Bus from PLITVICE LAKES to HERCEG NOVI

Plitvice Lakes National Park is one of the oldest national parks in Southeast Europe and the largest national park in Croatia. The national park is world-famous for its lakes arranged in cascades, and 16 lakes can be seen from the surface.

The national park was founded in 1949 and is situated in the mountainous karst area of central Croatia.

The Plitvice Lakes originate in the south of the park area at the confluence of Bijela Rijeka (English White River) and Crna Rijeka (English Black River). These rivers originate south of the municipality of Plitvički Ljeskovac and unite at one of the bridges in this village.

In 1979, Plitvice Lakes National Park was added to the UNESCO World Heritage register.

The protected area extends over 296.85 square kilometres (73,350 acres). About 90% of this area is part of Lika-Senj County, while the remaining 10% is part of Karlovac County. The lakes are separated into an upper and lower cluster formed by runoff from the mountains, descending from an altitude of 636 to 503 m (2,087 to 1,650 ft) over a distance of some eight km, aligned in a south-north direction. The lakes collectively cover an area of about two square kilometres (0.77 square miles), with the water exiting from the lowest lake forming the Korana River.

The name Plitvice was first mentioned in a written document in 1777 by Dominik Vukasović, the priest of Otočac. This name was designated due to natural phenomena that have created the lakes. Nature formed shallow basins (Croatian pličina or plitvak, plitko means shallow), which have been filled with water. For centuries, water has changed the limestone and thus the landscape of this area.

The overall water body area of the national park is about 2 km2 (0.77 sq mi). The two largest lakes, Prošćansko jezero and Kozjak, cover about 80 percent of the overall water body area. These lakes are also the deepest, with a depth of 37 and 47 metres (121 and 154 ft) respectively. On Lake Kozjak, low-noise and ecologically-friendly electric boats are being used. None of the other lakes in the park exceeds 25 metres (82 feet) in depth. The altitude drop from the first lake to the last is 133 metres (436 feet).

The 16 lakes that can be seen from the surface are grouped into the 12 Upper Lakes (Gornja jezera) and the four Lower Lakes (Donja jezera).

The Plitvice Lakes national park is heavily forested, mainly with beech, spruce, and fir trees, and features a mixture of Alpine and Mediterranean vegetation. It has a notably wide variety of plant communities, due to its range of microclimates, differing soils and varying levels of altitude.

Scientists have so far listed 1,267 different plants out of 109 species that can be found within the area of the national park. 75 plants are endemic, which means that they have first been defined and classified in this area of the world or not far from it.

For reasons of the poor industrial development of this region and early introduced protection measures, a nearly untouched landscape has been preserved. In the partially primeval beech and fir forests various rare species, such as the brown bear have survived. At the Plitvice Lakes, all species continue to exist that have already existed before the coming of man. This is a rare case worldwide.

Herceg Novi, with approximately 200 sunny days a year, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Montenegro.

Located at the entrance to the Bay of Kotor and at the foot of Mount Orjen, Herceg Novi offers to tourists a rich monumental heritage, monasteries and churches, and numerous fortifications such as Španjola, Kanli Kula, Sat Kula and famous staircase, after which it takes its nickname “City of the stairs”.

Herceg Novi was founded as a fortress in 1382 by Bosnian King Stjepan Tvrtko I and was called Sveti Stefan or Castelnuovo. After the death of Tvrtko, Duke Sandalj Hranić of the Herzegovinian Kosačas acquired Castelnuovo. During his reign, Herceg Novi picked up trading salt, what bothered their neighbors from Dubrovnik, which in this part of Europe held a monopoly over salt trade in that time.

When Hranić died, his nephew, Herzog Stjepan Vukčić Kosača, inherited Castelnuovo. Under Stjepan, Castelnuovo expanded and thus became a city, renaming it to Herceg Novi.

The Turks conquered Herceg Novi in 1482, and ruled for 200 years, until 1687. In that period various nations and civilizations interspersed on its soil, leaving deep marks on the history, culture and overall development of the region.

Herceg Novi is known by a very rich cultural program in the summer months, which includes above all the traditional film and music festivals. Of course, the event are also organized during other months, which contributes to recognizable cultural life of the city. 

Nightlife

"Casa Igalo", "La bamba", "People's", Shisha bar "Krug", Beach club "Rafaello", "Tondo"

Restaurants

"La terrazza", "Papagaj", "Three limes", "Portofino", "Amber", "Verige 65", "Joy restaurant", "City tavern", "Pic nic", "Mimosa", "Old house", "Barbarella", Perla Square Portonovi

Taverns

Tavern "Krušo", "Feral", "Kantula", "Škver", "Old Herzegovina", "Gušti" Vrbanj

The most significant manifestations

"Mimosa Festival", "Herzegovinian Winter Salon", "Herzegovinian Film Festival", "HAPS" - Herzegovinian April Theater Festival, "Days of Music", "Book Square", "Guitar Art summer fest", Opera Festival "Operosa"

Accommodation

Popular hotels and motels

"Iberostar Waves Herceg Novi", "Hotel Perla", "Wellness & Spa Hotel ACD", "Carine Hotel Kumbor Superior", "Lazure Hotel & Marina", "Portonovi Resort", "Forte Rose", "Garni Vila Margot", "One&Only Portonovi"

Shopping 

HDL "Novi Mall", Merkato mall, City Market Herceg Novi, Butiko shopping center, Idea, Voli

Important phones

Phone code for Herceg-Novi (0)31

Police 122, Security Center +382 31 322 222
Firefighters 123, Protection Service +382 31 348 014
Emergency 124
Exact time 125
Delivery of telegrams by telephone 126
Sports results service 19811
Notifications about phone numbers 1181

Health care

Mediterranean Center - "Dr. Simo Milošević"
Institute for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Igalo, Sava Ilića 5, tel. 658 111

Health center "dr Stevo Mrđen", www.domzdravljahercegnovi.com
Herceg-Novi, Nikole Ljubibratića 1, tel. 343 111, 343 024
Topla Outpatient Clinic, Mića Vavića 5, tel. 321 430
Igalo clinic, Norveska 8, tel. 331 333
Clinic Bijela, Bijela b.b., tel. 671 708

Private health institution Meljine General Hospital www.bolnica-meljine.me
(former Military Hospital), Braće Grakalića 94-100
tel. 640 988, fax 348 543

Veterinary stations
Herceg-Novi, Zemunska 129, tel. 348 314
Igalo, Sutorina, tel. 688 216

Culture

City Archives
Herceg Stjepan Square 1, tel. 322 655

JUK City Library and Reading Room
Herceg Stjepan Square, tel, 321 900, 324 229

JU "City Museum Mirko Komnenović and Gallery Josip Bepo Benković"
Museum tel. 323 779
Gallery tel. 324 051

JUK "Hercegfest"
tel. 322 320, 322 098

Media

Radio Herceg-Novi, tel. 350 765, 350 768
Radio More, tel. 350 666
Radio Delfin, tel. 344 244
Radio Jadran, tel. 335 005

Mail

Herceg-Novi, tel. 353 305
Igalo, tel. 331 747
Meljine, tel. 348 053
Zelenika, tel. 678 549
Kumbor and Đenovići, tel. 678 007
Baošići, tel. 674 175
Bijela, tel. 671 550

Travels

AMS of Montenegro +382 21 234 999
Herceg-Novi bus station, tel. 321 225
Debeli Brijeg border crossing, tel. 354,000
Border crossing Sitnica, tel. 67 284 894

Taxi stations

Taxi "More", tel. 19730
Taxi station Herceg-Novi, tel. 327 016

Municipality of Herceg-Novi
Maršala Tita Square 2, phone number 321 052, 321 564

Tourist organization Herceg-Novi
Jova Dabovića 10, phone no. 350 820