Krka National Park – How to Spend a Day at Croatia’s Waterfall Wonderland

Krka National park is an impressive karst landscape along the Krka River Canyon. In the lower reaches of the river, the water is so rich in calcium carbonate that new rock is constantly deposited on mosses and algae, forming many natural steps and dams through which the water flows.

The wooden path winds its way past small pools, little islands, and through dense riverside forest. In the background, I can always hear the rush of the waterfalls and the occasional croaking of frogs. The landscape here is so green and lush that it almost has a jungle-like quality—a green oasis in the otherwise rather barren karst landscape.

Tours to Krka National Park

You can also visit the national park on a tour from larger cities such as Split, Zadar, or Makarska. These are usually guided day trips that include same-day round-trip bus transportation:

• From Split: Day Trip to the Krka Waterfalls with a Boat Ride and Swimming
• From Zadar: Day Trip to the Krka Waterfalls with a Boat Ride & Guide
• From Makarska: Krka Waterfalls with Tickets & a Tour of Šibenik

When is the best time to visit Krka National Park?

The best time to visit Krka National Park is after winter, between April and May, because that’s when the river is at its fullest and the waterfalls are most impressive. Crowds and prices are also still manageable during this time of year.

Even during the peak season from June through September, the national park is, of course, beautiful and well worth a visit. But it’s usually quite hot then (especially in July and August), there are many more visitors, and it’s also the most expensive time to visit.

October is also a pretty good time to travel. Although the Krka River doesn’t carry as much water then, the main crowds of visitors have already thinned out by that time.

During the winter season, from November through March, admission is very affordable and the park is quite empty, but the scenery isn’t usually quite as lush at that time, and not all areas and boat routes are open.

I visited the national park myself in April and thought it was absolutely fantastic. All the photos in this article were taken in April.

Areas of Krka National Park

Krka National Park is large and rather elongated, as it follows the course of the Krka River, which is a total of about 70 km long. The park extends inland from Knin to Skradin. There are three main areas:

• Skradinski Buk: The main area with its many waterfalls is an absolute must-see that every visitor should check out.
• Roški Slap: A somewhat smaller, quieter waterfall area further north with beautiful walking trails and scenic overlooks.
• Burnum: Here you’ll find the ruins of a Roman legionary camp, complete with an amphitheater and a small visitor center. Nearby is also a lookout point overlooking Manojlovac, the park’s highest waterfall—though it can only be seen from above.

Boats run between Skradinski buk and Roški slap as part of tours that you can book on-site at the entrance. You can also explore the famous monastery island of Visovac. To explore the areas further north, you’ll usually need a car. There are scattered waterfalls to discover there, and the Krka Monastery is also a popular attraction.

In my opinion, you can easily see Skradinski buk and Roški slap in a single day. For anything else, you should plan on spending more time there.

The best starting point for Krka National Park

Many tourists begin their journey to the national park from the town of Skradin. From there, you have to take a boat to the waterfalls. While that’s nice, I think Lozovac is a better starting point. That’s because Lozovac is located right at the entrance to the main area of the national park. It’s only about a 10- to 15-minute walk to the waterfalls. If you set out early in the morning, you can enjoy the natural surroundings in peace before all the other tourists arrive.

Krka National Park Admission: Everything You Need to Know About Tickets for the National Park

You can buy tickets on-site or online through the national park’s web shop. Ticket prices per adult vary depending on the season and when you enter the park:

• Peak season (June through September): 40.00 €
  • If you arrive after 3:00 p.m., admission is only €30.
• Shoulder season (April, May, October): €20.00
• Off-season (November through March): 7.00 €

The price includes the boat transfer from Skradin to Skradinski Buk and back. However, this only applies if you’re starting from the town of Skradin. Shuttle buses also run from Lozovac to the main entrance of Skradinski Buk and back. These are also included in the ticket price.

Not included are the boat tours to the northern parts of the national park, such as to Visovac Island or Roški slap. These cost extra and only run if enough tourists sign up. There’s a ticket booth on site where you can buy boat tickets. I recommend the 4-hour boat tour (Skradinski Buk – Visovac Island – Roški Slap Waterfall – Skradinski Buk).

Entrances to the National Park

There are a total of 4 main entrances to the national park:

• Skradin: From here, you can take a boat to Skradinski Buk
• Lozovac: From here, you can walk directly to Skradinski Buk
• Laškovica/Roški Slap: From here, you can explore the area around Roški Slap
• Burnum: Further north in the park

The Best Hikes and Day Trips in Krka National Park

Once you arrive at the waterfall area (Skradinski buk), there’s a really great loop trail with lots of information signs and viewpoints overlooking the various cascades. The hike takes about 1 to 2 hours if you stop along the way to take breaks, snap photos, or watch the frogs.

There are also two areas here with restaurants and souvenir shops:

• Skradin Pier: This is where day-trippers from Skradin arrive by boat
• At the Watermill

If you only have a morning to spare, this loop trail is your best option. You can find the map for it here.

But if you have more time, you can also take a boat tour. There’s a ticket booth, and the boat dock is only about 400 meters away. I recommend taking a boat tour.

You usually have two options here:

• Only as far as the island with the monastery (2 hours)
• To the island and then on to Roški slap, another area with smaller cascading waterfalls (4 hours)

There are several great hikes at Roški Slap. You can find them all on this map:

• Ogrlice (“Necklaces”) Nature Trail – 1.36 km
• Žižići – Roški slap – Laškovica Nature Trail – 3.3 km
• Niz ploču Nature Trail – 1.5 km (up the mountain)
• Stinice – Roški Slap – Oziđana Pećina (Oziđana Pećina Cave) Nature Trail – 8.5 km

If you arrive by boat tour, you’ll most likely only be able to complete the “Necklace” loop trail.

The Best Accommodations & Hotels Near Krka National Park

In my opinion, you’ll get the best view of the national park if you stay in the town of Lozovac. There are a few hotels and vacation rentals here. I stayed at the Hotel Vrata Krke myself and can recommend it. It’s not extremely luxurious, but it’s clean and very close to the main entrance.

If you’d like to stay overnight in Skradin, the Hotel Skradinski Buk is a good option.

Frequently Asked Questions About Krka National Park

As you can see, Krka National Park is a natural gem in Croatia. Have you ever been there yourself? What did you think of it? Or would you still like to visit the park? Leave me a comment.