37 of the best · the Balkans
National Parks and Nature in the Balkans
Plitvice and Krka, Triglav, Durmitor, Tara and Galičica: the national parks, canyons and caves of the region.
Our 37 favourites, listed A–Z · Updated October 2026
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Insiders' picks
Three Balkan stories we would show a friend first.
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3 photosSnake Island
Golem Grad
The country’s largest island, in Lake Prespa, with old churches, juniper woods and pelicans.
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Video 3 photosEmerald gorge walk
Vintgar Gorge
Wooden walkways and bridges trace the emerald Radovna for 1.6 km, 4 km from Bled.
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3 photosSaltwater lakes
Mljet National Park
Two sea-filled lakes and a 12th-century monastery on an islet, on the island of Mljet.
Pristanište 2, 20226 Goveđari, MljetExplore View on map
The full list: National Parks, A–Z
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More areas 31
National Parks
Slovenia 7
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3 photosUnderground railway
Postojna Cave
One of Europe’s great show caves, explored by underground train and then on foot.
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3 photosA 78-metre fall
Savica waterfall
A waterfall of about 78 metres in a narrow gorge above the far end of Lake Bohinj.
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3 photosHand-worked salt pans
Sečovlje Salina Nature Park
Traditional salt pans south of Portorož, rich in birdlife and still worked the old way.
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3 photosUnderground canyon
Škocjan Caves
UNESCO-listed caves where the Reka river runs through a vast underground canyon.
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3 photosEmerald Soča
The Soča valley & Bovec
The emerald Soča and its valley around Bovec, for rafting, kayaking and gorge walks.
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3 photosHerdsmen’s plateau
Velika Planina
A high Alpine plateau of shingle-roofed herdsmen’s huts, reached by cable car near Kamnik.
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Video 3 photos
Emerald gorge walk
Vintgar Gorge
Wooden walkways and bridges trace the emerald Radovna for 1.6 km, 4 km from Bled.
National Parks
Croatia 7
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Video 3 photosIsland national park
Brijuni National Park
Green islands off Pula with Roman remains, gardens and a safari park, reached from Fažana.
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3 photosWild southern cape
Cape Kamenjak
Istria’s protected southern tip, all cliffs, coves and clear water for a quiet swim.
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Video 3 photosTravertine falls
Krka National Park
A river canyon of travertine falls, from Skradinski buk to the island monastery of Visovac.
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3 photos
Saltwater lakes
Mljet National Park
Two sea-filled lakes and a 12th-century monastery on an islet, on the island of Mljet.
Pristanište 2, 20226 Goveđari, MljetExplore View on map
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Video 3 photosSixteen lakes
Plitvice Lakes National Park
Sixteen terraced lakes joined by waterfalls, in Croatia’s oldest national park.
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6 photosRenaissance garden
Trsteno Arboretum
A noble Ragusan family’s summer garden, laid out above the sea north of Dubrovnik.
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3 photosHighest island peak
Vidova Gora
At 778 metres, the highest point of any Adriatic island, looking down on Zlatni Rat.
National Parks
Bosnia & Herzegovina 6
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3 photosSteep Olympic runs
Bjelašnica
The Olympic mountain of 1984’s men’s alpine events, with steep runs and night skiing.
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Video 3 photosOlympic slopes
Jahorina
The country’s largest ski area, with a gondola and runs cut through the forest.
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3 photosA travertine amphitheatre
Kravice waterfalls
A broad arc of falls on the Trebižat river, spilling into a green pool for summer swims.
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3 photosEurope’s ancient woods
Perućica primeval forest
One of Europe’s last primeval forests, with towering trees and the Skakavac waterfall.
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3 photosA waterfall in town
Pliva Waterfall
The Pliva plunges about 20 metres into the Vrbas, right beneath Jajce’s old town.
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3 photosA river of falls
Una National Park & Štrbački buk
The Una river park near Bihać, with the great falls of Štrbački buk and Martin Brod’s cascades.
National Parks
Serbia 4
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Video 3 photosThe Iron Gates
Đerdap National Park
Serbia’s side of the Iron Gates, where the Danube threads between the cliffs of the Kazan.
Kralja Petra I 14a, 19220 Donji Milanovac (park administration)Explore View on map
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Video 3 photosMonasteries and vineyards
Fruška Gora National Park
Soft wooded hills above the Vojvodina plain, scattered with Orthodox monasteries and vineyards.
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Video 3 photosDrina canyon wilderness
Tara National Park
Dense forests and high meadows on a great bend of the Drina, home to the rare Serbian spruce.
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4 photosMeanders and vultures
Uvac Special Nature Reserve
A canyon of deep, looping meanders, watched over by a colony of griffon vultures.
Trg vojvode Petra Bojovića 3, 31320 Nova Varoš (reserve office)Explore View on map
National Parks
Montenegro 5
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Video 3 photosPrimeval forest
Biogradska Gora National Park & Lake Biograd
Montenegro’s smallest national park, an ancient forest around Lake Biograd, protected since 1878.
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Video 3 photosMountain above Cetinje
Lovćen National Park
A 6,220-hectare national park on the mountain above Cetinje, topped by Štirovnik at 1,749 metres.
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3 photosMountains above the sea
Orjen Nature Park
The limestone mountain behind Herceg Novi, a nature park of forest and karst far above the coast.
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Video 2 photosRamsar-listed salt pans
Solila nature reserve
Old salt pans in Krtole Bay, now a protected wetland where migrating birds pause and winter.
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Video 2 photosSailors’ garden of 1892
Tivat City Park
A shaded town park of exotic trees, grown from plants Tivat’s seafarers carried home from abroad.
National Parks
Albania 4
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3 photosRafting and tubing
Osumi Canyon
A deep limestone gorge near Çorovodë, rafted in spring and tubed or walked in summer.
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3 photosThe Black Cave
Pëllumbas Cave
A prehistoric cave above the Erzen canyon, reached on a forest hike from Pëllumbas.
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3 photosSource of the Bistricë
The Blue Eye spring
A karst spring of startling blue in the woods between Sarandë and Gjirokastër.
MuzinëExplore View on map
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3 photosA valley in the Alps
Theth
A high village ringed by peaks in Theth National Park, with a church, tower and waterfalls.
National Parks
North Macedonia 4
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3 photosTwo lakes, one view
Galičica National Park
The mountain park between Lakes Ohrid and Prespa, with a pass road overlooking both.
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3 photos
Snake Island
Golem Grad
The country’s largest island, in Lake Prespa, with old churches, juniper woods and pelicans.
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3 photosThe first national park
Pelister National Park
The country’s first national park, above Bitola, with Molika pines and glacial lakes.
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3 photosMountain village
Vevčani & the Vevčani Springs
A hill village at 800 metres above Struga, known for its springs and old stone churches.
Every place here is also on our city guide for its country, linked from its page. Opening times and seasons change, so check with each place before you travel.