Located northeast of Zadar and not far from the Bosnian border, Plitvička Lakes National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a must-see for anyone visiting Croatia. Established in 1949 by Josep Tito, it is the country’s largest national park, comprising 300 square kilometers of verdant nature and cascading lakes.

Be prepared for it to be crowded, as the place sees over one million people per year, mostly visiting during the summer months. I went on a rainy day at the beginning of September 2023, which caused a slight reduction in people, but the park was still quite crowded. The place is remarkably clean given the sheer number of visitors, so the aesthetics of the place still make it appear very pristine and untouched.

You could easily spend several days here exploring the entire area, but you will be able to see the main attractions in a day. They have shuttle buses and boats that will take you back to where you need to be if you venture too far. Those services are included in the entrance fee, which was 40 euros for adults and 25 euros for students.