Two of Croatia's most spectacular waterfall destinations in one day β the charming village of Rastoke where wooden mills straddle cascading streams, then the turquoise lakes and waterfalls of UNESCO-listed Plitvice.
Plitvice Lakes National Park is Croatia's most visited attraction β a UNESCO World Heritage Site where 16 terraced lakes are connected by 92 waterfalls, all flowing through travertine limestone formations that glow emerald and turquoise in sunlight. The park covers 300 kmΒ² and the two main trail circuits take 3β4 hours to walk comfortably.
Rastoke is a village 30 minutes before Plitvice on the same road, and it's one of Croatia's best-kept secrets. The SlunjΔica river splits into dozens of channels here, tumbling over waterfalls between and beneath traditional wooden mills. You can walk between the active mill-houses on paths that cross the cascades β it's called "the Small Plitvice" locally, and it's far less visited.
Combining both in a single day from Zagreb makes perfect sense geographically β Rastoke is on the direct route to Plitvice, and spending an hour there before the national park adds a completely different, more intimate scale of waterfall experience to the day.
Book in Advance
Popular in summer β we recommend booking 48 hours ahead. Contact us for same-day availability.
Private vehicle departs from your Zagreb hotel heading south on the A1 motorway.
Arrive at the "Small Plitvice" β wooden mills straddling the SlunjΔica waterfalls. Guided walk between the mill-houses and cascades.
30-minute drive through forested Lika hills to the national park entrance.
Board the park ferry across Lake Kozjak, then walk the Upper Lakes circuit β 16 terraced lakes connected by waterfalls on wooden boardwalks.
Traditional Croatian lunch at the restaurant near Entrance 1 β stew, grilled meats, local bread.
Walk the Lower Lakes circuit β Croatia's tallest waterfall (78 m) and the most intensely turquoise water in the park.
Comfortable return drive, arriving in Zagreb by early evening.
Tell us your date and group size β we confirm within 2 hours, 7 days a week.