Croatia Plitvice Lakes National Park

The Upper Lakes of Plitvice Lakes National Park are a maze of intensely green and turquoise lakes, small waterfalls, and forest, connected by narrow wooden boardwalks. This scene was one of the first lakes I reached after crossing Lake Kozjak from Entrance 2, and it immediately gives you that classic Plitvice combination of clear water, dense vegetation, and waterfalls.

Compared with some of the park’s famous large waterfalls, I particularly like these smaller scenes because they feel more intimate and let you use the surrounding forest as part of the composition.

I recommend visiting as early as possible. Beyond avoiding the biggest crowds on the narrow boardwalks, the low morning sun can create beautiful patches of light across the trees and water, as in this image.

A standard zoom such as a 24–70mm is probably the most versatile option for this section. Look beyond the obvious waterfalls and use leaves, branches, and vegetation to frame smaller scenes. A polarizing filter can also be extremely useful for reducing reflections on the water and bringing out the characteristic turquoise and green tones.

A tripod can help with longer exposures, but boardwalk space is limited, so I personally prefer working handheld whenever possible.

I parked at Parking 2 (P2) and entered through Entrance 2 – Hladovina. From here, the park offers several routes through the Upper Lakes. I took the short electric-boat crossing over Lake Kozjak and then followed the hiking trail into the Upper Lakes; this photo was taken at one of the first lakes along the route. A valid park entrance ticket includes the short P1–P2 electric boat connection.

I particularly recommend Entrance 2 for photographers who want to explore the Upper Lakes early in the day. Parking is available directly at Entrance 2 for a fee. Opening hours and boat schedules change seasonally, so check the official park information before visiting.