The Best Tours of Krka National Park from Split Croatia in 2023
One of Croatia’s most famous natural landmarks, Krka National Park is made of travertine deposits that create waterfalls along the Krka River. A visit to Krka National Park from Split allows you to view the best of this park in an easy day trip. The highlight of the park is Skradinski Buk, a waterfall that can be viewed year-round.
Krka National Park covers an area of more than 100 square kilometers along the Krka River. Proclaimed a national park in 1985, this protected area is absolutely beautiful. The park is home to 19 species of reptiles and over 1,000 plant species, as well as endemic fish and migratory birds.
We visited Krka National Park with our two kids, ages 5 and 7 as part of our month in Croatia. This is our honest review of what to expect on this day trip, and why it’s worth it to visit Krka National Park from Split. We’ll cover the different parts of the park, what you can (and can’t) do at the park, and how to get there on your own if you don’t want to take a tour.
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Best Tour of Krka from Split
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Krka National Park Tour from Split
Where is Krka National Park?
Krka National Park was founded in 1985, and named for the Krka River that runs through the park. Established to protect the river and for scientific, cultural, educational, recreational, and tourism activities, it is located on the middle-lower stretch of the Krka River in the Dalmatia region of Croatia, about an hour’s drive from both Zadar and Split.
Visiting as a Day Trip from Split
We highly recommend visiting Krka National Park as a day trip from Split. The drive from Split to Krka is about one hour, and you’ll have plenty of time to explore the park before heading back. The main section of Krka that most tourists visit is not large- though there are more extensive sections you can choose to visit on longer trips as well.
Peak season in Krka National Park is the summer months of June, July, and August, so expect crowds, especially during these months. We visited at the end of July and the crowds were intense.
How Do You Get From Split to Krka National Park?
The best way to get from Split to Krka is by tour bus. Depending on the tour, you will either be picked up at your hotel or meet somewhere in Split’s Old Town and then walk to the bus. The ride from Split to Krka takes about an hour.
You can also drive yourself if you have a car or choose to rent a car. But the great part about a tour is that the bus will drop you off at Krka, and you will explore the old village and the falls and then make your way to a ferry. The boat will then take you to Skradin where you can have lunch and enjoy the beach or explore the town before the bus picks you up and returns you to Split.
If you are interested in how to get to Krka via car or public bus, we’ve covered the specifics for both below.
Visiting Krka National Park
We’ll outline which tour we recommend (and why), and what to expect from each part of your visit to Krka National Park. We’ll also offer some alternate tours which visit different areas that may appeal to you.
Top Pick: Krka Tour with Waterfalls, Swimming, and Boat Tour
🌟 Rating: 5 Stars ⏳ Up to10 Hours ✅ Explore On Your Own, Amazing Reviews 🔎 Check Rates
We took this tour with Booker Tours to visit Krka National Park from Split, and highly recommend it. It has over 1,300 five-star reviews. It’s not expensive and makes your trip convenient and simple. You can stick with your guide if you prefer to ask questions as you walk or explore on your own. There are several meet-up points so the group knows where to be and when, but you are not pressured into following a guide all day and can set your own pace.
“Wonderful day out! Vicki our tour guide was exceptional, very friendly and helpful. Timings were pretty spot on throughout the day, and coach was very modern and comfortable.”
– louise_V (read more reviews)
This tour does not include the cost of your actual park tickets, have cash ready for your ticket which the tour guide will collect once in the park. This is not a small group tour, it is a large busload of people (up to 50), so have clear expectations when booking this tour. We did find that while most people explored on their own, we had easy access to our guide who was happy to answer every question we had about the park or the plants we were seeing.
Book Now: Recommended Krka Day Tour from Split
Wondering about other tour options? Skip to our alternate tours below which include a winery, a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage town of Trogir, or a private tour of Krka.
How Much Does Krka National Park Cost?
Most tours to Krka National Park do not include the cost of admission to the park. You’ll need to bring this fee in cash to give to your tour guide.
In 2023, admission to Krka National Park is 40€ per adult, children age 7 to 18 are 15€, and children under 7 are free.
Getting to Krka National Park
On the way to Krka, your guide will explain to you what you are going to see when you enter the park, from the ethno presentations, the river and the boardwalk, Skradinski Buk (waterfall), the ferry to the town of Skradin, and your options for lunch and the beach while there.
When you arrive at the park, the tour guide will handle getting all of the tickets, then the bus will drive you down switchbacks into the park, dropping you at the start of the Ethno presentations, viewpoints, and the start of the boardwalk.
The Ethno Presentations
Here you will learn about the history of Krka Falls and how the people have lived here for hundreds of years and harnessed the water for all different parts of their lives. You can see traditional dwellings, a mill, and a blacksmith shop. This part of the tour takes about half an hour.
We had the option to skip these buildings and head for the boardwalk, explore on our own, or stick with our guide. While most people headed out on their own, we stuck with our guide and got in-depth explanations of these buildings which really brought them alive. Alone, I would have found them very interesting, but the guide was able to explain all sorts of details and answer questions, from why the tables are at a certain height, to why the donkey is so important in Croatian culture.
The Wooden Boardwalk
From the village, you will cross the river and head onto the boardwalk. The boardwalk makes up the bulk of the 2 km long Skradinski Buk trail, and your visit through Krka National Park. You’ll wind over streams and smaller falls, exploring the travertine barriers that Kraka is famous for. Take your time here, the walk should take you about an hour.
You’ll also see parts of the old Krka Hydropower plant, which began operating in 1895, just two days after the famous power plant at Niagara Falls. This allowed the town of Šibenik to have electricity before many major European cities.
Skradinski Buk
After making your way along the boardwalk, you will come to Skradinski Buk, the largest and most dramatic waterfall that is the highlight of Krka Park. Before 2020, you could swim in the basin under the falls, one of the few places in Croatia where you could.
However, after reopening post-2020 it was decided that too many tourists coming through and swimming in the water was not good for the preservation of the falls. There are still a few places on the upper trail where it is unclear if you are allowed to wade into the water and take a picture, but you can no longer swim in the park.
From the main area at the end of the boardwalk, you’ll see a wide-open meeting area and a few places to buy food or snacks. There is a long boardwalk over a bridge that provides a viewpoint over the falls. Because this is an “out and back” viewpoint, it gets quite crowded. Make your way as best you can, get your photos, and turn back.
From this main area, it is a short walk to the ferry docks where you can catch a boat to Skradin. This boat is included in your park admission ticket.
Ferry Boat to Skradin
At the dock, you will board a ferry with your group and enjoy the lovely cruise downriver to Skradin. On hot summer days, even the slow-moving boat does a lot to cool you down. The boat ride takes about 25 minutes.
There are also tours going the opposite way and you will see people coming from Skradin and viewing the falls this way.
Lunch in Skradin
Once you get to Skradin, you will have about two hours to explore the town, have a drink or lunch and enjoy a respite at the beach and a swim in the Krka River as it flows to the sea. On the main street in town, there are several cafes to choose from.
You may see “reserved” signs, but these indicate that the tables are reserved for people who would like to eat, as opposed to groups who just want to sit to have a drink.
Skradin Beach
Like most of the beaches in Croatia, this one is rocky, not sandy. But the water is lovely and refreshing and this is still a great place to cool off or relax in the sun. We recommend sandals or water shoes to navigate the shore.
After spending some time at the beach and exploring the town, you’ll meet your group to board the bus for the trip back to Split.
Was the Group Tour of Krka National Park from Split Too Crowded?
We did not feel this tour was too crowded- while we traveled to the park in a large bus, most of the group chose to explore the park at their own pace. So we were free to walk around on our own and did not feel like we were being herded around in a large group.
However, the park itself was quite crowded, especially on the boardwalk to get a good view of Skradinski Buk, the most famous waterfall in the park.
Alternate Tours of Krka from Split
Alternate tours may give you the option to take a private tour or visit a winery to taste local wines or even a private tour.
Krka National Park with Winery Tour
🌟 Rating: 5 Stars ⏳ Up to 10 Hours ✅ Wine Tasting, Amazing Reviews 🔎 Check Rates
This day tour from Split includes a stop at a winery after visiting Krka National Park and the town of Skradin. You’ll visit a family winery where you’ll taste local wine as well as cheese, bread, and handmade olive oils.
“Great experience! I loved how the day was broken up into a few different things – waterfalls to beach to winery. Our tour guide Sonja was great! Highly recommend.”
– Nicole_D (read more reviews)
This tour has over 3,000 five-star reviews. It is run by Booker, the same tour group as our top pick tour, so we feel confident recommending it. On this tour, you’ll have less time in the village of Skradin in order to visit the winery.
The wine tastings and the visit to the winery are all included in the tour. The entrance fees to Krka Park are not included in the tour price, so please have cash ready to pay those. There is no age limit to the tour, children are welcome.
Book Now: Krka National Park with Winery Tour
Krka National Park with Trogir Visit
🌟 Rating: 5 Stars ⏳ 7 1/2 Hours ✅ Trogir, Krka, Skradin 🔎 Check Rates
On this day trip from Split, you’ll start your day with a guided tour of the UNESCO World Heritage town of Trogir. You’ll then have some free time in this town to explore or visit Kamerlengo castle.
You’ll then head to Krka National Park for a boat ride, followed by a guided tour of the boardwalk leading to Skradinski Buk, the most impressive waterfall. You then head to Skradin for lunch and free time to enjoy a swim.
“We had a wonderful day visiting Krka waterfalls and Trogir. Elena was knowledgeable and helpful as a tour guide. Our bus was very comfortable and our tour group was small. We had enough time to enjoy the falls and had a nice overview of Trogir.”
– Anthony_C (read more reviews)
This tour does not include admission fees to Krka National Park, so please have cash ready for your tour guide. This is a large group tour.
Book Now: Krka National Park with Trogir Visit
Private Tour to Krka National Park
🌟 Rating: 5 Stars ⏳ 8 to 10 Hours ✅ Private Tour 🔎 Check Rates
If riding a bus holding 50 people is not your idea of a good time, you may prefer this private tour to Krka National Park from Split. You’ll have a guided tour of Krka National Park, a boat ride through the park, as well as short visits to Skradin, and Sibenik, where you’ll visit the UNESCO World Heritage cathedral.
“Our tour guide Henry, was great! He was very personable and fun to talk with. He also did a great job customizing the trip to our desires. He also took us to a great local restaurant that we never would have found without him!”
– sydney_G (read more reviews)
Because this is a private tour, you can customize it, and spend as much time at each location as makes sense for you.
Book Now: Private Tour to Krka National Park
Can I Visit Krka National Park from Split on My Own?
Yes, you can visit Krka National Park on your own by taking a public bus or a rental car, but the tour is much more convenient, as they will drop you off in one location and then pick you up in Skradin, so you won’t have to backtrack to get to your car.
If you do visit on your own, you can choose between the two park entrances: Skradin or Losovac. From the Skradin entrance, you’ll take the ferry into the park, see Skradinski Buk, then walk up the boardwalks toward the ethnographic museums.
If you enter from Losovac, you’ll park at the top of the hill, and take a free shuttle down to the start of the boardwalk, or walk the 875-meter trail. You’ll then start with the ethnographic museums, then the boardwalk, then the ferry to Skradin if you wish, or return to your car.
You’ll need to select your entrance when you buy your tickets, and you’ll need to purchase tickets in advance online.
Taking a Public Bus to Krka National Park
You can take a public bus from the main bus station in Split to Skradin, and enter the park via the Skraden entrance. Tickets range from 8-10€ each way and take approx. 70 minutes for the journey.
Driving to Krka National Park
If you plan to drive to Krka National Park, you should plan to head Northeast toward Dugopolje, and then across on the toll road A1 toward Zagreb. While this is a longer route than heading through Trogodir on the D8 it will save you 30 minutes of drive time, taking just over an hour instead of 1 1/2 hours. The road to Trogodir passes the Split airport and is therefore often very congested.
Both the Losovac and Skradin Park entrances open at 8 am.
Tips for Visiting Krka National Park from Split
Here are some tips for visiting Krka National Park however you choose to get there.
Bathrooms
At the entrance to the park, and again at the start of the boardwalk where the buses drop you off, there are bathrooms available at no charge. There are also bathrooms near Skradinsky Buk, but there is a small charge to use them.
Water Shoes
We recommend wearing or at least bringing water shoes. The beach at Skradin is quite rocky and you will likely not be comfortable in bare feet.
Getting Food or Snacks
At the base of Skradinski Buk, there are some food vendors, but it is mostly fast food. You are better off bringing snacks to hold you until you can get to Skradin. There are several cafes there where you can get a much better lunch.
Summer Crowds
Krka gets quite crowded, especially in the summer. Whether you visit on your own, in a big group, or even on a private tour, the narrow boardwalks get quite crowded and you may be following other tourists in a line. Try to visit on weekdays, and avoid the summer season if possible.
FAQ: Krka National Park from Split Croatia
It takes about an hour to drive from Split to Krka National Park. The time is approximately the same whether you take a large bus, private taxi, or rent a car.
Tickets range from 8-10€ each way and take approx. 70 minutes for the journey.
In 2023, admission to Krka National Park is 40€ per adult, children age 7 to 18 are 15€, and children under 7 are free. Most tours do not include these fees in their price.
The main boardwalk in Krka will take you about an hour. Add in extra time to visit the ethnographic buildings, take the ferry, or have a snack. As a family, we would allow 2-3 hours if we were visiting on our own.
There are sixteen waterfalls in Krka National Park, though you may not see all of them on your visit. The most famous waterfall is Skradinski Buk, which is where the tourist boardwalk ends.
No, Krka National Park is completely different from Plitvice Lakes National Park. We highly recommend you visit both if you can! Plitvice Lakes is known for its wide lakes of bright aqua water, as well as its waterfalls.
Krka is famous more for its waterfalls, but both are made of travertine pools and both have narrow wooden boardwalks. You cannot swim in either park.
No, you cannot swim in the main section of Krka National Park. You can swim in the town of Skradin, after taking the boat ride from within Krka National Park.
Krka National Park is about 3 1/2 hours drive from Dubrovnik. It is much easier to access Krka National Park on a day tour from either Split or Zadar than from Dubrovnik.
Krka National Park is set up to move tourists along a wooden boardwalk, and then to a ferry boat that takes you to the town of Skradin. It is not a large area, and the directions are clearly marked.
Is it Worth it to Visit Krka National Park from Split?
Yes, Krka National Park is worth visiting. If we had to choose, we would prefer a visit to Plitvice Lake National Park over Krka National Park, especially since you can no longer swim in Krka. However, Krka makes a very reasonable day trip from Split and is absolutely worth seeing.
There You Have It: Krka Waterfalls from Split
A visit to Krka National Park from Split is a fantastic way to spend the day admiring one of Croatia’s national treasures. The cascading waterfalls, meandering rivers, and dense forests will captivate you- even if the crowds interfere a bit.
We highly recommend visiting Krka via a tour from Split. Our top pick tour is a simple bus ride and tour guide, or upgrade yourself to include a visit to a winery. You may also enjoy adding the city of Trogir, or avoid the large bus ride altogether and hire a private guide.
We spent a month exploring Croatia and boiled down the highlights into a 2 Week Croatia Itinerary. We loved spending time in the less-touristy capital city of Zagreb before visiting Plitvice Lakes, then finding fun things to do in beautiful Zadar, before arriving in Split.
Split makes a great base for exploring Croatia, whether it’s Krka National Park, or even Mostar, Bosnia. From Split, we recommend heading South to Dubrovnik- grab a Dubrovnik Pass, as there are so many things to do in Dubrovnik including some fascinating Dubrovnik old town walking tours, and of course, Game of Thrones tours!
