Plitvice Lakes: Croatia’s classic world of waterfalls and turquoise water

Plitvice Lakes are the place where Croatia briefly stops being about beaches, islands and promenades. Here, water is the main character: falling over cascades, flowing between lakes, disappearing under wooden boardwalks and changing colour with the light.

The national park is famous for its chain of lakes connected by waterfalls and natural tufa barriers. The scenery is extremely photogenic, but also fragile, so visitors must stay on marked paths and boardwalks.

Why visit

Plitvice is perfect if you want to see a different side of Croatia. The combination of turquoise water, waterfalls and wooden paths above the lakes is genuinely memorable.

Practical tip

In high season, buy tickets in advance and arrive as early as possible. Good shoes matter, because paths and boardwalks can be wet and slippery.

Summary

Plitvice Lakes are famous for a reason. They can be crowded and summer tickets are expensive, but with good timing they are one of Croatia’s strongest natural experiences.