Day Trip from Split to Krka National Park, Croatia

If you’re visiting Split, and are looking for a day trip filled with breathtaking waterfalls, serene nature walks, and an escape from the hustle and bustle of the city, look no further than Krka National Park. In this blog post, we’ll share our personal experience and tips to help you make the most of your Krka National Park day trip. This post is now updated for 2025, after our recent return visit to the Croatian coast. A day trip to Krka National Park is an ideal extension to your 2 Days in Split, and helps you to get away from the crowds and back into nature.

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How Far from Split to Krka National Park

How far is Krka from Split? The stunning national park is about 85 kilometers, or about 53 miles, from Split. Driving, whether by rental car or with an organized tour, averages 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes. You can take a bus from Split to nearby Skradin, which takes about 1 hour 15 minutes. From there, you can catch a ferry to the park entrance. Keep in mind that, while these buses run frequently during the summer, they are less frequent during the rest of the year. If you aren’t driving, the best alternative, especially during the off season, is to book a guided tour.

Book your tour to Krka below:

Best Time to Visit Krka National Park

The best time to visit Krka National Park from our experience are in June and September. Generally, people recommend April to June and September-October, as the top months to visit. The weather during these shoulder season months is pleasantly warm and the crowds are thinner than during the summer months. That said, swimming is only available from June through September. If you are interested in visiting Krka National park when you can swim, June and September are ideal: the weather is pleasant, the crowds are not as heavy as during July and August, and you can dip in the waters after your hikes.

A few other notes and suggestions on the best time to visit:

• Spring: the park’s waterfalls, including the iconic Skradinski Buk, flow at their fullest, thanks to seasonal rains, creating stunningly vibrant cascades. The weather is pleasantly warm, ideal for hiking the park’s scenic trails and exploring its historic attractions. Boats start running in April, so you can easily explore all sides of the park. Additionally, the crowds are thinner compared to the summer months, offering a more tranquil experience.
• Summer: the summer brings sunny skies and the opportunity to swim near designated waterfalls, it’s also the busiest time of year, so you will need to navigate through the crowds.
• Fall: autumn brings perfect weather for those interested in hiking and biking around the park without the crowds. The boats still run through October, making it easy to navigate the park, though swimming is not available.
• Winter: In contrast, winter offers a quieter visit but with limited access to certain areas due to weather conditions.

How to Enter Krka National Park

There are 5 park entrances to choose from. As you’ll see from the detail below, there are boats that run between many of these sites from April-October. During the remainder of the year, you can either hike or bike between sites, or drive to the different entrances.

• Skradin entrance: use this entrance to visit Skradinski buk waterfall. The park runs boats from Skradin to the waterfall from April-October, or you can hike or bike to the waterfall year round.
• Lozovac entrance: this is the main entrance to the park. There is plenty of parking here, and buses run to Skradinski buk waterfalls from April-October. If you are driving, especially during the off season, this is one of the best places to begin your exploration.
• Roški slap entrance: use this entrance to visit the Roški slap waterfall. Note that you can also catch boats from the Skradinski buk waterfall from April-October.
• Burnum/Puljane entrance: the archaelogical site of Burum is the main focus of this entrance.
• Kistanje/Krka monastery entrance: the Krka monestary is the main attraction of this entrance. You can also reach the monastery by boat from the Roški slap waterfall from April-October.

First Impressions

Upon arrival, the first thing that strikes you is the sheer beauty of the place. The park is renowned for its series of seven stunning waterfalls, with Skradinski Buk being the largest and most famous. The sound of cascading water and the sight of lush greenery is a refreshing change from the urban environment. There are 5 entrances, which may sound a bit much. If you’re traveling from April-October, you can easily enter at Skradin and visit most everything by boat from there (buses also can take you to almost all of the locations). If you’d like to go by boat, our suggested itinerary is:

• Exploring Skradinski Buk
• Take the boat from Skradinski Buk to Roški slap
• Enjoy lunch at Alte Mühle Kristijan, right next to the Roški slap falls
• Visit Roški slap
• Krka Monestary (boat from Roški slap)

Exploring Skradinski Buk

The walk to Skradinski Buk is a delightful journey. A well-maintained wooden walkway meanders through a network of small lakes and gentle streams, leading you to the majestic waterfall. Here, you can witness the power of nature as water plunges down 17 cascades into a crystal-clear pool below. You can also walk through the complex of watermills.

You can find the boat information here.

Swimming at Roški slap, Stinice and Pisak

One of the highlights of Krka National Park is the opportunity to swim in the natural pools. You can no longer swim in the area around Skradinski Buk. You can, however, swim in designated areas at Roški slap, Stinice and Pisak, from 1 June to 30 September. Remember to bring your swimsuit and a towel! There is no swimming in the off season, though we’ve found plenty to do during the off-season to enjoy our visits.

Lunch at Krka National Park

After a morning of exploration, plan a stop for lunch at one of the park’s restaurants. They offer a range of local Croatian dishes.Eating freshly grilled fish along with a glass of local wine is always a popular option. That said, our favorite is Alte Mühle Kristijan, which is located right next to Roški Slap waterfalls, your next stop on this itinerary. This restaurant is great for light snacks and lunch, as it does have a limited menu. They make up for this limited menu with their stellar location.

Visiting Roški Slap

Take a boat trip from Skradinski buk to Roški slap. This excursion lasts about 4 hours total, including a stop at the Krka Monastery (see below). Roški slap is another stunning waterfall. You can swim in the lake, but not near the falls. During the off-season, when the boats aren’t running, you do have the option to hike from Skradinski Buk to Roški slap. It is over 30 km (18.7 miles round trip), with a decent amount of elevation gain. Alternatively, drive around to the Roški slap entrance.

Krka Monestary

Take a boat trip from Skradinski buk to the Island of Visovac, where you can visit the Franciscan monastery, the church, and museum. The boat excursion lasts 2 hours, which includes a 30 minute stay on the island. .

Pro tip: Note that, if you are taking the boat from Skradinski buk waterfall to Roški slap waterfall, this also includes a 30 minute stop at Visovac Island.

Hiking in the Park

There are 47 well maintained hiking trails throughout the park. You can find the whole list on the Krka National Park site and also on Alltrails. We recommend downloading the hikes to your phone using Alltrails before you hike, in case you are out of your cell service area. If you are only picking one trail, we would recommend the Lozovac – Skradinski Buk Waterfall hike, which is a 2.7 mile (4.3 km) moderate hike with just over 600 feet (under 200 meters) of elevation gain. This takes on average 1 hour 25 minutes to complete, and is a great way to see Skradinski buk waterfall.

Biking in the Park

There are 388 km of bike trails through the park, with options for road biking and mountain biking. You can rent electric bikes/pedal-assist bikes directly at the park, but be sure to get advanced reservations. Keep in mind that children’s bikes are not available in the park (contact Riki Bike if you need children’s bikes). It may be easiest logistically to book a bike tour to the waterfalls, leaving the logistics of picking up the bikes to the guide.

Archaelogical Park or Burum

If time allows, it is worth a visit to the archaelogical site of Burum, which is the location of a Roman military camp. The museum is located in the Krka Eco Campus at Puljane, and houses a variety of items excavated from the finds and a museum.

Park entry fees for 2025

Park entry fee to Krka National Park varies by season.

• January-March, November-December: 7 Euros for adults, 4 Euros for children 7 to 18
• April-May, October: 20 Euros for adults, 12 Euros for children 7 to 18
• June-September: 40 Euros for adults, 15 Euros for children 7 to 18

Note that there is discounted admission if you are only visiting Roški slap, Kistanje, Manojlovac, Burnum, and Krka Eco Campus. Refer to the Krka National Park website for more details.

Tours from Split to Krka National Park

If you would prefer to take a tour vs driving to Krka from Split, we recommend these:

• Split to Krka Day Tour from Split, with waterfalls and swimming (explore Krka and stop by Primosten to enjoy a few hours at the beaches)
• Full Day Tour from Split or Trogir with biking (this offers a stop in Trogir, which we highly recommend if you have enough time)

Final Thoughts on a Krka National Park Day Trip

Your Krka National Park day trip is not just about waterfalls. Krka is a haven for biodiversity. As you walk through the trails, keep an eye out for various bird species, amphibians, and even otters. The lush vegetation consists of over 800 species, making it a paradise for nature lovers.

A Krka National Park day trip immerses you in the park’s tranquil natural beauty and truly captivates the heart. It’s a reminder of the wonders that nature holds and is definitely a highlight of any Croatian adventure.

Essential Hiking Tips

• Mountain weather: Always check the forecast before heading out and watch for rapid weather changes. When you see bad weather coming, get below timberline.
• Hydration and Fuel: Bring more water for your day hikes than you think you’ll need. Electrolytes can help you stay hydrated (e.g., Nuun and LiquidIV). Don’t drink water from streams and ponds, unless you are using a LifeStraw or similar. Pack energy-boosting snacks like nuts, fruits, and energy bars.
• Leave no Trace: Preserve the natural beauty by following the Leave No Trace principles. Pack out all trash, stay on designated trails, and avoid disturbing wildlife.
• Wildlife Awareness: Be aware of the wildlife in the area. Make noise while hiking to avoid surprising animals and know what to do in an encounter with local animals.
• Navigation: If you are using a map on your phone, make sure that it is downloaded. Cell service can be unreliable in the wilderness areas. Inform someone of your hiking plan and expected return time.
• First Aid: Carry a basic first aid kit for minor injuries. This should include, at minimum, Band-Aids, antiseptic, aspirin, mirror, matches, and a jack-knife, a whistle, flashlight, and multi-tool.
• Check our post on Day Hike Essentials for a more comprehensive list of items to bring on your day hike.

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