About this place
Selište Drežničko lies beside the D1 state road on the northern approach to Plitvice Lakes, within the municipality of Rakovica and the landscape promoted as the Plitvice Valleys. Its position only a few kilometres from Entrance 1 makes it a practical base for the national park, but the village offers more than roadside accommodation. The River Korana runs below the settlement, reached by the marked R36 cycling route: a 2.4-kilometre combination of pavement, asphalt and a short gravel section. Plitvice Adrenaline Park operates above the canyon with a 300-metre zipline, while longer routes connect Selište with Čatrnja, Drežnik Grad, Grabovac and the Barać Caves area. The best-known dining address is Degenija on the D1, serving Gacka trout, veal steak with handmade gnocchi and pizzas baked in a wood-fired oven. A car remains the easiest way to explore Rakovica’s scattered sights, although intercity buses cross the Plitvice corridor between inland Croatia and the coast. Selište works particularly well for travellers planning an early start at the lakes, followed by the Korana, a bike ride, the adventure park or the ruined stronghold at Drežnik Grad.
Stays nearby
ApartmentApartmeni Klenovica.eu
Klenovica
64 km from Selište Drežničko
up to 4 guests · 1 bedroom
The host confirms the exact price for your dates and availability.
Things to see
The Korana canyon is Selište Drežničko’s strongest natural feature, and Plitvice Adrenaline Park turns its height into a 300-metre ride on a steel cable. According to the local tourist board, the zipline crosses above the river at speeds of up to 70 kilometres per hour; the park also has a giant swing more than 12 metres high. The quieter counterpart is route R36 toward the village of Korana, combining pavement, asphalt and a short gravel stretch. Entrance 1 of Plitvice Lakes is also within Selište’s immediate visitor circuit, providing access toward the Great Waterfall and Lower Lakes.
Things to do
Start at Entrance 1 of Plitvice Lakes, reached by a short drive south from Selište Drežničko, and use the morning for the Lower Lakes. Back in the village, follow cycling route R36 toward the Korana; the marked section covers 2.4 kilometres with 45 metres of elevation change. For a more forceful finale, book the zipline across the Korana canyon at Plitvice Adrenaline Park. A second day can be built around the 27.9-kilometre R35 route, linking Selište with Čatrnja, Drežnik Grad, Lipovača, Grabovac and Irinovac and providing access toward the Barać Caves area.
Food and drink
Restaurant Degenija at Selište Drežničko 59 is the village’s best-known dining stop. Its menu gives particular prominence to fresh Gacka trout, the Degenija veal steak in mushroom sauce with handmade gnocchi, and pizzas from a wood-fired oven. Cakes and desserts come from the restaurant’s own pastry kitchen, while veal cooked under the bell, spit-roasted lamb and suckling pig are offered seasonally or by advance arrangement. Located directly beside the D1 and about four kilometres from Plitvice Entrance 1, Degenija is especially convenient after a day around the lakes.
Practical information
Practical information
Visitor information for Selište Drežničko is provided by the Plitvice Valleys tourist board, whose office is in Rakovica and whose website publishes cycling maps and contacts for local attractions. Booking a timed Plitvice Lakes ticket in advance is sensible because visits are organised around specific entrances and entry periods. Summer traffic on the D1 can be heavy, particularly during the morning approach to Entrance 1. Selište does not have a compact pedestrian centre, so check the exact distance between accommodation, Restaurant Degenija, the adventure park and the turn toward the Korana before confirming a stay.
Parking
Accommodation and restaurants along the D1 generally provide parking within their own grounds; the Degenija hotel and restaurant have dedicated space beside the property. For Plitvice Lakes, leave the car at the official paid parking area at Entrance 1 or Entrance 2, where parking is charged separately from admission. These national-park car parks are not in central Selište Drežničko, so allow for both the drive and the walk from the vehicle to the entrance. When descending toward the Korana, use marked or prepared parking spaces rather than the narrow edge of the local access road.
Getting there and around
Drivers reach Selište Drežničko via the D1, while the approach to the principal Plitvice entrances continues along the D429 toward Prijeboj. Bus stops stand close to both Entrance 1 and Entrance 2, and intercity services using the D429 connect inland Croatia with the coast. A car is still the most practical option for trips between Selište, Drežnik Grad, the Barać Caves and Rakovica because these places are widely dispersed. Cyclists can reach the Korana on route R36, but longer itineraries use pavements beside the D1 and require particular care wherever the main road must be crossed.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Selište from Entrance 1?
Restaurant Degenija in Selište Drežničko states that it is four kilometres from Plitvice Lakes Entrance 1.
Is there a cycle route to the Korana?
Route R36 links Selište Drežničko with the village of Korana over 2.4 kilometres, with 45 metres of elevation change.
How long is the Korana zipline?
The Plitvice Adrenaline Park zipline is 300 metres long and crosses the Korana canyon.
What should I order at Degenija?
Degenija’s featured dishes include Gacka trout and veal steak in mushroom sauce with handmade gnocchi.
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Photo credits
- Čatrnja — Erik van Luxzenburg · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Smoljanac — ANDREJ NEUHERZ · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Drežnik Grad — David Franjković · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Apartmeni Klenovica.eu — Apartmani Klenovica.eu · courtesy of the property owner
- Senj — Palauenc05 · CC BY-SA 4.0
