Rastoke, Croatia – My 10th visit to the fairytale village near Plitvice

Discover Rastoke 🌊💦 — the enchanting "Little Plitvice" waterfall village in Croatia! Nestled where the crystal-clear Slunjčica and Korana rivers meet in Slunj (just ~30-40 min north of Plitvice Lakes National Park), this fairytale-like spot features cascading waterfalls right through the village, historic watermills, wooden bridges, canyons, a hidden cave, and charming houses built over the water.

Join my family as we explore Rastoke on foot — we've returned multiple times over the years, and it never disappoints! We walk the free paths, visit the mills, the fairy garden, the museum, and the viewpoints. Perfect for a relaxing half-day stop when touring Plitvice Lakes or central Croatia. 🏞️🇭🇷

What we cover in the vlog:

Free self-guided tour starting with stunning overviews & a handy map
Quick history of this protected heritage village
Top activities and hidden gems
Center & optional entrance tickets (~€5 for closer canyon/waterfall access via the "Vodene Tajne" path & new bridge)
Iconic mills on the water
Magical Fairy Garden (Vilinsko Vrto) 🧚‍♀️
Cave and dramatic canyon views
Small museum
Best waterfall spots & photo ops
Fun rope walking experience

Great for families, nature lovers, photographers, or anyone wanting a peaceful, less-crowded alternative/complement to Plitvice! Most of the village is free to wander year-round, but paid access unlocks closer views and special paths.

🕒 Timestamps
00:00 - Intro
00:30 - A view of Rastoke 🌄
01:05 - Map of Rastoke & start of the free tour 🗺️
03:05 - Rastoke history 📜
05:08 - Activities overview
05:50 - End of the free tour
06:20 - Rastoke center/entrance tickets 🎟️
06:57 - Mill ⚙️
07:20 - Fairy garden 🧚‍♀️
08:30 - Cave and canyon 🕳️🏞️
09:22 - Museum
09:42 - Waterfalls 💦
12:30 - Rope walking 🪢

Planning a trip? Rastoke is super easy to combine with Plitvice (great stop on the way to/from Zagreb). Check the official site (slunj-rastoke.hr) for current ticket info (~€5 adult for paid zones), parking, and any updates — things like self-service kiosks make it simple! 💡

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#Rastoke #RastokeCroatia #RastokeWaterfalls #LittlePlitvice #CroatiaTravel #PlitviceLakes #Slunj #WatermillVillage #FamilyTravelCroatia #CroatiaHiddenGems #TravelVlog

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