The Complete Guide to Visiting Krka National Park in Croatia

If you love waterfalls, then visiting the Krka Waterfalls in Croatia is a fantastic place to visit. These amazing waterfalls pouring into pools of crystal blue green water makes visiting Krka National Park just one of the many amazing destinations in Croatia.

Visiting Krka National Park in Croatia is a little slice of waterfall heaven. Having previously travelled to Plitvice Lakes National Park I knew Croatia did waterfalls well. And with more than just waterfalls, you’ll have the opportunity to see travertines, ruins, caves and even get to enjoy a riverboat tour.

My Eurotrip in 2017 was my first ever visit to Croatia which is also where my parents were born. I still reminisce about seeing the incredible jagged coastline and the picturesque rugged mountains around us as we road-tripped through this beautiful country for a month.

Krka National Park’s stunning scenery and incredible nature make it a must for any Croatia itinerary. Situated along the Krka river, the park’s beautiful waterfalls help attract so many visitors that a limit of 10,000 visitors at a time has been introduced at the famous Skradinski buk waterfall. As a result, Krka is the second most visited national park in Croatia – with the enchanting Plitvice Lakes National Park being the first. Although many people only come to Krka to swim in the majestic Skradsinki 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 complete guide to visiting Krka National Park.

Here’s my top tips for visiting Krka National Park in Croatia!

If you’re like me and have seen photos on Pinterest and Instagram of Krka Waterfalls, then you can definitely understand why this summer destination needs to be on the top of your bucket-list! What makes Krka National Park even more wonderful is that you can swim in the waterfalls!

First let’s make sure you have everything you need for your trip away-

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Information & Tips for Visiting Krka National Park

Opening Hours

Krka National Park is open 365 days a year, however some sections of the park are closed between November and March. Fortunately though, it’s possible to visit Skradinski buk (the park’s most famous waterfall) all year round.

Opening times vary throughout the year and depending on the site you wish to visit. Check the website for their opening times.

Entrances

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, and 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 March and October, you can take a boat trip from the Skradin entrance of Krka National Park up to the waterfall at no extra cost.

If you are visiting outside these months or would prefer a walk, there’s also a 3.4 kilometre hiking path from Skradin bridge to the falls. Parking at the Skradin entrance is slightly more complicated as spaces are very limited.

If you opt to drive you’ll probably have to park in one of many unofficial car parks. Prices vary between these, so make sure to check how much you’re paying before leaving for a day in the park.

Roški slap entrance | Although parking at the Roški slap entrance is quite limited there should be enough spaces as most guests visit the area via the park’s boats.

Burnum/Puljane entrance | Despite being one of the park’s lesser visited sites, there is an official entrance at the Roman ruins of Burnum.

Kistanje/Krka Monastery entrance | The final entrance is at Krka Monastery. Although it’s possible to visit by boat, there is a car park on site if you opt to drive.

Entrance Fees

The entrance fee at Krka National Park 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 30 Kuna, whereas the same ticket costs 200 Kuna during peak season (June to September).

Tickets can be bought upon arrival at any of the National Park entrances, or you can book online in advance via the official Krka National Park website.

Parking

Parking is free at the official park entrances, although Lozovac has the largest number of parking spaces. Despite Skradin being a very popular entrance to Krka National Park, official parking spaces are extremely limited so it’s likely you will have to pay to use an unofficial car park if you visit via this entrance.

Maps

As there are a number of sections of the park to explore, you may need a few maps for your trip. Click here for a guide to Krka National Park, as well as maps for Skradinski buk and Roški slap.

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Best time to visit Krka National Park

Unsurprisingly, the weather at Krka National Park is best during the summer months. As the park gets extremely crowded during July and August, the best time to visit Krka is in May/June and September/October. 

The park will be less busy, and if you opt for either May or October then you won’t have to pay the higher entrance fee charged during peak season. If you want to swim it’s important to know that swimming is only permitted from the 1st June to 30th September at the Skardinski buk falls in Krka National Park.

Getting to Krka National Park

Zadar is one of my favourite cities in Croatia and is a perfect base for exploring the region such as visiting Krka Waterfalls, Kornati Islands and Plitvice Lakes.

The best way to get to Krka National Park is to rent a car and drive yourself. Some of the park is only accessible by road, and so without a car you’ll have to miss out certain spots – such as the impressive Manojlovacki slap.

As the park has a number of entrances, you’ll need to decide where you want to visit first and follow directions there. Personally I’d suggest you arrive at the main Lozovac entrance and visit Skradinski buk early in the day to avoid the crowds. It takes approx. 1 hour to get to Krka National Park from Zadar by car.

If you don’t have a vehicle, there are lots of tours available like these.

Exploring Krka Waterfalls National Park

Hiking inside the National Park is a definite must. The Skradinski Buk trail (approx.2km) is a series of beautiful trails and bridges that will give you a great opportunity to see all the beautiful flora and fauna. The water is so incredibly clear – we spotted lots of fishes, frogs and pretty blue dragon flies. Additionally you will be rewarded with incredible views of the Krka falls.

The most beautiful and popular waterfall inside the Krka NP is the Skradinski Buk waterfall. This is also where you can enjoy a refreshing swim after your hike to cool down in the summer heat. I had such an amazing time swimming here!

Pro Tip: Pack a pair of Reef Shoes with you as there can be sharp rocks on the floor as you wade through the water towards the waterfall.

Tips for visiting Krka National Park

Arrive early to Skradinski buk | I’ve said it a few times already, but it’s one of the things I cannot stress enough if you want to enjoy the area without crowds.

Rent a car | The easiest and cheapest way to get around Krka National Park is to drive yourself. There are a number of spots within the park that are only accessible by road, so if you don’t have a car you won’t be able to see them.

Bring suncream in summer | Make sure you’re well protected during hot summer days!

Bring Reef Shoes | Getting to a swimmable area requires walking on rocks which can be slippery and sharp

Save money by avoiding peak season – If you’re looking to save money, one of the best travel tips for Krka National Park is to avoid visiting between June and September. Entrance to the park costs 200 Kuna during these months, which is higher than any other time of year.

Instead, plan your trip outside of peak season and you’ll pay considerably less as well as having the benefit of the park being less crowded. Obviously this isn’t an option if your trip falls between June and September, but if you haven’t finalised your dates it’s a good way to save money!

More on Croatia…

6 Amazing Things to Do in Zadar, Croatia

The Complete Guide to the Kornati Islands- Croatia’s Nautical Paradise

Why You Need to Visit Plitvice Lakes in Croatia

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