Tuesday 21 May 2019

Croatia: Stunning Plitvice Lakes and Istria Peninsula


Greetings! After our adventures along Croatia's delightful Dalmatian Coast, my sister and I continued with our tour to visit Croatia's Plitvice Lakes National Park and three towns on Croatia's Istria Peninsula (Opatija, Rovinj, and Pula).

We stayed overnight at Plitvice Lakes and spent a full day in Plitvice Lakes National Park. From there we moved on to stay overnight in Opatija, and took day trips from Opatija to Rovinj and Pula. We had a few stunning surprises waiting for us at each of the four locations, shown as blue markers in the map below. Plitvice Lakes National Park is the far right blue marker.

Croatia's Plitvice Lakes and Istria Peninsula

PLITVICE LAKES NATIONAL PARK
 
Plitvice Lakes National Park is the oldest and largest national park in Croatia. It was designated as a national park in 1949, and as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. The park is famous for its sixteen turquoise-coloured lakes and numerous smaller lakes, separated by travertine barriers.

Map of Plitvice Lakes National Park

On the day of our visit to Plitvice Lakes National Park, we woke up to an overcast sky and a dusting of fresh snow which melted as the temperature rose. I had read about the Plitvice Lakes and was excited to explore this magnificent natural wonder.

Our tour guide got tickets for the group and walked us through various sections in the park. The park entrance ticket includes a 20-minute ride with the electric boat and a panoramic train as the park is a large area to discover. Raised wooden footpaths zigzag and curve to lead us through this natural beauty.

Wooden path at Plitvice Lakes National Park

Zigzag wooden paths at Plitvice Lakes

The views were spectacular no matter where we looked. The sixteen lakes terrace their way down a hillside, each one connected to the last via cascading waterfalls, caves, springs, and chutes. The highest falls, Veliki Slap, the tallest waterfall in Croatia, tumble some 78m. Altogether, the string of lakes is almost eight km (five miles) long.

Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia

Veliki Slap tall waterfall at 78 m

Waterfalls and chutes at Plitvice Lakes

There are four hiking trails, three caves, and a special beech-fir forest reserve for visitors to explore. I truly enjoyed our visit to Plitvice Lakes National Park. On a sunny day, or in the Fall, I imagine the park and colours of the lakes must be quite stunning.

OPATIJA

Opatija is about two hours drive north west of Plitvice Lakes. It's a charming town located on Croatia's Istria Peninsula, along Adriatic shores near the tip of the Gulf of Kvarner. Opatija has a fascinating cultural blend, Austro-Hungarian, Italian, Yugoslavian, and Croatian, over the centuries. With its close proximity to Italy, many Italians come here for rest and relaxation.

During our stay in Opatija, the sunny skies and warm temperatures returned. We strolled along Opatija's seaside promenade, the Lungo Mare, and soaked in the small city’s ambiance and lovely setting.

Opatija, Croatia

Some of Opatija's landmarks include the Maiden with the Seagull statue, the Boatman statue by the small harbour, Kvarner hotel, and the gardens.

Opatija's landmarks

Opatija Gardens

ROVINJ

From Opatija, we took a day trip to Rovinj, located about an hour drive south west of Opatija. Rovinj delighted us with its stunning sea views, Venetian architecture, and cobbled streets.

Rovinj, Croatia

It was a pleasure to walk and wander the small alleys in and around Rovinj. The houses all seem to exude charms and present numerous photo opportunities.

Sights in Rovinj, Croatia

For a panoramic ocean view, we climbed the stone steps leading to Rovinj's church and walked the pebbled grounds before going towards the market. The local specialities include truffles, sauces, fruit jams and herbs such as lavender.

Sights in Rovinj, Croatia

PULA

From Rovinj, we took a side trip to Pula, about 40 minute drive south of Rovinj. Walking towards Pula's centre, we were delighted to see Pula's remarkably well-preserved Roman amphitheater (or arena), where performances are still held today. It is the 6th largest amphitheater in Europe.

Roman amphitheater in Pula, Croatia

Without any tourist crowd, we were able to spend some time walking around the Roman arena and examining its structure in details. We could see the Adriatic sea through the arena's openings.

Roman arena in Pula, Croatia

Further wanderings let us see more of Pula's interesting and historic landmarks such as the four shown in the photo below the Cathedral (top left), Temple of Augustus (top right), Town Hall (lower right) and Twin Gate (lower left).

Pula's Cathedral, Temple, Town Hall and Twin Gate

Our time in Croatia's Plitvice Lakes National Park, Opatija, Rovinj, and Pula was truly amazing. I hope this post and my selected photos reflect the beauty of these places in Croatia. I plan to have one more post on Zagreb.

Thank you for travelling with me. I'd love to hear your comments.

36 comments:

  1. Gosh aren't the lakes amazing! So glad you had a great time. We absolutely loved Croatia and the Dalmatian coast and islands and would love to go back. Thanks for bringing back some lovely memories and new ideas for what to see too :)

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    1. Thanks, Jo, for your comment. Plitvice Lakes were emerald green even on a cloudy day. I'd love to return to Croatia, too :)

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  2. What a lovely place. So beautiful. Thanks for sharing. #MLSTL

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    1. Thank you, Patrick, for your comment. I greatly appreciate it.

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  3. My goodness, I had no idea this beauty even existed! The waterfall is beautiful as well as the amphitheater and the zig-zag walkway is fascinating. Thanks for the photos and information about this place.

    I appreciate your contribution to 'My Corner of the World' this week!

    My Corner of the World

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    1. Thank you, Betty, for hosting. Plitvice Lakes are amazing and the Roman arena in Pula was a wonderful surprise.

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  4. Stunning scenery Natalie and I loved the Roman ruins. When I was in Europe I was amazed at all the places the Romans had been, the architecture they created and the health systems (sewage/water etc) they built. So ahead of their times!
    Thanks for linking up with us at MLSTL and I've shared on my SM :)

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    1. Thank you, Leanne, for hosting and sharing. I agree with you about how advanced the Romans were. The amphitheater in Pula was a wonderful surprise. It was very well-preserved and there was no crowd when we were there.

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  5. Wow Natalie, your post makes me want to go back to Croatia as we only saw a small part of it. #mlstl

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    1. Hi Deb - Croatia is a good destination to revisit. The Plitvice Lakes are stunning and there are lots to see in the Istrian towns.

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  6. Wow...those waterfalls! I really enjoyed scrolling through the enlarged photos. It was like I was traveling with you for a few minutes. Gorgeous views, even when the sky was cloudy.

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    1. Thank you, Candi, for your visit and kind comment. There were a lot of waterfalls and cascades at Plitvice Lakes. I took so many photos but tried to limit to a few on my blog.

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    1. Thank you, Carol, for your visit and comment. I'll go see your blog shortly.

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  8. Hi Natalie what a wonderful adventure! I actually thought you had included a photo of the Colesseum when I saw the Roman arena in Pula. My FIL was from Serbia and grew up in Croatia so I would love to take a long visit there one day. Thank you for sharing at #MLSTL and have a beautiful week. xx

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    1. Hi Sue - The arena in Pula looks very much like the Colosseum in Rome. A long visit to Croatia would be lovely, especially with your family connection to the country. Thank you for hosting and have a great week!

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  9. Those lakes are amazing. It amazes me how much you manage to fit into your short breaks and as always I love the blend of photos and info.

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    1. We can do quite a bit of sightseeing each day when we're not encumbered with mundane things :)

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  10. This si beautiful. Your trip was (is?) very splendid. It feels like forever since we were in Europe...but only Jan last year - just a lot of turmoil since. Travel photos bring me inner peace, even if I've never been there!

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    1. Croatia has a lot to offer to its visitors. I'm glad the travel photos bring you inner peace. Thank you, Lydia, for stopping by.

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  11. What a fabulous holiday you and your sister had Natalie. Another bunch of wonderful places in Croatia that you've visited. Gorgeous photographs! I'm particularly taken with Plitvice Lakes National Park - probably cos I'm a nature lover but also because - wow! - what beautiful scenery and the colour of the water in those lakes is exquisite! I'm loving this virtual touring with you as I'm discovering places I've never heard of! :-) #TeamLovinLife

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    1. Hi Min - I was happy to visit Plitvice Lakes NP as I had read about the lakes before booking this tour. The colour of the water in those lakes looks like emerald to me even on a cloudy day, and the numerous waterfalls were amazing to see. I imagine it must be truly stunning on a clear day or in autumn season.

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  12. Hi Natalie, I really like that you added a map in the beginning for a frame of reference. The photos are stunning and you likely have many more. It is interesting the various cultures that influenced the architecture of the towns. A really interesting post!

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    1. Thank you, Erica, for your kind comment. Yes, I have many more photos. I had some difficulties choosing which ones to include in the blog to capture the beauty of each place without posting too many photos :)

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  13. These are stunning locations, Natalie! Undiscovered beauty in Croatia (by me anyway) that I’d love to explore one day. The lakes are magnificent and the towns’ architecture surprising - some Venice and Rome in Croatia! :-) Thanks for sharing your amazing photos and tour segments.

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    1. Thank you, Liesbet, for your kind comment. This part of our Croatia itinerary offered one nice surprise after another and different from the Dalmatian Coast.

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  14. I knew a few people in Australia who are from Croatia. I think they left when there were war/conflicts with neighbour countries. This place now looks amazingly peaceful.

    Thanks for linking up for #lifethisweek Next week's optional prompt is "Self-Care share your story". Denyse

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    1. Thank you, Denyse, for hosting. I'm grateful for peace and freedom to visit Croatia. Have a wonderful week!

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  15. Your photos are beautiful, Natalie. I echo the commenters who say they are amazed with how much you fit into short periods of time. You remain a true inspiration!

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    1. Thank you, Donna, for your kind comment. For this type of trip, we were out and about every day to see the sights, yet we still had free time in the evenings to chill. I look forward to hearing about your upcoming camino.

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  16. What a beautiful and wonderful place. Thanks for sharing. #lovinlifelinky

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    1. Thank you, Patrick, for your comment. Have a nice weekend!

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  17. I had no mental picture of Croatia before reading your post, just a vague memory of the newscasts about the terrible warfare that accompanied the dissolution of Yugoslavia 25-30 years ago. What an incredibly beautiful country!

    Jude

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    1. Hi Jude - Croatia is blessed with the long Adriatic Coast, many islands, and beautiful nature. It is deep in history and culture, too. A well-worth travel destination.

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