Croatia has eight national parks and twelve nature parks – from turquoise lakes and waterfalls to karst gorges, primeval forests and island worlds at sea. The best known, Plitvice and Krka, are among the country's most-visited sights. Others, such as Risnjak or Northern Velebit, stay quiet even in high summer.
The 8 national parks
Plitvice Lakes 16 lakes and countless waterfalls, UNESCO World Heritage – in summer buy timed tickets online
Krka Skradinski buk and Roški slap waterfalls; swimming banned since 2021
Paklenica canyons on the Velebit, a climbing paradise by the sea
Risnjak mountain forest in Gorski kotar, home to bear, lynx and wolf
Northern Velebit karst peaks, the Premužić Trail and Zavižan botanical garden
Kornati around 89 islands and reefs, reachable only by boat
Brijuni islands off Pula with a safari park and Tito's summer residence
Mljet salt lakes and a monastery islet on Croatia's greenest island
The best nature parks
Biokovo Skywalk and Sv. Jure peak above the Makarska Riviera
Kopački Rit bird paradise on the Drava and Danube
Telašćica bay, Mir salt lake and cliffs on Dugi otok
Vransko Lake Croatia's largest natural lake, cycle path and bird reserve
Učka Vojak viewpoint above the Kvarner Bay
Lastovo Islands marine protected area around Lastovo
Other nature parks include Velebit, Medvednica, Žumberak–Samoborsko gorje, Lonjsko polje, Papuk and Dinara.
Practical tips
Admission prices vary by season: in high season Plitvice and Krka each cost around €40 for adults, much less in spring and autumn. Many parks sell tickets online and cap visitor numbers. Arrive early, wear sturdy shoes and carry water; drones and dogs only according to each park's rules.
Honest verdict
Plitvice and Krka are very crowded between 10 am and 3 pm in July and August – come in spring or autumn if you can. For nature in peace, Risnjak, Northern Velebit or Kopački Rit are better bets.
No, swimming at Skradinski buk has been banned since 2021.
Do you need to buy Plitvice tickets in advance?
In high season, yes – tickets are sold online with entry times and often sell out.
Note: To protect the personal rights of people shown and to respect third-party copyright, some images on this page are AI-generated. They show typical impressions and may differ in detail from how the places actually look.
