Municipality of Plitvička Jezera: National Park, Lakes and Forests

Plitvice Lakes National Park lies in the heart of the Municipality of Plitvička Jezera. Its forests are home to bears, wolves and many rare bird species. The municipality is considered a meeting point of mountain landscapes and a rich water heritage. The park offers several different ways to experience its lake landscape: circuits, hikes, a cycling route and activities on the water. This lets you choose different priorities when planning, rather than limiting your visit to a single way of exploring.

National Park and Natural Heritage

On 8 April 1949, the national park was declared Croatia’s first national park. On 26 October 1979, it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in recognition of the outstanding universal value of its tufa formation process. These distinctions therefore refer to two different milestones: its national designation as a national park and the later recognition of the tufa formation process as the basis for its World Heritage listing.

Routes Through the Lake Landscape

In Lika-Senj, the national park offers seven different routes for viewing the lake system and four hiking trails. The circuits through the Lower Lakes and the Upper Lakes also offer different experiences. The circuit through the Lower Lakes includes a ride in an electric boat across Lake Kozjak and a ride in a panoramic vehicle. The circuit through the Upper Lakes area includes a short boat ride across Lake Kozjak, a walk to Lake Prošćansko and the return journey on a sightseeing train. A guided hike through a large part of the lake zone includes, among other places, the Tomićevo Pogledalo viewpoint.

For those considering a longer named walking route, the Čorkova Bay Trail is 21 kilometres long. By bike, Oko Mrsinja offers a different route: the cycling trail runs mostly through the area surrounding the national park and partly into the park. When choosing an activity, therefore, it is not only the distance that matters, but also whether you prefer a circuit using several types of transport, a guided hike or a cycling route.

Visiting, Trails and Boat Rides

The Plitvice train provides transport for visitors within the national park. Its 6.5-kilometre route runs from Rapajinka via Velika Poljana to Labudovac. The longer boat ride on Lake Kozjak takes 20 minutes. Visitors can rent wooden rowboats at Kupalište (P1); rowing is permitted only on Lake Kozjak. Before travelling, check the latest information on rides and the availability of rowboats.

The national park is open 365 days a year, but opening hours for the public vary by season. Plan your visit according to the hours that apply at that time. Organised visitor groups can reach Čorkova Uvala only using transport arranged by the park; groups must also be accompanied by a ranger. This requirement applies to organised groups, while seasonal opening hours are relevant to planning visits in general.

Guided Tours and Regional Cuisine

In consultation with park experts, the park offers themed guided tours on geology, biology, forestry, the lakes and other subjects. The tours available depend on the park’s arrangements. If you are interested in a particular focus, you can take these themes into account when planning. You can choose to focus on geology or biology, or explore the lakes or forestry.

Regional cuisine is also part of the stay: the Lička kuća National Restaurant presents traditional dishes in the atmosphere of a traditional house from the Lika region. The park thus brings together nature experiences, cultural and historical connections, and culinary themes, without requiring every activity to follow the same daily schedule.

Discover more destinations: Korenica, Plitvička Jezera, Vrelo Koreničko, Poljanak, Prijeboj, Gornji Babin Potok, Ličko Petrovo Selo, Gornji Vaganac, Rastovača, Šeganovac, Rudanovac.

Return to the main travel overview: Lika-Senj.