National Parks in Croatia

The eight national parks of Croatia can provide ideal vacation experiences for active travelers such as scuba diving, rock climbing, biking, swimming and spelunking.

National Parks in Croatia



The eight National Parks of Croatia cover 7.5% of the country or 994 sq km. Visiting all of the Croatian National Parks gives a breathtaking array of scenery from forested islands to craggy mountaintops, waterfalls, lakes and sun-baked islands in the sea. They provide ideal vacation experiences for active travelers as there seems to be nothing you can't do. Try scuba diving, rock climbing, hiking, biking, swimming and spelunking!

Geologically speaking, many of Croatia's National Parks lie on karst. Karst is highly porous limestone and dolomitic rock through which water seeps to create underground streams. The terrain is marked by fissures, caves and springs as well as polje, a basin formed when the limestone collapses.

Here is a summary of Croatia's National Parks:

Plitvice Lakes National Park
The countless waterfalls and emerald lakes make it Croatia's most visited park. You can't swim in the lakes but (and because) you can drink the water. Formed on karst, it's a UNESCO-protected World Heritage Site.

Krka National Park
Like a smaller version of Plitvice, Krka has lakes and waterfalls which you can even swim in. It's more developed and less of a natural paradise than Plitvice.

Mljet National Park
If other islands seem too touristy, come to Mljet to kick back and enjoy the forests and inland lakes.

Risnjak National Park
Few people bother to visit Risnjak but they should. The forests once harbored ris or fox but now the majestic pine and beech trees loom over meandering trails and flowery meadows where bears sometimes roam.

Paklenica National Park
Cliffs and gorges, grottoes and caves make Paklenica a favorite with your more energetic types. It's famous throughout Europe for the rock-climbing.

Northern Velebit National Park
Part of the same Velebit range as Paklenica, here is where you can lose yourself (literally) in the mountains. Access is only by mountain trail or via an, ahem, adventurous mountain road from Otocac.

Kornati Islands National Park
Ask a yachtsman and they'll tell you "The Kornati Islands are the best". Almost completely uninhabited, this 147-island archipelago provides endless opportunities for exploration with your own boat or a guided tour. Agencies in Zadar, Sibenik, Split and Murter arrange visits.

Brijuni (Brioni) Islands
Does nature make you nervous? It's all tamed down in this well-manicured park.