Smoljanac
About this place
Smoljanac is a small settlement beside the Korana River, approached through Rakovica and Drežnik Grad on the way to Plitvice Lakes National Park. Rather than a conventional village centre, it is defined by scattered homes, green slopes and the nearby river canyon. This makes it a useful base for travellers who prefer to stay outside the park’s busiest visitor zone and combine an early lake tour with short trips through the Plitvice Valleys. Neighbouring Drežnik Grad has a fortress dating from the 12th century; visitors can walk around its open grounds and look towards the Korana, although the tower interior was closed in 2025. A marked Nordic-walking route from Rakovica passes the fort, a mill and viewpoints above the canyon. Tickets for Plitvice Lakes should be booked in advance, particularly when admission is allocated by entry time. Despite the supplied coastal classification, Smoljanac has no Adriatic shoreline: its waterscapes are the Korana and the Plitvice waterfalls. A car remains the most practical way to link local accommodation with the park entrances, Drežnik Grad and restaurants along the D1 state road.
Smoljanac is a settlement in the Municipality of Plitvička Jezera, immediately beside the boundary of Plitvice Lakes National Park and its ecological-network area. Rather than a town-centre setting, the local planning documents identify outdoor-recreation, forest-recreation and hospitality zones here. That makes Smoljanac a natural part of the Plitvice hinterland, defined by its landscape at the Park’s edge rather than by a separate historic core. Croatia’s 2021 Census recorded 233 residents in the settlement.
Stays
No stays listed here yet
Things to see
The closest major heritage sight to Smoljanac is Old Drežnik, a fortress established in the 12th century to control an important route and resist Ottoman incursions. Its great tower was restored in late 2011, followed by further work on the walls, roof and surviving defensive structures. Even when the tower itself is closed, the surrounding meadow is worthwhile for views over the Korana and wooded hills. The natural counterpart is the Korana canyon, where old mill sites and the river’s summer retreat into the karst landscape reveal another layer of local history. Plitvice Lakes remains the wider area’s headline attraction, reached from Smoljanac via Selište Drežničko.
Things to do
Begin at Plitvice Lakes during the admission slot shown on a pre-booked ticket, then return towards Smoljanac and the Korana after completing the lake circuit. Later, continue to Old Drežnik and walk around the restored main tower for canyon views; access to the interior was unavailable in 2025. For a longer outing, follow the Nordic-walking route beginning at Rakovica’s central car park, with Old Drežnik, an educational trail, a mill and Korana viewpoints among its highlights. Finish near Selište Drežničko, where Degenija serves Gacka trout and, seasonally or by arrangement, veal cooked under a peka.
Food and drink
The nearest well-documented dining option is in Selište Drežničko. Degenija stands beside the D1 state road and anchors its menu in the surrounding region with freshly caught Gacka trout and its namesake veal steak in mushroom sauce with homemade gnocchi. Veal under a peka, lamb and spit-roasted pork are seasonal or prepared to order, so these dishes are best arranged before arrival. Wood-fired pizza and house desserts make it convenient after a family visit to Plitvice Lakes. Smoljanac itself has no verified cluster of restaurants, so it is sensible to combine dinner with a trip along the D1.
Practical information
Practical information
Buy the Plitvice Lakes National Park ticket in advance and arrive at the selected entrance for the admission time stated during purchase. The park published a dedicated 2026 price list and specifies that parking is paid at the parking-office exit. For information about Smoljanac and nearby outings, the Plitvice Valleys tourist office in Rakovica provides contacts alongside its local attraction listings. Because homes and visitor services are spread between Smoljanac, Selište Drežničko and Drežnik Grad, groceries and meals are best planned as part of the day’s drive rather than around a walkable village centre.
Parking
Accommodation in Smoljanac generally functions as a driving base, while visits to Plitvice Lakes use the official car parks at Entrance 1 or Entrance 2. For 2026, the national park states that parking is paid at the exit booths, with rates varying by vehicle type and season. Rakovica’s central car park is the official departure point for the Nordic-walking route towards Old Drežnik. At the fort itself, the setting is better understood as an excursion meadow and trail node than a large formal car park. During peak season, visitors should therefore rely on marked parking areas and the instructions supplied by their accommodation host.
Getting there and around
Smoljanac is strongly road-oriented, and a car provides the simplest connection between accommodation, the D1, Selište Drežničko, Rakovica and the entrances to Plitvice Lakes National Park. For Old Drežnik, turn towards Drežnik Grad, where the grounds around the fort form part of walking, cycling and horse-riding routes. Walkers can leave their vehicle at Rakovica’s central car park, the official starting point of a Nordic-walking route leading towards the fort and Korana viewpoints. Movement inside the national park should be planned around the chosen entrance and timed ticket rather than the location of accommodation in Smoljanac.
Frequently asked questions
Does Smoljanac have a sea beach?
No. Smoljanac is inland beside the Korana, with Plitvice Lakes as the principal waterside excursion.
Can visitors enter the Old Drežnik tower?
According to the 2025 visitor information, the interior was closed, but the grounds and Korana views remained accessible.
Where does the route to Old Drežnik begin?
The Nordic-walking route starts at the main car park in central Rakovica.
Where can I eat trout near Smoljanac?
Degenija in Selište Drežničko features freshly caught trout from the Gacka River.
Nearby
Čatrnja
Village · Lika – Karlovac
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Photo credits
- Smoljanac — ANDREJ NEUHERZ · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Čatrnja — Erik van Luxzenburg · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Drežnik Grad — David Franjković · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Grabovac — INSAR · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
- Senj
