Croatia, a gem on the Adriatic Sea, offers a perfect blend of rich history, delectable cuisine, pristine beaches, and picturesque towns. With its medieval cities like Dubrovnik and Split, visitors can wander through centuries-old streets, savoring local dishes and soaking up the vibrant culture. Beyond the urban allure, Croatia’s natural beauty is unparalleled. While Plitvice Lakes National Park is renowned for its cascading lakes and lush landscapes, Krka National Park, located near Split, offers a similarly breathtaking experience and is ideal for a day trip.
For those short on time but eager to experience Croatia’s natural beauty, a perfect day trip from Split is a visit to Krka National Park. Just a short drive away, Krka offers stunning waterfalls, serene rivers, and lush greenery.
When is the best time to visit Krka Waterfalls?
Krka National Park where the Krka Waterfalls are located, is open to tourists all year round. A great time to visit though would be in the summer months from June to September when the lush flora and fauna play the perfect backdrop for a beautiful view of the waterfalls. But note – the Krka National Park is also busiest during these months with the highest number of visitors.
If you want to enjoy the Krka Waterfall and Krka Park experience sans the crowds, then the spring months (March to May) and autumn months (September to November) offer comfortable temperatures, walking trails, bicycle tours, and lively animal and varied plant life. If you want to visit the Krka Waterfalls in the winter months (between November and March), a mesmerizing view of the waterfalls awaits but wrap up warm and you’ll have to be careful of potentially slippery boardwalks!
We recommend visiting the Krka National Park and Krka Waterfalls in the shoulder months of April, May, September, and October for the best experience!
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How to get to Krka Waterfalls from Split
Split, one of the largest Croatian cities, can be your gateway to exploring the stunning natural world that awaits in Croatia. You can easily travel to Krka National Park (where you will find the Krka Waterfalls) from Split and the quickest route will take you an hour.
You can plan the perfect day trip to Krka Waterfalls from Split through the charming town of Skradin which is about an hour away. From Skradin, enter the pristine expanse of the beautiful Krka National Park to explore the two magnificent and stunning waterfalls – the Skradinski Buk and Roški Waterfall.
The distance between the two locations is about 90 kilometres depending on which route you take.
Krka Waterfalls from Split by Bus
A trip to Krka Waterfalls from Split by bus is a scenic trip that we recommend if you wish to travel by public transport. While there are many entrances to the Krka National Park, in this blog, we will take you to the Krka National Park through the town of Skradin.
First, take a bus from the Split bus station to the town of Skradin. Skradin is a small town on the banks of the Krka River and is popular for being a gateway to the Krka National Park. Skradin is about 93 kilometers from Split and the journey by bus would take you around an hour and a half. You can book the tickets online at www.flixbus.com. Each ticket would cost you about 10 Euros.
We recommend booking tickets for the bus and the entrance fee for the park together in advance so you don’t miss out on either. You can also book round-trip tickets but give yourself enough time to explore the National Park, and its waterfalls and to grab a meal. We would say about 4-5 hours would be sufficient.
Once in Skradin, you can take the boat to the main Krka Waterfalls depending on the season, or walk into the park and begin your exploration.
Krka Waterfalls to Split by Car
A trip to the Krka Waterfalls from Split is easiest by car.
You can rent a car in Split and drive to the charming town of Skradin. There are two routes to reach Skradin from Split- one with tolls and one without. However, this option is not our preferred option as you don’t need a car in Split and parking is very difficult to find.
For the most direct route with the tolls, follow the road to Sinj. Get to Dugopolje follow the signs that head to Zagreb/Šibenik and get on the E65 toll highway. Take Exit 21 and use the D56 to reach Skradin town. This route will take you a little over an hour.
You can also drive along the scenic Adriatic coast through the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Trogir and Šibenik. This route may take you 30 minutes longer than the direct route but the stunning towns you pass will make it worth the drive.
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Guided tour to Krka Waterfalls
If you’d rather have the support and friendly knowledge of a local guide complete with door-to-door transport taken care of, you can speak to one of our Travel Consultants who can discuss a couple of guided tours to Krka Waterfalls from Split including transport there and back and entry tickets.
The perfect day trip itinerary from Split to Krka Waterfalls
Here is how to enjoy the perfect day trip from Split to Krka Waterfalls when in Croatia.
Split to Skradin
Start your day early and take a bus or a car and drive to Skradin and reach the town early. Once you reach the town, you can enter the park in two ways depending on your booking.
Entrance to the Krka National Park
You can take the ferry to the entrance of the park and the waterfalls between April and October. You can also walk into the park. It is a 10-minute walk into the park and another 40-minute walk along the lake and through the flora and fauna of the National Park to the waterfalls.
Reaching the Skradinski Buk Waterfall
Whether you take a ferry/boat or walk into the park, the easiest site you will reach is the Skradinski Buk Waterfall. It is one of the many stunning waterfalls of the karstic river Krka and is the most famous one. This 150-feet high waterfall is a result of a series of cascading waterfalls from the Krka River and its surrounding landscape is rich in biodiversity. Some various pathways and bridges allow you to see the waterfalls from various angles.
You can then take the Skradinski Buk boardwalk which will take about an hour and a half. You can enjoy the nature that surrounds you and have a meal before heading to the next part of your perfect day trip.
Visit to Visovac Island
You can now head to the next spot on this day trip – the Visovac Island. Upstream from the Skradinski Buk Waterfall, in the middle of Visovac Lake, and the heart of the Krka National Park is this small island. The Visovac Island is home to a 15th-century Franciscan monastery, Church, and a valuable library of books and manuscripts. You can take a boat to the island from Skradinski Buk Waterfall and enjoy the views of the surrounding cliffs.
Visiting Roški Slap Waterfall
You can then visit the second set of beautiful waterfalls in Krka National Park- the Roški Slap Waterfall. You can take a boat cruise through the Među Gredama Canyon known for beautiful sights that expand into the Visovac Lake on your way to the Roški Slap Waterfall. This waterfall boasts 12 interconnected cascades making for a delightful view of the waterfalls. You can also stroll along the wooden bridges for a beautiful view of the famous Necklace Cascades. There are some eateries here if you want to grab a bite before you head back.
Return to Skradin
You can head back from Roški Slap Waterfall to Skradin and back to Split, the same way you came.
Exploring Skradin
If you want to explore both the Krka National Park and the town of Skradin on the same day, we recommend, finishing your Krka National Park visit after you see the beautiful Skradinski Buk Waterfall. After this, head back to Skradin and explore the town, enjoy the local delicacies like Skradinski rižot (Skradin risotto) and you can even go for wine tasting at the nearby winery before heading back to Split at the end of the day.
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How to book tickets to the Krka National Park
The Croatian Government introduced a ticket system to control the number of visitors to this popular national park. You can book the tickets online for the dates you wish to visit at the Official Krka National Park website. You can select “Ticket for the Entire Park” followed by the ferry departure time either based on your arrival time by car or by bus. You can also choose to enter the Krka National Park on foot.
Plan and pick your route and itinerary before booking the tickets to enter the park. You will also have to select your exit time while booking the tickets. The entrance fee from the Skradin entrance is 40 Euros for an adult and 15 Euros for kids.
We recommend booking tickets to the Krka National Park well in advance if you plan to travel in peak season. In any case, plan your trip with Go Real Travel and book your tickets to the park several days in advance to ensure you get the opportunity to explore this beautiful park.
What to pack for Krka Waterfalls
If you are traveling to Krka National Park from Split for the perfect day trip, be sure to bring the following:
- A backpack
- A sunscreen
- Sunhat
- A reusable water bottle so you don’t have to throw away plastic bottles inside the National Park.
- A thin jacket
- Always wear comfortable shoes (a must!)
- Pack snacks for yourself
- A power bank (recommended)
For those who love to jump into the waters and swim in the designated swim spots, be sure to bring the following extra items with you:
- A swimsuit
- A dry bag
- A thin and quick-drying towel
- Water shoes (optional)
FAQs about Krka National Park
Can I swim at Krka National Park?
Swimming is permitted only in designated areas at Roški slap, Stinice, and Pisak, from 1 June to 30 September, at your own risk, and depending on weather conditions and water levels. Swimming outside those areas and on those dates is not permitted.
Can I use a drone at Krka National Park?
Unfortunately, the use of drones at Krka National Park is not permitted and if you are caught using them without special permits your drone will be confiscated and you could even be fined.
Does the Krka National Park entrance ticket also include the boat ride?
The single entrance ticket for Krka National Park includes the boat transport from Skradin to Skradinski buk. Boat excursions to Visovac, Roški slap, Torak (Čikola), Krka monastery, and the medieval fortresses Nečven and Trošenj are charged extra and can only be purchased and reserved on-site at the park.