October 3, 2026

The 3 National Parks – Plitvice, Paklenica, and Krka

Zadar, Croatia

Plitvice Lakes National Park

It’s known as the most beautiful National Park in all of Europe. Yes, it’s crowded. Tour groups from as many countries as you can think of in gaggles up to 50 people. Some are families like us, taking a day trip and exploring all there is to see. Many people bike these areas and some have camper vans. We had just under two hours to drive from Zadar and left the house around 8am. 

It is shoulder season, the start of fall. It is perfectly warm and crisp at the same time. The trees are turning various shades of yellow, purple, and brown. The water in the endless lakes and waterfalls is the bluest blue and the turquoise-ist turquoise you have even seen. 

After the first loop, the second bathroom stop, the first Snicker’s break, we board an electric boat to cross a giant lake. A dozen languages surround us on this 100-person ride. It’s a very mild version of Jungle Cruise (which we just rewatched to get ready for the adventures). 

This morning we listened to the podcast we created last night on both the history of Croatia since they declared independence from Yugoslavia, and on their natural industry of tourism because of the natural beauty of the landscape. For 30 years, the people had to see a vision beyond their own generation – one that builds toward stability and sustainability. The care of creation is evident and the hospitality of the people is warm and unassuming. 

It was pure awe as we walked on the wooden boardwalks in and through all of the lakes and past the waterfalls. The surprise was the stretch of hiking through the tallest trees I have seen since visiting the giant redwoods of California. Their canopies stretch out to provide shade and shadows across the bright blue sky and shining sun. The rocks are covered in moss and the forest floor is soft and lush. The day is punctuated by various breaks along the rocks and trees, and then it is finalized with a tram ride back to the original departure area. 

Paklenica National Park

The next day, we geared up for Paklenica National Park with the hike to Manita peć Cave

 (latest tour at noon) – takes 90 min to walk to cave – leave house at 8am (1 hour drive) 

• The Hike: The cave sits at an altitude of 570 meters. Reaching it requires about a 1.5-hour hike (uphill) from the Velika Paklenica parking lot. Sturdy walking shoes are a must for everyone.
• The Tour: Inside, you get a 30-minute guided tour featuring stalagmites, stalactites, and dripstone columns.
• Temperature: The cave stays a chilly 9°C to 10°C (48°F–50°F) year-round, so pack light jackets or long-sleeved layers for the family.
• Tickets & Cash: Tickets for the guided tour are bought on-site at the cave entrance and must be paid in cash. (5 euro per person and less for children)

This is the national park known for rock climbing. Going in the first few days of October was perfect because the crowds had thinned dramatically, parking was not a problem, and the weather was perfect. The park is awe-inspiring in an entirely different way. It is all the granite you’ve ever seen. It is sheer cliff faces and tiny dots of people rock climbing up the sides of the mountain. There is a fantastic rock pathway the entire way up the mountain. While beautifully maintained, it is uneven with 1000 stairsteps and sends you uphill quickly. 

We had our eyes on the cave that is 1700 vertical feet up the mountain. It did not disappoint. This cave was everything you’ve seen in all the movies … Goonies, National Treasure, Indiana Jones, Journey to the Center of the Earth, and more. It is a massive cave that is actively studied and maintained. This was a highlight of the parks for us – full of wonder and delight after the 90 minute hike up the mountain. 

There was a lot more to see and do at this park – you could easily stay nearby and go back several days in a row for new hikes. 

Krka National Park

Our last park before moving on from Zadar was Krka National Park. It was about an hour away in a different direction and had the same magical previews as we drove past a sparkling lake and mountain vistas. Luckily, we were visiting in early October, making the entrance fee only half the price. It was 20 euro per person. While it held its own splendor and fun, I would say it was not as much of a mountain hike as a stroll through the forest. If you are traveling with small children or grandparents, this is probably the best one because of the boat ride and the village that is front and center. Kids will see the magical nooks and crannies of this area right away. If someone wanted to wait in the village area, it would be easy for others to walk around through the stone steps and boardwalks and come back within an hour. 

We only had half a day to explore so we did not do the second half and I think this is where we would have fell in love with this park. The second half is another entrance fee and another boat ride, but this time, out to an island with a monastery. You can hike and explore on the island and continue your adventure (likely with less people) for several more hours. 

Krka had the best boat ride – you truly feel like you are heading up to explore what is behind the next mountain bend. 

To Sum Up The National Parks We Experienced:

Plitvice – Beautiful land of water and magical forests

Paklenica – Sheer magnitude of rock with the cave

Krka – Nooks and crannies throughout the forest