Croatia has to be one of the most naturally beautiful places on earth, and during our month in Split, we spent the day at Krka National Park and loved it. It showcases one of the many natural sides special to Croatia. It had such an approachable vibe to it too, which I feel came from being able to swim in the main waterfall here, Skradinski Buk waterfall. It made you feel like you were experiencing another dimension than if you were just walking on a path. As you can tell we think it’s definitely worth the day trip from Split of you have the time.
Visiting Krka National Park
We saw a lot of tours being offered from Split for day trips to Krka National Park. These were quite expensive, considering what you can do yourself. We did the trip by ourselves and feel this is the way to do it if you just want to visit Krka and Skradinski Buk waterfall. The buses we got were clean and nice, and the roads were really set up for buses. Croatia knows how to bus. If you want a more in-depth tour or want to also visit Sibenik, which is part of many tours, then maybe a tour is for you.
The boat ride from Skradin to the main entry is a pretty one that really got us excited to arrive.
It is only a short walk from the entry when you reach one of the main waterfalls in Krka National Park, Skradinski Buk. It was so busy, mind you, it was the middle of the day. People swimming and lazing in the sun and shade everywhere! We had some lunch and decided to walk first swim later, as any responsible eat-swimmer would do.
The walk was full of some stunning views, waterfall after waterfall. The track itself was pretty nice and well maintained. We did some research beforehand and the consensus was, that Krka National Park attracted fewer visitors than Plitvice Lakes National Park. While this may be true, after visiting both, they are both busy places and do not come (like we did here, in the middle of the day) expecting a quiet place. We left just before sunset and it was definitely a lot quieter then.
After we worked up a sweat we were so excited to jump in the water. It was a little awkward getting in and out on the edge, but that was part of the fun! Loved it. It’s always a must to swim in a waterfall whenever possible. Whilst you can’t get close enough to feel the waters power, swimming around and enjoying this amazing place made the day even better. Swimming is one reason to head to Krka National Park which makes it even more special.
The day we spent at Krka National Park was a memorable one for all the right reasons. We loved it and would tell anyone to visit. It is one of the endless places you can admire the natural beauty of Croatia.
How To Get To Krka National Park
Head to the main bus terminal in Split. The bus from Split leaves about every hour in high season and takes about 1 hour 15 mins to get there. Buy your tickets the day before from the bus terminal to make sure you get a seat on the bus you want. For the return trip, we got our ticket on the day at the booth in Skradin, next to the bus stop.
From Skradin it is a nice half hour boat ride before you reach Krka National Park, which is included in your ticket. From here it will only take a few minutes to see the main waterfall, Skradinski Buk, restaurants and the beginning of the main track.
Things To Know Before You Go To Krka National Park
Let’s start with the main difference between Krka and Plitvice Lakes, which is, you can swim at Krka National Park. This is so nice and I’d recommend bringing a towel and swimmers. There are toilets and changing facilities too so you do not need to worry about being wet on the bus back to Split!
There is both a supermarket at Skradin and food at the main waterfall area.
When you arrive you can either get your Krka National Park entry ticket in Skradin before the boat or as you get off the boat. Either way, you will have to wait for your ticket and also wait in line for the boat too. It took us over an hour from when we arrived in Skradin to when we entered the main entry, and had our tickets scanned.
**You can also buy tickets in advance online**
The main track took us 1 hour, which was a chilled walk with stops. The boat trip is beautiful. The whole area is so stunning and the water and the waterfalls are amazing.
It was busier than we thought it was going to be, but we did visit in the middle of the day and by the time we left, most people had too.
If day trips are not for you then your best option would be to stay in Skradin. If you plan on staying in Split there are some amazing places to stay in Split.
Our Krka National Park Itinerary
12:00 – Got on the Bus at Split
13:15 – Arrived at Skradin
Waited for tickets and then waited for a boat to the main entry.
14:00 – Got on said boat.
14:30 – Enter the National Park and see Skradinski Buk Waterfall.
Have lunch and head on the main trail.
15:45 – Jump in for a swim in the waterfall
17:00 – Boat back to Skradin
17:30 – Arrive back in Skradin and head to the bus stop
18:00 – Bus Back to Split
19:00 – Arrived back in Split :)
This would be a minimum time to do what we did. You could easily add an hour or hours, depending on how much exploring, swimming or relaxing you want to do. This is an idea though of what to expect on a day in Krka National Park.
How Much Does A Day Trip To Krka Cost?
Here’s what we paid (for the two of us)…
Bus Split to Skradin – 150 kuna
Krka National Park Entry – 220 kuna (Check current prices – You can book online too.) This ticket includes a boat trip to and from the main entry.
Bus Skradin to Split – 140 kuna
With food, there is a Konzum Supermarket in Skradin for cheap snacks and drinks, and there is some restaurants and food near the main waterfall in Krka National Park too.
So…Krka National Park
Do it. It is worth finding the time in your Croatian Itinerary to add that extra night in Split and that day exploring Krka National Park and the beautiful nature here. You can also take a look at our Plitvice Lakes National Park article and video here. We will also be doing a comparison to help you decide between Krka or Plitvice Lakes…or both.
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