Redesigning the digital experience for Croatia’s most visited national park
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Research
Design
Development
Plitvice Lakes National Park attracts millions of visitors each year with its breathtaking natural beauty and world-renowned trails.
Managing such a high volume of visitors presents unique challenges, especially when it comes to providing clear, up-to-date information about routes, tickets, and facilities. Our goal was to simplify that experience by redesigning the official mobile app, bringing together everything visitors need, from navigation and accommodation to dining and offers, into one unified application.
Simplifying the visitor journey in Croatia’s busiest national park
With millions of annual visitors from around the world, Plitvice faced an information overload problem. Essential details about the park — such as trail conditions, maps, tickets, and services — were spread across multiple sources. Visitors often struggled to find accurate, timely information, especially due to language barriers and inconsistent updates.
The result? Confusion, overcrowding, and a less enjoyable experience for guests.
Creating a unified digital guide for effortless exploration and management
We set out to create a digital companion that makes exploring the park effortless. The new Plitvice Lakes National Park app consolidates everything into one place — helping visitors plan their visit, find accommodations and restaurants, and navigate the park with ease.
For administrators, we built a dedicated CMS that allows the park’s team to instantly update content, manage offers, publish announcements, and send timely notifications to users.
A calm, nature-inspired interface built for clarity and discovery
We focused on creating an interface that reflects the park’s visual identity — inspired by its lakes and forests.
The home screen serves as a central hub, bringing together all essential information in one glance.
The interactive map view highlights all points of interest: entrances, trails, viewpoints, parking, dining options, and accommodations. Visitors can explore the park visually, plan their routes efficiently, and discover everything in the park area.
The Accommodation section showcases curated lodging options and current offers, while the Questions & Answers page introduces a chat-based feature that allows users to quickly find the information they need.
Every element of the design was shaped by user feedback from the previous app, focusing on clarity, simplicity, and effortless navigation.
Cross-platform performance powered by modern, flexible technology
The app was developed using React Native with Expo, ensuring smooth cross-platform performance for both iOS and Android users.
For content management, we implemented Payload CMS, built with Next.js, enabling park administrators to manage all app content dynamically — from offers, news to all descriptions.
Integration with Google Maps SDK and Google Places API ensures accurate location data and reliable navigation within the park, even in areas with limited connectivity.
A seamless digital experience connecting visitors and the park like never before
The new app transforms how visitors experience Plitvice Lakes National Park. It unites essential travel information, real-time updates, and park services in a single, intuitive interface.
For visitors, it delivers a stress-free, information-rich experience. For park administrators, it provides a modern tool for communication, content management, and promotion of accommodations and gastronomic offers.
We continue to maintain and upgrade the app, ensuring that each visit to Plitvice Lakes — whether in person or digitally — remains as seamless and memorable as the park itself.
