Wondering what to see and do in Croatia? Forget about the overcrowded Game Of Thrones tours. This Slavic country is abundant in ah-mazing waterfalls that are just as breathtaking as the Adriatic views from King’s Landing… ahem, Dubrovnik, and every single one of them should be on your to-visit list.

Krka Waterfalls

The Krka National Park spans across an area of about 109 square kilometers and houses several waterfalls that run over the course of the Krka river. There are a total of 7 waterfall systems in the park, each with its own set of multiple cascades, with the most notable being Skradinski Buk and Roški Slap. An interesting fact about the Krka waterfall basins is that the government allows visitors to take a dip in the basins, so you can not only walk around the waterfalls, but actually swim in them. The total drop of the entire waterfall system makes up about 242 meters, but the widths, meandering cascades and lush greenery are what truly make them fantastic.

Plitvice Lakes

Unlike the Krka Waterfalls’ basins, swimming in the lakes of the Plitvice National Park is strictly prohibited. Nevertheless, the waterfalls that serve as the link between the 16 levels of lakes are still a breathtaking sight that’s worth the trip. There are paths, bridges and trails going around and directly over the basins, making it possible to get as close to the terraced waterfalls as possible without finding yourself in trouble with the Croatian government or UNESCO. Due to the fact that it covers an area of nearly 300 square kilometers, the park and all of its waterfalls are impossible to be fully explored in a single day.

Sopot Waterfall

The Sopot waterfall in Croatia is a peculiar phenomenon that is often credited as being one of the most beautiful ones on the entire Istrian Peninsula. Dropping from almost 30 meters in height, it falls right into a huge oval water basin. Depending on the season its colors change from emerald green to bright turquoise. Early spring and late autumn are the best times to visit this waterfall when the flow is fuller and its surroundings are colorful. On the other hand, hiking around the basin during the winter is practically impossible, not to mention extremely dangerous.

Rastoke Waterfalls

Speaking of all-natural phenomena, Rastoke’s own waterfall system doesn’t fall behind either. The Rastoke village is situated atop a river that partially runs underground, spurting dozens of waterfalls all over the place. Once upon a time, during the peak of the village’s industrialization, it had over 20 fully functioning watermills. The riverbed’s natural travertine has formed numerous cascades and terraces, making the mixture of urban scenery and serene waterscapes absolutely astonishing. Albeit isolated and rarely visited by tourists, the area bears an intrinsic historical and cultural significance for Croatia. Besides, where else will you see so many waterfalls with houses perched atop them without looking like they are artificial and fake?

Strbacki Buk

The Una river that runs through Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina formes two picturesque natural preserves – the Una Mamea Park on the Croatian side of the border and the Una National Park on the Bosnian side of the border. The Una Mamea Park was declared as a national park in the not so distant 2010 in order to preserve the wildlife and the geomorphological beauty of the travertine barriers underneath the gorgeous Štrbački Buk waterfall system. The total height of the cascades is around 25 meters and they stretch for over 3 kilometers in length. Because of the highly varied flora in the area, the falls and their surroundings are stunningly beautiful all year round.