsula.
You can enjoy bike trails with signposts and a walk into the dinosaur path. The dinosaur path is created with real fossils.
The best time to visit the national park is during spring and autumn. The park is open from 7 AM to 9 PM.
The distance of Kamenjak National Park from Zagreb, Croatia, is 279.9 kilometres. The entrance fee is 11 dollars per car, but for walkers, it is free. There is no different fee structure for adults and children.
2. Other Popular National Parks in Croatia
Despite the above being some of the top national parks in Croatia, it’s not the end. Croatia has many national parks, and you will be tired of completing all those.
The stunning scenery of the parks will not let you leave the place. Let’s make you more thirsty to visit Croatia.
2.1 Brijuni National Park
Brijuni National Park is a set of 14 islands and is also listed as one of the entertainment parks in Croatia. This heart-felting national park is situated on the Adriatic Sea.
However, if you are a cycling devotee, this park will suit you best. You can be cycling for 13 miles inside the park.
Bicycling events are also organized from April to May and October to November. Brijuni National Park is usually famous for its identical diving locations and coast trips.
Here, you will find nearly 700 types of vegetation and 250 kinds of species of uncommon birds.
This location is highly appealing to bird lovers. This national park keeps its beauty the same throughout the year so you can go anytime during the year.
Most interestingly, you don’t need to pay any entrance fee to visit the park. The park is open for 12 hours a day from 8 AM to 8 PM.
The park is situated 200 kilometres away from the Zagreb Airport.
2.2 Mljet National Park
The Mljet National Park is the largest one in the southern and eastern Adriatic islands of the Dalamatia area in Croatia.
In Mljet, you will see many extensive pine forests, saltwater lakes, etc. It covers an area of 5,400 that includes both sea and land.
Mljet provides a rough and superb beach, tracks for cycling, shadowy walkways, prehistoric ruins and beautiful lakes of salt water.
Don’t forget to take a walk beside the shores of two lakes. Here, the lakes are shaded with many trees.
The perfect time to visit Mljet National Park is from March to June and September to November. This lovely national park is open from 8 AM to 8 PM.
However, the easy way to reach the park is to land at the Dubrovnik Airport and take a bus to the Prapratno ferry port. The distance from Mljet Airport is 125 kilometres.
The entry fee for adults is 20 dollars, and for children between 7 and 18 is 7.24 dollars.
2.3 Northern Velebit National Park
In every national park in Croatia, you will find something new and exciting, but Northern Velebit National Park is simply something else.
This park is on the northern side of a beautiful range of Velebit mountains. The Velebit National Park is famous for its preserved biodiversity and incredible wilderness.
In the park, you will find Premuzic’s Trail. It is a very famous crisscrossed mountain trail. During the trail, you will see beautiful views of the Adriatic Sea and many small islands.
To enjoy the heartwarming views, visit the park from May to November. It is open from 8 AM to 7 PM. The park is located 200 kilometres away from Zagreb Airport.
The entry fee for adults is 7.30 dollars, while there is no entry fee for children.
2.4 Kornati National Park
The Kornati National Park is also known as a nautical paradise. You will become speechless when you visit this beautiful park.
Explore the beautiful islands of Kornati Park, swim in the crystal-clear water, etc. Summer is the perfect time to go.
Enjoy a sunbath on the excellent beach and lunch in a cheerful restaurant inside the park. Eight hiking trails are present inside Kornati National Park.
From the top of the mountain, you may see the Kornati peninsula. This beautiful park is situated 200 kilometres away from the capital city’s airport.
For adults, the entrance fee is 17.45 dollars, while children under 12 years will get a discount of 50 percent.
You will find many things to enjoy in the beautiful Kornati National Park, such as swimming, hiking, fishing, etc.
Closing Remarks
Therefore, this little country of Europe has retained many exciting and beautiful things inside it. Croatian national parks are the best place to enjoy an entertaining holiday with your loved ones.
These parks will provide almost everything you want, from swimming to having a tasty and yummy lunch with your partners.
Last Updated on July 11, 2024 by Sathi Chakraborty
