Welcome to the landscape of dreams!
Lika - Karlovac
A romantic union with nature
Welcome to the adrenaline-filled heart of Croatia. Every corner of Lika and Karlovac beckons, urging you to embark on an adventure, be it on two or four wheels, by boat or on foot.
Inspiring landscapes, magical forests going by the names of nobles, meandering rivers, and waterfalls cascading into a myriad of droplets are an irresistible invitation to explore this captivating part of Croatia. Explore the birthplace of one of the world’s greatest inventors, discover a mythical mountain with a house of its own, and visit ancient castles brimming with age-old wisdom – every corner promises new and exciting experiences.
Where to go?
Greatest Attractions of Lika and Karlovac
All roads in this region will lead you to Karlovac, the town where four rivers – Dobra, Korana, Kupa, and Mrežnica – meet. The locals will tell you that each of these beauties has its distinctive character and a unique colour that sets it apart. Their rapids provide opportunities for various active pursuits – from fishing to rafting.
A beautiful experience awaits here, from the imposing walls of Dubovac to the historical town centre called the Star because of its hexagonal shape, enveloped in the fragrance of linden trees. The tall steeple of the Holy Trinity Church, an important landmark for centuries, adds to the town’s unique charm. The soul of the city, however, is in the water surrounding it. Discover the enigmatic life in the rivers at the freshwater aquarium Aquatika. Immerse yourself in the allure of the Korana on Foginovo Beach and Recreational Area. It’s not just rivers that pass through Karlovac – some of the most beautiful roads in Croatia, the famous Lujzijana, Karolina and Jozefina connecting cities and people, love and happiness, mountains and the sea run through Karlovac, too. They are no mere roads; they showcase this region’s rich history and stunning nature. From the opulent Caves of Barać to the proud fortresses such as Nehaj in Senj and the historic towns at the foot of Velebit such as Gospić or Otočac, you will learn about the Senj Uskoks, the medieval knights, and countless legends.
Plitvice Lakes
Discover nature at its most creative. Nestled in the eastern part of Lika, you’ll find Plitvice Lakes National Park, where forests, water, and rock have sculpted a majestic scenery featuring a procession of 16 lakes and waterfalls formed by the sedimentation of travertine, a unique form of limestone. Plitvice Lakes, Croatia’s oldest, largest, and most visited national park, holds the distinction of being among the very first sites worldwide to be recognised on UNESCO’s renowned World Heritage List. Whether you explore the park on foot, by train, or by boat, you’ll be surrounded by the breathtaking beauty of nature, where every snapshot is a work of art. The thunderous roar of the Great Waterfall, the untamed wilderness of the Čorkova Uvala primaeval forest, and the mirror-like surface of Lake Kozjak are scenes that will leave an everlasting impression.
Northern Velebit
Embark on a journey to the heart of Lika, where the region connecting continental Croatia with the Mediterranean unveils a breathtaking natural spectacle. Northern Velebit National Park is a mountainous expanse sheltering rare botanical wonders like the Velebit degenia alongside magnificent predators such as wolves and bears and landscapes that leave you speechless. Despite its modest size of 109 km2, the park is brimming with natural treasures: the dramatic karst landscapes of Hajdučki Kukovi and Rožanski Kukovi rocky peaks, the enchanting Velebit botanical garden, and the iconic Premužić Trail – Croatia’s premier hiking experience.
Velebit
Poets celebrate its beauty, travel writers praise it with the most beautiful words, it is a challenge for explorers and hikers can not get enough of it. Velebit, this simultaneously beautiful, wild and rugged mythical mountain in the heart of Croatia, has been protected as a UNESCO Global Biosphere Reserve since 1978. Three years later, it was declared a nature park and, with its surface area of 1829 square kilometres, it is the largest Croatian protected area. Within the boundaries of Velebit Nature Park there are also two national parks — Northern Velebit and Paklenica, which covers the southern part of Velebit.
Your path will lead you to the historic town Ozalj, situated on a cliff above the green river Kupa, the muse to the native-born painter Slava Raškaj, and Munjara, a hydroelectric power plant that looks like a stone castle.
Ogulin boasts stunning natural surroundings, inspiring some of the region's most well-known fairy tales and legends. The stone giant, the mountain Klek, is the birthplace of Croatian alpinism, towering over the town in all its glory. The gorge of the river Dobra, locally known as Đula’s Abyss, takes its name from a tragic love story. Ogulin’s charm also found its way into some of the most beautiful lines of the Tales from Long Ago by the Croatian writer Ivana Brlić-Mažuranić. You can visit her magical world if you visit Ivana’s House of Fairy Tales, located in Frankopan Castle. In Smiljan, the birthplace of one of the greatest scientists in history, a completely different magical house awaits you. The Nikola Tesla Memorial Centre guides you through the fascinating journey of a man whose numerous inventions were ahead of his time.
Waterfalls of the past and present
This region was shaped by water with the precision of a sculptor crafting a masterpiece. Some places are so breathtakingly beautiful that they almost seem otherworldly. The rivers Slunjčica and Korana joined together in Rastoke to create a masterpiece of rapids and waterfalls in a village of watermills. Bridges, mills, and charming country houses are the romantic setting of the movie in which nature is the true star. The three largest waterfalls, Buk, Hrvoje and Vilina Kosa, are particularly romantic when cloaked in a blanket of snow. The winter silence is interrupted only by the rhythmic melody of the mills that act as an overture to one of the greatest spectacles not only in Croatia but the world.
Tales from Long Ago Found in the Most Beautiful Waterfalls
Plitvice Lakes National Park is an artwork created by the brushstrokes of sparkling droplets, earning UNESCO recognition as a World Heritage site in 1979. Walking through the dreamy cascades formed by 16 blue-green lakes and listening to the thunderous roar of the waterfalls will render you speechless, overwhelmed by their sheer beauty. Unique, fantastical, magical, incredible. However you try to describe this divine place, you will fall short.
Lika is often referred to as the mountain climber’s Disneyland, a place where soaring heights will send your heart racing, and breathtaking vantage points, such as the summit of Zir, capture your imagination. For a visual feast, look no further than the rock called the Lika Cap on the mountain Lička Plješivica, which offers captivating vistas of the stunning landscapes of Lika. Not far from there, you will find one of the biggest secrets of this area, Klek Facility 505. That was the code name for the former Željava military base, a relic from the Cold War period. The base, resembling a city, lies concealed beneath the mountain, boasting nearly 4 kilometres of sprawling tunnels. The wreck of an old airplane in front of the entrance to the base is now a famous Instagram spot.
As you traverse Velebit, the mythical mountain that is both magnificent and awe-inspiring, keep your eyes open.
Its craggy contours tell the story of the formidable bura wind, the hard edges softened only by a bed of the most beautiful flowers. The best way to get to know this mountain is to walk and smell your way through Northern Velebit National Park and Velebit Nature Park. Discover Velebit House, nestled in the village of Krasno, and embark on a 57-kilometre-long journey along the Premužić Trail, weaving through a spectacular tapestry of ridges, valleys, and peaks. Explore the Cerovac Caves to witness the inner beauty of the mountain and marvel at the fascinating interplay of rock and sea at the picturesque Zavratnica Bay.
Across from this beauty in turquoise lies the island of Pag – often referred to as the Moon under Velebit – due to its barren landscape reminiscent of its celestial namesake.
The beach Zrće is a never-ending party beneath the open sky, while Caska Bay, legend has it, is where a sunken Roman city dreams its eternal dream. The north of the island is a promised land for olive trees. The Olive Gardens of Lun have been withstanding strong winds and turbulent waves for centuries. What's most fascinating about these olive trees is that they grew naturally, without any assistance from people. This Mediterranean haven is home to eighty thousand trees, the oldest amongst them over 2000 years old.
Beaches
Prva Draga Beach
A few minutes from the centre of the town of Senj lies Prva Draga, a pebbled bay with a crystal clear sea and easy access: it is considered to be one of the most beautiful Senj beaches.
Ručica beach
Ručica beach is 1 kilometre from Metajna and it can be reached by small boat or car. The beach is a combination of pebble and sand, without any natural shade but it does have catering outlets. It can be reached on foot via the picturesque area called Kanjon (Canyon).
Straško Beach
Straško beach, of the same-named campsite, is located to the south of Novalja, in a wide cove that looks out onto the open sea. It is nearly 1.5 kilometres long, and after a short rocky entrance into the water, the seabed is sandy. Alongside the beach there is one of the largest and naturally beautiful campsites in the Adriatic, with a textile and naturist section, a choice of catering, entertainment and sports-recreational facilities, pools, various workshops, children’s playgrounds etc.
Dog beach, Vlaška Cove
The beach is located in the Vlaška cove five kilometres south of Senj, and it is equipped with information panels, shades for dogs, rubbish bins, a dog walking path plus a park with a table and benches. Alongside the parking space there is also an access road which passes through a tunnel decorated with pictures of dogs.
Zrće Beach
Zrće beach is located to the southeast of Novalja and is a special story, and it is the most beautiful and most attractive of Novalja’s beaches. Its coastal part is a spacious pebbly area which at the height of the season can accommodate many thousands of bathers. Access to the sea is pebbly, and due to the steep drop to the sea bottom, the beach is extremely deep. Various sports-recreational and entertainment activities are available on the beach, plus a quality catering offer and several attractively furnished clubs offer fun and entertainment all night long.
Plat Beach
The Plat beach is located a kilometre south of the town of Zubovići. This beautiful gravel beach and its crystal-clear sea are perfect for families with children. The beach has a place to get something to eat and drink, and some sporting equipment (paddling boats, canoes), deck chairs, and sun umbrellas. The great view of the Moon, a crystal-clear blue sea, and its amenities make the Plat beach a unique spot on the island of Pag. A part of the beach (Karavanić) is 50 metres long and designated for pets.
Veli zal
Easily accessible and over 300 metres long, well-tended and situated in the midst of tempered nature, this is the favourite beach of many tourists and visitors of the charming coastal settlement of Zubovići. It starts out as rocky, then switches to sand which gradually turns into gravel, followed by pebbles, and ends with a pier which is a popular meeting spot for young people. The Veli Žal beach has an excellent hospitality offer, making it the perfect choice for families with children.
Vrtić beach
The Vrtić beach is an extension of the Lokunje city beach, and it is connected to the Straško beach with a path under 1 kilometre in length. What makes it special is its positioning, as it is comprised of several separate beaches and coves which branch out around the edges of the city. The northern side has wonderful views of Novalja, and the southern side overlooks the open sea. The beach offers hospitality establishments and abundant entertainment for children and adults, such as rock-climbing walls, e-foil surfboards, the Straško surf & sail centre, jet skis, parasailing, and there is a designated area for pets.
Braničevica Beach
This long gravel beach is the main coastal attraction of a small coastal settlement of Gajac. An excellent hospitality offer, a long and romantic walkway, and some recreation activities make it the perfect choice for families with children, as well as for pet owners who can visit the pet-friendly area of the beach to find refreshment and shelter from the summer heat. Just like at the Straško beach, the entrance to the sea is rocky for a few metres, and then you get to the fine sand.
Babe beach
Babe beach lies in a shallow cove west of Novalja. It is the shallowest and warmest of Novalja’s beaches, with fine sand and a narrow coastal strip. In recent years it has been improved with catering and recreational facilities.
Planjka – Trinćel Beach
The beach is situated north of Novalja, along the southeast shore of the cove of Stara Novalja. It is covered with fine sand, warm, shallow and excellently landscaped. It has a place to eat and various recreational facilities. Due to its excellent maintenance and the conditions that it has, since the summer of 2004, it has flown the Blue Flag. In campaigns by the Croatian National Tourism Board and the Croatia Chamber of Commerce and the media ‘Plavi Cvijet’ (the ‘Blue Flower’) and ‘Turistički cvijet' ('Tourist Flower'), it has been the winner of two acknowledgements – for the most beautiful and for the best arranged beach in the Adriatic. We particularly recommend the beach to families with children.
Lokunje beach
Lokunje beach is a Novalja town beach, located along the southern edge of the Novalja cove. It is pebbly, shallow and warm, with a green belt which provides a pleasant stay and is refreshing during the hot summer days.
Caska Beach
It is located east of Novalja, in the place of a former Roman town which, according to legend, was destroyed and sunk during an earthquake, and whose remains can be found immediately near to the beach and on the seabed. Access to the sea is mainly sandy. The seabed drops very steeply, which makes the beach extremely deep. On the beach there are some recreational facilities and a catering offer.
Town Beach Škver
An advantage of the Town Beach Škver is carefree relaxation by the sea for families with children. It is a pebbly beach with large areas concreted over and suitable for people with disabilities. The restaurants nearby and a campsite complete what is available.
Banja Beach, Senj
Banja, the famous Senj beach, has a long history as an established bathing resort, dating back to the time before World War II. Today, in the restored bathing resort, you can rent sunbeds and parasols during the day and, in the evening, it becomes a place for young people's parties, hosting performaces by DJs, dancers and hostesses.
Beriknica Beach
In the shallow sea of the Beriknica (Beritnica) beach, Mother Nature perfectly arranged three large rocks, making this natural work of art one of the most photographed motifs of the island of Pag. It is located 3 kilometres from the small settlement of Metajna, and a little over 20 minutes on foot or 5 minutes by taxi boat from the Ručica beach. This is a gravel beach, it has no hospitality establishments, and is accessible by sea or by land. The spectacular Stogaj cliff rises above the beach, making it the favourite spot for adventurers hiking the Life on Mars trail.
Lukovo Beach
It is an exquisite bay with a large beach and crystal clear sea, filled with peace and quiet. A seaside holiday for the whole family or for the romantic couples is an eminent advantage of the Lukovo Beach on the Senj Riviera.
Prva Draga Beach
A few minutes from the centre of the town of Senj lies Prva Draga, a pebbled bay with a crystal clear sea and easy access: it is considered to be one of the most beautiful Senj beaches.
Ručica beach
Ručica beach is 1 kilometre from Metajna and it can be reached by small boat or car. The beach is a combination of pebble and sand, without any natural shade but it does have catering outlets. It can be reached on foot via the picturesque area called Kanjon (Canyon).
Straško Beach
Straško beach, of the same-named campsite, is located to the south of Novalja, in a wide cove that looks out onto the open sea. It is nearly 1.5 kilometres long, and after a short rocky entrance into the water, the seabed is sandy. Alongside the beach there is one of the largest and naturally beautiful campsites in the Adriatic, with a textile and naturist section, a choice of catering, entertainment and sports-recreational facilities, pools, various workshops, children’s playgrounds etc.
Dog beach, Vlaška Cove
The beach is located in the Vlaška cove five kilometres south of Senj, and it is equipped with information panels, shades for dogs, rubbish bins, a dog walking path plus a park with a table and benches. Alongside the parking space there is also an access road which passes through a tunnel decorated with pictures of dogs.
Zrće Beach
Zrće beach is located to the southeast of Novalja and is a special story, and it is the most beautiful and most attractive of Novalja’s beaches. Its coastal part is a spacious pebbly area which at the height of the season can accommodate many thousands of bathers. Access to the sea is pebbly, and due to the steep drop to the sea bottom, the beach is extremely deep. Various sports-recreational and entertainment activities are available on the beach, plus a quality catering offer and several attractively furnished clubs offer fun and entertainment all night long.
Plat Beach
The Plat beach is located a kilometre south of the town of Zubovići. This beautiful gravel beach and its crystal-clear sea are perfect for families with children. The beach has a place to get something to eat and drink, and some sporting equipment (paddling boats, canoes), deck chairs, and sun umbrellas. The great view of the Moon, a crystal-clear blue sea, and its amenities make the Plat beach a unique spot on the island of Pag. A part of the beach (Karavanić) is 50 metres long and designated for pets.
Veli zal
Easily accessible and over 300 metres long, well-tended and situated in the midst of tempered nature, this is the favourite beach of many tourists and visitors of the charming coastal settlement of Zubovići. It starts out as rocky, then switches to sand which gradually turns into gravel, followed by pebbles, and ends with a pier which is a popular meeting spot for young people. The Veli Žal beach has an excellent hospitality offer, making it the perfect choice for families with children.
Vrtić beach
The Vrtić beach is an extension of the Lokunje city beach, and it is connected to the Straško beach with a path under 1 kilometre in length. What makes it special is its positioning, as it is comprised of several separate beaches and coves which branch out around the edges of the city. The northern side has wonderful views of Novalja, and the southern side overlooks the open sea. The beach offers hospitality establishments and abundant entertainment for children and adults, such as rock-climbing walls, e-foil surfboards, the Straško surf & sail centre, jet skis, parasailing, and there is a designated area for pets.
What to eat?
The region of indigenous gastronomy
In addition to the well-known Lika potatoes, which have a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI), you'll enjoy traditional lamb cooked under the embers in an iron bell, the slices of dried game, the Škripavac cheese or the distinctive Velebit honey. The plum and pear schnapps and berry liqueur are also highly appreciated locally, so are the fruits of the forest of blueberry and raspberries.
During a stay in Lika you should definitely try the various types of local honey, from meadow to forest, which are made by the excellent beekeepers of Lika, known for choosing the best locations where they place their hives. Of the sweets of the menus of Lika the simplest will delight many people, prepared from just a few recognisable ingredients, such as Lika style little doughnuts - “uštipci”. The raised dough is fried briefly in hot oil and served sprinkled with caster sugar.