Why bother with overcrowded Plitvice National Park when you can stay, play, swim in the waterfalls, and hike in the beautiful Krka National Park? A complete guide to the costs, opening hours, tours and day trips, transportation options, waterfalls, hikes, and the best accommodation in Krka National Park, Croatia.
Guest author Auston Matta
Croatia
Croatia is a beautiful country located in Central Europe with a small population of about 4.1 million people. It has a few other countries on its borders including Hungary to the north, Serbia to the east, Slovenia to the west, and Bosnia and Herzegovina to the south.
Croats, as the people are called, are said to be some of the happiest and warmest people in the world, and this adds to the generally relaxed atmosphere of the nation.
The country also boasts an amazing coastline with different islands and cliffs – with the islands numbering over 1,000. Of all these islands, Krka, which covers about 462 square kilometers, is the largest.
Croatia’s National Parks
There are about eight different national parks in Croatia, all beautiful and inspiring. However, Krka National Park is one quite worthy of mention.
It was named after the Krka River, which is quite popular for its many waterfalls and was originally created as a form of protection for the river. It was officially declared a national park in 1985.
General Information about Access
Thankfully, Krka National Park is open every day of the year between 8 am and 8 pm. The only exception to this is that between November and March, some parts of the park are closed.
It’s important to note that while the entry fee is between 150 and 200 kunas (between €20 and €27) for the high season and about 100 kunas (€14) during the middle season, the winter period is the cheapest time to visit – although certain parts are closed off.
In winter, it costs about 30 kunas (€4).
There are different ways to get into the park, which include local buses from Šibenik, Trogir, and Split. Other options include hiring a car or taking advantage of tourist companies that organize day trips to the park.
Dubrovnik is 220 km ( 137 miles) to the south and day trips from Dubrovnik are very popular in summer.
Accommodation
There are quite a few options for accommodation for travelers. For example, there is a nice and affordable three-star hotel located in Skradin that properly caters to all kinds of travelers, including children and senior citizens.
It is just about 2 kilometers from the southern part of the park. There are also many other hotels in the area that you can take advantage of.
Ticketing
Getting tickets generally isn’t much of a hassle. However, for safety reasons and also to preserve the park, authorities don’t allow more than 10,000 people into the park at any one time.
You should note that the period specifically during July and August is the peak season for the park, and entry might not always be guaranteed due to the sheer number of people visiting at that same period.
The best way to get your tickets during this time is to buy them online as early as possible.
Attractions
The Waterfalls
The Krka River has seven beautiful waterfalls, all of which are an amazing sight to behold. The Bilusica Buk is the first and probably the easiest to reach.
There is also the Manojlovac Slap, which is the third-largest waterfall in the park that is 59.6 meters in height. Sometimes, when the tide is high, it is even possible to see a rainbow mist in the air around the water.
The Roski Slap is another waterfall about 22.5 meters high. Many people agree that the Roski Slap is probably the most breathtaking of the waterfalls.
This is probably because it’s really huge and has an amazing landscape of greenery coupled with over 500 wooden steps that lead up to it.
The Skradinski Buk, however, is the longest of the five waterfalls, and its impressive crash of the water is a great view to take in.
The Watermills
There are two traditional villages in Krka National Park. These villages have inhabitants whose ancestors have reportedly lived there for more than a few centuries.
The villages have rich traditions and stories that are both entertaining and educational even to the average person.
Visitors to the park will want to see the stone houses, watermills, and weaving looms. The most impressive watermills to visit are at Skradinski Buk. They date back to the turn of the 18th century through the historical use of these types of mills around the area that date much further back.
The Ozidana Pecina Cave
Delving further into the historic treasures of the park is this cave that is shaped like a tunnel and has important historical significance. In this cave, quite a few hints of early human life were found.
A few of the items found, apart from human skeletons and animal bones, include different stone tools and knives. The findings have been traced to the period between 5,000 and 1,500 BC.
Visovac
This man-made island in the park is found in the middle of Visovac Lake, upstream from Skradinski Buk. It goes back to the 14th century when a small monastery was first built.
Now it’s home to the Franciscan monastery of Our Lady of Mercy which was established in 1445 and rebuilt in the 18th century. There is also the Church of Our Lady of Visovac there as well.
To visit the island you can go by boat from Stinice or from Remetic. It’s just a five-minute ride and they are free on Sundays.
Final Thoughts
Taking in the sights of the Krka National Park is an amazing experience because you not only get to learn a bit of history about the area, but you also get to take in all the beautiful and jaw-dropping attractions available in the park coupled with a relaxing swim.
Try to make sure your next vacation takes you to Croatia, and make sure you visit the astounding Krka National Park.
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