Plitvice Lakes National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in central Croatia, known for its 16 terraced turquoise lakes connected by waterfalls and wooden footbridges through forested limestone canyons.
The park sits roughly halfway between Zagreb and Zadar, near the villages of Plitvicka Jezera and Rakovica, and is typically explored via a network of marked walking trails combined with a free boat and shuttle-bus system linking the upper and lower lakes.
Visiting takes most of a day; trails range from a 2-hour shortcut around the lower lakes to a full 6-8 hour loop covering both lake groups. Comfortable walking shoes are essential since paths can be slick near the waterfalls.