While Croatia’s known for its sea, islands, and beaches, there’s so much more to the European country. One thing you don’t want to miss out on are its 12 nature parks, which are located across the country’s hinterland. If you’re looking for incredible views and an adventure, here are the top three nature parks to check out in Croatia.
Velebit Nature Park
You’re not going to want to miss the jagged limestone peaks of the Velebit mountains, which is the largest mountain range in Croatia. The Velebit mountain trail encompasses the entire mountain chain from Northern Velebit National Park before ending in Paklenica National Park. Don’t miss the Velebit Botanical Gardens, which is one of the most remote botanical gardens in the world, and the over 300 different species of plants the park has.
Dinara Nature Park
Bordering Bosnia, Dinara Nature Park is Croatia’s highest summit. Dinara is Croatia’s second-largest nature park and in addition to the peaks and valleys, there are forests, riverbeds, caves, waterfalls, and grasslands. The park also has over 20 endemic animal species and tons of flora and fauna with over 1,000 species of plants.
Lonjsko Polje Nature Park
This park in central Croatia is full of marshy swampland and it happens to be the biggest swamp in Europe. It’s also home to over 200 species of birds, making it a must-visit for birdwatchers. Along the swampland, there are hiking trails with educational signs about the flora and fauna.