Town in Lika & Karlovac
Rastoke
- Best time to go
- May, June, Sept, Oct
- Part of
- Lika & Karlovac
Rastoke is a small mill village in Slunj, where the Slunjčica river breaks into many little waterfalls before joining the Korana.
Wooden houses and water mills sit on islands of travertine among the streams, and some of the mills have been restored. It is often called a small Plitvice, and it is easy to see on the way to or from the national park. Early mornings and evenings are calmest, once the tour groups have left.
Things to do
Don't miss in Rastoke
- Walk the paths through the village and over the footbridges between the waterfalls.
- Step inside a restored water mill to see how grain was ground by the river.
- Watch the Slunjčica pour into the Korana from the viewpoints at the edge of the village.
- Look at the ruins of the old Frankopan fortress of Slunj on the cliff above the river.
- Paddle a canoe or kayak on the Korana, which flows below the town.
- Eat trout or lamb cooked under the peka in one of the village restaurants.
- Drive about half an hour south to Plitvice Lakes, or visit the Barać caves near Rakovica on the way.
Where to stay
Pick your neighbourhood
Rastoke village
couples who want to fall asleep to the sound of the waterfalls in a restored mill house
Slunj
those who want a small town with shops and cafés a few minutes' walk above the mills
Along the Korana
families and nature lovers who want riverside guesthouses and quiet swimming spots
Rakovica and Grabovac
those combining Rastoke with Plitvice, about halfway between the two
Tours and getting around
Day trips from Rastoke
Many Plitvice day trips from Zagreb stop at Rastoke for an hour or so. From here you can join canoeing and rafting trips on the Korana and Mrežnica, and the Barać caves and Plitvice Lakes make easy half-day outings.
A car is the practical choice, since Rastoke sits between Karlovac and Plitvice and buses are not frequent. The village itself is small enough to see on foot. Canoes and kayaks can be rented on the Korana.
Getting there
How to get to Rastoke
Rastoke is part of the small town of Slunj, on the D1 road between Karlovac and Plitvice Lakes. From Zagreb it takes about an hour and a half by car via the A1 motorway to Karlovac, and Plitvice is about half an hour further south. Zagreb Airport is the nearest. Buses between Zagreb and Plitvice or Zadar stop in Slunj. The village lanes are narrow, so park in the car parks in Slunj and walk down.