Paklenica National Park is one of Croatia’s best hiking and rock climbing destinations. I absolutely loved my solo hiking day here, which I combined with a two night stay in Starigrad Paklenica. Having a full day to explore the park, hiking through Velika Paklenica Canyon up to the traditional mountain villages of Ramici and Parici, really showed me how much of a difference your choice of base can make, especially when travelling without a car, as I was!

In this guide, I’ll break down the best areas to stay near Paklenica National Park, including Starigrad Paklenica, Seline and Zadar, based on my own experience.

Useful resources:
✈️ Search cheap flights to Croatia on Skyscanner (Zadar Airport is the closest to Paklenica National Park)
🛏️ Book accommodation near Paklenica National Park – Booking.com
🚌 Bus travel to Starigrad Paklenica for the national park – Busbud
🎟️ Tours and activities in Croatia – GetYourGuide
📱 Stay connected with an eSIM – Yesim

This post contains affiliate links. Will receive a small commission for any bookings made through them at no extra cost to you 🙂

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Best Areas to Stay for Visiting Paklenica National Park

Starigrad Paklenica (Best Overall)

Starigrad Paklenica is where I stayed, and in my opinion, it’s the best base for visiting Paklenica National Park.

One of the biggest advantages of staying here is its proximity to the park’s main entrance, Velika Paklenica. Open year-round, it offers direct access to the spectacular Velika Paklenica Canyon and many of the national park’s most popular hiking trails.

Reaching Starigrad Paklenica can be easily done from the closest major city, Zadar. With a car, you can connect to Starigrad Paklenica in around 45-50 minutes. But if you’re relying on public transport as I was, know that there is a direct bus from Zadar Central Bus Station to the town centre. Do note that they’re not too frequent however, and it’s best to book in advance – the route can be pretty busy as the bus continues on to Rijeka.
🚌You can check bus times and tickets on Busbud. It comes under destination ‘Starigrad, Zadarsko-Kninska, Croatia’.

Getting to the park

You can walk to the entrance from town – it took me around 20 minutes on foot from my accommodation near the town centre – which made getting to the trails very straightforward.

The walk from town to the main entrance is easy to follow – Paklenica National Park is well signposted so you can’t really go wrong. I headed along the main road to Tommy Hipermarket. Just a couple of minutes walk from there is the main access road, Paklenička ulica, to Entrance 1. Walking along the road here is perfectly safe and also pretty scenic – it quickly becomes clear you are indeed walking to the Velika Mountains. There’s no missing the eye-catching mountains straight ahead! Before long there is a slight veer right and a little further on is the ‘Nacionalni Park Paklenica’ entrance sign, along with the ticket office.

If you do have a car, the entrance is only a 5-minute drive away and there is a paid car park. Parking fees vary by season but shouldn’t be more than €5 per day. Do note that the car park can fill up during peak summer months, so it’s worth arriving early.

Why stay in Starigrad-Paklenica

Starigrad Paklenica is more than just a gateway to the national park. It’s a gorgeous, laid-back coastal town and, while it’s the main tourist hub in this area, it feels nicely removed from many of Croatia’s more well-known tourist hot spots.

A visit to Paklenica National Park is all about the mountains, but staying here offers a coastal contrast, with beaches and swimming spots just steps away. There’s a lovely waterfront promenade, and the most amazing sunsets on clear evenings.

More than that, everything you need for a stay is right in town and all very walkable, including a good range of accommodation, supermarkets, cafés, bars and restaurants all nearby. Tip: The largest and cheapest supermarket is Tommy Hipermarket on the edge of town, just before the main road leading up to the park entrance – perfect for stocking up on hiking snacks.

My Stay in Starigrad Paklenica

I chose to stay in Starigrad Paklenica for two nights in a locally run studio apartment. It was within easy walking distance of the waterfront, the town centre, and Paklenica National Park’s main entrance, making it the perfect base without needing a car.
The apartment is currently not available to book on Booking.com, but there are plenty of similar apartments and guesthouses in Starigrad Paklenica to choose from.
✨ Browse hotels, apartments and guesthouses in Starigrad Paklenica for your stay

As a budget solo traveller, I spent most of my month in Croatia staying in hostels, but there aren’t any in Starigrad Paklenica. I expected accommodation here to be beyond my budget, but in September I paid just €45 per night for a studio apartment – only slightly more than I paid for hostel dorms in some of Croatia’s larger cities, such as Dubrovnik. Having my own space before and after a full day of hiking felt like a real treat, especially with access to my own kitchen for preparing budget-friendly meals. I was pleasantly surprised by how affordable it was to stay here as a solo traveller, without having to compromise on quality accommodation.

A two-night stay gave me enough time to enjoy the town itself, while also having a full day to hike in Paklenica National Park. It worked out really well, giving me time to experience both the coast and the mountains without feeling rushed. Overall, I loved staying here both for the setting and for the easy, car-free access to the national park.

Here’s a little insight into how I spent my time:

Arrival Day

I arrived in the afternoon by bus from Zadar. The bus stop is in the centre of town, so getting to my accommodation was just a short walk. Once I got checked in I headed out for a walk around and decided to settle on a pebble beach by the camp ground – Camping Paklenica – which seemed like a popular place to stay! I was in need of some afternoon chill, knowing the next day would be a hiking day!

I caught a gorgeous sunset from the waterfront before heading out for a quick run along the coast to make the most of the evening.

Paklenica National Park Hiking Day

Day 2 was the main reason I’d come to this part of Croatia – it was time to spend a full day hiking in Paklenica National Park!

As I hiked the most popular route, the Velika Paklenica Canyon trail, staying by the main entrance was perfect as it leads directly there. One thing I loved was how quickly you go from a relaxed coastal town to the dramatic mountain scenery of Paklenica National Park.

In the morning, I appreciated not having to think about transport. I simply walked from my accommodation to the park entrance, knowing I could return whenever I wanted without worrying about bus schedules.

I arrived at the Paklenica’s main entrance around 11am and set off into the park, returning to town at about 6:30pm.

From the entrance I followed the Education Trail to the Visitor Centre, then continued into the Velika Paklenica Canyon trail up towards the mountain villages of Ramici and Parici. I took the same route back, and added on the hike to The ‘Paklaric’ Viewpoint and Fort which is along the Education Trail on the return. I then took the walk back to town in time to enjoy another gorgeous sunset over the water.

Departure Day

On my last day in Starigrad Paklenica, my check out was at 10am, and my bus back to Zadar around 12:45pm. So I took my backpacks down to the water, and had the best morning chill on one of the pebble beaches. There was no resisting going in the water this morning either, so I did have a little dip! As the waterfront is just steps from the main road, it was super convenient for then catching the bus (although it was running pretty late so I could have had more beach time had I known!).

I honestly didn’t want to leave on departure day, but I had a lot more of Croatia to see, plus I was feeling very satisfied overall with my time here!

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Seline (Best for a Quieter Stay)

The second closest base for visiting Paklenica National Park is the small, quieter coastal village of Seline. Located just 3-4 km from Starigrad Paklenica along the same stretch of coastline, Seline also has pebble beaches, a mountain backdrop and a range of accommodation options. However, it has fewer restaurants and cafés, making it a quieter, more low-key place to stay.

The bus from Zadar to Starigrad Paklenica also stops in Seline, although it’s worth noting that having a car is more convenient here, especially if you plan to use the park’s main entrance in Starigrad.

Paklenica National Park has two entrances, and Seline is home to Entrance 2. It can be easily reached on foot in around 10-20 minutes, or just a few minutes by car. Paid parking is available at the entrance.

Unlike Entrance 1, which is open year-round, the Seline entrance is seasonal (typically from the end of April to the end of October). It gives direct access to the Mala Paklenica canyon, which is better suited to more experienced hikers and offers a much quieter side of the park.

Overall, Seline is best suited to travellers looking for a quieter, less touristy base while still staying close to the national park.

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Zadar (City Stay)

Zadar is the closest major city to Paklenica National Park and makes a good base if you’ve already made plans to stay in the city.

I would however only really recommend visiting on a day trip from Zadar should you have a car. Driving there takes only around 45 minutes, which makes it a totally viable base, although it’s still less convenient than staying nearer the national park itself. The surrounding coastline is also worth exploring, which you’ll have more time to do if staying in the area.

🚗 For more flexibility, especially if you want to explore the coastline, hiring a car from Zadar can make the trip much easier – check prices and availability here.

Travelling by bus from Zadar on a day trip is also possible. Currently, the earliest bus leaves Zadar at 8am and arrives in Starigrad at 8:50am, while the latest return departs at 5pm. That’s enough time for a day of hiking or climbing, although you’ll need to keep an eye on the clock if relying on public transport (and keep in mind the walking time to/from the bus stop to the entrance).

If you’d rather enjoy the trails at a more relaxed pace without worrying about return buses, spending a night or two in Starigrad Paklenica is the better option. I did consider visiting Paklenica as a day trip from Zadar, but ended up staying in Starigrad Paklenica instead for more flexibility with timing.

🌟 If you’re planning to spend more time in the city, you can also check out my full Zadar travel guide here.
🌟 You might also want to check out my guide to Plitvice Lakes National Park – another amazing day trip from Zadar.

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How Many Nights Should You Stay?

If you opt to stay in Starigrad Paklenica or Seline, I recommend staying for at least two nights. That gives you time to enjoy the coastal area and have a full day in Paklenica National Park.

I stayed for two nights, which worked perfectly. It gave me a relaxed arrival, a full day of hiking, and a chill beach morning before departure. Honestly, I wouldn’t have minded an extra night, but I had too many other places on my month-long Croatia itinerary to get to, so I moved on.

Starigrad-Paklenica has a really relaxed atmosphere, and it’s the kind of place where an extra night just might be what you need as a break from the busiest Croatia hot spots, allowing more time to enjoy the coast or the national park.

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Final Recommendation

A visit to Paklenica National Park is all about the mountains, while staying along the nearby coast in places like Starigrad Paklenica or Seline gives you a great contrast. With beaches and swimming spots close by, you really do get the best of both worlds.

Starigrad Paklenica is the best overall choice thanks to its proximity to the main entrance, easy access from Zadar whether by car or bus, and everything you need right in town, with a laid back but still lively atmosphere. This is where I stayed and I’d absolutely choose it again!