If you’ve seen Croatia on social media, you’ve likely seen this amazing national park of Croatia: Krka National Park. After our visit, I called it the Garden of Eden. The Skradinski Buk Waterfall stuns visitors with crystal-clear turquoise waters cascading into a gorgeous pool amid lush forests. It’s beyond stunning.
The Krka National Park spans 109 square kilometers, but in reality, you’ll probably only see a small portion of that. There are two main waterfalls, Skradinski Buk Waterfall and the Roški Slap Waterfall, that tourists focus on, and both are accessible through paved walkways. If you want to enjoy some more serious hiking, you’ll need to access the park away from these two main waterfalls and the tourists in general.
The park houses an immense diversity of plants (nearly 900 species), birds, and fish. You’ll see birds of prey as well, including ospreys, eagles, and owls. Enjoy the calcium carbonate in the rocks that creates the world-class turquoise-green water.
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The Krka National Park’s 100+ square kilometers have five separate entrances. If you plan to explore the park, check out the different entrances.
The Lozovac entrance to the park is in fact the closest entrance to Split both in physical distance and drive time, coming in at roughly 1 hour by car. It is also the closest entrance to the main waterfall by foot.
We used this entrance by sheer coincidence, and it was a steep but relatively easy hike down to the waterfall. There are boardwalks and a trail the entire way down. You’ll pass several buildings, including some snack options, and have plenty of sneak peeks at the stunning waterfalls.
The Skradin entrances to Krka have paid parking, and you’ll likely need to take the ferry to the main waterfall if visiting in the summer with kids. The ferry looks gorgeous but does come at an extra cost. However, you can explore the city of Skradin as well during your visit.
We long-term rented a car in Europe for three months. Croatia has much to explore outside of Split, and I’d recommend renting a car as well. I even drove down to Dubrovnik with my oldest daughter for a weekend. Take note – you cross the borders of Sarajevo when doing this as their borders cut through Croatia to the sea! Don’t forget to bring your passports with you.
If you are staying in the beautiful city of Split, you can easily go to Krka National Park for a day trip. You can catch a bus from the main Split Bus Station to Skradin. After arriving, you can catch the ferry to the main waterfall.
Plentiful day tours are available to visit Krka National Park. Here are some good ones for families!
You can hire a private boat from Skradin town up the Krka River and then catch the official ferry. Boat operators are plentiful, and you could likely find one upon arrival. Alternatively, you can book one like these options:
We did not pre-book tickets and showed up in the late afternoon. The lighting was gorgeous, but we did hike back to the car at dusk and eventually got to our car in the dark. We couldn’t find any dinner, as all the options were closed, so we had to drive to another city. The moral of the story: pack more snacks!
We got lucky that during our visit (probably due to the time of day) the amount of people was light. I’ve heard of others visiting with seemingly endless amounts of people and having a miserable time.
As always, early morning or late afternoon are usually the best times to visit, each with its own challenges. However, it’s lovely to not have hundreds of other people in your photos!
You can pre-book tickets online on the official website, which is well worth doing to skip the queues in the busier summer months. The number of available tickets is limited. Research in advance which entrance you’ll arrive at before you go to buy your tickets, or buy a ticket for the entire park.
Alternatively, book a tour to ensure your tickets are on a date you want. This can also solve the transportation option!
Prices can vary between 20€ in the off-season for the whole park to 40€ per person in summer, depending on the ticket type. We went in the off-season, thankfully. Also note that if you want a bus to take you to the main waterfall (versus walking yourself), you can add that to your ticket.
We bought the tickets from the ticket booth. Kids under 7 are free! You can also buy multiple-day tickets.
Buy your tickets for park entry from official vendors at each of the park’s five entrances including in Skradin town.
If you go to the Lozovac entrance, you have some options to get to the waterfall. Entrance is on foot, by bus, by bicycle, or by Krka NP’s boat. You can add some of these options when you book your ticket.
We had small children with us but still skipped the bus. The line was so long to wait, I knew we could arrive by foot faster than by bus! I usually choose the walking option anyway, as I’d much rather enjoy the sites and open air by foot than by a stuffy bus ride with strangers.
Definitely remember the baby carrier, as little legs will not like all the stairs.
If you go to Skradin, you’ll need to get to the ferry point. Any tour will take you there, but if you come by bus you might have to taxi from the bus station.
You can take the ferry from Skradin to the main waterfall, Skradinski Buk. The ferry runs from April to October and offers a lovely view of the area and another way to see the beauty of the park.
Once you arrive at the park and get down to the waterfall itself, you’ll not be doing much more than picking your jaw off the floor for the first few minutes. Seriously, the natural beauty here is next-level amazing.
Unfortunately, swimming is no longer allowed, but this was not the case during our visit. We arrived in our bathing suits, dropped our clothes, and dove in! I’ve read that, in some scenarios, swimming might be allowed outside the busy window of June 1 – September 30, but that may not be the case. It may also be too cold! The water was chilly and invigorating, even on a warmer day.
You’ll see many fish and can enjoy a picnic while the kids run around. Sometimes, there are vendors near the waterfall with snacks and food. Bring a game, and relax in front of the cascading waters.
Note that the ground can be muddy (or simply dirt), so a blanket is needed for sitting on the ground. There are limited tables as well. Your ticket will likely include a couple of hours to visit the waterfall.
You can also take the ferry to other parts of the park. This ferry runs from the main waterfall but only operates in the summer season.
Take A Boat Ride. Many tickets into the park or on tours include the ferry ride up the Krka River. In fact, many visitors enter this way and ride 30 minutes to the main waterfall.
Hike To Higher Ground. You can see more of the 17 cascading waterfalls by heading uphill. Strap the littles into the baby carriers! You can also hike to other waterfalls, like the Otocac Waterfall.
Visit Sibenik. This cute little town is not technically in the park, but close by and a fun place to grab lunch or a snack.
Visovac Monastery. The boat ride from the main waterfall not only stops at the other waterfall, Roški Slap Waterfall, but it also stops at this charming monastery. If you are up for the hike uphill, it’s gorgeous to see. The trail is around 2 kilometers long and takes around 1 hour to complete.
Take A Swim. In the summer season, June 1 – September 30, there are some designated spots for swimming. Roški Slap, Stinice, and Pisak all have a swimming spots, but use caution. Waterfalls can be extremely dangerous (we know from first-hand experience when our daughter fell off one and nearly died) due to the slippery moss on the rocks. Swimming also depends on the weather and water levels.
Leave the drone at home, as it’s not allowed.
If you have extra time beyond exploring the waterfalls, the area surrounding Krka National Park offers a plethora of family-friendly adventures to further enrich your Croatian experience. Consider these options to extend your stay and create lasting memories:
Split provides an excellent home base for your Dalmatian adventures, with a wide variety of family-friendly accommodations to suit your needs:
Hotel Park Split: A historic hotel with timeless elegance, Hotel Park Split is well known for its seaside charm and proximity to Bacvice Beach. It offers spacious family rooms, a welcoming pool area, and a central location near Diocletian’s Palace.
Radisson Blu Resort & Spa, Split: This resort is perfect for families seeking modern comforts. With expansive rooms, a dedicated kids’ pool, and a central location, it’s an excellent base to explore the city’s historical sites and vibrant waterfront.
Cornaro Hotel: A boutique option in the heart of Split, Cornaro Hotel provides contemporary amenities, a relaxed atmosphere, and easy access to top attractions—ideal for travelers looking to immerse themselves in the local culture.
For those who prefer to be closer to nature and the park’s cascading waterfalls, consider accommodations in or near Skradin:
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Krka National Park is a family-friendly paradise with breathtaking waterfalls, scenic trails, and authentic Croatian charm. Whether you’re visiting from Split or staying nearby in Skradin, a little planning will ensure an unforgettable adventure in this natural Garden of Eden.
Happy Travels,
Leslie
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