Visiting Krka National Park
Visiting Krka National Park is right at the very top of most Croatia bucket lists and for good reason.
The incredible series of tiered lakes, pools and falls found within the Krka National Park boundaries make it an impossible place to miss when you visit Croatia.
In this guide, we will outline everything you need to know about visiting Krka National Park.
The park itself covers a vast area of land and so it is important to know where to visit in Krka National Park so you can have the best day trip to Krka National Park.
So, let’s dive into: Visiting Krka National Park
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Krka National Park at a Glance
Highlights: Skradinski Buk; Krka Monastery; Viskovac Monastery
Best time to visit: shoulder season (April-May and September-October)
Best tour from Split: Krka National Park Tour (including boat ride)
Best tour from Zagreb: Krka National Park Tour
Can you book your entry ticket online? Yes, click here to book your tickets online through Viator.
Table of Contents
Visiting Krka National Park - Everything you need to know before you arrive
How much does it cost to visit Krka National Park?
Best time of year to visit Krka National Park
Visiting Krka National Park through an organised tour
Visiting Krka National Park Independently
Visiting Krka National Park - Everything you need to know before you arrive
The first thing of note to know about visiting Krka National Park is that the park is very large - in fact, the National Park boundary spans the entire length of the 73km Krka River.
This means that although there are several noteworthy places to visit in the National Park, it is not possible to visit them all on foot. Instead, you are going to need to create a Krka National Park Itinerary that can be completed by driving between each location or visiting Krka National Park through an organised tour.
What this also means is that you are going to need a full day to explore the whole of Krka National Park - even visiting one or two of the main sights is going to take up the majority of a full day.
Another thing to consider is that Krka National Park actually has 5 different entrances (Skradin; Lozovac; Roski Slap; Krka Monastery; Burnum) and although you may think that entering the park at the closest entrance to you may be the most convenient, we would actually suggest starting your Krka National Park visit at the Skradin entrance.
From Skradin, your national park entrance fee actually includes a boat ride to the waterfalls at Skradinski Buk, making it the perfect place to begin your Krka National Park itinerary.
The tips for visiting Krka National Park in this article are supplemented greatly by the guide to Plitvice National Park. By reading both articles, you’ll have a greater understanding of Croatia’s two most popular sites and your visit to this beautiful Balkan country will be smooth and seamless.
The beautiful Krka Waterfalls
Can you buy Krka National Park tickets online?
Yes, it is possible to buy your Krka National Park tickets online. The easiest and cheapest way to do this is through Viator. The tour and day-trip company is a branch of Trip Advisor.
You can buy your tickets online beforehand, then turn up at Krka National Park on your chosen date and skip all of the queues.
Once you buy the ticket, you will be given an email confirmation with a voucher attached. Bring this voucher to the main entrance of Krka National Park (Lozovac) and easily exchange it for the actual ticket. It’s really straightforward!
Pros of buying your Krka National Park ticket online in advance:
Skip the waiting in line once you arrive at Krka
Complimentary parking at Lozovac Entrance (The closest entrance the main waterfalls)
Free use of the shuttle bus that takes you down to the falls
Easier and less stressful knowing you have your ticket already secured
How much does it cost to visit Krka National Park?
The most important question when visiting Krka National Park is how much does it cost?
Entrance fees for Krka National Park fluctuate throughout the year based on how popular the park is. It stands to reason that the busiest time of the year for Krka National Park, July and August, is also the most expensive time to visit.
Similarly, the least busiest time of the year, the winter months between November and March, are also the cheapest time to visit Krka National Park.
For full entry to all areas of the park, tickets cost:
July and August - 200KN(£22/$27) for adults; 120KN(£13/$16) for children aged 7-18
April to June and September & October - 110KN(£12/$15) for adults; 80KN(£8/$11) for children
November to March - 30KN(£3/$4) for adults; 20KN(£2.20/$2.70) for children.
Children under the age of 7 have free entry throughout the year.
Krka Monastery from above
Best time of year to visit Krka National Park
We visited Krka National Park at the beginning of April, and it was absolutely perfect - the temperature was around 17°C (62°F), and there wasn’t a single cloud in the sky.
While this is not going to be the case for all days in April, it is widely considered that April and October are the best time of the year to visit Krka National Park.
Both months are considered the ‘off-season’, so the crowds are relatively low and yet the weather is nice enough to explore the national park in full.
It is also worth considering that during the height of summer, the Krka National Park entry fee is around 200KN (£22/$27) per person - whereas in April and October, it is nearly half as much at 110KN (£13/$16) per person.
Visiting Krka National Park through an organised tour
Particularly when you’re on a tight schedule, or if you aren’t renting a car when you’re in Croatia, then an organised tour can be the easiest and most efficient way of visiting Krka National Park.
When choosing an organised tour to Krka National Park, there are many different options and it can often be overwhelming. This is why we have highlighted the best tours available from Split and Zadar, the 2 most popular cities to visit Krka National Park.
When you consider that Krka National Park is one of the best places to see in the Western Balkans, you want to make sure you find the best and most reliable tour possible.
Best Krka National Park Tours from Split:
Visiting Krka National Park as part of a Split travel itinerary means you are able to visit 2 of Croatia’s most popular sights in one trip. Here’s the best tours from Split to Krka:
Krka National Park Tour (including boat ride) - we particularly like this 9-hour tour as there is an option for a guided experience at the waterfalls in Krka, or you can choose to simply wander around by yourself. On top of that, you get to visit the cute, little town of Primošten, which makes a great little stop-off point for dinner on your way back to Split.
Krka Waterfalls Tour and Wine Tasting - the thing we like about this organised tour to Krka is the fact it combines the waterfalls with a wine-tasting experience; you essentially get two Croatia bucket-list activities for the price of one. With the wine tasting, you also get to try native olive oils, breads and cheeses, all from a local family-owned winery.
Best Krka National Park Tours from Zadar:
Krka Waterfalls Trip (including food and wine-tasting) - on this 9-hour tour you get driven to Skradin from Zadar, before boarding a 30-minute boat-ride up along the Krka River towards the main waterfalls at Skradinski. You are also provided with a breakfast box (sandwich, croissant, fruit, water, juice etc.), which is great for those early morning starts. Best of all, you’ll be back in Zadar by 5pm ready to explore all of the best things to do in Zadar.
Visiting Krka National Park Independently
Can you go to Krka National Park without a tour?
This is a question that is asked a lot, and the answer is absolutely yes; you can easily visit Krka National Park on your own without having to go on a tour.
In fact, this is how we chose to visit Krka and we loved the freedom it afforded us. We were able to spend as long or as little at each place within Krka and didn’t feel as though we were rushed or dragging our heels waiting for the rest of the tour.
It is worth noting that it is much easier to visit Krka independently if you can access a car. Although it is possible to get boat rides between the main sights, this is a very timely and costly process and is likely to take too long for one day of exploring.
If you need to rent a car during your time in Croatia (which we would certainly recommend if you are planning to visit Krka), then we suggest using Rentalcars.com - we have always found them to be the most reliable website to use when renting cars in Europe and further afield.
Money and time-saving tip: if you are planning to visit Krka National Park without a tour, saving money and time by buying your ticket online beforehand and simply picking it up on the day!
How much time do you need in Krka National Park?
Another question that many have when visiting Krka National Park for the first time is how much time do you actually need in Krka?
This answer varies depending on what kind of travelling style you prefer, but generally, we suggest dedicating an entire day to visiting Krka National Park.
The most ‘famous’ element of Krka, the waterfalls at Skradinski Buk, can likely be explored fully in 2-3 hours. But in order to get the most from your visit to the park, you will need a lot longer than that as there is plenty more to see than just this one spot.
Orla and Ben standing in front of the waterfalls at Krka
Visiting Krka National Park Indpendently - Best Things to see and do in Krka
Underneath we have highlighted the best way to visit Krka National Park independently. As mentioned previously, Krka National Park is a vast area of land so it is important to create a Krka National Park itinerary before you arrive, ensuring you see all of the main highlights on offer.
Skradin
We would recommend beginning your visit to Krka National Park in Skradin, towards the Southern end of the National Park.
Skradin is one of the 5 entrances to Krka and as we highlighted above, the entrance fee at Skradin also includes a boat ride along the Krka River to Skradinski Buk - the most famous part of Krka National Park.
Skradin itself is a pretty, little riverside town that features a number of brightly painted buildings, quaint cafes and restaurants, and even a small beach area where sun-bathers are regularly found throughout the summer months.
Krka National Park boat excursions prices
Our tip: this is the best place to swim during your visit to Krka National Park. Especially after a long day of exploring the sights, it feels great to jump into the water at Skradin.
Skradinski Buk
The undisputed highlight of any visit to Krka National Park is Skradinski Buk - a 1-hour loop of wooden boardwalks that twist and wind their way through, over and around the waterfalls created by the Krka River.
Skradinski Buk is a series of waterfalls that fall for a combined 800m, culminating with the main Skradinski Buk waterfall, which falls for 46m before crashing into the river below.
The lowest lake at Skradinski Buk was once a popular swimming spot, but, unfortunately, as of January 2021, swimming is no longer permitted at this part of Krka National Park in order to preserve the natural biosphere at Krka. While understandable, it is also somewhat disappointing that you can no longer freely swim at this particular spot in Krka.
The wooden boardwalks at Skradinski Buk help you make your way around Krka
How to get around at Skradinski Buk?
Getting around Skradinski Buk if you arrive by boat:
If you have followed our itinerary, you will have caught the boat from Skradin and will have arrived at the boat entrance at Skradinski Buk. From here, it is a short walk to the wooden boardwalks that take you around the waterfalls.
After you have finished exploring Skradinski Buk, we recommend catching the boat back to Skradin and picking up your car from there. You can then drive to the other locations around Krka National Park.
While it is possible to take separate boat rides to the other notable places within Krka National Park, it isn’t the fastest way to see the park and you will likely not be able to see everything on offer in a single day.
Getting around Skradinski Buk if you arrive by car:
If you choose to drive to Skradinski Buk, there is a free car park at the entrance, which is a short walk from the visitor centre, where you can purchase your National Park entry tickets.
The entrance associated with Skradinski Buk is the Lozovac entrance.
From here, you can choose to take a 5-minute shuttle bus down to the beginning of the boardwalks (which costs an extra 5KN), or instead opt for the relatively steep downhill walk that takes around 20 minutes.
Note that the shuttle buses don’t operate from November-February. During these months, you are able to drive straight down to the beginning of the boardwalks and park there instead.
Our tip: we recommend walking down to Skradinski Buk and then paying to get the shuttle bus back up to the Lozovac entrance - the walk up is fairly steep so especially in summer, it can get rather tiring.
Shuttle Bus at Skradinski Buk
Krka Monastery
One of the few sights in Krka National Park that is entirely manmade and yet still worth a visit, the Krka Monastery is one of, if not the, most significant sites in the entire Serbian Orthodox religion.
To this day, a select group of Serbian students aged 12-16 are still educated inside the Monastery.
Occupying a beautiful spot in Krka National Park, right beside the river, the Krka Monastery is a wonderful blend of Byzantine and Mediterranean architecture. Throughout the summer months, a National Park employee is on hand to guide you through the main areas of the Monastery.
The interior of the Krka Monastery is beautiful
Our tip: there is a 2km loop walking trail at the Monastery that makes for a relaxing stroll by the edge of the Krka river.
Manojlovski Slap
While the waterfalls at Skradinski Buk may be the most famous in Krka National Park, they certainly aren’t the biggest. So, If you are looking for a great way to end your visit to Krka National Park, then the wonderful Manojlovski Slap Waterfalls are certainly worth a visit.
Found in the North of the Krka National Park, Manojlovski Slap has a small car park just off the main road. From here, it is a short 5-minute walk to the main viewpoint (pictured below), or you can choose to wander all the way down to the waterfall itself on the 1.5-hour round-loop hiking trail.
The magnificent Manojlovski Slap
Additional Places to Visit in Krka National Park
Roski Slap
Found 14km downstream from the big waterfall at Manojlovski, Roski Slap is another great example of the incredible waterfalls that are littered throughout Krka National Park.
It is possible to combine a visit to the Franciscan Monastery at Viskovac with a trip to the Roski Slap - the easiest way to do this is to take a 4-hour round-trip boat ride from Skradinski Buk.
Franciscan Monastery (Viskovac)
One of the best ways to spend some time in Krka National Park is by paying a visit to the picturesque Franciscan Monastery.
A few kilometres upstream from the Skradinski Buk Waterfalls, the Krka River opens up into the Viskovac Lake and, perched right in the centre, is a tree-fringed island that is home to the Mother of Mercy Franciscan Monastery.
The Monastery was created in the 14th century by Franciscans escaping the Ottoman invasion of Bosnia.
It is possible to see the Franciscan Monastery by taking a boat ride from Skradinski Buk that includes a 30-minute visit to the island itself.
Where to stay when visiting Krka National Park
As with the organised tour options for visiting Krka National Park, the accommodation options can also appear slightly overwhelming. So, we have decided to collate a few recommendations for the best places to stay when visiting Krka National Park.
Hotel Vrata Krke
The wonderful Hotel Vrata Krke is located in Lozovac, directly next to the main entrance to Skradinski Buk - which makes it the perfect place to stay when visiting Krka National Park. There is even a restaurant on site, meaning you never have to leave. The reason we love this place is because exploring Krka National Park is exhausting, so booking into a hotel right at the main entrance means you can collapse into your bed as soon as you’ve finished your Krka National Park visit.
Guest House Ankora
A simple but elegant guest house found in the little riverside town of Skradin. The Guest House Ankora’s central location, which is incidentally the beginning place for our suggested Krka independent itinerary, makes it a great place to stay when visiting Krka National Park.
Tips for visiting Krka National Park
Get to Skradinski/Skradin as early as you can - as with any popular tourist attraction around the world; the earlier in the day, you can get to the waterfalls and boardwalks in Skradinski, the better. The boardwalks are only a metre or so wide, so attempting to pass a tour group of 30 without missing half of the waterfalls is going to take a lot of work. Best to get there as soon as the National Park opens (times vary depending on the season)
Pack a waterproof phone case - one of the best tips for visiting Krka National Park that we were given is to bring a waterproof phone case. This allows you to get as close to the waterfalls as possible (and even swim in the water itself at Skradin) without the fear of damaging your phone.
Spend a decent amount of time at Skradinski Buk... but don’t let that be your entire visit to Krka National Park - Krka has so much to offer on top of the spectacular falls at Skradinski, so make sure you venture deep into the National Park boundaries and see what the rest of the park has in store.
Krka National Park
There we have it, folks, our complete guide to visiting Krka National Park. Seeing everything that Krka National Park has to offer can appear quite a daunting challenge at first, so we hope this article has helped you to fully understand how to get the most from your Krka National Park visit.
