The national park has 295 square kilometers worth of lush forest reserve right in central Croatia.

The world has a plethora of wondrous places to explore. Each and every country has something to offer and something new to discover.

If you’re plotting a trip to Eastern Europe, you have to visit picturesque Croatia. The stunning country is situated along the coastline of the Adriatic Sea. The magical spot encompasses more than a thousand different islands.

When in Croatia, there is so much to see and so much to do. You have to visit the capital city of Zagreb where you will find medieval architecture and intriguing museums. Another must-see spot is the city of Dubrovnik, which is home to incredible 16th-century walls and Gothic and Renaissance buildings you have to see to believe.

But perhaps one of the most awe-inspiring of them all, is the pristine Plitvice Lakes. The national park has 295 square kilometres worth of lush forest reserve right in central Croatia.

Here you will find every natural beauty known to man. It features 16 different terraced lakes that join waterfalls which also extend into a beautiful limestone canyon. If you’re a hiking buff, you’ll be in heaven here with plentiful trails to keep you moving.

There’s even an electric boat that helps to link the 12 upper lakes to the 4 lower ones. It’s also home to a 78-metre-high waterfall of epic proportions.

If this has piqued your interest, then by all means keep on reading and check out these breathtaking photos of Plitvice Lakes National Park that will have you booking a flight there immediately.

20Sea Of Green

You will be making your friends green with envy when you post the most magical photos of your trip to the Plitvice Lakes National Park on Instagram or Facebook.

When you visit this gem, you will be rewarded with a unique sea of green that you won’t be able to get enough. From the lush trees in the forested reserve, to the clear green waters of the lakes. Immerse yourself in it all and find a variety of different plants and wildlife. One thing is for sure—this is an absolute haven for nature lovers.

19Lush Paradise

Any image of the Plitvice Lakes is absolutely stunning because of all the natural beauty it has to offer. From the rugged rock walls to the pristine turquoise-green waters to the lush bushes and trees scattered all around the park.

Even the bamboo plank walkway is a magical sight to see weaving in and out of the trees and following along with the water. You should visit this magical paradise at least once in your life—it needs to be on your bucket list ASAP. What are you waiting for? Serene nature awaits.

18Walk On Water

This rustic little walkway will give you the illusion of walking on water. It’s also the most serene and peaceful place to go for a walk with just the sound of the rushing waterfalls and wildlife lurking in the area.

The wooden planks are all different sizes, giving it a very personal touch. It also is in keeping with all of the natural beauty surrounding it. Just remember though, you’re not able to go for a dip in the lakes, they’re part of a reserve and are completely protected. But sometimes just admiring it is enough.

17Sky High Waterfalls

This long-exposure photo shows the true magic of the Plitvice Lakes National Park. It captures the speed at which the water is rushing down the falls to the lakes below.

While seeing this photo is truly mesmerizing, it doesn’t even come close to describing how it feels to be standing here in the flesh and experiencing all of it first-hand. Breathe in the fresh air, listen to the relaxing sounds of nature, watch the falls crash down below and take in all your surroundings while you’re here. You won’t regret spending the whole day chasing waterfalls.

16Fall Foliage At Its Finest

Hello, fall! This may come as a surprise but a lot of people travel places specifically to take in the colours of fall. There’s something about the crisp air and the colours that make it such a popular time for travel. It’s also typically less busy than the Summer months so it’s a win-win situation.

This photo captures the true essence of fall and will make you want to explore the Plitvice Lakes when the leaves change colour for just an added touch of magic (and some epic photos of your travels).

15Fall For Fall

Once again, here is another shot showcasing the truly beautiful colours of fall at the Plitvice Lakes. This place simply does not disappoint during the Fall season.

The trees can be seen in all of the colours (green, red, orange, brown) for a truly breathtaking sight you won’t soon forget. You can also get an awesome selfie here with the best backdrop imaginable, so soak it all up and enjoy your surroundings—you never know when you’ll be able to visit again.

14Frozen Falls

This incredibly striking image was taken during the cold winter months and it shows that the Plitvice Lakes are just as magical in the winter, as they are during any other season of the year (not that we had any doubts).

The snow-capped trees, frozen-over waterfalls and the lake make for a trip you’ll be talking about for years and years to come. The lakes are by far the largest national park in all of Croatia, so it makes sense why it’s a popular place to visit no matter the time of year it is.

13Enchantingly Magical

This photo shows what a magical and enchanting place this is to visit. Plitvice Lakes National Park welcomes over 1.3 million visitors each and every year and it’s not hard to see why.

It’s such a serene place and draws in a lot of locals and tourists alike to take in the scenery. While the park has 16 lakes, it’s also believed to have more than 90 waterfalls, which is an incredible amount of waterfalls to be located in just one park. This is probably why it draws in so many people.

12Eerie Yet Majestic

The clear waters showcase tree roots and the winding walkway looks a bit eerie in this photo but still completely majestic.

It’s a quiet and peaceful place to go for a walk and just relax in nature. One interesting fact about the area is that the water can change colours. Sometimes it looks more blue and other times more green. Other times it’s a complete mix of both and exudes a vibrant turquoise colour that is to die for.

The lakes never really look the same from one day to the next, which is another added bonus to checking it out in person.

11Winter Wonderland

An icy-blue winter paradise like none other you’ve ever experienced. The pristine white snow-covered trees, the frozen falls and the icy lakes make this image look just like a postcard or painting.

The water looks shockingly more blue than green here in comparison to the other photos. It changes colours depending on the amount of minerals, organisms or the angle of the sunlight. But one of the main reasons causing the water’s colour shift is the amount of calcium carbonate from the limestone rocks surrounding it.

10Full Of Legends

Plitvice Lake isn’t just about the natural beauty. It also has a number of legends surrounding it, which make it an even more interesting place to visit.

One of the most common legends involves a mysterious woman linked to one of the lakes: Prošćansko. This lady, known as ‘the Black Queen’ refers to a time of drought in the area. People called upon this magical queen to fix the problem, in which supposedly the Plitvice Lakes were created. Prošćansko Jezero was also believed to be the very first lake she created.

9A Winding Road

As seen in the above image, the winding walkway spans throughout the park and across the full width of the lakes.

Some points do not have a handrail, so you have to be extra careful as to where you step as to not accidentally take a fall in the waters.

During peak summer season it can get quite busy with tourists seeing as it’s one of the most popular attractions. But going in the fall or winter is just as magical and there will be fewer people on the trails.

8Postcard Worthy

Another winter landscape showing the true beauty of the area. The waters are more grey here and the falls are completely frozen over.

The white snow takes over the entire area, making it all look like a scene from a movie or the cover of a travel magazine. When you visit here you will definitely want to set aside the entire day for it and maybe even spend the night here. The park is so huge and there are so many things to see that it makes more sense to take your time when exploring all it has to offer. Why rush a good thing?

7Endless Supply Of Waterfalls

This amazing image shows the scope of just how many waterfalls there are in the park. It truly is incredible how many there are and how close they are to the boardwalk you’ll be walking across.

Plitvice Lakes is such a massive area that you simply can’t explore it all by foot. But they do offer a special transfer service to get you from point A to B with the help of either a train or ferry ride. This helps you save time and see as much as you can in the time you have there. After all, how often are you in Croatia?

6When Waterfalls Meet

This awesome photo shows a whole new perspective of the lakes. They almost look like infinity pools in some of the images, especially this one. With both edges of waterfalls coming together in the middle, you’ll wonder why you haven’t visited here sooner.

It’s pretty easy to see why this is not only one of the most stunning national parks in all of Europe but also the world. The oak forests, meadows, rocks and lakes are just some of the beautiful things you will get to experience when you book a trip here.

5Plenty Of Fish

While other images might not show it as much, some of the lakes are home to dozens upon dozens of fish. The clear waters allow complete visibility into the underwater life and give us a whole new vantage point into a whole other world.

This beautiful gem of a park is home to a number of natural habitats just brimming with wildlife and plant life you need to see before it’s too late.

The only way to accurately describe the Plitvice Lakes National Park is heaven on earth.

4Misty And Magical

Even when the weather doesn’t seem like it’s too great out, it’s still absolutely breathtaking to go for a walk down the bamboo boardwalk through the park. This photo showcases a more misty atmosphere with dark grey murky waters.

Even though the water is murkier in this image, you can still see through it. Make sure to arrive here early when you come to visit to avoid large crowds taking over the space. Don’t forget to visit all the lakes, or as many as possible, as they all have something different to offer and it’s definitely worth spending the extra time.

3Splendid Scenery

With so many trails and boardwalks and a lot of people wandering the area—it’s hard to get lost. But it’s one of the unique places you wouldn’t mind getting lost in for a while.

This photo once again depicts the beautiful warm colours of fall and shows how high some of the waterfalls are towering from above. Looking at this jaw-dropping landscape is so beautiful there are almost no words to describe it accurately.

Take it from us, you don’t want to miss out on visiting this one-of-a-kind paradise.

2Falls Both Small And Large

As we mentioned above, Plitvice Lakes National Park is home to over 90 different waterfalls. It’s unlike any other place you’ve traveled before and is hard to beat. These 90 waterfalls include those of all different sizes. Some stand tall and crash hard below.

Others like this little one make just a small slope into the water. Both are equally amazing and are the reason why this region is so charming and full of natural beauty. If you love forest bathing and just spending time in nature generally—you’re going to have a hard time leaving here, that’s for sure.

1Take It All In

This image shows the full scope of all the limestone rocks, snow-capped trees and cascading waterfalls. The lakes also look extremely surreal and calm in this photo which makes for a powerful reason why you need to make a stop here if you’re going to Croatia.

It has the best of all worlds, from lakes and waterfalls to rugged rocks and lush greenery. Don’t let this place pass you by and make sure to add it to your itinerary when you’re traveling through Eastern Europe.

References: TripAdvisor