5 mesmerising natural wonders in Croatia
From dazzling dive sites to glittering night skies, Croatia’s marine parks truly shine. Mary Novakovich reveals how best to explore them…
Croatia’s Adriatic Sea is one of the glories of the Mediterranean. For an introduction to some of the island jewels scattered along this sparkling coast, head for the marine parks, which show off Croatia’s beauty, fascinating culture, compelling history and, at times, downright quirkiness. It truly is a voyage of discovery.
1. Lastovo Nature Park
One for lovers of the sky and those who lose hours to stargazing, Lastovo Nature Park is Croatia’s remotest inhabited archipelago. Lastovo is so rich in birdlife and natural beauty that the entire archipelago – including 46 islands and islets – was declared a nature park in 2006.
Life runs at a slower pace here. Have a waterside lunch in Zaklopatica Bay on the main Lastovo island, or head for a lazy swim in the aptly named Skrivena Luka (which means hidden harbour). There is always something to do, such as exploring Lastovo’s marine world on a diving trip to Sušac island or taking a boat to the sandy shores of Saplun.
You’ll fall under the spell of Lastovo island’s ink-black skies on a guided nighttime visit to its highest point, Mount Hum (415m). And because Lastovo was once an army base, cut off from tourists until 1989, you can spot old submarine tunnels and bunkers.
2. Brijuni National Park
There’s quirky, and then there’s Brijuni National Park. Take the ferry from the Istrian village of Fažana to Veliki Brijun, the largest of the 14 islands and islets in the archipelago. The mix of history here is captivating: ancient Roman and Byzantine ruins mingle with the legacy of the 19th-century industrialist Paul Kupelwieser, who turned the island into an aristocrat’s playground.
When Yugoslavia’s former president Josip Broz Tito first clapped eyes on Brijuni after the Second World War, he created a lavish summer residence to entertain world leaders and celebrities. Wander the safari park to meet descendants of the animals gifted to Tito, then learn about the president’s heyday in the museum.
Hire a bike or electric buggy to explore forested trails and pebbly beaches, then stay the night at one of Veliki Brijun’s hotels or villas for a different taste of island life.
3. Kornati National Park
If there’s one place that epitomises Croatia’s maritime soul, it’s Kornati National Park. This archipelago of 89 islands and islets is seriously off-grid. Visitors can expect no permanent population, running water or electricity – just a string of starkly beautiful islands with olive groves, wild sheep, scenic hiking trails and rustic ports where you can moor your boat and fill up on hearty Croatian fare in simple waterfront taverns.
It’s a true sailor’s paradise, and a chance to turn off the boat’s motor and let the wind take you through a natural obstacle course, stopping now and then for an invigorating dive into impossibly clear blue waters.
If you haven’t got your own boat, you can join one of the many excursions on offer from marinas at Šibenik and Vodice or on Murter. You’ll spend a leisurely day sailing through the islands, pausing for swims and feasting on freshly grilled fish.
4. Mljet National Park
Mljet, Croatia’s greenest island, is a popular day trip for those visiting Dubrovnik. A third of the island is covered in a national park packed with pine-shaded walking and cycling trails that wind around two inland saltwater lakes, all encircled by thickly forested peaks. You’ll even find a fairy-tale island, Sveta Marija, within the larger of the two lakes, complete with a Benedictine monastery dating from the 12th century. Take a boat to wander its church and gardens.
Hike up to the top of Mount Montokuc (235m) for superb panoramic views of the national park and beyond. Afterwards, cool off with a refreshing swim in one of the lakes. Both the ferry ports of Pomena and Polače have paths leading directly to the national park entrances and facilities to hire a bike.
5. Krka National Park
Follow the Krka River inland from the city of Šibenik and you’ll soon reach one of Croatia’s most dramatic landscapes. Krka National Park is a wondrous world of rushing waterfalls, serene rivers and hilltop viewpoints that offer sweeping vistas.
Start in the village of Skradin, where a boat takes you along the Krka River to Skradinski Buk, the first of several eye-popping waterfalls. From here you can follow trails uphill as the views of the waterfall become even more impressive. Stop by the little ethnographic museum for a glimpse into what rural life in Croatia used to be like.
The national park’s boats take you further upstream, including ones that stop at the islet of Visovac, where a Franciscan monastery has stood since the 14th century. Carry on upstream even further for more drama in the form of Roški Slap, one of Krka’s most thunderous waterfalls.
Added to the other gems featured here, these marine parks truly are jewels in the Adriatic. Whichever ones you decide to visit for yourself, you’re bound to be in for a mesmerising experience with memories that will likely last a lifetime.
