A WELL TRAVELED PAIR
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A Guide to Krka National Park
by Katie McCabe | @awelltraveledpair | November 12th, 2018
Not only is Croatia known for its beautiful beaches and captivating cities but also for its stunning national parks. Located about an hour outside of Split, Krka is filled with waterfalls, wildlife, and over one thousand types of flora. Explore this nature preserve on wooden pathways, swim in emerald green waters, and experience some of the most breathtaking sights in all of Croatia at this spectacular national park.
How to Get There
There are two ways to get to Krka, by car or bus. John and I drove and it was hassle-free. However, if you don't have a car or prefer not to drive, there are numerous tour operators throughout Croatia that offer day-trips to the park. Drive times from nearby cities are as follows...
Split - 1 hour / 80 km
Zadar - 75 minutes / 90 km
Plitvice NP - 2 hours / 170 km
Mostar - 3 hours / 220 km
Dubrovnik - 4 hours / 280 km
If you decide to drive, there are two main entrances, Lozovac and Skradin. I suggest entering at Lozovac. Parking is abundant and free, and there is a shuttle that will take you straight into the park, or you can walk fifteen minutes along a wooded path. If you park at Skradin, there is a parking fee, spots are limited, and you have to take a twenty minute ferry to the park or walk three km each way. Some people enjoy the ferry while others find it constricting due to the time schedules. The two entrances are only a ten minute drive from one another, so if you end up at Skradin and want to park at Lozovac, or vice versa, it is an easy fix.
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What to Do
Explore! It takes about two hours to walk the entire circuit of the park. I suggest spending three to five hours here in order to fully enjoy it. That way you can see all the sights, take lots of photos, enjoy lunch at the cafe, and take a leisure swim at Skradinski buk, Krka's famous waterfall. While exploring, be sure not to miss the sights listed below.
Visovac - A tiny island in the middle of the Krka River that is best viewed from the lookout next to the Petar Svacic monument.
Roski slap - A beautiful two part waterfall located along the park's circuit.
Krka Monastery - A lovely 14 century monastery that sits beside the Krka River.
Manojlovacki slap - One of the tallest and most beautiful waterfalls in the park.
Burnum amphitheater - An ancient amphitheater from Roman times.
Skradinski buk - The main attraction! This gorgeous waterfall is probably why you're traveling to Krka.
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Where to Stay
Since Krka is an easy day trip from multiple cities, you'll have numerous options on where to stay. There are many hotels in Split and Zadar, but also right outside the park in Lozovac and Skradin. Once you decide where you want to stay, I suggest using TripAdvisor to find a hotel. Below is a list of recommended hotels.
Split - Radisson Blu Resort & Spa
Zadar - Falkensteiner Hotel Adriana
Lozovac - Vrata Krke
Skradin - Hotel Skradinski Buk
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When to Go
Krka National Park and sights, such as Skradinski buk and Roski slap, are open year-round, however, some sights inside the park are closed from November to April. Check the official website for visitor information. Below you will find a chart with the hours of operation.
A lot of travelers go to Krka right at opening to avoid the crowds. However, the park fills up quite quickly. We arrived around 3pm and most of the large groups were already gone for the day. By the time we swam in Skradinski buk (around 5pm) we practically had the whole place to ourselves.
I personally think the best months to visit Krka are April, May, September and October. During these months, the weather is comfortable and the crowds aren't too heavy. The summer months of June, July, and August come with large crowds and high temperatures. The winter months, November through March, bring colder temperatures and quite a bit of rain. If you don't mind the chilly, damp weather, visiting Krka during this time can be very enjoyable due to the powerful waterfalls and lack of tourists.
No matter what time of year you visit Krka National Park, you'll be amazed by its beauty!