How to Visit Krka National Park from Zadar, Croatia

How to Visit Krka National Park from Zadar

Krka National Park is a fantastic day trip from Zadar. One of the many phenomenal National Parks in this part of Croatia, Krka is a natural beauty not to be missed! We have detailed how to visit Krka National Park from Zadar, including unmissable information, practical tips and how to take the bus from Zadar to Krka.

Where is Krka National Park

Let’s start from the top, where is Krka National Park? The park is located towards the southern portion of Croatia on the Krka River. It is 77km from Zadar, 87km from Split and only 10km from beautiful Šibenik.

How to get from Zadar to Krka National Park

Zadar to Krka National Park is a fantastic day out when visiting this part of Croatia. There are several ways to get there. These options can vary depending on how much time you have. We took the bus from Zadar to Krka but there are other ways too. Here is all you need to know about travelling from Zadar to Krka.

The Bus from Zadar to Krka National Park

There is a bus from Zadar to Skradin. This leaves from Zadar bus station, takes about an hour and costs €11 each way. There are 5 buses per day so plan your times carefully. It is cheaper to book in advance online and we used GETBYBUS. There is then a ferry at Skradin to take you to the National Park entrance.

However, we visited off season and there was no ferry. Fortunately, there were eight other rather confused tourists in the same situation. We decided to get a taxi together to split the cost. Just as well because the journey from Skradin to the park entrance was €20 each way. With a bit of planning, it is possible to travel from Zadar to Krka National Park by bus.

Zadar to Krka National Park by Car

If you decide to drive, Skradin and Lozovac entrances are the most popular and have plenty of parking. However, Lozovac entrance parking is free while many others have a charge of €1.50 per hour. The drive from Zadar can be done in 50 min but there is a toll of around €4 to pay on the road. Roads can get busier in peak season.

Zadar to Krka National Park by Private Transfer

If you are a group, or travelling with kids, this might be a good option. It will eliminate any hassle and extra costs, such as tolls, fuel and parking. However, it does come at a price. Private transfers can be booked from around €70 each way.

Take a Tour from Zadar to Krka National Park

This could be a really straightforward option if you are short on time or travelling alone. Tours from Zadar to Krka are available for around €60 and will last all day!

Entry Fee to Krka National Park

When we arrived at the Lozovac entrance to Krka. The entry fee for an adult off season was only €7. However it varies throughout the year, reaching €40 in the summer months. Tickets can be bought in advance online HERE, or at the park entrance.

What to See

So you’ve travelled all the way from Zadar to Krka National Park, what is there to see here? After paying our entrance fee at the gate, we made our way into the park. During busy months, there is a bus that will take visitors from the Lozovac entrance down to the river. However, in March, we walked. It took around 10 minutes of walking down a steep rocky path to reach the beginning of the trail.

From here, we began following a wooden walkway. The path took us across the river where we could see bright green plants below the crystal clear water. It looked like mermaids hair! We walk on, passed ducks and many beautiful green plants. The only noise was from the cascading water. It was off season so there were very few people there.

There are many smaller waterfalls on the 3km route we followed around the park. The colours are brilliant greens and icy blues. After walking for a while, and taking hundreds of photos, we arrived at the spectacular Skradinski Buk waterfall. Time for more photos!

After a stop here to enjoy our picnic, we continued on to explore the tiny village, mill and souvenir shop.

Of course, we still had the hike back up to the bus to go. However, buoyed by the excitement of our day, the steep walk was not a problem.

We met with our fellow travellers and took the taxi back to the bus stop in Skradin to wait for our return to Zadar.

Can you Swim at Krka National Park?

At certain times of the year swimming is allowed at Skradinski buk and Roški slap waterfalls. However, we were there in the spring when water volume is high. So swimming was not permitted.

Where to Eat

During the off season, there isn’t much open. We brought a picnic to enjoy at one of the many spectacular view points. There is a small shop in Skradin where the bus drops and collects you. We topped up supplies here. However, in the busy months, there is food available at the entrance to the park.

When to Go

During the off season, the entry tickets are cheaper and the park is quiet. In the peak months, there are more amenities available but the crowds are pretty large. It really depends what type of experience you are looking for. For us, we preferred to relax in the peace and quiet of nature. March was perfect as the weather was getting warm but still very pleasant.

How Long to Go for

This very much depends on how you plan to get there and what you intend to do. If you are taking the bus, you will be limited by the schedule. We had about 5 hours at Krka National Park and it allowed us to get a good feel for the area and enjoy the beautiful scenery. However, if you want to stay longer, there is accommodation nearby. If you enjoy exploring nature and hiking there is plenty to do to fill a couple of days.

What to Bring for a Day Trip from Zadar to Krka National Park

We have put together a convenient packing list for your day trip from Zadar to Krka National Park.

• Hiking boots or shoes
• Backpack
• Snacks for the journey
• Picnic
• Book/audiobook for the bus
• Water bottle
• Weather appropriate clothing such as rain jacket or sun protection
• Insect repellent
• Sunscreen and sunglasses
• Map or downloaded GPS or map application on your phone
• Phone
• Decent camera with plenty of space for pictures of the spectacular scenery

What to Avoid when Visiting Krka National Park

Krka is a truly spectacular natural beauty. However, to make the most of your visit, there are a few things we would recommend you avoid if possible. Weekends and holidays in the summer can get super busy! If you can’t avoid this completely, try visiting early in the morning or late in the afternoon to miss the crowds. The entry fee to the park also jumps up during the warmer months. So keep this in mind when planning your trip. You can check HERE for up-to-date entry fees.

If you visit on a rainy day, beware the wooden pathway! The rain can make the wooden slats pretty slippery.

Don’t swim in the winter. The signs will warn you not to swim at certain times of year. It is wise to heed this advise! The water is cold and powerful during the winter months and early spring. The snow from the hills melts and increases the water volume of the falls.

Krka National Park from Zadar

Don’t let any of this put you off. We had a fantastic time at this park that, at times, felt like another planet. The spectacular colours of the plant life and beautiful nature was truly relaxing on a quiet day in March. With a bit of planning and preparation, Krka is a great day trip from Zadar.

Where to go next

Ready for another adventure? Why not try Kravice Waterfalls in Bosnia Herzegovina? There are plenty of mountains, rivers and lakes to discover in beautiful Bosnia.

Final note: Things change in the Balkans all the time and there is not much information online in English. We would definitely advise checking with a local where possible. We found people to be really friendly and super helpful.

Have you visited Zadar or Krka National Park? Are you planning a trip and need more information? Drop a comment in the box, we’d love to hear from you!

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