Rastoke, a small village sitting on two rivers, is a place you just have to visit when traveling around Plitvice Lakes and Lika County. Join me and my family as we walk around and explore its waterfalls, canyons, cave, museum, and mills. We have visited Rastoke several times over the years, and it never disappointed us.
Here are some additional tips about visiting Rastoke.
Visiting Rastoke.
Rastoke is located in the city of Slunj, about 30 km north of Plitvice Lakes in the direction of Zagreb.
I usually visit Rastoke in combination with a visit to National Park Plitvice Lakes, for a visit to Rastoke you need from 2 hours, so both are possible in one day.
As I mentioned in my Video, you can walk around the village of Rastoke for free or enter the central part for a fee of about 8 Euro. Both trips are enjoyable, of course, the paid version gives you some additional experiences.
Parking around Rastoke is plentiful, but you must walk a bit downhill to get to the village.
Eating
In the village of Rastoke, there are several nice restaurants, some of them serving local traditional dishes. One dish to try is trout from the Slunjčica River, which is on the menu e.g. at Restaurant Petro.
As you can see in my photo above, eating at Rastoke comes with a fantastic Ambiente, where you eat on the river.
Sleeping
If you like falling asleep to the sound of running water, you can book an apartment in Rastoke, if you want a bit more peace there are plenty of nice apartments in Slunj.
If you are visiting also Plitvice Lakes National Park, Slunj is actually a great place to stay overnight, as you have buses from Slunj to the National Park entrance, which makes it easy and cheap to travel there.
About Rastoke
At Rastoke, the Slunjčica River (also called Slušnica by local people) splits into several river branches flowing across cascades and small waterfalls into the Korana River. Rastoke also refers to a certain kind of limestone called rastopina or rastok in Croatian.
The water in the Slunjčica River is quite cold, as the river, for the most part, runs inside the mountain and only surfaces a few km before Rastoke, the water in the Korana River is much warmer as it flows on the surface from Plitvice Lakes.
The whole village of Rastoka and the town of Slunj, emerge around watermills at its peak Rastoke had 22 watermills mainly used for grinding various types of corn, and water power has been used to create old-day washing machines, operating in a similar way as we know washing machines today.
FAQ
Do you need a ticket to visit Rastoke?
Yes. Some areas of Rastoke require an entrance ticket, especially the sections managed by local mills and visitor centers. Other parts of the village can be explored for free.
How much is the entrance fee for Rastoke?
Entrance fees in Rastoke vary by season and by the part of the village you visit. The official ticket for the Promenade Vodene Tajne area currently costs €5 for individual visitors and €9 for a family/group ticket (4 people). Some parts of Rastoke remain free to explore, while seasonal prices may vary during summer.
What are the opening hours of Rastoke?
Rastoke is an open village you can walk through anytime, but paid attractions and mills usually operate from 9:00 to 19:00 in high season, and shorter hours in winter.
Is there parking available in Rastoke?
Yes. There are several paid parking areas near the village. Spaces are limited in summer, so arriving early is recommended.
How do I get to Rastoke?
Rastoke is located in Slunj, right next to the main road between Zagreb and Plitvice Lakes. You can reach it easily by car or regional bus.
Is there a map of Rastoke available for visitors?
Yes. You can get a printed map at the visitor center, and digital maps are also available for download on the official Slunj Rastoke website.
Are there restaurants or cafés in Rastoke?
Yes. Rastoke has several excellent restaurants featuring local cuisine, trout dishes, and cafés with river views.
How long does it take to visit Rastoke?
A typical visit takes 1–2 hours, but many travelers stay longer to explore mills, bridges, waterfalls, and restaurants.
Is Rastoke family-friendly and suitable for kids?
Yes, it’s very family-friendly. Children love the waterfalls, wooden bridges, and old water mills.
Can I store my luggage somewhere when visiting destination Slunj-Rastoke?
Destination Slunj-Rastoke does not offer luggage storing.
4 thoughts on “Visiting Rastoke Waterfalls”
Where can I book this place to stay?
I assume you reffer to accommodaion in the center of Rastoke? If so, you can inquire about the apartments here https://rastoke-croatia.com/accomodation/
If you had anything else in mind, please let me know
Best regards,
Morten
Hi Morton,
If I stay in Slunj, is there any bus go to Rastoke, or is it easy to find taxi in Slunj to go there and vise versa.
Joyce
Hi Joyce,
You dont need a taxi, Rastoke 750 meters from the center of Slunj, so you should be able to walk there. (Pick you accommodation so it is as close as possible)
Morten