Awards are granted by Green Destinations, a global non-profit organization established in the Netherlands, which has for many years been supporting sustainable development of destinations and tourism stakeholders, as well as encouraging good practices aimed at dealing with challenges posed by sustainable tourism. With over 600 destinations included in various Green Destinations programs and more than 160 certified and award-winning destinations in over 60 countries, the organization promotes the visibility of green destinations in the global tourism market.

THE PATH TOWARD SUSTAINABILITY

This award is an important step on the path toward sustainability, but it also serves as a key milestone for the public institution, confirming that we are heading in the right direction regarding nature conservation, management, social welfare, environment and climate, cultural heritage, business and communication. Our vision was clearly defined by the Green Destinations silver award in 2023, and this year’s golden award confirms that we are on the right path.

Given that the national park had previously been granted the Green Destinations award, after two years the renewal, or recertification, process followed, which started this year in April. On that occasion, the recertification expert team (Maja Vurnek, Zrinka Nenadić and Kristina Sigurnjak) collected documentation and described individual criteria that needed to be clarified, or harmonized, after the first audit. About 50 criteria were covered in the first phase, with another 34 criteria additionally clarified in 5 categories after the evaluator reviewed the documentation and visited the national park. Plitvice Lakes National Park was awarded the maximum score in the “Nature & Scenery” and “Culture & Tradition” categories.  This entire journey ultimately confirmed the attractiveness, quality, and investment in the sustainability of the largest and oldest national park in Croatia, allowing us to improve from the silver to the gold award!

GREEN DESTINATIONS CONFERENCE

 At the two-day conference, we had the opportunity to hear leading lecturers on the following topics:

• Destination management – toward successful sustainable tourism,
• Cultural heritage and tourism that strengthens and connects communities,
• Strategies, tools and activities for achieving climate resilience,
• Certificates (EcoLabel and regional cooperation in tourism),
• Innovations,
• Digital transformation,
• Decarbonization,
• Regenerative tourism through partnerships and social welfare.
  
  

The diversity of topics provided numerous opportunities for exploring sustainable solutions, exchanging best practices and connecting with various destinations from around the world (more than 300 participants), including Croatian representatives from tourist boards, counties, development agencies, Tourism Lab, and the Ministry of Tourism and Sports.

Objava Plitvice Lakes National Park honored with Golden Green Destinations Award pojavila se prvi puta na Nacionalni park "Plitvička jezera".

Green Destinations Gold Award for Plitvice Lakes National Park

Plitvice Lakes National Park, as one of the most recognized and most visited protected areas in Croatia, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site, and a renowned green tourist destination, has successfully applied for recognition of its sustainability policies and achievements through the Green Destinations Award program. This program evaluates sustainable tourist destinations at an international level in accordance with environmental, socio-economic, and cultural criteria.

The Path to the Gold Award

After a period of extensive preparation and the submission of detailed dossiers covering more than 75 sustainability criteria, followed by an independent on-site audit, the Green Destinations Gold Award was attributed to Plitvice Lakes National Park. This award indicates excellence in all fields of sustainable destination management, such as nature and heritage conservation, waste management, energy, and climate action. It also recognizes the Park’s efforts to sustain the attractiveness of its tourism in the future. Not only visible and tangible aspects are measured, such as natural heritage, but also policies and management plans that take sustainable development principles into account.

Recommendations for the Future

As one of the improvements for the future, it was recommended to focus on:

• Monitoring sustainability indicators (environmental, economic, social, and cultural).
• Measuring inhabitant satisfaction.
• Encouraging the use of public transportation and low-emission alternatives.
• Involving the private sector in sustainability measures.
• Promoting recognition of good environmental practices among entrepreneurs.

Building on Previous Success

Since 2023, Plitvice Lakes National Park has been included in the Green Destinations Award program, first receiving the Silver Award. In 2024, the Park entered the Top 100 Destinations Sustainability Stories competition with the story “A Ticket that Opens Doors of Lika Destination – branding initiative for sustainable tourism development.”

This Green Destinations Gold Award is a major step forward toward fully evidence-based and independently verified certification of sustainability performance, in accordance with international standards set by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC).

Official Ceremony

The Award will be officially presented to Plitvice Lakes National Park during the Green Destinations Global Conference 2025 in Montpellier, Occitanie, France.

About Green Destinations

The Green Destinations Award & Certification Program challenges municipalities, counties, regions, and protected areas to promote responsible destination management on an ongoing basis and to encourage the tourism sector to implement sustainable practices. Participating destinations engage in a sustainability management system, with independent verification of performance and progress every two or three years, accompanied by recommendations for improvements. With support from regional partners and representatives, more than 120 destinations in 25 countries have already received Awards and Certification.

Since 2018, Green Destinations Certification has been accredited by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC).

More information: www.greendestinations.org

Objava Plitvice Lakse National Park once again in the global spotlight pojavila se prvi puta na Nacionalni park "Plitvička jezera".

Discover the gems of Lika Destination in 2025 with a special offer! By purchasing an individual ticket to Plitvice Lakes National Park, you get discounts on 7 attractive sites. More details are provided below:

The discount is available exclusively in the ticket office of each attraction upon presentation of an individual ticket for Plitvice Lakes National Park. The discount applies to the regular individual ticket price for the attraction, is valid once and can be used for as many tickets as were purchased at Plitvice Lakes National Park in 2025.

Northern Velebit National Park – Velebit House

• A 33% discount is valid for individual tickets for adults from June 1 to December 31, 2025 for entry to the Velebit House visitor centre.
• No announcement is required for individual visits.
• Working Hours
  • Tuesday – Sunday: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
  • Monday: Closed
• Phone: +385 (0)53 665 380, +385 (0)53 560 117
• Website

Barać Caves

• A 10% discount is valid for individual tickets for adults and children from April 1 to October 31, 2025. The ticket includes a 60-minute tour accompanied by an expert guide (HR/ EN/ DE).
• No prior announcement is required
• Working Hours
  • June: every day, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
  • July – September: every day, 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
  • October: every day, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
• Phone: +385 (0)47 782 007
• Website

SPELEON – Centre of Subterranean Heritage

• A 50% discount is valid for individual tickets for adults and children from January 1 to December 31, 2025. The ticket includes a 60-minute tour accompanied by an expert guide (HR/ EN/ DE).
• No prior announcement is required
• Working Hours
  • June, September, October, November, December: daily, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
  • July – August: daily, 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
• Phone: +385 (0)47 639 387
• Website

Cave Park Grabovača

• A 20% discount is valid for individual tickets for adults and children from April 1 to November 30, 2025. The ticket includes a tour of the Samograd cave with an expert guide and is also a ticket for other attractions of the park: educational trails, Ploče lookout, viewpoint Forest Organ, Little Herbal Garden with Hobbit House, Little Lake, Pan’s Labyrinth, Barbecue Spot Draga and Eco Children’s Playground.
• No prior announcement is required.
• Working Hours (Tours to Samograd Cave)
  • June 1 – June 15: daily, 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM
  • June 15 – September 15: daily, 10:30 AM – 4:30 PM
  • September 15 – November 30: daily, 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM
• Phone: +385 (0)53 679 233, +385 (0)99 212 7587
• Website

Nikola Tesla Memorial Center

• A 50% discount is valid for individual tickets for adults and children from June 1 to October 31, 2025. The ticket includes a tour of the Nikola Tesla Memorial Center.
• Prior announcement is not required for individual visits of up to 15 persons.
• Working Hours (June – October)
  • Tuesday – Saturday: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM (last admission at 7:00 PM)
  • Sundays and Holidays: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM (last admission at 3:00 PM)
  • Monday: Closed
• Phone: +385 (0)53 746 530
• Websit

Velebit Nature Park – Cerovac Caves

• A 50 % discount is valid for individual tickets for adults, while a 46% discount is granted for individual tickets for children. Discounts are available from June 1 to October 31, 2025..
• The ticket includes a visit to both caves with a guide. It takes about 3 hours to visit both caves. The minimum number of visitors in the cave is 6 persons.
• Prior announcement is not required for individual visits of up to 20 persons.
• Working Hours
  • June – September: daily, 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
  • October: daily, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
• Cave Entry Times
  • Summer period (until September 30):
    • Lower Cave: 10:00 AM, 11:30 AM, 1:00 PM, 2:30 PM, 4:00 PM, 5:30 PM
    • Upper Cave: 11:30 AM, 1:00 PM, 2:30 PM, 4:00 PM, 5:30 PM
  • October:
    • Lower Cave: 10:00 AM, 11:30 AM, 1:00 PM, 2:30 PM, 4:00 PM
    • Upper Cave: 11:30 AM, 1:00 PM, 2:30 PM, 4:00 PM
• To reach the entrance to the caves in time, it is important to emphasize that there is about a 20-minute walk from the parking lot to the Lower Cave, and about a 15-minute walk from the Lower to the Upper Cave
• Phone: +385 (0)99 8144 724
• Website

Paklenica National Park

• A 20% discount is valid for one-day individual tickets for adults and children from January 1 to December 31, 2025.
• No prior announcement is required for individual visits.
• Working Hours
  • March 15 – November 15: 6:00 AM – 8:30 PM
  • November 15 – December 31: 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM
• Phone: +385 (23) 369 803 (Entrance), +385 (0)23 369 202
• Website

We are looking forward to your arrival!

Objava Discounts for 7 attractions in Lika Destination pojavila se prvi puta na Nacionalni park "Plitvička jezera".

Dear all,

our famous Nikola Tesla once said: “There is no other thing that would be as valuable to teach as nature.” Following this, we invite you to visit the ten beautiful locations of Lika destination and feel the magic of its offer.

Instead of 142,00 €, pay 70,00 €!

Purchase your voucher booklet at the Plitvice Lakes National Park Entrances

You can use your vouchers in the period from 20th July until 5th October, 2022, and they include the following locations:

• Plitvice Lakes National Park
• Northern Velebit National Park
• Paklenica National Park
• Velebit Nature Park – Zavratnica Bay
• Velebit Nature Park- Cerovac Caves
• Barać Caves
• Barać Caves – SPELEON
• Cave Park Grabovača
• Memorial center Nikola Tesla
• Croatian Center for Fish and Crawfish in Karstic Waters

Note: the number of Voucher Booklets is limited.

Price

• Adults: 70,00 € per person
• Children 7-18 yro: 42,50 € per person
• Children up to 7 years: free of charge

Plitvice Lakes National Park

• The ticket includes transport by electric boat within the selected sightseeing program, visitor insurance and value added tax
• Working hours: Entrance 1, Entrance 2, auxiliary entrance Flora: 07:00 h – 21:00 h
• TICKET SALE: until 17:00 h
• Phone: +385 (0)53 751 015
• Website

IMPORTANT:

Buy the Voucher Booklet on the spot at the Plitvice Lakes National Park, the ticket for the Park can be picked up for the first available entry time.

Northern Velebit National Park

• The ticket is valid for a visit to the Park for three consecutive days and for the entrance to the Velebit House presentation center
• Phone: +385 (0)53 665 380, +385 (0)53 560 117
• Website

No announcement is required for individual visits.

Paklenica National Park

• The ticket is valid for a visit to the Park for one day
• Phone: +385 (23) 369 803 (Entrance), +385 (0)23 369 202
• Website

• IMPORTANT NOTE: Vouchers purchased online can be exchanged for a ticket only at Entrance 1 of the Paklenica National Park
• No announcement is required for individual visits

Velebit Nature Park – Zavratnica Bay

• The ticket includes the entrance to the Zavratnica bay
• Phone: +385 (0)53 560 450
• Website

No prior announcement is required

Velebit Nature Park – Cerovac Caves

• The ticket includes a visit to both caves with a guide. It takes about 3 hours to visit both caves. The minimum number of visitors in the cave is 6 people
• To reach the entrance to the caves on time, it is important to emphasize that it is about a 20-minute walk from the parking lot to the Lower Cave, and about a 15-minute walk from the Lower to the Upper Cave
• Phone: +385 (0)99 8144 724
• Website

Announcement is required only for group visits of 20 or more visitors.

Barać Caves

• The ticket includes a 60-minute tour accompanied by an expert guide (HR / EN / DE)
• Working hours:  July – September, every day 9:00 -19:00h / October every day 10:00 -18:00h
• Phone: +385 (0)47 782 007
• Website

No prior announcement is required

Barać Caves – SPELEON

• The ticket includes a 60-minute tour accompanied by an expert guide (HR / EN / DE)
• Phone: +385 (0)47 639 387
• Website

No prior announcement is required

Cave Park Grabovača

• The ticket includes a tour of the Samograd cave with an expert guide and is also a ticket for other attractions of the park: educational trails, Ploče lookout, viewpoint Forest Organ, Little Herbal Garden with Hobbit House, Little Lake, Pan’s Labyrinth, Barbecue Spot Draga and Eco Children’s Playground
• Phone: +385 (0)53 679 233, +385 (0)99 212 7587
• Website

Prior announcement is not required for individual visits

Memorial center Nikola Tesla

• The ticket includes a tour of the Nikola Tesla Memorial Center
• Phone: +385 (0)53 746 530
• Websit

Announcements are only needed for groups, in order to make tour organization more efficient. Professional guidance only for groups of 15 and more visitors.

Croatian Center for Fish and Crawfish in Karstic Waters

• The ticket includes the 24-page Knowledge Booklet (English, German and Croatian), watching an educational film about the Gacka region (Croatian), microscopic examination of fish tissue, visiting the Gacka fauna educational trail on a wooden bridge over the Pećina spring, a tour of Pećina, the oldest archeological site in the area of Otočac, a visit to the sightseeing point, a view of the Gacka Valley and a joint photo shoot with the panorama of Gacka river
• Opening hours: Monday – Friday 07:00 h – 15:00 h
• Phone: +385 (0)98 973 1639
• Websit

ANNOUNCEMENT required on +385 (0)98 973 1639 or e-mail jelena.janjatovic@otocac.hr

We are looking forward to your arrival!

Objava Voucher booklet for Lika Destination pojavila se prvi puta na Nacionalni park "Plitvička jezera".