Krka National Park
The Krka National Park is one of the Croatian national parks that got its name from the river Krka that surrounds it, and it is also one of the two Croatian National Parks consisting of lakes and waterfalls. Krka is actually a river in Dalmatia, the southernmost province of Croatia, which is shaped into beautiful waterfalls due to the local terrain.
It is located along the middle-lower reaches of the Krka River in central Dalmatia, in the Šibenik-Knin County, downstream in the area of Miljevac and just a few kilometers northeast of the town of Šibenik. It covers a total area of 109 km², within which the Krka River has 7 travertine barriers and a unique ecosystem. It was founded in order to protect the Krka River, and is intended primarily for scientific, cultural, educational, recreational and tourist activities. It is the seventh national park in Croatia, and it was declared a national park in 1985.
In Krka National Park there is a diverse flora and fauna with over 800 species of plant life identified as present in the Park. Much of the animal life lives, unsurprisingly, in and around the waters of the Krka River, which is home to various amphibians and reptiles. Visitors can see many different species of birds of which there are over 200 and even 18 different species of bats.
The biggest attraction and the most popular place to visit are the Skradinski buk waterfalls, which are the seventh and longest travertine barrier on the river. It includes 17 waterfalls spread over a length of approximately 800 meters with a height difference of approximately 45 meters. It used to be possible to swim next to these falls, which is a truly wonderful experience, but it has been banned since 2021 in order to preserve the park’s waters as much as possible. The islet of Visovac on the Krka River was settled by the Franciscans in 1445, who originally built a monastery that year (later demolished, then rebuilt in the 18th century) and a church in 1576. The monastery contains a number of wells. preserved artifacts and library. The Roški waterfall is another well-known landmark of the Krka National Park and consists of a series of 12 waterfalls on an area of 450 meters, and the largest waterfall is higher than 22 meters in height and 60 meters in width.
As the park’s popular attractions are several kilometers away from each other and separated by natural barriers, it is recommended that all sites be visited in peace over several days. However, one day of visit is quite enough to see and explore some of the most popular attractions. Within the park there are a dozen different tours that include 47 kilometers of hiking trails (22 tracks) and 470 kilometers of cycling routes. Undoubtedly, the best way to see the sights of NP Krka is a boat trip, because this way you can see the beauty of the park up close and in a relaxed way. In addition, such excursions include the opportunity to dock and walk along the waterfront walkways, as well as a presentation and conversation with a professional tour guide. National Park Krka offers attractive boat trips to the island of Visovac, the Roško waterfall, the Krka monastery and the medieval fortresses of Trošenj and Nečven. Excursions depart from Skradinski buk or Roški slap and can be combined with several walking tours. Depending on the weather and the water level of the Krka river, boat trips are organized from April to October.
Ticket prices to the park depend on the season and the group of visitors to which one belongs (children, adults, groups), so the ticket costs from HRK 20 to HRK 200. The boat trip also depends on the place of departure and the duration of the trip, so the price varies from HRK 55 to HRK 130. The park is open to visitors throughout the calendar year.