A NATIONAL Park just a few hours from the UK has been named the most searched in Europe.
Plitvice Lakes is one of Croatia’s eight national parks, as well as the oldest.
A National Park in Croatia has been compared to a fairy kingdom and mermaid’s grottoCredit: Getty – ContributorPlitvice Lakes is just a few hours from ZagrebCredit: Getty – ContributorThe waters are bright blue – and look like another planet
Named the first National Park of Croatia in 1949, it is also the largest, and was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979.
The park is home to 16 lakes, many with bright blue waters and waterfalls throughout.
With a range of hikes to choose from ranging from two to eight hours, the most popular waterfall to visit is Veliki Slap, stretching 78m high.
A wooden walkway winds throughout the lakes, which sadly you can’t swim in although you can rent a row boat.
However, visit during the quieter hours and you may spot deer, wolves, wild boars and even the rare brown bear.
I was lucky enough to visit while travelling to Croatia, with the water so blue it looked like a mermaids grotto from a fairytale.
Add in the bright green foliage during the summer months, and it certainly looks another planet.
Previous tourists have raved about the park.
One person said: “If you do nothing else in Croatia, you must visit Plitvice. You feel like you’re in heaven.”
Another wrote on TripAdvisor: “This is what a fairy kingdom, a magical land, a lost paradise would look like.”
A third simply said it was “beautiful, almost otherworldly scenery.”
A study by Bounce which analysed Google searches and social media posts revealed it to the the top most searched for park in Europe, and 5th in the world.
It was even once named one of the top natural wonders of the world by Lonely Planet.
The park is even undergoing a €1.1million renovation of the Kozjak restaurant, which was built in 1949.
Reopening in spring, the restaurant will be turned into a cafe and pastry shop with an outdoor terrace.
Tickets to Plitvice Lakes start from around £9, or you can book day trips to the wonder which includes transport to and from the park.
If travelling from Zagreb, the park is around two hours by car.
Otherwise there are hotels and campsites in the nearby area if you fancy staying longer.
Another island in Croatia is just a few hours from the UK and said to be “better than Ibiza.”
And the island of Ces is said to be “Croatia’s forgotten island” but much cheaper than Hvar.
Here’s why you should visit Brac Island too – with amazing Greek like beaches.
You can’t swim in the water but there are lots of walkwaysCredit: Photographers Choice – GettyMany hikes go past the beautiful waterfalls
Source link : https://www.thesun.co.uk/travel/25037544/national-park-europe-croatia-mermaid/amp/
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Publish date : 2023-12-29 03:00:00
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