Krka National Park: Complete Visitor Guide to Seven Waterfalls Including Skradinski Buk with Transport Options, Ticket Prices, Swimming Spots and Practical Travel Tips from Personal Experience
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Krka National Park is located in Central Dalmatia, between Zadar and Split and near Šibenik on one side and Knin on the other. There are many places with the name Krk in Croatia (there’s also an island and a city on it), the park took its name from the Krka River. All these amazing waterfalls are right on it.
In terms of attractiveness among tourists coming to Croatia, Krka Park ranks second after Plitvice Lakes Park. And this doesn’t do it any favors.
Unlike Plitvice Lakes, where all transport is new and electrically powered, in Krka both the excursion boats and minibuses are quite old and run on gasoline or diesel.
The park occupies an area of 109 square km. All amenities for visitors have been created in the park area: cafes, rest pavilions, souvenir shops, equipped beaches.
In addition to nature itself, there are also architectural and archaeological attractions here – for example, excavations of the Bribirska Glavica settlement (several kilometers from Skradin).
Many endemic plants grow here (i.e., part of any flora or fauna with a limited range of growth or habitat). Thanks to information signs, even people far from botany learn a lot about rare flowers and plants around the tourist trails.
As for flora and fauna, in total, the park has:
- 860 species of plants;
- 18 species of fish (so many of them here!!!) – of which ten species are also endemic;
- 18 species of bats;
- 222 species of birds (we didn’t see anything special except swans, gulls, and ducks, although they say eagles, owls, falcons, vultures, etc. live here).
Krka waterfalls
The park has 7 large waterfalls with a total water drop height of 242 m. These waterfalls are undoubtedly the highlight of Krka National Park.
The highest waterfalls: Bilušić Buk – 22 m, Brljan – 15 m, Manojlovac – height difference of 60 m, main waterfall 32 m, Rošnjak – 8 m, Miljacka Slap – 24 m, Roški Slap – 22.5 m. Skradinski Buk itself is 46 meters high.
The last one (it’s at the very bottom of this waterfall cascade) is the most popular among tourists.
The main attraction of the park is 7 impressive waterfalls located along the Krka River. The height of the waterfalls varies from 8 to 47.7 m. The highest waterfall, 46 m high, is called Skradinski Buk
Skradinski Buk waterfall
Skradinski Buk is one of the most attractive parts of the park. Various publications have repeatedly called it the most beautiful waterfall in Europe. The average water flow is 55 cubic meters per second, and this is the largest travertine cascade system in Europe.
Of course, the impression of what we saw is hard to describe: a huge mass of water flows in fantastic cascades through stones, grass, and trees. The noise is very loud, spray flies. Beautiful! You just want to look at this wonder and not think about anything else.
The water is an unreal turquoise color, which is rare for a freshwater body.
Skradinski Buk waterfall is one of the most attractive parts of the park
Krka National Park opening hours
Krka National Park is open daily, without weekends and holidays.
The ticket price includes a ride on an excursion boat. However, getting on the boats is virtually impossible. The water trip there and back lasts about 3 hours, plus you need to stand in quite a long queue.
Ticket prices for Krka National Park
How to get to Krka waterfalls
Krka Park has five official entrances. The most convenient way to get directly to the waterfalls is through two of them. These most popular entrances (through one of which we entered the park) are located near the towns of Lozovac and Skradin. You can reach these two entrances in two ways:
- by excursion boat from the nearby town of Skradin;
- and by bus running from the remote park entrance (located in Lozovac) to the nature reserve area.
By excursion boat from Skradin
In my opinion, a water trip is much more pleasant. To board the boat, you need to buy tickets to Krka Park at its office, which is in Skradin. The ticket price already includes park admission and boat transfer there and back.
The boat that takes tourists to Krka waterfalls from Skradin
The scenery fully justified my expectations! The places here are wonderful: the greenery dazzles the eyes, the freshness of freshwater streams invigorates, and everything around charges you with energy.
Another advantage of boat transfer is no need to transfer to a bus. The boat brings tourists directly to the territory of the national park, right to Skradinski Buk waterfall.
Schedule of boats Skradin – Krka National Park (this schedule board is installed in Skradin)
Boats from Skradin to the waterfalls run once an hour, from 8:00 to 18:00. The trip up the Krka River to the park entrance takes about half an hour.
By bus from Šibenik and Skradin, through Lozovac
You need to go to Krka waterfalls by bus with two transfers. The distance from Šibenik to Lozovac is 14 km. For independent travelers, scheduled buses run along this route from Šibenik bus station five times a day. The fare is 14 Kn.
From Skradin by bus takes no more than 10 minutes. The fare is 7 Kn.
In Lozovac there’s a free parking lot where you’ll be dropped off from the first bus. From it, directly to the entrance located near Krka waterfalls, a second bus runs at 10-15 minute intervals (the ride on the second bus is already included in the park ticket price).
You need to be prepared for the fact that the bus that goes to the waterfalls from the parking lot in Lozovac travels along a narrow winding road without guardrails. And when it meets another bus, one of them must somehow yield to the other. Most likely, buses don’t run in the rain, because even in good weather it’s dangerous, and in bad weather it’s a completely unjustified risk. In general, be prepared for 7 minutes of quite an unpleasant ride.
Free buses from the stop in Lozovac are equipped with air conditioning; in summer it’s nice to cool off after the heat
By car
You won’t be able to drive directly to the entrance to Krka Park by car. According to park rules, you need to leave your car at the free parking lot in Lozovac, and you still need to take a bus to the park entrance.
A little tip:
In summer the park is always very crowded, and there’s a queue of several hours for buses to the park, and parking lots around get very full. In September, however, we easily parked and 15 minutes after buying tickets we were sitting on the bus.
Entrances to Krka Park
Krka National Park has five official entrances: Skradinski Buk (Skradin), Lozovac, Roški waterfall – Laškovica, Burnum, and Kistanje.
Burnum has remains of a Roman forum and an archaeological museum; you can only get there by car. In Kistanje there’s Krka Monastery; you can drive there or take a tour bus from Kistanje throughout the year. From Kistanje, follow the signs to Krka Monastery and descend along a mountain serpentine; there’s a parking lot at the monastery.
Most tourists are interested in Skradinski Buk waterfall; you can reach it from the towns of Skradin and Lozovac.
We entered the park through the Skradinski Buk entrance. Tourists who arrive at Krka Park by excursion boat from Skradin reach this entrance.
At the entrance to Skradinski Buk Park there are souvenir shops, ice cream stalls, cafes, everything is paid and cash only. Palačinka (pancakes) for 1 euro, ice cream 0.5 euros. In principle, you can bring water and snacks with you and have a mini-picnic. The toilet is also paid – 0.3 euros.
At the entrance to the park from the Skradinski Buk waterfall side, on one side there’s a picnic area, and on the other side there’s a historic chapel
Map of Krka Park excursion routes
In Krka Park itself there are two main types of routes – a short walking route and longer, combined ones. The NP itself is much larger than the walking route clearly outlined by wooden paths that awaits tourists.
Map of Krka Park excursion routes
For those who aren’t ready to stop at anything, there’s another option: climbing to the upper lake, you can board another boat and go to the far part of the park.
At the “Skradinski Buk” entrance you can buy a ticket and go on a 2-hour excursion to Visovac Island, where a men’s monastery is located. The excursion includes: boat ride through the Krka River canyon, visiting the Franciscan monastery, half-hour viewing of the church and museum, tour around the island.
A tiny island with the remains of the Franciscan Visovac Monastery (14th century)
Also from “Skradinski Buk” you can go on a 4-hour excursion, which includes: visiting Visovac Island, boat ride to Roški Slap waterfall (25.5 m), visiting water mills, souvenir shops.
From the “Roški Slap” pier you can buy a ticket for a 2-hour excursion to the kingdom of untouched nature. You’ll see high canyon cliffs, diversity of plant and animal life. The excursion includes viewing of “Krka” monastery, and you can also see catacombs accessible to tourists.
Map of the route around the waterfalls in Krka Park
Map of the walking route around the waterfalls
The seven cascades of Skradinski Buk waterfall are concentrated in an area 400 m long and 100 m wide. The main, short, walking route is laid out around them. Throughout the route, wooden platforms are installed, and small bridges are thrown over water obstacles.
Most tourists choose this short route. Its length is about 2 km (the yellow path on the diagram above), and a walk along this route takes about an hour.
But the navigation here is illogical, because the only sign stands not even next to the trail, but behind a bush, and we ended up going in the wrong direction. And by the way, there are quite a few such people here.
The only directional sign on the route stands not next to the trail, but behind a bush, which can lead you in the wrong direction
From the entrance from Skradin (located at the foot of the waterfalls), the walking route goes around, on the right side, around the waterfalls and a small lake that formed in the course of their flow. Near the lake there are a couple of cafes and a restaurant; a brood of wild ducks usually splashes in the water and tourists swim.
The path that leads up reaches a large clearing where there’s a drinking fountain. In this place there are viewing platforms (one of them has free Wi-Fi). From the bridge you can perfectly see the most beautiful, lower cascade of Skradinski Buk waterfall.
Further along the route is a small ethnographic museum with a couple of models and a park description. Behind it are wooden platforms with bridges from which you can watch swimming fish and birds.
This walking route goes in a circle; at its end, a view opens onto the first viewing platforms from the other shore of the lake at the foot of the waterfalls.
At the end of the walking route, a view opens onto the first viewing platforms from the other shore of the lake
Can you swim in Krka Park?
In the lower part of Skradinski Buk waterfall, in the widening of the river bed, a small lake formed. In this place, unlike the territory of Plitvice Lakes Park, swimming is allowed. In summer the water in the lake warms up to +33 degrees!
Guests of the national park usually happily use this opportunity. Of course, you can’t swim right up to the waterfall. Swimming areas are fenced off with buoys. But in principle, it’s close enough to the swimmers anyway. A lifeguard stands on the bridge and makes sure people don’t swim beyond the buoys.
However, the bottom of the lake is shallow, uneven, and rocky. Therefore, you won’t be able to swim in it, except to cool off in hot weather.
Beach near Skradinski Buk waterfall
Attractions of Krka Park
Krka hydroelectric power station
Directly behind the waterfall stands a former hydroelectric power station. This is the first hydroelectric power station in Croatia on the Krka River, built according to the design of the famous physicist and electrical engineer Nikola Tesla. It was put into operation on August 28, 1895, just a couple of days after the world’s first power station of this kind on the Niagara River.
By the way, Croatians insist on their primacy in the practical implementation of electricity delivery technology to the end user: Šibenik received electricity almost immediately, while Americans extended power lines to Buffalo only in early 1896.
Platform in front of Krka hydroelectric power station
Franz Joseph observation deck and Ethnographic Museum
This observation deck was built back in 1875 in honor of the arrival of Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph (Croatia was then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire). It’s located along the walking route, in the area of the upper cascades of Skradinski Buk waterfall.
Legend has it that the emperor was struck by the beauty of nature and the warm reception of his subjects, after which he admired the views for a long time.
What an amazing view opens from above! No wonder the emperor admired it
Not far from the viewing platform are cafes, shops, toilets, and a drinking fountain, as well as an Ethnographic Museum of Croatian life with local flavor. It’s located in restored 19th-century water mills.
In the courtyard there’s a blacksmith’s shop where a blacksmith forges souvenir horseshoes. And in the premises there’s a loom on which they weave bags and floor mats for sale to tourists
What other attractions are there on the territory of Krka National Park?
Once upon a time, formidable castles Trošenj-grad, Nečven-grad, Bogočin-grad, Ključica were erected on the park territory for protection from the Turks. Nowadays, only picturesque ruins remain of them.
Here you can also see the Orthodox Serbian Krka Monastery, and further down the Krka River, on a small island, there’s the Franciscan Visovac Monastery.
Where to eat in Krka Park?
During our walk we got quite hungry, but the food for sale on the park territory didn’t appeal to us. Besides fast food that stinks of burnt rancid oil, there was nothing here. Moreover, the fast food is far from meat-based, but some chips, fried potatoes, lángos (flatbreads), and something like that.
So we had lunch outside the park territory, where there was a more or less decent cafe. The cafe is called Stari Mlin i Kalikusa and it’s located approximately 500 meters from the Skradinski Buk entrance, on the road to Lozovac, near the ethnographic village. Beautiful views of the waterfall and outdoor tables. The food isn’t luxury, but definitely better than the very expensive fast food in the park.
In the “Kalikusa” cafe the food is quite edible, but like everything in Krka Park – it’s quite expensive here
When is the best time to go to Krka Park?
The velvet season is a great time to visit not only Krka Park but Croatia in general: there are far fewer tourists than during peak season, the weather is wonderful, the sun is gentle. In summer, such a trip can become a real ordeal.
A Croatian from whom we rented housing told us how a married couple went to Krka Park independently (to be fair, I should note that they were elderly). Stopping somewhere along the way to admire the beautiful scenery, the man got sunstroke and fainted, causing him to fall off a cliff. Fortunately, without fatal consequences.
But you should still take note – in summer in Croatia, especially in the Dalmatia region, it can be very hot.
How much time do you need to visit Krka Park?
A visit to Krka National Park is best combined with a holiday on the coast, because unlike Plitvice Lakes, this park is located much closer to Split (or Zadar) than to Zagreb. But the closest large settlement to Krka is the city of Šibenik – another interesting place that you can include in your route.
To see all the corners of this natural phenomenon (and not just the standard walking route), you’ll need more than one day. For this, you should book a hotel room or apartment in the town of Skradin in advance and spend several fabulous days here.
Tips for visiting Krka Park
- During the season there are very long queues to the park; you can buy a ticket online, at the entrance there’s a validator where you can put your phone screen and save an hour of standing in line. Buy the ticket on the national park website, there are no commissions.
- After 16:00 entrance tickets are sold with a discount of almost 10 euros.
- Distances in Krka Park are much smaller than in Plitvice Lakes; if you don’t want to stand in line for a boat, go boldly on foot, the views around will be no worse.
- You can bring drinks and snacks with you, as everything inside is quite expensive and even for coffee, in high season, queues form.
- You cannot set up tents and light fires in the park, fish or hunt, pick plants. You’re allowed to visit the park with dogs on leashes.