Croatia has become one of Europe’s hottest tourist destinations. Mainly because of its coast and the warm and clean Adriatic Sea. But the country has much more to offer! There are 8 national parks in this small country and they are places of exceptional beauty and amazing wildlife.
If you decide to visit one of the national parks, you can always rent a holiday villa in Croatia next to them.
Here is a brief overview of these largely unknown pearls of Croatia.
Northern Velebit (Severni Velebit)
Northern Velebit National Park, is the smallest Croatian National Park, found in 1999. It spreads over 109 km2 of Velebit mountain, the largest mountain in the country.
The park is known for its mountain trails, which allow visitors to observe the most beautiful places of the park. Its two most popular attractions are the Hajdučki kukovi and the Rožanski kukovi. The name ‘kukovi’ is of folkloric origin and shows large masses of stones that rise above the mountains, which provide a view of the whole area.
Tourist agencies in major Croatian cities (such as Zagreb, Zadar and Split) offer organized transport to the Park and the neighboring town of Krasno, so the easiest way to get to the Park from abroad is to fly to any cities listed and just go ahead. suitable tourist bus.
Paklenica
Paklenica National Park is located in northern Dalmatia, close to the coast and the city of Zadar. It is the second oldest Croatian National Park, found in 1949, famous for climbing and walking trails and paths. There are about two hundred kilometers of paths, which allow visitors to explore the Paklenica river canyon or the highest peaks of the Velebit.
It is also the second largest climbing site in South East Europe and has more than 360 climbing routes of all difficulties – from amateur to professional. Tourists from abroad can reach it simply, by taking a plane to Zadar, where it is possible to either rent a car (since the Park is close to Zadar) or rent a tourist agency that provides organized trips to the Park on a daily basis during the -tourist season.
Risnjak
Risnjak National Park is located in the Gorski Kotar region. It is known for its thick forests and mountains. The park itself is located on Risnjak mountain and its peaks (such as Veliki Risnjak, Snježnik, Guslica etc.) are the most popular attractions, along with the source of the Kupa river.
It contains a rich and diverse flora and fauna, especially the population of birds and lynxes. It is located next to the Rijeka-Zagreb highway and is therefore easily accessible from both cities.
Brijuni
They are located in the northern Adriatic, a few kilometers west of the Istrian peninsula. Brijuni is made up of fourteen small islands, praised for their natural beauty and preserved environment. The islands host more than six hundred native plant species, an ethno park and the Safari park, with its autochthonous animal species. It also contains several archaeological sites, as the islands have been populated since Roman times. Also, there are about two hundred dinosaur footprints on the Veliki Brijun Island.
I’m full
The Mljet National Park is located on the island of the same name. It is the southernmost of the larger Adriatic islands and the National Park is located in the western part of the island.
The area was proclaimed a National Park because of its unique ecosystem, such as the Big Lake and the Small Lake, heavy forests, islands and the well-indented coast. The island of St. Mary, with its old monastery of the Benediction, and the archaeological site of Polače, with ruins from Roman times, make the Park a notable archaeological focal point.
Horned
The Kornati National park is part of the Kornati Archipelago, a group of 140 islands in a marine area of approximately 320 square kilometers. The archipelago is the densest in the entire Mediterranean and its islands are the places of many natural beauties such as reefs, forests, lakes, as well as home to many species of animals and plants, including 69 species of ‘ butterflies.
Tourist agencies offer organized excursions to the national parks Brijuni, Mljet and Kornati. Well, there are many boat charter companiesbased in practically every town on the Croatian coast, where you can rent a boat and explore these places on your own.