Rastoke: Visit Croatia’s Fairytale Village

Local lore states that fairies have been spotted throughout the centuries frolicking in the waterfalls of the idyllic village of Rastoke in Croatia. It’s not hard to imagine mythical creatures prancing about when you’re surrounded by Rastoke’s quaint wooden buildings and thundering waterfalls. Rastoke is literally a town of waterfalls with a hilltop settlement sprinkled in. Visitors can spend a morning or afternoon exploring Rastoke’s waterfalls from many different angles, as well as a cave, a fairy garden, and several wooden footbridges that offer panoramic views.

Rastoke is relatively small, but there is still a great deal of ground to cover, thanks to the town’s stunning natural beauty. For a small fee, visitors can explore an eco museum that offers up-close views of some of the town’s most stunning waterfalls. Travelers can expect to see rainbows, mist, and even some mystical low-hanging clouds.

Rastoke is also home to a small mossy cave where visitors can hear the echo of thundering waterfalls, a historic watermill, and a fairy garden that locals claim serves as a playground for water-loving fairies. Rastoke even features a public swimming area where visitors can cool off surrounded by cascading waterfalls.

Plitvice Lakes National Park—which features 90 waterfalls—is located near Rastoke. Several tour companies offer excursions that begin in Zagreb which offer stops in Rastoke and Plitvice Lakes National Park. Zagreb is located approximately 90 minutes from Rastoke, so it is possible to rent a car and drive to Rastoke and Plitvice for the day. If you’re a waterfall lover, visiting Plitvice Lakes National Park is an absolute must. Plitvice features wooden boardwalks that allow you to get very close to cascading water. Expect to walk through clouds of mist and hear a surround sound symphony of waterfalls as you explore the park.

Rastoke is home to several cozy guesthouses with stunning views of rushing water. Drifting off to sleep to the sound of flowing water is incredibly relaxing. Rastoke also features a handful of cafes that serve Croatian food and offer sweeping views of cascading rivers and waterfalls. Though Rastoke is small, it is a deeply relaxing place to spend a few days. The crowds tend to be much leaner than they are at Plitvice National Park.

Europe is celebrated for its quaint fairytale towns, but few are as whimsical as Rastoke. After spending a few hours surrounded by dreamy waterfalls, you will feel like you have stumbled into a fairytale.