Municipality of Plitvička Jezera: National Park, lakes and forests
Accommodation in Municipality of Plitvička Jezera
The Plitvice Lakes National Park lies at the heart of the Municipality of Plitvička Jezera. Forests, lakes and water shape the visitor experience; the park’s 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. When choosing a holiday apartment, it may therefore be important to consider which experiences you would like to include in your stay: walks through the lake areas, a longer hike, a cycling route or a themed tour.
National Park and UNESCO history
On 8 April 1949, Plitvice Lakes National Park was declared Croatia’s first national park. On 26 October 1979, it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List because of the outstanding universal value of its tufa-forming process. The two dates mark different milestones: its designation as a national park and its later inclusion on the World Heritage List. If you are interested in the formation and significance of the landscape, you can explore this history alongside a visit to the lakes and forests.
Ways to visit and get your bearings
The National Park is open 365 days a year; opening hours for the public vary by season. Take the seasonal hours into account when planning your visit. Organised visitor groups can travel to Čorkova Uvala only using transport arranged by the Park. Groups must also be accompanied by a ranger. This requirement applies to organised groups and is part of planning a visit to this area.
There are several types of walking tour to choose from. The Čorkova Bay Trail is 21 kilometres long. A walk through the Lower Lakes includes an electric boat ride across Lake Kozjak and a ride in a panoramic vehicle. The walk through the Upper Lakes includes a short boat ride across Lake Kozjak, a walk to Lake Prošćansko and a return trip on a sightseeing train. These routes differ in the paths and forms of transport described.
A guided hike takes you through a large part of the lake area and includes, among other places, the Tomićevo Pogledalo viewpoint. If you would rather explore the National Park on two wheels, consider the Oko Mrsinja cycling route: it runs mostly in the surroundings of the Park and partly enters the National Park. These are different ways to shape your holiday around a guided hike, a walk or a cycling route.
Boats, tours and regional cuisine
Within the National Park, the Plitvice Train runs along the 6.5-kilometre Rapajinka – Velika Poljana – Labudovac route. The Park also has eight electric boats; the longer boat ride across Lake Kozjak takes 20 minutes. Visitors can rent wooden rowboats at Kupalište (P1). Rowing is permitted only on Lake Kozjak. This means you can consider the motorised ride and rowing as different activities on the same lake.
The National Park offers themed tours on geology, biology, forestry, the lakes and other subjects, arranged in consultation with Park experts. You can choose a focus based on a nature-related topic or the lakes. The Lička kuća National Restaurant serves traditional dishes in the atmosphere of a traditional house from the Lika region, adding regional cuisine to the nature and culture themes of your stay.
Places in the municipality
Other places in the municipality include Korenica, Plitvička Jezera, Vrelo Koreničko, Rudanovac, Poljanak, Prijeboj, Gornji Babin Potok, Ličko Petrovo Selo, Gornji Vaganac, Rastovača and Šeganovac.
For the broader travel overview: Lika-Senj.
