Krka National Park is close to Zadar, and therefore is an ideal choice for a day trip from Zadar (check what 4 national parks you can visit from Zadar). Whether it is winter, summer or autumn, the park is open for visits all year round. Still, most visitors come in the summer months, so if you want to avoid the crowds, then spring and fall are the best times to visit the park. Another advantage of visiting park off-season is that you will pay less for the entrance ticket.
Read all you need to know and what to visit in the Krka National Park.

 

About Krka river:

The river Krka is 72.5 km long and is the 22nd longest river in Croatia. The source of the river is located at the foot of the Dinara mountain and is about 3.5 km far from Knin. This is where river Krka begins its journey and flows over travertine barriers, through a picturesque canyon all the way to the sea. Down the river flow, whose total drop is 224 m, are situated 7 waterfalls: Bilušića buk, Brljan, Manojlovački slap, Rošnjak, Miljacka, Roški slap i Skradinski buk.
In addition to being known for its waterfalls, the river Krka is an extremely valuable habitat for a variety of animals, and in terms of the number of endemic fish it is one of the richest rivers in the Adriatic basin.

 

Krka National park:

 

krka national park

 

Krka National Park is located in the Šibenik-Knin County and includes the most beautiful part of the Krka River, but also the lower course of the Čikola River. The basic phenomenon of the national park is 7 travertine waterfalls of the river Krka. Due to its exceptional natural values, the Krka River was protected as a national park in 1985. The national park is open for visitors all year round, and you can tour the park on foot, by bike path or by organized boat trip. Since some localities are several kilometers apart, locations such as the island of Visovac, the Krka Monastery and Roški slap are connected by excursion boats, and all the other locations can be reached by car.
There are five entrances to the Krka National Park: Lozovac and Skradin, Roški slap, Burnum and Kistanje (Krka Monastery). Opening hours vary for each entrance depending on the time of the year. Entrance tickets for the Krka National Park can be found at the link here.

 

Entrances to Skradinski buk:

Skradinski buk is the longest and most visited waterfall on the river Krka and one of the most recognizable attractions in the Krka National Park.
Skradinski buk can be visited by boat or by road from Skradin or Lozovac. Visitors entering the park by boat from Skradin to Skradinski buk waterfall, are transfered by the boats of the national park from April to October and the boat ride is included in the ticket price.
Apart from Skradin, you can reach Skradinski Buk via the Lozovac entrance, which is the main entrance to the Krka National Park. A free parking space is provided at this entrance throughout the year, and visitors are transported to Skradinski Buk waterfall by a national park’s bus.
Lovers of nature and walking can follow the hiking trail from the entrance Lozovac to Skradinski buk that is 875 m long.

 

Educational trail around Skradinski buk waterfall:

 

national park krka

 

The circular trail on Skradinski buk is 1,900 m long and is open all year round. The tour around the waterfall lasts about 1-2 hours. The combined waters of the Krka and Čikola rivers flow over Skradinski buk, and consists of seventeen barriers distributed in the length of 800 m. Thanks to the network of wooden paths and bridges, you will enjoy a walk in the beautiful nature that surrounds the river Krka. Numerous waterfalls and lakes are lined along the trail, and you will see a preserved set of traditional houses and mills on the river.

 

Hydro power plant

The water power of the river Krka attracted people to build hydroelectric power plants in that area. The remains of the oldest hydroelectric power plant Krka are located on Skradinski buk. It was built  in 1895 and started operating just two days after Tesla’s hydroelectric plant at Niagara Falls. Due to its historical significance, HPP Krka is protected as a monument of industrial architecture.

 

Ethno village

 

np krka

 

In the Krka National Park on the Skradinski buk trail, you will visit old mills, ie water-powered mills, which in the past were one of the main sources of economic strength of the city of Šibenik. They were first mentioned in 1251, and were used to grain wheat from many cities from Dubrovnik to Istria. The development of new technologies (steam engine and electricity) have made the mill industry uncompetitive. In addition to the mills, you will see stone plants used for washing clothes, find out how women used to weave bags and floor mats. You will see black smith’s workshop, traditional kitchen and dishes and many more interesting exhibits representing the way people udes to live in this area.

 

Is it allowed to swim in Krka National park?

In the Park, swimming is allowed in certain, precisely marked places (Roški slap) at your own risk.

 

Is it allowed to ride a bicycle in Krka National park?

There are total of fourteen bicycle routes in the Park with a total length of 470 km. The park has five MTB or mountain bike routes, three Road routes and six Track routes for a pleasant family ride.

 

Organized day trip from Zadar to Krka National park

If you want to visit NP Krka with a local guide and have the cost of transport from Zadar included, see prices and travel program on If you want to visit NP Krka with a local guide and also have included the cost of transport from Zadar, see prices and travel program on the link here.