Plitvice Holiday Resort

To the Plitvice Lakes National Park first, of course – the country’s oldest and largest national park, with 16 gorgeous turquoise lakes, several waterfalls and heaps of boardwalks and forest trails to take it all in. Top tip: this is one of Croatia’s most-visited attractions, so do your best to haul yourself from slumbers and get up there early before the day trippers arrive… Continue the alfresco explores with horse riding or rafting trips, both of which can be sourced five minutes’ drive away, or delving underground at Barać Caves (15 minutes). Hardy types with a head for heights may fancy scaling Plješivica mountain (half an hour). Time to dial the pace down a touch? Take a wander around the Dolina Jelena Ranch deer park, or Drežnik’s castle and Old Town (both five minutes away), or amble around the well-preserved village of Rastoke (20 minutes). Selecting a fishing spot by the Slunj river (20 minutes) is a good way to while away a few hours, too.