Holidays in early May are perfect for a short getaway in our neighbor country Croatia. On our way to the Northern Dalmatia we made a one day stop at one of the oldest and largest national parks in the Croatia. Plitvice Lakes (Plitvička jezera) is between the Mala Kapela mountain range in the west and the Lička Plješivica mountain range to the southeast. They are located roughly between capital city Zagreb and Zadar and are a must-see. This UNESCO World Heritage Site covers an area just under 300 km2. The national park is famous for its natural beauty. Plitvice is an ensemble of 16 natural lakes and attracts millions of tourists due to its breath-taking views, picturesque waterfalls and turquoise waters. The lake system is comprised of 16 named (Prošćansko jezero, Ciginovac, Okrugljak, Batinovac, Veliko jezero, Malo jezero, Vir, Galovac, Milino jezero, Jezerce, Burgeti and Kozjak) and several smaller unnamed lakes, cascading one into the next. There are also over 90 waterfalls of different size. You can explore this wonderful blend of oak forests, meadows, rocks and lakes by walking (it will take around 4 hours to walk around). If you’re on a tight schedule, as we were, you can take electric train and/or boat for one part of the path around the park. Price of the transport is included in the admission price, which is 55 kn (7, 5 Euros) from January till end of March and from November till end of December and 150 kn (20, 5 Euros) during season. We arrived to Plitvice around 1 p.m. and it was already crowded, but I suppose it is always. If you want more time to explore this natural phenomena, it is best if you stay overnight in a nearby hotel (there are plenty in the region to choose from) and start walking around the park early in the morning. Then, I believe, it is also less crowded. Here are some more of my suggestions to get the most of the day; most people start their way like it is marked, but we went the other way around. To avoid standing in long lines for the transport. First we walked to the station S2 to board the bus (it comes every half an hour). Bus takes you to the station 3 where you can take the boat. Then we walked on the wooden path observing the amazing nature. The waterfalls and the way water plays with rocks it is truly breathtaking. Go to the Veliki Slap (great waterfall) and be amazed by the highest waterfall (78 meters). It is the most beautiful part of Plitvice lakes. No wonder Plitvice Lakes National Park is Croatia’s most popular tourist attraction.
heartofwonderlust 