Krka National Park (which lies about 15 km from Šibenik) is the seventh national park in Croatia and has a relatively untouched, naturally magnificent area. The
Today National Park Krka stands as the perfect tourist destination; a majestic, largely unchanged area of natural beauty which contains preserved eco systems. It is intended for scientific, cultural, educational, recreational and tourist activities (the park is visited by over 1 million people annually). National Park was named after the river which it encloses. The Krka National Park boasts a variety of activities and interests for the whole family which include sightseeing, tours, presentations, boat trips, souvenir shops, a museum, and restaurants. There are also several archaeological remains of unpreserved fortresses dating back to Roman times.
Although many people only come to Krka to swim in the majestic Skradinski Buk falls, there are a number of less visited spots within the park that are worth your time. Find out everything you need to know before you visit with this ultimate guide to Krka National Park.
Krka National Park is located on the coast of the Republic of Croatia within the region of Dalmatia. It is about 10 km by road from Šibenik and about 90 km from Split – the second largest city in Croatia.
The 109 km long river has a lot to offer to visitors; 7 waterfalls, 5 medieval fortresses, 47 km of educational walking trails, Roman military fort, several boat tours, Ethnic village, restaurants, unique viewpoints, richness of flora and fauna and a lot more.
The road distance from Zadar is about 97 km, while the distance from Dubrovnik is about 300 km.
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- Krka Waterfalls
How to get to Krka National Park from Split?
Krka National Park is only about a 1.5-hour drive away from Split. You can get there either by renting a car and driving yourself, with public transport or with an organised day tour.
If you take public transport, you can get a bus from Split bus station to Skradin. This is the town from which you then get the boat to Skradinski Buk and the main area of Krka National Park.
The bus ticket is around 15 EUR per person. You can check the bus timetables here.
The best way to visit the National park Krka from Split is joining the group tour to NP Krka or a private day tour to NP Krka. As a result, you can choose an group tour since it isn’t much more expensive than the public bus. If you aren’t a type of person who likes group tours, you can take a private tour. Private tour gives you all the freedom in the organisation your time in the park.
Local Tip: As of 2017, a maximum of 10,000 visitors are be permitted at any one time at Skradinski Buk. So, book ahead and be sure to secure your tickets in advance.
Click here to book your Krka National Park day trip tour!
What to see in the Krka National Park?
1. The main attractions of the park are the breath-taking waterfalls, which includes the Skradinski Buk, one of Croatia’s most famous tourist attractions – It is an enormous natural pool with high waterfalls at one end and cascades at the other. Skradinski Buk is largely considered to be one of the most beautiful waterfalls in all of Europe, spanning an area of 400m in length and 100m in width this natural marvel is made up of seventeen waterfalls up to 47.7m tall. Skradinski Buk is regarded as one of the most beautiful Calcium Carbonate waterfalls in Europe because of the various effects caused by the play of light on the whirlpools, vegetation and geomorphological forms.
2. Roški Slap is the second most popular attraction of the park in terms of visitors to the location and is surrounded by refreshing walking and hiking trails. There are twelve waterfalls in the space of 450m, the largest standing at just over 22m in height and 60m in width. The Krka Waterfalls area has the second highest density of Lavender in Europe, hence the high frequency of wasps and bees in the park.
3. Visovac Monastery is another enchanting place in Krka. Franciscan monks have lived there until today. The monastery contains a big number of well-preserved artefacts, writs, and an old library. Monastery was built in 1445 and rebuilt in the 18th century after being demolished. The monks have transformed the small island in the Krka National Park into a true oasis of calm and expanded the island’s shores, giving Visovac its characteristic shape.
4. Along the Knin-Kistanje road, you will find the hidden Manojlovac Slap waterfall. This is the third-largest waterfall in the series, and many visitors to the region count it as the most picturesque, with a height of 59.6 meters.
5. Educational Hiking Trails are the best way to explore this amazing area is by walking on those trails in Krka National Park. Hiking offers you the best views of the landscape. The opportunity to see fauna and flora, and explore historic sites – the ultimate all-around Krka experience, if you will. Educational boards line most of the trails. They’ll provide in-depth information on the plants and animals in Krka National Park, as well as its cultural heritage and historic sites.
You can easily spend a day enjoying the park, admiring the beautiful views of waterfalls and walking through the green forest. Krka National Park is the perfect day trip from Split.
When is the best time to visit?
The national park is open all year round. Watch nature bloom in spring or wrap in colours of autumn. Enjoy the sprinkles of water in the air in the summer heat or its magic in winter. Krka is simply breath-taking all year round. However, the number of visitors peaks in the summer. Late spring and early autumn might just be the perfect times to avoid the crowds. If you’re travelling on a budget, the best time to visit Krka is off-peak. Also, transport within the park is not fully available from November to March. Make sure you check it before you go. However, the boats and day tours don’t run until April. It’s best to wait until then if you plan to use them.
Krka National Park entrance fees
The entrance fee at Krka National Park in 2022 varies depending on the time of year and what sites you want to visit. During low season an entrance ticket which grants you access to the whole park costs just 50 Kuna. The same ticket costs 200 Kuna during peak season (June to September).
Spend a day fully enjoying Krka or pick a favourite sight! For visiting the main part of the park take the Skradin or Lozovac entrance.
- Lozovac entrance: The Park’s main entrance, and the closest one to the famous Skradinski Buk waterfall. Lozovac has plenty of parking facilities at the entrance. Between April and October shuttle buses take visitors to the beginning of the Skradinski buk trail. Outside of these months, guests are allowed to enter to the beginning of the trail in their own cars.
- Skradin entrance: This is the second closest entrance to Skradinski Buk. Between April and November, you can take a boat trip from the Skradin entrance of Krka National Park up to the waterfall at no extra cost.
- There are three more entrances: Roški slap, Burnum and Kistanje.
You can check entrance ticket price here
How to avoid crowd in Np Krka?
That depends which day of the week you choose to take a visit. We recommend to avoid weekends and holidays in high season.
Furthermore in high season it is wise to avoid middle of the day. Not only because of the high temperatures but also to enjoy quiet and relaxing atmosphere of Krka. So what we usually recommend is to get there early in the morning or later in the afternoon.
You can rent a bike in Skradin and cycle for half an hour to the waterfalls instead of taking the official National Park boat. This ferry boat tends to be jammed with people. If you rent a bike, you will avoid the crowd and get a nice ride to the cascades.
Can you swim in Krka waterfalls?
From 2021, swimming at Krka National Park is forbidden in most locations. The exceptions will be the three beaches by the Visovac Lake and the bottom of Roški Slap. In any case, you can also swim in Skradin town, which is the border of the National Park so he is excluded from the prohibition.
How do I get the discount on the entry fee to the Park?
You will get the discount on the entry fee to the Park if you book your tour with a tour operator, the official partner of the Park that offers that opportunity, like Travela travel agency. In case you buy a ticket online you can’t get a discount but there is a discount if you buy it individually.
How much does the parking cost?
Parking at the official parking lot at Lozovac is free of charge. In Skradin there are several parking lots charging about 7 kn/ per hour. At Roški Slap there is a limited number of free parking spots.
What to pack for a Krka National Park day trip
You don’t really need anything special beyond your usual travel essentials and normal outfits. We’ve listed below a couple things that will make your Krka day trip smoother.
- Bring your own food if you don’t want to pay inflated tourist prices. There are a bunch of stands near Skradinski Buk Falls serving hot dogs, fries etc.
- You can easily find bakeries and restaurants there, in case you want to eat something.
- Wear comfy shoes if you plan to walk between Skradin and Krka rather than take the boat. The stony path is fairly flat and you might be struggling in flip flops.
- Take the boat there (from Skradin to Skradinski Buk) then the 40-minute walk back. This way you experience more of the park.
- Tako a powerbank, stainless steel water bottle and sun protection cream with you.
