Plitvice Lakes Croatia in Photos
Last Updated on September 22, 2020
You hear them before you see them. Hundreds of waterfalls cascade from various heights in different corners of the impressive Plitvice Lakes National Park in central Croatia, one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the world.
The emerald water shimmer and sparkle even from a far distance, reflecting the sun’s rays like a reflection. Thick beech and fir trees sprout out from the sides of the granite mountains and from the shores of the lakes. Everywhere you go, you see water — flowing gently as clear streams, bursting from porous rocks in the form of plummeting waterfalls, or keeping still and calm in the spearmint blue lake.
Covering an area of approximately 295 square kilometers, this national park is the largest one in Croatia. The phenomenal site was named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979 and has since been highly protected by the government. No swimming is allowed as there are concerns of human activities (such as urination or sunscreen) affecting the pH of the water, which may have a destructive impact on the tufa formation. There are boat trips that run along the lakes (aboard electric boats) and barbeque food stands but other than that, the forests and lakes are kept in their original conditions.
During our daytrip from Zagreb, we spent over four hours hiking along the many trails that crisscross the waterfalls and only managed to cover just one quarter of the enormous national park. The route took us from high up the karst mountains down to the level of the lakes and in and out of karst caves.
Our guide from Chillout Hostel was extremely informative, sharing local legends (one involving the origins of Milka chocolate) and myths that surround the lakes. The Plitvice Lakes are definitely some of the most beautiful natural wonders we’ve seen in the Balkans so far, and we highly recommend it to anyone visiting the region. I’ll let Alberto’s photos do the talking, enjoy the visual feast!
The Plitvice Lakes from above
Water cascading down from moss-covered rocks
Sprinkling water everywhere
A series of waterfall forming the turquoise lakes
Trails that weave through the national park allow visitors to walk on the travertines
Clear spearmint blue water
The trail that fringes the edge of the park
Tiny fish that roam around the shore of the lake
Water pouring out from the porous travertines
Summer is usually the peak period for tourism in Croatia and the trails can get quite crowded
Look how clear the water is
Vertical karst mountain cliffs flank the lakes
Different shades of blue
Gushing water forming mini waterfalls
A bird’s eye view of the lakes
The highest waterfall in the park plunging from 78m high
We’re looking rather happy to here at Plitvice
More waterfalls
Trip Details:
The daytrip can be booked with Chillout Hostel Zagreb for 250Kunas (€35). It departs from the hostel at 9am and returns around 6pm. The journey there from Zagreb is around two hours each way and there are public buses from Zagreb but they don’t run very frequently and get full very quickly in summer (book in advance if possible).
The Comments
Darla
Plitvice Lakes has been somewhere I've been dreaming of going for a long time now. The first time I saw photos of this place I didn't even think it was real, it was the most gorgeous place I have ever seen! Since then I've seen many more pictures and they only make me want to go more and more. So glad you enjoyed it, and thanks for sharing your awesome adventure!
Nellie
DarlaIt is an amazing place, especially considering the magnitude of the lakes! We walked for four hours and barely saw half of the national park. We highly recommend the park and hope you get a chance to see it soon.
Carmen
We went to Plitvice Lakes last year and loved it. We didn't even know it existed before planning our trip to Croatia – our friend just told us to check it out and so we kind of went there on a whim. We were so glad we did – it's still to this day the most beautiful place I've ever been. So many people just visit the coast when they're in Croatia and have no idea how beautiful the place is inland as well.
Thanks for sharing your photos, they're perfect!
Nellie
CarmenGreat to hear you enjoyed it too! It\’s true that the coast in Croatia gets flooded with visitors while further inland remains relatively quieter. We wished we had more time there to hike all over the national park and camp around there – hopefully next time!
Nellie
I think as travelers we should see the world with an open mind. If you haven\’t seen Croatia properly or met any locals and experienced any of its culture, how can you assume it\’s all about tourism here? We met some great folks here, during our short time in Zagreb, and had a great time. I can tell that you enjoy off-the-grid travel in Serbia and Bosnia, we do too, but sometimes going off the path can simply mean finding new discoveries or doing something different in a place that\’s regularly visited. We are heading back to Croatia after our short stay in Bosnia and even though it is a lot more crowded in Croatia, we are also looking forward to discovering more of it.
Nellie
Thanks John! Plitvice can get quite crowded in summer and I highly recommend visiting in shoulder season like in May and October. It\’s gorgeous!
Anita Mac
Did an overnight trip to Plitvice Lakes last summer – that place is stunning! Was glad I had the time to spend the night – had a 2 day entry to the Park and spent hours wandering around, marvelling at the views! You know, I know it wouldn't change much – but I would go back! Great way to spend a couple days.