The crystal clear waterfalls of Krka National Park garnered instant fame on platforms such as Pinterest, arguably putting Croatia on the map for many travelers across the world. It is easy to see why. Towering waterfalls with rushing blueish green water, surrounded by lush green forest. What’s not to love? The park is absolutely worth a stop while visiting Croatia, however we definitely have some suggestions of what to do and what not to do on your trip. Read on for tips when visiting Krka National Park in Croatia.
Tips for Visiting Krka National Park, Croatia
How to Get There: Split to Krka National Park
Home base for us was Split. We decided to rent a car and we’re so glad we did! Car of choice, a Mini Cooper Convertible. Top down, music blaring, the kids were scootin’. We rented the car from Sixt right downtown in Split. The process was super simple and we had the car returned before the end of the day.
The drive from Split to the park only took us about an hour with really lovely views of the Dalmatian coastline and countryside for most of the way. We passed through one toll, which set us back 36kn each way, so be sure to bring cash along.
If renting a car doesn’t tickle your fancy there are plenty of tour groups offering buses to and from the park. Super handy. We personally hate being subject to other people’s schedules, so this was a no for us.
Krka National Park Map: Where to Park & How to Get Around
There are a few options of where to park when visiting Krka. We chose to park in Skradin and were really happy with that decision. In addition to having an information center where you can pick up brochures and buy your tickets, Skradin is actually a really cute town with a row of cute market stands, restaurants and even a little mini beach on the river where you could just post up for the day. There are a number of parking lots to choose from when you arrive. We opted for the one closest to the center of town. Parking there for the day was 48kn total.
With the price of our admissions ticket into the park, we were able to take a boat to Skradinski buk and back. The boat is great with lots of indoor and outdoor seating, as well as a mini snack stand/bar.
Krka National Park is massive. While Skradinski buk is by far the most well known attraction, there are many other sites to see. If we had time, we would have loved to visit Roški Slap and the Krka Monastery. From Skradin you can purchase tickets for other attractions and transportation to get there. Below is a map to the whole park.
Skradinski buk
The main attraction! Skradinski buk is made up of 17 waterfalls cascading into one another, creating a beautiful and refreshing natural pool at the bottom that you can swim in. When you arrive, there are clearly marked and well maintained trails to the falls.
Around the perimeter of the falls is a network of paths and bridges allowing really gorgeous views of the Krka River and the fauna the area offers along the way. We suggest walking the perimeter, which will take about an hour, to work up a sweat before rewarding yourself with a refreshing swim in the falls. There is a stand nearby with lockers to safely stow away your belongings while you swim. There are people everywhere and the banks around the swimming area are v muddy, so these are a good idea and worked a treat.
Be warned. There are so many people. SO many people. We visited in July, so perhaps there were more humans visiting than normal, but I have to imagine it is like this most warm months of the year. I would suggest getting here as early as reasonably possible if you can.
Krka National Park Entrance Fees
Below is the price list for entrance fees in 2019. Check back on the website here for updates year on year. We paid 200kn to enter the park. This gained us entry into the park and included the boat ride to and from Skradinski buk, which was everything we needed.
If you’re keen to visit other areas of the park, you’ll need to purchase extra tickets. I’ve heard good things about the boat excursions, so might be worth checking out if you have the time. Don’t underestimate this place though. Skradinski buk is definitely plenty big to preoccupy you for the day.
Additional Tips & What We Might Have Done Differently
- Arrive Early – We mentioned this earlier, but the place was absolutely packed. I would suggest arriving right as the park opens to get your best chance of beating the crowds. You can check opening times through the official website here – times vary seasonally, however tend to be 8:00am most of the year.
- Leave Plenty of Time to See All the Sights – By arriving early, you’ll also have plenty of time to see everything you want to when visiting Kirka National Park. If we did it again, we would give ourselves time to see Roški Slap and the Krka Monastery. Boat excursions can be booked to see these spots.
As always, let us know if you end up visiting Krka National Park and find any of these tips helpful!
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