Croatia is filled with heaps of beautiful places to visit but its eight national parks never fail to be a particularly breathtaking highlight for visitors.
Offering everything from terraced waterfalls to fish-shaped islands, and boasting picture-perfect aquamarine waters and lush green surroundings, they make for a pretty idyllic setting.
With eight official national parks in Croatia, intrepid explorers are bound to be spoiled for choice on their next adventures.
To give you a helping hand, we've put together a guide to the eight national parks including top things to know and where you can find cheap accommodation nearby.
Most of them can easily be visited on a day trip from some of Croatia's best cities .
On a budget? You may also want to check out our guide for finding cheap Croatia holidays .
1. Plitvice Lakes
Plitvice Lakes National Park is one of Croatia's most famous attractions, and it's no surprise that visitors are always floored by the breathtaking landscape.
Think 16 inter-connecting lakes, heaps of ethereal waterfalls (the Big Waterfall is a highlight) and dense green landscapes that look like something out of a film with plenty of walking trails.
Zagreb is one of the closest cities, about a two-hour drive away.
Want to stay nearby to make the most of the park?
The Plitvice Holiday Resort sits on the edge of the park with prices from £64 a night on Booking.com . (Check out their dreamy treehouses for something extra special).
2. Krka
A brilliant national park for adventurers, Krka is home to some spectacular terraced waterfalls and you can actually take a dip in some of the waters.
There's also plenty of history and culture to be found tucked away amidst the astonishingly beautiful landscape, such as the Krka Monastery.
You can take plenty of day trips to Krka National Park from Split , ideal if you're planning a city break there anyway. We've got a round-up of cheap hotels in Split that might be handy!
3. Brijuni islands
The island of Veliki Brijun tends to be the main hub if you want to explore the landscape where you'll find highlights such as a tourist train to take you around, as well as Roman villa ruins.
However a popular option is to take a boat trip around the islands for a glimpse at the picturesque spots to be found. There's even one island that's shaped like a fish!
There are two hotels on the Brijuni Islands – Hotel Neptun-Istra and the Hotel Karmen – but if you're planning to include a visit as part of a wider itinerary, you may want to check out TripAdvisor's round-up of the best hotels near the Brijuni Islands .
4. Risnjak
Located near the town of Rijek, this awe-inspiring national park is packed with mountains, rivers and dense forests, all of which could easily be directly out of a storybook.
It tends to be more of a day trip destination if only because there's limited choice for accommodation and food, but it's well worth adding onto a wider Croatian itinerary.
5. Mljet
One of Croatia's most southen and eastern islands, Mljet has been given national park status thanks to its dense green landscape and surrounding saltwater lakes.
In the heart of the island you'll find a fascinating former Benedictine monastery sure to be a hit with intrepid explorers and history buffs.
There are plenty of boat trips from Dubrovnik if you want to make a day trip of it.
6. North Velebit
Hikers and ramblers may want to bookmark this picturesque park which sits on the northern side of the Velebit mountains which form Croatia's largest mountain range.
There are designated trails for tourists who want to go exploring with plenty of opportunity to take in the breathtaking scenery and discover the wildlife and flora residing here.
The park is also used for scientific research and conservation, but there are designated campsites for adventurers who want to take their time exploring as much of the region as possible.
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