Veliki slap

Veliki slap (Great Waterfall) is the tallest waterfall inside Plitvice Lakes National Park — and the tallest in all of Croatia — dropping roughly 78 metres into the canyon at the southern end of the Lower Lakes, near the park's Entrance 1, in the Plitvička Jezera area.

What makes this waterfall different from the rest of Plitvice?

Most of the park's cascades form where water spills from one lake into the next over layers of travertine. Veliki slap works differently: it's fed by the Plitvica stream, which runs on its own course for about 3 kilometres before plunging into the canyon. That independent water source is why the fall appears as one continuous curtain of water rather than a series of smaller steps like the lake-to-lake cascades upstream.

Once the water lands at the bottom of the Lower Lakes canyon, it joins the Korana River. Right nearby, on the canyon walls, a cluster of smaller cascades called Sastavci tumbles down a separate 26-metre drop of the Korana itself. Both falls are visible together from the same viewpoints, which is what makes this corner of the park one of its most photographed spots.

How do you get to Veliki slap?

The easiest approach starts at Entrance 1: the walk to the main viewing platform typically takes about 10–15 minutes along a marked path and boardwalk. From the upper viewpoint you get the full-height view of the falls against the canyon walls — the classic postcard shot of Plitvice. A wooden walkway also lets you continue down closer to the base of the fall, where the spray from the crashing water reaches the path.

When should you visit to see it at its best?

Water volume shifts noticeably with the seasons. In spring, through April and May, snowmelt from the surrounding hills feeds extra water into the Plitvica stream, and the waterfall runs at its fullest — a wide, thundering sheet of white water with visible mist drifting over the canyon. By summer, as groundwater levels drop, the flow is noticeably calmer, though the fall remains impressive year-round.

What else is worth seeing nearby?

The path to Veliki slap naturally continues past the Sastavci cascades and the point where the Korana River emerges from beneath them, so it's worth treating the walk as one continuous stretch — from the elevated viewpoint, along the boardwalk over the water, down to the spot where the river flows out of the canyon. Few places in the park let you stand this close to falling water.

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall is Veliki slap? It drops about 78 metres, making it the tallest waterfall in Plitvice Lakes National Park and the tallest in Croatia.

What sets it apart from the other Plitvice waterfalls? Most falls in the park form between the lakes themselves, but Veliki slap is fed by the separate Plitvica stream, which flows for about 3 km before reaching the drop — giving it a single, unbroken curtain of water instead of stepped cascades.

How long does it take to walk there? From Entrance 1, reaching the main viewpoint usually takes around 10–15 minutes along an easy path and boardwalk.

When is the waterfall most powerful? It carries the most water in spring (April–May), when melting snow feeds the Plitvica stream. Flow is generally lighter during summer.