The 8 National Parks of Croatia

Krka National Park is an amazing natural attraction and one of Croatia’s most famous and most visited national parks. It is situated in southern Croatia, and it covers an area of 142 square kilometers along the Krka River.

Just like Plitvice Lakes, Krka National Park is best known for its majestic waterfalls. Tucked amongst the lush greenery, there are 7 gorgeous cascading waterfalls, of which the four best-known ones are: Skradinski Buk, Roški Slap, Manojlovački Slap, and Bilusica Buk. And while swimming in the area of Plitvice Lakes is strictly forbidden, at Krka National Park swimming is allowed, but only in specifically designated areas.

You can take a walk along the wooden plank promenade. that stretches throughout the park, and enjoy the breathtaking scenery. And if you’re visiting Krka National Park during the warm months, feel free to stop and swim in the crisp green lakes and pools underneath the waterfalls.

Krka National Park has a wide variety of flora and fauna. But besides natural attractions, there are also several historical, cultural, religious and archaeological sites around the park well worth a visit. The Visovac Monastery is a Franciscan (Roman Catholic) monastery situated on the island of Visovac in the middle of Lake Visovac. It can be reached by boat, as part of various attractive boat excursions offered by Krka National Park. The Krka Monastery (Holy Archangel) is an Orthodox Christian monastery dedicated to the Archangel Michael. It can be reached by car or by boat departing from Roški Slap. The Roman military camp Burnum is an archaeological site and a unique monument of ancient history, where you can see the remains of the only Roman military amphitheater in Croatia. Oziđana pećina cave and Jazinka cave are sites of significant archaeological interest, where traces of human settlements have been found dating back to the Bronze and Early Iron Ages.

Official website of Krka National Park: http://www.np-krka.hr/en

Brijuni National Park (Brioni National Park) consists of 2 larger islands, Veliki Brijun and Mali Brijun, and 12 smaller ones, located in the northern part of the Adriatic Sea along the southwestern coast of Istria.

The Brijuni islands have been inhabited since prehistoric times, so there are numerous archaeological sites of great value that offer evidence of early human settlements and guarantee a memorable experience for visitors.

The islands were home to the Illyrians, Romans, Ostrogoths, Byzantines, Venetians, and Austrians, though in the 18th and the early 19th century, they were mostly abandoned due to a major malaria outbreak. In 1893, the Brijuni islands were purchased by Paul Kupelwieser, an Austrian industrial entrepreneur, who helped the islands get rid of malaria and turned them into an attractive seaside resort that over the coming years hosted many notable and prominent guests, such as Douglas Fairbanks, John D. Rockefeller, Thomas Mann, James Joyce, Richard Strauss, and many more. After World War I, the Brijuni islands became part of Italy. In 1945, after World War II, they became part of former Yugoslavia, and they remained part of Croatia after it declared its independence from Yugoslavia in 1991.

From 1949 to 1979, the Brijuni islands were used by the former Yugoslav President Josip Broz Tito as his private summer residence, where he hosted many world leaders and film stars, such as Indira Gandhi, Queen Elizabeth II, John F. Kennedy, Elizabeth Taylor, Sophia Loren, Richard Burton, and many more. In 1983, three years after Tito’s death, the Brijuni islands were officially classified as a national park and as such opened to the public.

Veliki Brijun is the largest of the islands, and it contains most of the park’s attractions available to visitors: the Byzantine castrum; the remains of the Roman villa rustica in Verige Bay; the St. Mary’s Basilica, the oldest Christian building on the island; the 1600-year-old ancient olive tree, which is one of the oldest trees in the Mediterranean; and the Safari Park, which is home to many exotic as well as local Istrian animals. Once on the island, you can take a ride on the tourist train, rent a bicycle or a golf cart, or just go walking around the island.

Brijuni National Park is a vacation paradise not only for culture and nature lovers but also for sports enthusiasts. You can play golf, tennis, badminton or bocce, take a swim or snorkel.

And if you’re looking for a truly unusual experience of retracing the footsteps of dinosaurs, Brijuni National Park is definitely a place you should have on your bucket list.

Official website of Brijuni National Park: http://www.np-brijuni.hr/en

The Kornati archipelago is the densest archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea. It consists of roughly 140 islands, islets, and reefs, of which 89 belong to the Kornati National Park, making it a true nautical paradise.

Human presence on the Kornati islands extends back to the Neolithic period, and on the island of Kornat, you can see the remains of Illyrian and Roman settlements. Today, the islands are uninhabited. There are about 300 small houses on the Kornati islands, but they are only used as temporary shelters by their owners, most of whom live on the nearby island of Murter.

Being a true nautical paradise with 89 islands, all very close to one another, Kornati National Park is a perfect place for sailing and island hopping. Other than that, you can explore nature, culture, and history of the archipelago as well as enjoy swimming, snorkeling or scuba diving.

Official website of Kornati National Park: http://www.np-kornati.hr/en

Mljet National Park is located on the island of Mljet, one of the largest islands in Dalmatia. It is bordered by two saltwater lakes, connected to the sea by a narrow canal. Mljet National Park is absolutely perfect for nature and culture lovers, offering a wide variety of activities to enjoy, such as walking, cycling, hiking, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, snorkeling, and scuba diving.

The main attractions on the island include various archaeological sites, the Benedictine Monastery, and the Odyssey’s Cave, which you can reach by taking a short boat ride inside the park.

The nearest city is Dubrovnik, and there are day trips available from Dubrovnik to the island and back. You can also reach it by ferry from Split, Makarska, Hvar, and Korčula.

The park is open throughout the year, but to take full advantage of all the possibilities and enjoy water activities, the best time to visit Mljet National Park would be during summer months.

Official website of Mljet National Park: http://np-mljet.hr/en/

Northern Velebit National Park (Sjeverni Velebit National Park) covers the northern part of Velebit, the largest mountain range in Croatia, which divides the Adriatic Sea coast from the continental part of the country.

Northern Velebit National Park offers quiet and tranquil trekking and hiking through spectacular scenery, bird and wildlife watching, and the most stunning views of the Adriatic Sea. From the Velebit mountain peaks, you can witness some of the most amazing and captivating sunsets over the sea and enjoy a magical and unforgettable experience of stargazing.

Some of the main attractions of Northern Velebit National Park are: the Velebit Botanical Garden, which is located at an altitude of 1480 meters above sea level and is home to some 300 species of plant life; Zavižan, where you can visit the oldest high-altitude weather station in Croatia and stay in the Zavižan mountain hut; the Premužićeva Trail (Premužić Trail), a 57 km long hiking trail that goes from Zavižan to Oštarijska vrata and passes through Veliki Alan; Rossi’s shelter, a charming stone cottage built in 1929; and the Lukina jama cave, the deepest cave in Croatia.

Official website of Northern Velebit National Park: http://www.np-sjeverni-velebit.hr/

Paklenica National Park is situated in the southern part of the Velebit mountain range and composed of the two impressive canyons, Velika Paklenica (Big Paklenica) and Mala Paklenica (Small Paklenica).

With stunning scenery and wildlife, Paklenica National Park is a true paradise for nature lovers, walkers, hikers, climbers, and explorers. The park area has more than 150 km of hikes and trails, ranging from easy to challenging, all of which with breathtaking views and scenery.

There are also 115 speleological objects so far known in Paklenica National Park, among which the most famous one is Manita Peć cave. It’s the only cave in Paklenica National Park that’s open to the public through guided tours. The cave is 175 m long and full of shiny stalagmites and stalactites of various sizes and shapes.

Official website of Paklenica National Park: https://np-paklenica.hr/en/

Risnjak National Park is located in a picturesque hilly area of Gorski Kotar. Being home to majestic hills and mountains, dense forests and green river valleys, it’s a perfect place for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy nature and stunning mountain views.

With many walking trails and paths, suitable for both beginners and experienced hikers, hiking is one of the most popular activities in Risnjak National Park. The highest point of the park is the peak of Veliki Risnjak (1528 m), and it takes about 3 hours to reach it walking from the main entrance. Other interesting peaks include Snježnik, the second highest peak, and Guslica, where you can see an abandoned ex Yugoslav Army underground military facility.

You can also enjoy cycling and mountain biking, recreational fishing, that is allowed from late spring to early fall, or skiing during the winter months. No matter the season, there is always something fun to do in Risnjak National Park.

Official website of Risnjak National Park: http://np-risnjak.hr/en/