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Krka National Park Day Trip From Split – Everything You Need To Know

Planning a day trip to Krka National Park from Split, but don’t know where to start? You’ve come to the right place!

Krka National Park is home to some of the most beautiful waterfalls in Croatia. It’s considered by many one of those must-see Croatian destinations that should feature on every Croatia itinerary.

We did a day trip to Krka National Park while we were in Split, and it was one of the best days of our entire trip. The park and waterfalls are simply breath taking.

Cruising through the river, admiring the green surroundings and reaching those iconic waterfalls is incredible in and of itself, but swimming in them was even more magical. You won’t regret doing a Split to Krka day trip!

In this guide I’ve outlined everything you need to know about doing a Krka National Park day trip from Split. Including how to get to Krka from Split, entrance fees, what to expect and more.

So let’s get started!

Looking for a corner away from the crowds by Krka waterfalls

Admiring Skradinski Buk falls in Krka National Park

About Krka National Park

First things first, what is Krka National Park? Krka National Park is located along the Krka River in Southern Croatia, famous for its lush green vegetation and imposing waterfalls.

The park covers an area of 142 square kilometres, but the area you will normally see during a day trip is only a small portion of this. Most day tours will take the ferry from Skradin and visit the Skradinski Buk area.

The most famous spot in the park, and arguably one of the most famous in all of Croatia, is Skradinski Buk Falls. These waterfalls tumble into a vast emerald pool, which you can even swim and bathe in.

There are trails and viewpoints all around the famous Krka waterfalls. You can easily spend a day wandering around the paths of the national park, admiring the beautiful views and immersing yourself in nature.

Krka National Park was one of the highlights of my Split itinerary.

Some of the smaller waterfalls in Krka National Park

Some of the smaller waterfalls in Krka National Park

How to get to Krka National Park from Split

Krka National Park is only about a 1.5-hour drive away from Split. You can get there either by renting a car and driving yourself, with public transport or with an organised day tour.

If you take public transport you can get a bus from Split bus station to Skradin. This is the town from which you then get the ferry to Skradinski Buk and the main area of Krka National Park.

The bus ticket is around 15 EUR per person.

We did an organised tour since it wasn’t much more expensive than the public bus, and since we weren’t close to the bus station in Split we preferred to be picked up and dropped off at our hotel.

Check out some of the most popular Split to Krka day tours below!

 

 

Enjoying the view during the ferry journey from Skradin to Skradinski Buk

Enjoying the view during the ferry journey from Skradin to Skradinski Buk

Krka National Park entrance fees

Entrance fees vary massively, ranging from 30 HRK out of season (November to March) to 200 HRK in summer. Tickets include the ferry journey from Skradin to Skadisnki Buk and access to all areas of the park.

If you do an organised tour to Krka they will sometimes include the ticket price, but this isn’t always the case. Double check before booking so you don’t have surprises on the day! 

The tour I have linked in this post already includes the entrance fee in the final price.

Click here to book your Krka National Park day trip tour!

Or click below to see the prices & availability for your chosen date!

 

 

Admiring Skradinski Buk falls in Krka National Park

Admiring Skradinski Buk falls in Krka National Park

Our experience at Krka waterfalls

We did our Krka waterfalls day trip from Split with an organised tour. They picked us up from our hotel around 7AM and drove around 1 hour to Skradin.

There is a ferry every hour and takes around 25-30 minutes to arrive at Skradinski Buk. Throughout the journey you will see some beautiful views as you cruise deeper into Krka National Park.

From the spot where the ferry drops you off you have to walk around 10 minutes to reach the famous Krka waterfalls. It wasn’t too busy when we first arrived and we were amazed by the beauty of it.

Skradinski Buk Falls in Krka National Park

Skradinski Buk Falls in Krka National Park

In the area all around the main pool there are loads of picnic tables and street food vendors. If you forget to bring food and drinks with you don’t worry, there are plenty of services here!

The tour we did was very free, and basically more of a fancier transfer than a proper guided tour. Once we arrived at Skradin they just gave us five hours of free time to enjoy the park and gave us a meeting point for the return bus.

There are also other tours that offer more of a guided experience, taking you also to Sibenik and on guided walks around the park.

We followed the main trail and spent the first few hours of our day walking. We walked all the way upriver to discover other waterfalls, smaller but still beautiful, and some epic viewpoints.

Walking along one of the main trails in Krka National Park

Walking along one of the main trails in Krka National Park

We stopped for a quick food break at one of the picnic tables, and then returned to the main bathing pool at Skradinski Buk. By then a lot more people had arrived and it wasn’t quite the idyllic waterfall paradise it had been in the morning.

It might seem like there’s not an awful lot to do at Krka National Park, but that’s not the case. Our five hours flew by really fast and we found ourselves rushing to catch the last ferry.

You can easily spend a day enjoying the park, admiring the beautiful views, swimming in the refreshing waterfalls and walking through the lush green forest. Krka National Park is the perfect day trip from Split.

2021 Update – One of my readers informed me that it is no longer possible to swim in the waterfalls. However you shouldn’t let that deter you from visiting, since the stunning natural beauty of the park is well worth the day trip.

Skradinski Buk Falls in Krka National Park

Skradinski Buk Falls in Krka National Park

Arranging your Krka waterfalls day trip

You can arrange your Krka National Park day trip once you arrive in Split, however if you’re visiting in the high season that might be risky as the tours might all be booked out already.

It’s one of the most popular Split day trips, which features on pretty much every Croatia bucket list, and the numbers of visitors reflect that.

Unlike South East Asia where haggling on the price is normal, in Croatia the prices we saw in the shops were the same as online. You can book your Krka waterfalls day trip online so that it’s all sorted when you get to Croatia.

Don’t miss out, click here to book your Krka day trip! (entrance fee included!)

Or check out prices & availability for your chosen date below!

 

 

One of the ferries in Krka National Park

One of the ferries in Krka National Park 

The best Split to Krka National Park day tours

There are countless tours that can take you from Split to Krka National Park.

Throughout the post I have linked to one of the more standard ones with just the transfer and entrance included, but if you want something a bit more special, here are some very popular and highly rated tours!

Krka National Park Day Trip with Boat Ride – This Split tour gives you the option to explore Krka National Park on your own or with a guide. As an added bonus, you’ll also get to take a boat along the Krka River to get there!

Click here to book your Krka National Park day trip with boat ride on GetYourGuide or Viator!

Krka National Park & Šibenik Trip – This tour is a two-for-one! In addition to visiting Krka National Park, you’ll also get to explore the picture-perfect town of Šibenik.

Check out prices and availability for your Krka & Sibenik trip here!

Krka National Park Tour & Wine Tasting – Last but not least, you can combine your trip to Krka National Park’s waterfalls with a visit to a wonderful local winery.

See prices & availability for your Krka National Park & wine tasting tour on GetYourGuide or Viator!

 

 

View over Omis and the Cetina Canyon from the top of the fort, Croatia

View over Omis and the Cetina Canyon from the top of the fort, Croatia

Is Krka National Park worth a visit?

We were in Croatia at the start of September and had mixed feeling about Krka National Park. Krka is often considered a must on many Europe bucket lists, as well as on any Croatia itinerary

While there is no denying the stunning natural beauty of the waterfalls and park, we found it completely overrun with people, and we were visiting at the end of the peak season!

I can only imagine how busy it must be in summer. That said, despite the huge crowds, it’s still a beautiful place and we had a very fun time there. If you visit Croatia in winter, you will probably have a very different experience.

It’s up to you if you want to fight a few crowds to see a beautiful place or not. If you’re travelling to Croatia out of the peak summer season then definitely go to Krka National Park. Seeing it without the crowds must be magical!

Enjoying the view during the ferry journey from Skradin to Skradinski Buk

Enjoying the view during the ferry journey from Skradin to Skradinski Buk

Where to stay in Split for your Krka day trip

I recommend staying in the Old Town of Split. That way you will be close to all the main attractions and will be able to reach everything on foot.

I’ve listed below the place my friends and I stayed at, as well as some options for every budget. If you’re looking for more suggestions check out my full guide on where to stay in Split.

Budget: Old Town Hostel – this hostel is right in the centre of Split, here you can find an affordable stay and friendly environment.

Click here to book your stay at Old Town Hostel!

Mid-range: Hotel Bellevue – located in the heart of Split, this cosy hotel offers everything you need for a relaxing stay.

Click here to book your stay at Hotel Bellevue!

Luxury: Villa Split Heritage Hotel – if you can afford to splurge a little on your stay, this is the place to do so. In the heart of the Old Town this hotel has a very traditional feel, with its exposed brick walls and outdoors courtyard.

Click here to book your stay at Villa Split Heritage Hotel!

Diocletan's Palace in Split, Croatia

Diocletan’s Palace in Split, Croatia

What to pack for a Krka National Park day trip

You don’t really need anything special beyond your usual travel essentials and normal outfits. However I’ve listed below a couple items that will make your Krka day trip smoother.

Power bank – you don’t want your phone to run out of battery while you’re busy capturing the beauty of the park and waterfalls!

Stainless steel water bottle – save money and reduce plastic consumption by bringing your own water bottle and refilling it.

Sunscreen – I was there in September, and the sun was still really hot! Don’t ruin your trip by getting sunburnt.

Water shoes – getting in and out of the main bathing pool at Krka was a bit challenging as you had to walk over jagged rocks. If you plan to swim (and you should!) you can bring your own water shoes to make it smoother.

Exploring Diocletian's Palace in Split, Croatia

Exploring Diocletian’s Palace in Split, Croatia

Final thoughts on doing a day trip to Krka from Split

There you have it, the ultimate guide to doing a day trip to Krka National Park! Have you done a day trip to Krka waterfalls from Split? How did you find it? Let me know in the comments below!

In this article I’ve listed everything you need to know about doing a day trip to Krka waterfalls from Split.

I wanted to be as thorough as possible; including how to get from Split to Krka National Park, what to do once there, estimated costs and the best tours.

Krka National Park is the perfect day trip from Split. Not too far and simply stunning. However, be prepared for it to be very busy if you’re visiting in summer.

Hvar Island is probably the only other day trip from Split which is this popular (although there are actually lots of pretty places to stay on the island)! They are very different, but both are places of stunning natural beauty.

From Split you could also go on a day trip to Dubrovnik, although I’d recommend planning a longer Dubrovnik itinerary and sleeping there too.

I hope you find this guide useful in planning your own day trip to Krka National Park from Split!

Before coming to Split we spent some time in Dubrovnik. If you’re headed that way too, check out all my Croatia travel guides here!

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Collage of Diocletian's Palace and Skradinski Buk Falls with text overlay saying "day trip to Krka National Park in Croatia"

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Pavla

Monday 23rd of August 2021

Hi, Greta. I would advise you to update the info in your article. People are not allowed to bath and swim in Skradin watefals buk anymore. I have been there 3 days ago, ready for day with swimming opportunity, but on the spot we have realized that since January 2021 any entrance into water is banned.

Greta

Monday 27th of September 2021

Hi Pavla, thank you for the comment! I was in Croatia in 2017 so I didn't realise the rules had changed.