National park · Croatia
Krka National ParkNacionalni park Krka
Go for one full day from Šibenik or Skradin: enter at Lozovac or by the free Skradin ferry, walk the Skradinski buk boardwalk before 10:00, and add the Visovac boat trip; skip the park in July–August midday when tour buses peak.Go for one full day from Šibenik or Skradin: enter at Lozovac or by the free Skradin ferry, walk the Skradinski buk boardwalk before 10:00 AM, and add the Visovac boat trip; skip the park in July–August midday when tour buses peak.
Map to the park
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Area
109 km²42 sq mi
approximate
Established
1985
Best months
Apr–May, Sep
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…Mine-suspected land still exists in Bosnia and Herzegovin…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- Balkans ↗Mine-suspected land still exists in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in pockets of Croatia's former front line: outside towns keep to tarmac and waymarked paths, and treat red triangle signs and taped-off fields as absolute.
- Balkans ↗Serbia refuses onward entry to travellers who reached Kosovo from a third country and then try to cross straight into Serbia; route Kosovo–Serbia legs through North Macedonia or Montenegro, or start the loop in Serbia.
- Balkans ↗Hire cars need written permission from the rental company and valid insurance for every country on the line; Kosovo sells its own border insurance and some contracts exclude Albania, Kosovo or Bosnia outright.
- Croatia ↗Croatia is in the EU and the Schengen area; the EU Entry/Exit System applies to non-EU visitors. Check the official EU and Croatian sources for your passport.
- Croatia ↗Book car ferries and popular catamarans ahead in summer; foot passengers still need to be early for the busiest routes.
- Croatia ↗Split and Dubrovnik fine visitors for walking shirtless or in swimwear away from beaches; carry a cover-up.
At a glance
- Country
- Croatia
- Area
- 109 km²42 sq mi
- Land area along the Krka river between Knin and Skradin; the park boundary follows the river rather than a compact block (check).
- Established
- 1985
- Best months
- Apr–May, Sep
- Permits
- For some areas
Krka National Park protects the middle and lower Krka river in Šibenik-Knin county, a few kilometres inland from Šibenik, and was declared a national park in 1985. It is the second most visited Croatian national park after Plitvice Lakes, and the layout is the thing to understand before you go: the main sights sit along the river and are not linked by road or path, so most visitors either walk the Skradinski buk boardwalk as a single stop or move between stops by boat, shuttle or car. Skradinski buk is the cascade of travertine barriers, pools and old mills closest to both entrances, reached on foot from the Lozovac shuttle or by the park ferry from Skradin. Upstream, Visovac island holds a Franciscan monastery, Roški slap is a second cascade with the Oziđana pećina cave above it, and near Kistanje the Krka monastery and the Roman site at Burnum sit by the Manojlovac falls. The river carries 18 fish species, ten of them endemic, and 222 recorded bird species, which makes it one of the more valuable bird areas in this part of Europe. Access is channelled: fenced and staffed walkways at the main stops, no accommodation inside the park, and swimming only in the marked pool at Skradinski buk between 1 June and 30 September.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1985.
Size and age
109 km²42 sq mi · national park since 1985
Land area along the Krka river between Knin and Skradin; the park boundary follows the river rather than a compact block (check).
Why go
- Skradinski buk is a staircase of travertine barriers and pools you walk over on a wooden boardwalk.
- The free ferry from Skradin turns the approach into a short river trip rather than a car park.
- Boat trips reach Visovac island and its Franciscan monastery, and the Roški slap cascade further upstream.
- 222 bird species recorded, including eagles and owls, on a river that is also a spring and autumn migration route.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebAvoid
- MarCaution
- AprBest
- MayBest
- JunGo
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepBest
- OctGo
- NovCaution
- DecAvoid
- JanCold, quiet; some facilities closed
- FebCold; limited boat service
- MarFerry runs weather permitting; low visitor numbers
- AprBoat trips start; green valley, manageable crowds
- MayWarm, full services, before the peak
- JunWarm; arrive at opening to beat groups
- JulHottest month; busiest and most expensive
- AugPeak crowds and heat; go early or late
- SepWarm sea, thinner crowds, boats still running
- OctBoat season ends; swimming closes 1 Oct
- NovMild; ferry depends on weather
- DecQuiet; most services shut
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring migration (herons, waders, raptors)Mar–May · The Krka is one of the more important migration corridors in this part of Europe. | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Eagles, osprey and owlsAll year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Bats (18 species recorded)May–Sep | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Autumn migrationSep–Nov | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no |
| Endemic fish in the river (brown trout, Dalmatian barbelgudgeon)All year · Fishing is not allowed for visitors. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
How to get there
From Šibenik
Bus or car to Lozovac entrance, then the park shuttle down to Skradinski buk; out of season you may drive down to the lower car park.
20–30 min
From Skradin
Park ferry from the town pier to the Skradinski buk pier; roughly hourly from 08:00, returns at 30 min past the hour.Park ferry from the town pier to the Skradinski buk pier; roughly hourly from 8:00 AM, returns at 30 min past the hour.
25 min
From Split
Bus toward Šibenik or Zadar and get off at Skradin or Lozovac; a car on the A1 is faster.
1.5–2 h
Open the page →
From Zadar
Bus or car south along the coast to Skradin or Lozovac.
1–1.5 h
Open the page →
From Zagreb
Bus or car via the A1; some services stop at Skradin.
3.5–4 h
Open the page →
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Skradinski buk | The main cascade, boardwalk, old mills and the designated swimming pool. | Open with a ticket; walkable from the Lozovac shuttle or the Skradin ferry pier. |
| Visovac and the middle river | The island monastery and the wider lake-like stretch of the Krka. | Reached by boat trips from Skradinski buk, Stinice or Remetić. |
| Roški slap | A second cascade with the Oziđana pećina cave nearby. | By road from the north or by boat from Skradinski buk; separate car entrance. |
| Krka monastery and Burnum | Orthodox monastery near Kistanje and the Roman site at Burnum, with the Manojlovac falls. | By road; boat trips reach the monastery from Roški slap. |
Sketch map
- 1Skradin ferry pier · Ranger station≈43.816, 15.923Map ↗
- 2Lozovac entrance · Gate≈43.796, 15.968Map ↗
- 3Skradinski buk · Viewpoint≈43.805, 15.965Map ↗
- 4Visovac island · Village≈43.861, 15.974Map ↗
- 5Roški slap · Viewpoint≈43.908, 15.978Map ↗
- 6Oziđana pećina · Cave≈43.907, 15.981Map ↗
- 7Krka monastery · Village≈43.963, 15.990Map ↗
- 8Burnum · Village≈44.019, 16.018Map ↗
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entrance (summer, adult) | EUR 20–40 | person | 2026 estimate. Rates are seasonal and higher in Jul–Aug; children and groups pay less (check). |
| Park entrance (winter, adult) | EUR 7–15 | person | 2026 estimate; lower outside the main season (check). |
| Skradin–Skradinski buk park ferry | Free | person | Included with the entrance ticket; no separate fare. |
| Boat trip Skradinski buk – Visovac island | EUR 13–14 | person | 2026 estimate; about 2 h with 30 min on the island. Apr–Oct only. |
| Boat trip Skradinski buk – Visovac – Roški slap | EUR 17–18 | person | 2026 estimate; about 4 h with 30 min at Visovac and 1 h at Roški slap. |
| Boat trip Stinice or Remetić – Visovac | EUR 7 | person | 2026 estimate; about 35 min each way plus 30 min at Visovac. |
| Boat trip Roški slap – Krka monastery – Trošenj – Nečven | EUR 13–14 | person | 2026 estimate; about 2.5 h, monastery stop 30 min. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entrance ticket permit or guide
Boat trips to Visovac and Roški slap permit or guide
Swimming in the lower lake no permit
Park rules
- Swimming
- Only in the marked pool at Skradinski buk, and only 1 Jun–30 Sep. Elsewhere in the river it is dangerous and damages the travertine.
- Staying on the paths
- Walkways are fenced and staffed; do not step onto the travertine barriers or into the river.
- Cycling
- Allowed on the park roads, not on the walking trails.
- Drones
- Not allowed without permission from the park authority (check).check
- Camping
- No camping inside the park; there is no accommodation in the park either.
- Litter and fires
- No fires; carry out what you bring in.
Where to stay
Near the park
Skradin
Small town at the ferry pier; rooms, guesthouses and a couple of hotels, 25 min by boat from the falls.
Near the park
Lozovac
Village at the main car entrance; the shortest drive to the shuttle.
Near the park
Šibenik
Full range of hotels and hostels, 20–30 min away, with the cathedral and the bus station.
Near the park
Roški slap area
One hotel near the cascade for the northern entrances (check).
Safety
Crowds and heat on the boardwalk medium
Slippery boardwalk and wet rock medium
Swimming outside the marked area high
Boat season and weather low
Accessibility
- The Skradinski buk boardwalk is mostly level but has steps and no lift; a shorter loop avoids the steepest section.
- The Lozovac shuttle bus and the Skradin ferry both take wheelchairs with help (check).
- Roški slap and Oziđana pećina involve stepped paths and are not suitable for limited mobility.
Visiting lightly
- Do not walk on the travertine; the barriers are living rock that grows a few millimetres a year.
- Take the ferry or shuttle instead of driving to the falls where the service runs.
- Buy from Skradin and Lozovac businesses so the villages around the park keep the benefit.
- Keep to marked trails to limit erosion and disturbance of nesting birds.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Krka National Park?
Expect roughly €20–40 per adult in the summer season and about €7–15 in winter (2026 estimate); July and August are the most expensive. Children, students and groups pay less. The ticket includes the Skradin ferry and the Lozovac shuttle. Boat trips to Visovac and Roški slap cost extra, about €7–18 depending on the route.
What are the best hikes in Krka National Park?
The Skradinski buk boardwalk is the main walk: 1.5–2 hours over wooden paths around the falls, easy and fully signed. Above Roški slap there is a stepped trail to the Oziđana pećina cave, and the park has marked cycling roads. There is no long-distance hiking trail through the whole park — the sections are far apart and most people move between them by boat or car.
When is the best time to visit Krka National Park?
April, May, September and October: boat trips run, the weather is mild and the boardwalk is manageable. July and August are the hottest and busiest months, with tour buses arriving from mid-morning. Outside April–October some services close and the Skradin ferry runs only if the weather allows.
Can you swim at Krka National Park?
Yes, but only in the marked pool in the lower lake at Skradinski buk, and only between 1 June and 30 September. There are no changing rooms and the entry to the water is uneven. Swimming anywhere else in the river is forbidden and dangerous.
How do I get to Krka from Split or Zadar?
By car or bus. From Split it is about 1.5–2 hours to Skradin or Lozovac; from Zadar about 1–1.5 hours. Buses toward Šibenik stop at Skradin, where the park ferry takes you to the falls. From Šibenik itself it is 20–30 minutes.
Do I need to book tickets in advance?
In July and August, yes — buy online or arrive at opening, as daily visitor numbers are capped at busy times (check). Outside the peak season you can normally buy at the gate. Boat trips are bought separately at the pier and sell out on busy days.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go