Plitvice Lakes National Park

This park is an absolute must-see when you're visiting Croatia. It's the oldest national park in Southeast Europe and also the largest one in Croatia. Since 1979, it belongs to the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites.

This park is home to many animal groups, including bears, boars, wolves, deer and various rare birds and other endemic species. The most beautiful sight is the 16 lakes that are interconnected by spectacular waterfalls. The lakes themselves change colour from azure to green, grey or blue, depending on the ratio of minerals in the water. The official website offers a virtual tour of the national park, so be sure to check it out before you go.

When you buy a ticket, you will also get a map with several routes you can pick from, depending on how much time and physical activity you can put into your trip. You can get here from Zagreb or Zadar, just find a bus station in the city and you will surely see several buses aiming this way. The travel takes about 2.5 hours. If you want to visit this place when it's less crowded, choose either spring or late summer.