September 15, 2022 - The Plitvice Lakes National Park has prepared special ticket prices for all visitors in the period from October 1 until October 9 2022. The ticket price for adults is HRK 80.00 (€10.62), for students HRK 45.00 (€5.97) and for children (7-18 years) HRK 35.00 (€4.65). The offer is part of the national park's promo week.

Plitvice Lakes is an area of outstanding natural beauty. It is a forest reserve nestled in the rocky mountains of central Croatia. Consisting of a series of lakes and waterfalls, it received the title of a national park in 1949, making it the oldest Croatian national park. It is the largest as well. Ever since its opening, it has been attracting visitors from all over the world who go there to witness the genuinely outstanding natural beauty, relax in nature, or enjoy an active holiday hiking up and down, cycling, or rowing.

Kristina Stedul Fabac / Pixsell

In recent years, with the park as its focal point, Lika-Senj County has developed and expanded its tourism and holiday offer, where you can now enjoy a variety of stays, including camping, glamping, and all-inclusive. Being Croatia's most wanted, the admission tickets for Plitvice Lakes were never exactly low, though it was always well worth it. If you've been weighing it up, though, use the opportunity and visit the park during the promo week. We promise that you'll absolutely love it!

Poslovni notes that due to high demand in the mentioned period, tickets must be purchased online via the National Park website.
As they reported from the Plitvice Lakes National Park, Lower and Upper Lakes are open for visitors, and the train and boat run according to schedule.

During the promotional week (October 1 - October 9, 2022), you can rent a wooden rowing boat for only HRK 60 (EUR 7.96) per hour, explore the corners of Plitvice's largest lake, Lake Kozjak, and enjoy the joys of an active vacation with a walk in the Park.

For more, make sure to check out our dedicated Lifestyle section.

August 17, 2022 - Organized by Total Croatia News, and with a unique collaboration with Plitvice Lakes National Park, the TCN Photo Contest has a winner, who will be able to visit the largest and oldest national park in Croatia with a companion!

On June 20, Total Croatia News announced their first collaboration with the largest and oldest national park, and definitely one of the most beloved, Plitvice Lakes. With spring over and paving the way for summer, Total Croatia News sought to encourage both locals and visitors to Croatia to share their best photographs of the country's natural beauty. While the goal was to promote such beauty through the eyes of numerous users on Instagram, Total Croatia News and Plitvice Lakes would reward their favorite photograph with two tickets for the author to visit the National Park, courtesy of Plitvice.

Through Instagram, our followers and more users shared their photos, and those who complied with the rules entered the competition.

After the deadline for submission of photos, representatives of Total Croatia News and Plitvice Lakes National Park chose one winning photo and two photos with special recognition. The winners of the TCN photo contest are the following.

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by ienatessi (@ienatessi)

The winner of the photo contest organized by Total Croatia News in collaboration with the Plitvice Lakes National Park was Elena Tessitori (@ienatessi), from Arta Terme in Italy, who submitted a spectacular photograph with a view of the National Park from high, showing its beautiful colors. Elena is the winner of two tickets to Plitvice Lakes, courtesy of the National Park. Congratulations, Elena!

Likewise, Total Croatia News and Plitvice Lakes National Park have wanted to give special recognition to two very good photographs and their authors. An honorable mention goes to Stefania Hodak (@iloveplitvice), a Croat from Drežnik Grad, who showed Plitvice at another time of year, just as beautiful and worth visiting. Congratulations, Stefania!

Photo: Reshma R.

And also an honorable mention to Reshma R (@reshmaramjyothi), originally from India and currently residing in Münster, Germany, whose photo of what she considers her favorite place in the world evokes feelings of peace and fantasy. Well done Reshma!

Congratulations to the recognized authors and all the participants of this TCN photo contest, who did not make the task of choosing only three photographs easy. We congratulate your great work and your originality. We encourage everyone to continue sharing the natural beauty that Croatia offers in all its regions, national parks, and nature parks. Likewise, we would like to thank Plitvice Lakes National Park in a very special way for its generous collaboration, willingness, and great work in managing the National Park and promoting the country as a top natural destination.

For more on what to do and how to get to Plitvice Lakes National Park, check out our dedicated Total Croatia page HERE. Additionally, feel free to visit our 2021 guide on all Croatian National and Nature Parks HERE.

For more on travel in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page. 

June 28, 2022 - The magic of Croatia lies not only in its more than 1,700 km Adriatic coastline or its islands but also in its entire hinterland. In addition to its vast and fertile fields, as well as its imposing hills and mountains, let yourself be surprised by some fairytale destinations in Croatia.

If there is something that I still cannot understand, despite the enormous popularity of the Game of Thrones series and its obvious impact on tourism in Croatia, it is how more films and television series set in fantasy worlds have not been made in the country. I still do not have the privilege of being able to say that I know all the secrets that this country hides, but of the few destinations that I have visited and those that I have seen from a distance traveling on the roads, I have no doubt that Croatia is very similar to what one might imagine of Middle Earth as described by Tolkien in ''The Hobbit'' or ''The Lord of the Rings'' books series.

Sure, many countries can boast of magical landscapes, but did you know that Croatia even has villages and towns that seem to be taken straight from a fairy tale? This article is intended not only for those filmmakers looking to adapt their fantastic stories, or for those who need some inspiration to write them, but also for all intrepid travelers looking to transport themselves to a magical world.

Plitvice Lakes National Park

Impossible not to mention the oldest and largest Croatian national park, Plitvice Lakes, in this list. All year-round, in the heart of Lika-Senj County, Plitvice Lakes is a natural wonder where, with a little imagination, one could believe that countless magical creatures live. Whether in the hot but verdant summer, when the leaves fall and the trees turn orange in the fall, when everything is covered in white snow that contrasts with the turquoise waters in the winter, or during the blossoming spring, Plitvice looks like a secret kingdom of peace and nature.

Image: Plitvice Lakes National Park

Slunj Rastoke

Rastoke is a village located in the town of Slunj, and almost everyone in Croatia will tell you that the first thing they think of when you talk about fairy tales is Rastoke. I mean, it's enough to see it in the distance when you go down the highway to believe that it is a magical village that got stuck in time. With the merging waters of the Slunjčica and Korana rivers, its water mills, and its small wooden houses, Slunj Rastoke reminds me of those villages where an adventurer rested before continuing his dangerous mission.

Image: Slunj Rastoke Tourist Board

Motovun

Perched high on a hill in central Istria, it doesn't get more magical than the ancient town of Motovun. Today it is known for its wines, gastronomy, and one of the oldest and most renowned film festivals, but for centuries, Motovun has been a cradle of history like no other in Croatia. For those familiar with the popular video game The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Motovun is very reminiscent of the city of Whiterun, also resting on a hill and giving shelter to important kings and their subjects.

Photo: Mario Romulić

Ogulin

Ogulin is a big exception to this list in that, unlike the rest, its reputation as a fairy tale destination is already widely known even in other parts of the world. Ogulin is even home to the Fairy Tale Festival, which recently held its 17th edition from June 10-12 this year. If you want to really feel like you are in a place straight out of the most fantastical fables, the town of Ogulin in Lika-Senj county is the place to go. The Frankopan Castle and a gentle population that breathes magic and fantasy every day of the year are details that make Ogulin perhaps the most celebrated fairytale destination on our list.

Photo: Mario Romulić

Kopački Rit

While I would have liked to choose a destination reminiscent of happy and colorful settings from fairy tales, the Kopački Rit Nature Park had to be included on this list anyway, perhaps to represent a more somber and chilling landscape. The best way to refer to Kopački Rit, compared to other destinations on this list, is that it is... different. Don't worry, Kopački Rit is still a wonderful and enchanting place, with spectacular scenery and boasts biodiversity like no other place in the country. But without a doubt, and with a lot of imagination, Kopački Rit is reminiscent of a gloomy swamp that you could only reach if you took the wrong path, and the only thing that can await you in such a place is a dark fate.

Photo: Mario Romulić

For more on travel in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

June 20, 2022 - Total Croatia News has organised a photo competition in collaboration with Plitvice Lakes National Park with the theme ''Croatia's Natural Beauty in Spring'', on the occasion of the official start of summer on June the 21st. The winner will be awarded two tickets to visit the largest and oldest national park in all of Croatia.

With spring drawing to a close and making way for summer, we think now is a good time to celebrate and highlight the photos our readers and followers have taken during these colourful months which boast Croatia's natural beauty. As such, Total Croatia News is pleased to announce the launching of this photo competition, a collaboration with Plitvice Lakes National Park.

Five photos will be chosen by a jury made up of members and representatives of Total Croatia News. These photos will be highlighted and shared on our respective websites and social media accounts, and one winner will win two tickets to visit Plitvice Lakes National Park.

How can I participate?

The steps to participate in the photo competition are:

• Share your photo on your Instagram profile (your profile needs to be public).
• Be sure to include the location where you took the photo. It can be on the photo, or below in the caption.
• Use the hashtag #TCNxPlitvice
• Tag @totalcroatianews and @plitvicelakesnp
• Follow @totalcroatianews and @plitvicelakesnp

That’s it! You're now participating! Remember that you can only participate once and submit just one (1) photograph.

The deadline for submitting your photo is on Friday, July the 7th at midnight. Photos with a later date will not be placed in participation in the contest.

Don't forget that:

• The theme of the competition is “Croatia’s Natural Beauty in Spring”. All photos around Croatian cities, towns, national and nature parks are allowed, but we encourage you to highlight the nature that surrounds you.
• The following are allowed: photographs taken with smartphones, non-professional digital cameras, professional digital cameras, non-professional analog cameras, and professional analog cameras.
• The following are allowed: photographs of all styles, colours, angles, and orientations (vertical or horizontal).
• Not allowed: photographs that include obscene content or photos taken with drones.

For more information, rules, and FAQs, you can download the contest guidelines HERE.

For more on what to do and how to get to Plitvice Lakes National Park, check out our dedicated Total Croatia page HERE. Additionally, feel free to visit our 2021 guide on all Croatian National and Nature Parks HERE. Both are now now in whatever language you select from the list.

For more on travel in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page. 

ZAGREB, 14 June 2022 - A cooperation agreement between the Plitvice Lakes National Park and the Spanish Ruidera Lakes Nature Reserve was signed on Tuesday in Plitvice, in the presence of Croatian and Spanish officials for sustainable development and the Spanish Ambassador to Croatia, Alonso Dezcallar Mazarred.

The Minister of Sustainable Development of the Castilla la Mancha region, Jose Luis Escudero Palomo, said that the experiences and methods of the Plitvice Lakes National Park in protecting limestone barriers would mean a lot to the Spanish side because limestone barriers in the Ruidera Lakes Nature Reserve had suffered great damage due to hydropower projects.

He called on the signatories of the agreement to use the opportunities in the European Union Green Deal and submit their programs for EU funding for the protection of nature and biodiversity, specifically to protect their national treasures.

Speaking on behalf of the Ministry of the Economy and Sustainable Development, the director of the Nature Protection Directorate, Igor Kreitmeyer, emphasized that significant funds for visitor infrastructure had been invested in the Plitvice Lakes Nature Park over the past five years to make visitor pressure on nature as low as possible.

He added that "it is very important for experts to share their experiences in the management of protected areas."

"That is important in terms of preserving healthy ecosystems. Our only way out is to fight climate change, to function in a sustainable way as a whole, and that means living in a way that is promoted in protected areas,” said Kreitmeyer.

He praised the Castilla La Mancha region for being advanced in promoting environmental policies and wished that Croatia would learn how to better promote those policies in park management.

For more on travel in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

March 10, 2022 - This month, the frigid temperatures and strong winds of winter have already begun to turn into warm and colorful days, thus welcoming spring. Is it worth visiting during this time of year? Of course. And here are five places you cannot miss during spring in Croatia.

Winter in Croatia is a difficult concept to criticize. Despite low temperatures, strong winds, snow, or rain, Croatians have always found a way to positively view the arrival of the winter months. In central and eastern Croatia, the cold and snow are not strong enough to break the spirit of its inhabitants. Winter is synonymous with the holiday season, with cities and towns brightly and colorfully decorating their streets, and filling their parks and plazas with fairs and concerts.

In the same way, along the Croatian coast, the locals take back the cities from the tourists and the storms are intermittent since sunny days predominate. Thus, the people who live in front of the Adriatic find a great excuse to put on their best coats, their sunglasses, and get together with their friends and family to have a coffee in the rivas and old towns of their cities.

However, it is true that when the day darkens at five in the afternoon or the temperature of the sea is too cold to take a dip, summer days are missed throughout the country. For this reason, the arrival of spring is always welcome in Croatia and invites those who reside in the country to venture outside their homes without having to wear more than two pieces of clothing. The beginning of spring in Croatia is March 20, and so that you can plan your next adventure, we share five places that you cannot miss at this time of year.

Zagreb

Perhaps the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of spring in Croatia is some of its 8 national parks or 12 nature parks. However, the Croatian capital of Zagreb is literally a spectacle of colors and a great atmosphere during this time of year. Although the official date for the beginning of spring is still 10 days away, the inhabitants of Zagreb are already witnessing the first blooms in their avenues, streets, and parks. If you're coming to Zagreb during spring, you probably won't know where to start.

Flowers blossoming in the gardens of King Tomislav Square. (Photo: Patrik Macek/PIXSELL)

Stroll through the beautiful parks in Zagreb's upper town, from Zrinjevac to King Tomislav Square, where you could even sit in its gardens reading a book while enjoying the atmosphere and the colors of its flowers and trees. If you want to go for exercise and at the same time enjoy the blossoming in the spring, visit the parks of Jarun, Bundek or Maksimir, in which you could also organize a picnic with your friends. Or maybe organize a walk through the Zagreb Botanical Garden, in the upper town of Zagreb. You will see that when you get home and check your phone, you will have probably taken more than a hundred photos throughout the day. Zagreb is home to many of the best spots to be during spring in Croatia.

Cherry trees in the district of Prečko, Zagreb. (Photo: Igor Kralj/PIXSELL)

Bonus tip: visit Šulekova street in Zagreb in Spring, which has become famous for its spectacular colors thanks to the blossoming of its cherry trees. Don't forget to go with someone who can take amazing pictures of you for your Instagram!

Plitvice Lakes National Park

It really is impossible not to highlight the national and natural parks of Croatia when talking about a change of season. I do not mention a season in particular because each one offers something magical and different. For example, when we talk about Plitvice Lakes National Park, we cannot compare the four seasons, just enjoy them to the fullest. Autumn's intense red and orange colors beautifully contrast with turquoise lakes, resembling a frame straight out from a fairy tale. Winter covers the park with snow, and the result is a mixture of whites and turquoises that will make your jaw drop. And not to mention the summer, where the green forests also serve as a refuge from the high temperatures with their shade.

Plitvice Lakes National Park, stunning all year round. (Photo: Vedran Bozičević)

But we all know that, in a place as diverse in flora as the Plitvice Lakes National Park, it is essential to witness its colorful show during spring. It's arguably the perfect time, as it's neither too cold nor too hot to overwhelm you as you wander through the park, and it's one of its most photogenic times of the year!

Find HERE the prices and rates of the tickets to visit the Plitvice Lakes National Park.

Split

We also don't want to overwhelm you with a shower of colors, if that's not your thing. And it is not because Split does not have them, but the experience of spring in the Dalmatian city is lived in a different way. Spring in Croatia comes in different shapes and colors. Although the trees and parks of Split are also beginning to regain their leaves and greenery, the arrival of spring means that the return to the sea and the beaches is getting closer. You will feel that wearing a coat could be unnecessary, with temperatures that can rise up to 17 degrees. Even with the water still relatively cold, some brave souls are already starting to visit the city's beaches to take a dip, realizing that the frequent sunny days and rising temperatures will dry them out quickly once out of the water.

The Diocletian Palace in Split, not during summer, but in April. (Photo: Milan Sabic/PIXSELL)

But without a doubt, the most exciting thing about spring in Split is the progressive reopening of many restaurants, bars, and cafes throughout the season, which have already finished their respective maintenance and are beginning to prepare for the arrival of the busy summer. If you were in Split during the winter, and you will stay here until at least the beginning of summer, you will witness a city that is becoming active every day. Also, ferry lines are starting to increase and you can have the privilege of visiting more islands and destinations without the crowds. And beware, enjoying spring in Split is something that can be replicated throughout the Croatian coast, from Istria to Dubrovnik!

Krka National Park

If you change your mind and would indeed like to see the spring in Croatia blooming at its best, there will always be a national park or nature park near you. The Krka National Park has nothing to envy Plitvice Lakes since its sixteen plunging waterfalls, winding hiking trails, and vast expanse of lush, green forests place it as one of the most visited destinations in the entire country. Krka, apart from being recognized for its spectacular sceneries, is also a very popular destination for adventure lovers. Whether on foot or by bicycle, it is never enough to discover all the wonders that the national park hides. And if you had to pick an ideal time of year to visit, the spring months should be at the top of your list.

Very close to Šibenik, and less than an hour from Split - Krka National Park. (Credit: Krka National Park)

Although the new measures taken by the National Park, which prohibit visitors from bathing in the falls, have reduced the saturation of people in the main circuit of Krka, summer is still the time of year with the highest volume of tourists. If you are looking to connect better with the nature of Krka, you will surely find it in spring with almost as pleasant weather, colors everywhere, fewer people, and... cheaper prices!

Find HERE the prices and rates of the tickets to visit the Krka National Park.

Osijek

Of course, spring comes everywhere, and not only on the coast and in central Croatia. Moreover, it could be said that spring in eastern Croatia arrives with incomparable intensity. The vast forests, fields, and crops in Slavonia and Baranja are a visual delight both for those viewing it from above with their drones, as well as for those on foot. This part of Croatia is often mistakenly considered a cold, nothing-happening region, but few have the privilege of enjoying its energy and warmth all year round, even in the harshest of winters. And all the more reason, you'll want to check it out for yourself in a season with better weather and full of greenery.

Cherry trees in King Krešimir IV park in Osijek. (Photo: Davor Javorovic/PIXSELL)

There are so many places to visit in this region during spring, but what better place to start than in the largest city in eastern Croatia, and the fourth largest in the country. Osijek is famously known as the greenest city in Croatia, with more parks and public green areas than any other town in Croatia. Wherever you go in Osijek during the spring, you will come across an immeasurable number of trees and gardens full of vibrant colors. Some of the parks that you cannot miss are King Tomislav Park, Sakuntala Park, or King Krešimir IV Park, protected as the first monument of park architecture in Croatia.

Cherry trees in King Krešimir IV park in Osijek. (Photo: Dubravka Petric/PIXSELL)

These are just five examples of places that you cannot miss during spring in Croatia, but believe us when we tell you that the whole country, throughout its territory, has some magic waiting for you during the most colorful season of the year.

For more on travel in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

September 30, 2021 - Plitvice Lakes October promo offers are running from October 15-24, with everything from discounted ticket prices to accommodation packages and special restaurant menus!

In this inspiring and much-loved autumn season, local and international tourists are encouraged to walk along the forest paths and embrace the colorful leaves with a view of the impressive Plitvice Lakes National Park waterfalls and lakes, reports Jutarnji List.

From October 15 to 24, Croatia's most popular national park has prepared promotional ticket prices:

Adults and students: 100 kn per person
Children (7 - 18 years): 35 kn per person
Children up to 7 years: free

If you are thinking of a slightly longer stay and overnight in the national park, take advantage of the autumn accommodations, including 1, 2, or 3 nights with breakfast or half board at the Hotel Jezero and a ticket to the Plitvice Lakes National Park. To complete the Plitvice autumn atmosphere, the park has prepared a combination of discounts on numerous facilities depending on the number of nights - boat rental on Lake Kozjak, use of the Finnish sauna at Hotel Jezero, relax massage, a ticket to Barać Caves, and Europe's largest cave park Grabovača and horseback riding at the nearby Terra Ranch. In addition, discounts for lunch or dinner at Vučnica bistro are offered to everyone who decides to spend the night with breakfast during the entire stay.

Shrouded in the soothing atmosphere of Plitvice Lakes and only three hundred meters from the emerald greenery of Kozjak, Hotel Jezero is located where the eponymous restaurant Jezero is located, which offers stunning views and relaxing greenery. 

Suppose you are looking for a wide range of specialties of local flavors prepared in new ways and still served in the original ambiance. In that case, the national restaurant Lička kuća is a location you must visit. In addition to traditional flavors, Lička kuća offers traditionally prepared lamb and veal peka with Lika potatoes. During October, visitors can find a promo menu of 120 kn per person at Lička kuća.

Lunch at the Poljana restaurant is a feast for all the senses - with the smell of fresh ingredients, local flavors, and a view that feeds the soul. During October, visitors can enjoy promo menus from 55 to 80 kn per person.

Find all the October details at: www.np-plitvicka-jezera.hr.

For more on travel in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

September 4, 2021 - A new wellness center is located in the unique ambiance of Plitvice Holiday Resort and is the first mobile wellness center in Croatia!

This is new quality content for the Resort, which delighted visitors with the concept of treehouse glamping a few years ago. Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to book accommodation at these treehouses, due to the excellent occupancy.

The wellness center is designed following nature and the 4 elements - earth, air, water, and fire, and offers a handful of facilities for guests. The wellness area has a Finnish sauna with a view of nature, an infrared sauna with a salt wall (salt room), a unique experience shower, a relaxation area, an outdoor covered and heated terrace, and a hydromassage pool and cacoon deck chair.

You can see photos of the mobile wellness area HERE.

The wellness area is rented for a minimum of two hours with prior reservation at the reception as a complete unit to ensure the guests' complete privacy.

"Conceptually the first mobile wellness center in the Republic of Croatia is designed to provide guests with complete privacy, peace, relaxation, and enjoyment in the immediate natural environment and is additional content in the winter and before and after the season. Made in collaboration with Spa2o design d.o.o. from Zagreb (construction and equipping) and Abstracto studio d.o.o. from Zagreb (architecture and interior design), it is intended primarily for guests of the resort as additional content and offers. Still, there is the possibility of renting to outside guests," said Damir Stanišić, director of Plitvice Holiday Resort and added that after use, the wellness center breaks for an hour to thoroughly clean, disinfect and prepare the area for new guests because they want to provide guests with complete security to experience this unique project.

As for the season, Stanišić points out that they are delighted and that in August, they recorded 7% more guests than in 2019, while at the level of the whole year, they are at about 90% compared to 2019.

"If May and June had been better, they would surely have better numbers than in 2019. As for the offseason, the announcements are excellent, and we continue to match the results from two years ago. We currently have a lot of inquiries for team building programs from companies, and now we will see if the epidemiological situation will be reflected in the offseason, ”adds Stanišić.

When talking about continental tourism, the season is just beginning because while summer is the peak season at sea, on the continent, the peak season is the pre-season and post-season.

“In the past two years, we have significantly raised the content of the entire resort. In addition to the already mentioned wellness, we built a bowling alley, multifunctional sports fields, arranged a cafe and restaurant, social zones, beauty salons, massage offers, and charging stations for electric vehicles in addition to the already mentioned wellness center. We also offer e-scooters and e-bikes; we have entertainment all year round, not only in the peak season as before… so that guests really have a wide range of what to do in our resort. Furthermore, we have excellent cooperation with other partners in the context of additional content in the destination," concludes Staničić.

The new content of Plitvice Holiday Resort is just a continuation of investing in raising the quality of the entire resort. The first transformation from a classic camp began in 2014-2015 with mobile homes and a pool complex. In 2018, a lake zone with houses by the lake and canopies were created, and in 2019, they were categorized as a four-star camp and tourist resort.

Thus, the entire complex has diversified accommodation for everyone, from tents, mobile homes, bungalows, glamping, classic hotel rooms, canopy accommodation, and 5 categories of campsites or types of pitches by quality, from standard, comfort, premium, exclusive, and VIP exclusive.

For more, make sure to follow our travel section.

August the 26th, 2021 - Plitvice Lakes National Park, one of the most beautiful nature parks with stunning waterfalls you'll ever see, has quite rightly been ranked among the top three in all of Europe.

This beautiful park, among the oldest and largest in all of Croatia, with the vast majority of it being located within Lika-Senj County, attracts endless amounts of visitors from all corners of the world each and every year. The astonishing landscape and colour of the waterfalls make you feel as if you've been transported into another world. It's no surprise that the gorgeous Plitvice Lakes National Park has been listed among Europe's top three.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, while the hot summer months draw crowds to the coast, there have been no fewer visitors to Plitvice Lakes National Park, and not soaring temperatures and potential extreme weather conditons of other kinds contributed to less crowds.

The weather in Lika can be interchangeable and far less predictable than the weather on the coast, but people adore this place in all conditions, come rain or shine. 

Croatia's Plitvice Lakes National Park is the winner of this year's Travellers Choice Award, and as such, Plitvice and this beautiful part of Lika have been listed among the top 10 percent of attractions for visitors in the world! In addition, Plitvice Lakes National Park is third on the list of "Best of the best" national parks in all of Europe, and 21st on the ranking list in the category of "Best of the best" national parks on the planet.

Plitvice Lakes National Park stood out from the crowd not only with its timeless natural beauty which is enough to leave anyone breathless at first glance, but by providing excellent services and experiences to its millions of visitors and guests from all around the world.

For more on national parks in Croatia, make sure to check out our dedicated travel section.

July 12, 2021 - At the Barać Caves in the municipality of Rakovica, the construction of the 20 million kuna Speleon Underground Heritage Center has begun, which should open its doors to tourists next year to enable sustainable development in the Plitvice area.

As the director of the Barać Caves Public Institution for Management of Protected Natural Values and project manager Tihana Oštrina said, earthworks have been carried out on the site of the old school in Nova Kršlja, basements have been excavated, and the construction of foundations will begin next week, reports HRT.

This is one of the major investments in tourism for Karlovac County, which will create a modern infrastructure for various educational and recreational activities, and is expected to contribute to tourism development in the entire Plitvice region, which is mostly in Lika-Senj County.

The project is 85 percent co-financed by the European Union from the European Cohesion Fund. With NP Plitvice Lakes, their common goal is to disperse visitors and extend their stay in the Plitvice area, but not so that the pressure is only on the lakes.

The architectural curiosity of Speleon is a circular shape representing four themes of natural heritage: speleology, geology, archeology, and paleontology. The entrance will be made of large glass rocks, as an opening to caves, and the whole building will improve infrastructure and provide a unique, innovative, and attractive display of cultural and natural site values for all visitors, including those with special needs.

The circular building will cover 1,200 square meters, of which 850 will be intended for a permanent exhibition, all with scale models, replicas, LCD screens, displays on the so-called smart glass, through animations, multitouch screens, as well as sensory chambers.

The Visitor Center will also have a multifunctional hall, a showroom, a children's playroom, a speleological documentation library, catering facilities and a souvenir shop, and a parking lot. The works are performed by the Construction Craft Špelić from Slunj.

For more on lifestyle in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.