Krka National Park in Croatia - 8 musts and facts

Updated 2023 - Krka National Park in Croatia is a stunning national park with impressive waterfalls, lovely walking paths and beautiful lakes. Here you can see the beautiful waterfalls Skradinski Buk and Roški slap, or perhaps take a boat trip to the island of Visovac. We tell you about our experience and summarise with a guide on opening hours, prices and travel routes.

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Krka National Park in Croatia

Krka National Park is one of Croatia's eight national parks and is known for its beautiful lakes and waterfalls. In 1985, the park was granted national park status, and since then the number of visitors has continued to grow. In recent years, the park has been visited by over a million people a year!

In other words, you shouldn't expect to be alone in nature, but the national park still offers a fantastic nature experience. Welcome to a world of greenery, waterfalls, lakes and rich wildlife!

Stora guiden till Krka National park i KroatienKrka nationalpark

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1. Walk the hiking trails in Krka National Park

The nature area is large and there are several long, beautiful hiking trails. There are both longer and shorter hiking trails, and we chose a fairly easy path that eventually leads to the impressive waterfall Skradinski buk. We walked through a landscape filled with green vegetation and wildly flowing water. The park has made walking easy, with several nice and comfortable wooden walkways along the river.

2. Fascinated by the Skradinski Buk waterfall

The Skradinski buk waterfall is one of the most famous waterfalls in the park and is one of the most beautiful and attractive parts of the park. The waterfall is impressive and roars loudly in the background. People gather on the surrounding bridges just to watch, or sit on the grass and have a picnic. It was a bit too cold to swim when we were here, but in fact, swimming is allowed except at the Skradinski Buk waterfall from 2021, so don't forget your swimwear!

3. Experience plant and animal life in Krka National Park

Krka National Park is rich in plant and animal life. There are over 200 species of birds, over 15 different mammals and 18 species of fish, many of which are endangered in Europe. There are also around 800 different types of plants in the park. The concentration of lavender in the river is one of the highest in Europe, and everywhere there is a fresh scent of nature.

4. Visit the unique mill and museum

In the national park, not far from Skradinski buk, you will find a small village with mills, a museum and archaeological finds. Here you will also find toilets and restaurants.

5. Go on the boat trip " Roški Slap Waterfalls"

The boat trip " Roški Slap waterfalls" takes about 4 hours. If you take it on the same day as you visit the park (or if you buy a 3-day pass), you don't have to pay the entrance fee twice, which we had to do ... The tour goes first to Visovac Island and then to the Roški Slap waterfall.

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6. Strolling around on Visovac Island in Krka National Park

Visovac Island is a tiny island where Franciscan monks have lived for hundreds of years. Here you will find a monastery, a church from 1576, a library and a small museum. The guide on the island gave an engaging account of the dramatic history, including the exile of the monks by the Turks. The monastery was destroyed in 1445, but was rebuilt in the 18th century.

What we found most interesting, however, nobody told us about. Why were there large domesticated birds running around everywhere and why were there pumpkins hanging in the trees...?

7. Take a selfie at the Roški Slap waterfall

Roški Slap (Slap means waterfall in Croatian) is a series of 12 waterfalls, the largest of which is 22 metres high and 60 metres wide. We have to admit that this was considerably less powerful than Skradinski buk, although we liked the surrounding areas, where greenery and rippling water are everywhere.

8. Discovering the area around Roški Slap

We docked the boat on our journey and had an hour to do whatever we wanted, and took the opportunity to walk around the area. There is water everywhere and the forests offer the full range of greenery.

Don't forget to discover the area around Roski slap! We aimed high up to get some views and we found a spot overlooking the national park. There are restaurants where the boat docks and you can also go here by car. Here you can also take a boat trip to Krka monastery and the fortress Trosenj.

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Little tip when visiting Krka National Park

Krka National Park is located in the county of Sibenik Knin in central Dalmatia and has a total of five different entrances. If you come via the Lozovac entrance, which is the main entrance for cars and tourist buses, there are car parks, restaurants, a shop and a free shuttle bus if you don't want to walk ten minutes down a steep slope.

Overnight stay outside Krka National Park

After our little hiking trip, we chose to stay at the car park outside the national park. There are two campsites nearby, but in October there was plenty of space to say the least. We sat outside for several hours and enjoyed the sun with a good Croatian beer.

More national parks in Croatia

There are seven more national parks in Croatia. We have visited two of them, and can highly recommend both. Click on the links to read more!

Plitvice National Park
Brijuni National Park
Kornati Islands
Paklenica National Park
Mljet
Risnjak
Northern Velebit

Plitvice Nationalpark — Plitvice National Park

See more in Croatia

There is a lot to see and experience in Croatia. Here are some tips on nice places to visit, not too far from Krka National Park.

Zadar - a historic city on the Adriatic Sea
Trogir - a Unesco World Heritage Site in Croatia
Split - a historic city on the Croatian coast
Omiš - the 'pirate city' by the dramatic mountains

Facts about Krka National Park

Country: Croatia
Landscape: Dalmatia
County: Šibenik-Knins County
Established: Year 1985
Enter: There are five entrances to the national park. These are Skradin, Lozovac (main entrance for cars and tourist buses), Roški slap, Burnum/Puljane and Kistanje/Krka Monastery.

Animals and nature

Rivers: River Krka (72.5 km long) and River Čikola.
Vattenfall: Skradinski buk, Roški slap, Manojlovac slap and Bilušića buk.
Fauna: There are many animals in the park, including otters, wolves, wild cats, horseshoe crabs (a type of bat) and the amphibian elm. There are also ten fish species that are endemic, meaning they are not found anywhere else in the world.

Things to see and do in KRKA National Park

Attractions: Visovac Island, the "Kuželj" house on Visovac Island, the Stinice - Roški slap - Oziđana pećina educational trail (8.5 km), the Oziđana pećina cave, Krka monastery and the Burnum amphitheatre.
Activities: The most popular activities are hiking, cycling and boat trips. There is also the possibility of taking a guided tour.

Hiking trails in Krka National Park

Skradin bridge - Skradinski buk (3.4 km)
Lozovac - Skradinski buk (875 m)
Skradinski buk (1.9 km)
Goriš - Torak (2.9 km)
Brnjica - Čikola River (1.5 km)
Ključica (1.6 km)
Bačići (1.8 km)
Vukovića podi (350 m)
Rogovo (2.3 km)
Stinice - Roški Slap - Oziđana pećina cave (8.5 km)
Roški Slap (1.4 km)
Niz ploču (1.5 km)
Laškovica - Žižići - Roški slap (3.3 km)
Krka monastery (2.1 km)
Pištavac (850 m)
Trošenj - Pištavac (5.7 km)
Perice - Krka (1.7 km)
Manojlovac (360 m)
Roman path (630 m)
Brljan - Manojlovac (900 m)
Bilušića buk (300 m)
Marasovine (2.7 km)

Opening hours

Opening hours vary depending on the season. Please note that during low season only Skradinski Buk is open. The opening hours below are valid for 2018. More up-to-date information can be found at the park's website.
Low season (Nov-March): 09:00-16:00
Mid-season (April-June and Sept-Oct): 10:00-18:00.
Peak season (July-August): 08:00-20:00

Prices in Krka national park

Prices vary for example depending on the season, and whether you buy a group or individual ticket. Here are some examples (valid for 2023, which will be in euros). Children under 7 years old are free.
Low season (Nov-March): Adults approx. 10 euros
Mid-season (April-June and Sept-Oct): Adults 4-5 euros
Peak season (July-August): Adults 8-9 euros

Accommodation in Krka national park

Hotel: If you want to stay very close to the national park, the town of Skradin is the best (and only) choice. For example, Hotel Skradinski Buk is located here.
Camping: About 2.5 kilometres from the national park you will find two campsites, Auto Camp Krka and Camping marina.

Travelling to Krka National Park

Car or motorhome: You can go to the national park by car or camper van. The roads are very good in Croatia and are well signposted. Below is the approximate distance and time from some major towns in Croatia. The motorway from Zagreb is a toll road.
Bus: Bus connections are available from various cities including Zagreb, Rijeka, Zadar, Split, Omis, Makarska and Dubrovnik. During the high season July-August, several tours run daily and some buses run directly. Please consult website BussCroatia.com for more information.

Distance to Krka National Park

Sibernik: 20 km, about 20 minutes
Zadar: 73 km, about 1 hour
Split: 92 km, about 1 hour and 15 minutes
Zagreb: 325 km, about 3 hours and 30 minutes
Rijeka: 280 km, about 3 hours and 50 minutes

Helena

12 October 2015 18:05

Croatia

Helena

Administrator

26 Comments

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Krisztina says:

Fantastically beautiful! When I was in Croatia many years ago, we were on an excursion to a similar national park (Plitvice) I remember that it was soooo beautiful that you are amazed.

12 October 2015 - 18:52

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Åsa says:

Looks fantastic! What a place! We're having a bit of an "autumnal blast" here at the moment, with unsettled weather and cooler air. It hasn't rained here for ages so it was quite refreshing to have a change of weather. The Portuguese bring out their boots and jackets even though the temperature is more like Swedish summer, like 20 degrees.

12 October 2015 - 18:59

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Maria says:

How beautiful it looks! 🙂

12 October 2015 - 19:55

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admin says:

Krisztina, we are planning to visit Plitvice too! Have heard that it should be amazing! 🙂

Åsa, haha we recognise the cover-up jackets from Portugal. We saw some here too with winter jackets with fur collars, knitted sweaters underneath + huge scarves. When we went in linen 😉

Maria, fantastic! 🙂

12 October 2015 - 20:02

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Helena says:

Looks like I get another item on my Croatia list 🙂 Seems to be very beautiful there!

12 October 2015 - 20:22

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BP says:

What pictures! An amazing landscape and a mighty waterfall! I am so glad that you have such nice weather. Usually look at BBC's weather forecast and they have for days now shown rain for the area you are in. So nice that it is not only SMHI that can be wrong; -)

12 October 2015 - 20:23

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Comment by post author

admin says:

Helena, Krka is well worth a visit! We are planning to go to Plitvice as well, but it will be a bit later as we don't want to go north yet (as it will be colder then...).

BP, we have had some rain and will probably get more, but today has been fantastic weather! (And weather forecasts are not always right...;)

12 October 2015 - 20:48

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Matts Torebring says:

Only one word fits as a comment: fabulous! Be well!

12 October 2015 - 20:55

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Steve says:

What an amazing experience! Croatia is impressing me more and more.

12 October 2015 - 21:43

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admin says:

Matts, fabulous fits well! 🙂

Steve, Croatia impresses us too! 🙂

12 October 2015 - 21:51

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ontripdk says:

WOW it looks good:-) One of the places we want to visit one day. Your description and pictures have now convinced us 🙂 .

12 October 2015 - 22:09

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JoY says:

Lovely pictures with the waterfalls. Nice weather you have also got back.
Hugs

12 October 2015 - 22:14

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Ditte says:

How delicious! What an experience! I would also like it here. And nice now a little "offseason" that there are not too many people.
Very nice pictures that attract!
And enjoying the sun after a day in the park seems very nice.
(It's hot in Spain too, today +27, quite ok for being well into October, but not the nature you have...).

12 October 2015 - 22:24

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Comment by post author

admin says:

Ontripdk, Krka is well worth a visit! Low season and nice weather was perfect! 🙂

JoY, I think there will be more rain, it is autumn, but we chose a sunny day for the visit to Krka! 🙂

Ditte, I have seen on both your and other blogs that it is very hot in Spain. Is it usually this hot in October? We don't have quite that hot, although the weather was fantastic yesterday.

13 October 2015 - 7:12

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Inga M says:

Our good friends just came back from a trip in Croatia, also impressed by this place. Re-reading some posts on your blog and thinking about the caviar. I think you can buy caviar at Ikea all over the world. Glad you got summer weather. We don't have that here, right now + 3 degrees.

13 October 2015 - 7:27

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Comment by post author

admin says:

Inga M, glad that your friends also liked Krka! And yes, I think you are right about IKEA and the caviar. What a cold you have!!!

13 October 2015 - 8:26

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Resfredaf says:

But, what incredibly powerful views. We must go there one day! My husband loves waterfalls, will have to take him.

13 October 2015 - 9:13

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Ama de casa says:

Looked enormously delicious! I just love waterfalls, you can look at them forever!
And if you're so close, maybe you can take a boat trip today? Even though the entrance fee was quite expensive, you are there now - take advantage! As I said, the park looked absolutely magical 🙂.

13 October 2015 - 9:22

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Ama de casa says:

Speaking of admission, I think they have organised it well in many places in the US (probably in more places too, but those are the ones I came to think of now). When you pay admission to a park, the ticket is often valid for up to a week. So you can go out and in a little as you want during that time. Heavenly good, actually 🙂

13 October 2015 - 9:24

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Comment by post author

admin says:

Travel Friday, really powerful! And there are more national parks in Croatia 🙂 .

Ama de casa, we thought about it, even if we have to pay the entrance fee again though... blah!!!! I think it was only for one day...

13 October 2015 - 9:43

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Renates Reiser says:

Wow! So powerful! I will add this place to my list of places in Croatia I would like to visit next time I go to the country 😀.

14 October 2015 - 15:37

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steel city anna says:

Looks really nice. It's cool with waterfalls. Not often you see one so big in Europe.

14 October 2015 - 17:48

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Comment by post author

admin says:

Renate, there really is a lot to see in Croatia! Krka National Park is worth a visit!

Stel city Anna, that is probably true. I mostly know that there are many waterfalls in Norway and one big one in Iceland. Soon we will go to Plitvice, there are more! 🙂

14 October 2015 - 19:21

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Christine - 29GRADER says:

Soooooooo beautiful! 🙂

14 October 2015 - 21:21

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Shefik veliu says:

Hello my friends, I'm Peter Helena, I want to have a beer and watch the sun.

15 October 2015 - 13:58

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Comment by post author

admin says:

Christine, right?

Shefik, some days are amazing! It's also raining a lot now and starting to be autumn. But not if you compare with Sweden of course... 😉.

17 October 2015 - 8:05

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Krka National Park in Croatia - 8 musts and facts

Krka National Park in Croatia

1. Walk the hiking trails in Krka National Park

2. Fascinated by the Skradinski Buk waterfall

3. Experience plant and animal life in Krka National Park

4. Visit the unique mill and museum

5. Go on the boat trip " Roški Slap Waterfalls"

6. Strolling around on Visovac Island in Krka National Park

7. Take a selfie at the Roški Slap waterfall

8. Discovering the area around Roški Slap

Little tip when visiting Krka National Park

Overnight stay outside Krka National Park

More national parks in Croatia

See more in Croatia

Facts about Krka National Park

Animals and nature

Things to see and do in KRKA National Park

Hiking trails in Krka National Park

Opening hours

Prices in Krka national park

Accommodation in Krka national park

Travelling to Krka National Park

Distance to Krka National Park

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26 Comments

Krisztina says:

Åsa says:

Maria says:

admin says:

Helena says:

BP says:

admin says:

Matts Torebring says:

Steve says:

admin says:

ontripdk says:

JoY says:

Ditte says:

admin says:

Inga M says:

admin says:

Resfredaf says:

Ama de casa says:

Ama de casa says:

admin says:

Renates Reiser says:

steel city anna says:

admin says:

Christine - 29GRADER says:

Shefik veliu says:

admin says:

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