Built between 1954 and 1957 by Croatian architect Marijan Haberle, Hotel Plitvice holds a place in Croatian architectural history as one of the best examples of a building built for public use in post-World War II Croatia. The bright, open-plan lobby is huge, with a wall of floor-to-ceiling glass windows overlooking the spacious outdoor deck and the wild, thick forest, a piano that anyone can play, and clusters of teal-colored retro-looking leather sofas scattered throughout. The bar has a stone fireplace, and the adjacent outdoor deck is a popular spot for guests to gather with drinks at the end of the day, and mingle. Though tour groups use the hotel as a rest stop, crowds are fewer here than at the two other, much bigger park hotels next door. The Plitvice is popular with solo travelers and couples seeking to stay in an exceptional natural setting -- and staying here makes it easier to get an early morning start on the hiking trails. 

Plitvice Hotel is a six-minute walk from Entrance 1 of Plitvice National Park, and it’s a seven-minute walk to Entrance 2. The location is isolated for doing anything aside from visiting the park, and the few restaurants and snack bars are open only during the summer months. A car is needed for visiting the nearby villages, and their restaurants and shops. Karlovac, the closest big city, is a 75-minute drive away. Zagreb International Airport is a two-hour drive from the hotel. 

Though the guest rooms at Plitvice Hotel are spotless and large, they're dated. Bedspreads are old-fashioned, and the basic wooden furniture looks flimsy. Bathrooms have granite counters, hairdryers, toiletries, and shower/tub combos, but the baby-blue tiles are off-putting. But size wins here: Superior Rooms have separate sitting areas, and Superior Rooms with Balconies show off views of the park, though the balconies themselves, with broken floor tiles and peeling paint on the railings, could use a refresh. Rooms are not air-conditioned -- and while nights are cool, days can get hot. All rooms come with flat-screen TVs, minibars, and free Wi-Fi.

The huge on-site dining room with 160 seats serves a free buffet breakfast, and offers an a la carte menu for lunch and dinner. Unlike the rooms, it has been refurbished with a fresh coat of paint and new carpeting. The lounge on the outdoor deck off the bar area is a popular spot for a nightcap. A small shop in the lobby sells souvenirs and snacks. An on-site conference room seats up to 50 people, and it can be booked for events. Wi-Fi is free throughout. On-site parking is free, and laundry service is available, as is room service.