Hotels and Restaurants along Korenica Main Road

Korenica is a small town in the Lika region of Croatia, a few minutes from the entrances to Croatia’s Plitvice Lakes National Park, and its Main Road is lined with hotels, guesthouses and restaurants that serve the many travellers heading to and from the park. It is not a sightseeing destination in the usual sense, but it is a very practical base, and its eating places give a good introduction to the food of the region.

Korenica’s role is determined by geography. The town lies on the old main road between Zagreb and the Dalmatian coast, in the high karst plateau of Lika, and Plitvice, the most visited national park in Croatia, is only about fifteen kilometres to the north. Prices in the immediate vicinity of the park are often high and rooms scarce in summer, so many visitors choose to stay in Korenica, where there is more choice and it is easier to find a bed. The road through town is the hub, and along it you find the facilities that travellers need: places to sleep, eat, buy provisions and refuel.

Among the dining options, variety is the rule. Bistro Vila Velebita is known for a menu that mixes European dishes with gastropub touches, and for lamb and other grilled meats. Bistro-Pizzeria L’MAT offers Italian classics, such as pizza and pasta, in generous portions, which makes it a favourite with families and groups. Restoran Time Korenica is popular with Plitvice visitors for its varied menu and attentive service. For traditional flavours, Konoba Pastrva, whose name refers to trout, offers a balance of price, quality and service, and Sapina is known for inexpensive barbecue. Many places offer vegetarian and gluten-free dishes, and most serve breakfast, lunch and dinner, so it is easy to fit a meal around a day in the park.

The cooking of Lika is hearty and simple, designed for a cold climate. Lamb, often roasted over an open fire or cooked under a bell-shaped lid, is the most famous dish, along with fresh sheep’s cheese, smoked meats, Lika potatoes, which are prized for their flavour, and trout from the clear rivers. Dishes tend to be generous, and the style is more rustic than refined. Trying a plate of roast lamb with potatoes after a day of walking at Plitvice is one of the pleasures of the area.

Accommodation ranges from small hostels and guesthouses to larger hotels, and prices vary with the season, so it pays to book ahead in summer. Korenica is also near several other points of interest, including a Catholic church of Saint George and the Falling Lakes Hostel, and a short drive leads to Udbina, the Una source and the Velebit mountains.

The town suits travellers who want a base near Plitvice at a reasonable cost, drivers on the Zagreb–Split route and anyone who enjoys regional food. Opening hours and menus change with the season.