In this guide
💡 The Short Version: Krka National Park covers 109 km² along the Krka River canyon, known for its seven travertine waterfalls, emerald pools and island monastery. Skradinski buk is the largest waterfall: 17 cascaded travertine steps dropping 45.7 m over 800 m. An adult ticket costs €7 in winter (November to March), €20 in shoulder months (April, May, October) and €40 in summer (June to September), purchased from Krka National Park. The ticket includes the river boat from Skradin or shuttle bus from Lozovac from 1 April to 31 October. Or book a tour: From Split: Krka Waterfalls, Food & Wine Tasting Tourad (from €45, 4.9 stars from 8,520 reviews) or Split: Krka Waterfalls Trip with Boat Cruisead (from €35, 4.8 stars from 13,692 reviews) cover the 85 km transport, the river cruise and park entry in a 9-to-10-hour day.
⚠️ Swimming at Skradinski buk is strictly prohibited. To safeguard the living travertine barriers from degradation, the park authority banned bathing at the falls in 2021. Anyone entering the water at the falls faces a park fine.
Tickets, seasons and admission rules
Krka’s admission price has three seasonal tiers. Tickets are sold at the park entrance kiosks and in the official online shop (Krka tickets and prices). The general ticket covers all the land sites in the park, including Skradinski buk, Roški slap, the Burnum Roman military camp, the Krka monastery and the Manojlovački slap viewpoint.
| Season | Adult | Students & children aged 7–18 | Children under 7 | What is included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov–Mar (winter) | €7 | €4 | Free | Park walking trails only; boat and bus do not run |
| Apr, May, Oct (shoulder) | €20 | €12 | Free | Entry, Skradin river boat, Lozovac shuttle bus |
| Jun–Sep (peak) | €40 (€30 after 15:00) | €15 (€11.25 after 15:00) | Free | Entry, Skradin river boat, Lozovac shuttle bus |
A student ticket requires a valid international student card (ISIC). In July and August, a combined ticket for the whole park costs €40, while a ticket covering only the northern localities (Roški slap, Burnum, Krka monastery) is available at a reduced rate of €20.
Boat excursions to the upper canyon need separate tickets, bought at the park docks:
- Skradinski buk to Visovac Island (Franciscan monastery and museum, 2-hour return): €15 adult, €10 child (aged 7–18).
- Skradinski buk to Visovac and Roški slap (4-hour return, includes 1.5 hours free time at Roški slap): €20 adult, €15 child.
- Skradinski buk to Torak spring lake (1-hour return): €10 adult, €7 child.
A footbridge on the walking loop at Skradinski buk. Photo: Silverije, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Opening hours
Opening hours at Skradinski buk shift with the daylight:
| Month | Skradinski buk hours | Skradin boat service | Lozovac bus service |
|---|---|---|---|
| January & February | 09:00 to 16:00 | Closed (footpath only) | Closed (footpath only) |
| March | 09:00 to 17:00 | Closed | Closed |
| April | 08:00 to 18:00 | 08:00 to 17:30 (hourly) | 08:30 to 17:45 (regular) |
| May | 08:00 to 19:00 | 08:00 to 18:30 (hourly) | 08:30 to 18:45 (regular) |
| June, July, August | 08:00 to 20:00 | 08:00 to 19:30 (every 30 min) | 08:30 to 19:45 (frequent) |
| September | 08:00 to 19:00 | 08:00 to 18:30 (hourly) | 08:30 to 18:45 (regular) |
| 1 to 15 October | 08:00 to 18:00 | 08:00 to 17:30 (hourly) | 08:30 to 17:45 (regular) |
| 16 to 31 October | 09:00 to 17:00 | 09:00 to 16:30 (hourly) | 09:00 to 16:45 (regular) |
| November & December | 09:00 to 16:00 | Closed | Closed |
The park is closed on 25 and 26 December. On 24 and 31 December, all entrances close at 12:00. On 1 January, only the Lozovac entrance is open, from 09:00 to 16:00. The upper waterfall at Roški slap is closed to visitors from November to March.
Tours from Split
Getting to Krka independently means timing regional buses or hiring a car. A day tour leaves from central Split by air-conditioned coach, handles group entry so you skip the box-office queue, and often adds a wine tasting or a swim at Skradin or Primošten.
Food & wine tasting tour
From €45 · 4.9 stars from 8,520 reviews · 10 hours · free cancellation
From Split: Krka Waterfalls, Food & Wine Tasting Tourad: A day trip from Split with a river cruise, a swim in Skradin, and a tasting of local products and wines at a winery to finish.
Boat cruise and swimming tour
From €35 · 4.8 stars from 13,692 reviews · 9 hours · free cancellation
Split: Krka Waterfalls Trip with Boat Cruise and Swimmingad: A day trip from Split to the waterfalls with a river cruise and a swim in Primošten, with discounted park entry.
Krka day tour with river boat ride
From €26 · 4.6 stars from 908 reviews · 8.5 - 9.5 hours · free cancellation
From Split & Trogir: Krka Waterfalls Day Tour with Boat Ridead: A day tour from Split or Trogir with a guided hike in the park and a boat cruise on the Krka River.
DIY bus vs tour: pricing side by side
The table compares a day trip by intercity coach to Skradin with an organised tour.
| Option | Transport cost | Park admission | Total per adult | Key advantage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent bus (winter) | €16–€20 round trip | €7 | €23–€27 | Low off-season cost, flexible pace |
| Independent bus (shoulder) | €16–€20 round trip | €20 | €36–€40 | Full control of schedule in Skradin |
| Independent bus (peak summer) | €18–€24 round trip | €40 | €58–€64 | Can stay later in the evening |
| Tour with boat cruise | From €35 tour | €20–€40 park ticket | €55–€75 | Direct coach, guaranteed connection, Primošten swim |
| Tour with wine tasting | From €45 tour | €20–€40 park ticket | €65–€85 | Local winery visit, Dalmatian cheese and smoked ham |
Getting there independently
By public bus from Split
Direct coaches to Skradin leave from Split Bus Station (Autobusni kolodvor Split) by the ferry port, run by companies including Arriva, Prijevoz Knežević and Črnja Tours (Split bus station timetable). From June to September there are 6 to 8 departures a day between 07:00 and 11:00. The journey takes 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes and tickets cost €8 to €12 each way. The bus stops at the Skradin town bridge, 200 m from the park ticket office and boat jetty.
Return buses leave Skradin between 15:30 and 19:30. Seats sell out in peak summer, so book the return online in advance.
By car
Driving from Split takes 60 to 75 minutes. Take the A1 highway heading north towards Zagreb, leave at Exit 21 (Skradin), and follow the signs down to Skradin town (toll €4.20 each way). Alternatively, stay on the motorway to Exit 22 (Šibenik) and follow State Road D33 to the Lozovac entrance, which has free parking beside the ticket pavilions.
A park excursion boat on the Krka river. Photo: Fiver, der Hellseher, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Exploring Skradinski buk
Skradinski buk is the main site in Krka National Park. Its water falls over 17 travertine barriers across 800 metres of riverbed, 200 to 400 metres wide, with a total drop of 45.7 metres.
The walking loop
The main trail is a 1,900-metre wooden boardwalk loop, one-way. From the upper falls it descends through willow, alder and reed woodland, crosses pools and passes over footbridges in front of the main waterfall. The walk takes 1.5 to 2 hours.
Key sights along the circuit:
- Jaruga hydroelectric power plant: at the base of Skradinski buk, it began operating on 28 August 1895, two days after the Adams Power Plant at Niagara Falls. It gave Šibenik one of the first alternating-current street lighting systems in the world.
- The ethno-village: restored 19th-century watermills that still mill grain by water power, with stone workshops, cloth fulling equipment and weaving demonstrations.
- Imperial viewpoint: on the plateau above the falls, where Emperor Franz Joseph I and Empress Elisabeth admired the cascades in April 1875.
Upper canyon: Visovac, Roški slap and Burnum
Beyond Skradinski buk the park runs 40 km north through a limestone canyon with a monastery, a Roman camp and a prehistoric cave.
The Franciscan monastery on Visovac island. Photo: August Dominus, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Visovac Island
Visovac is a small oval island in a widening of the river called Lake Visovac. Hermits of St Augustine lived here from the 14th century and Franciscan monks founded a monastery in 1445. Its library holds 620 incunabula, rare manuscripts, Turkish edicts and church vestments. The park’s excursion boats stop for 30 minutes so you can see the church and gardens.
Roški slap
Roški slap, 36 km north of Skradinski buk, is the sixth waterfall. The river here flows over a 650-metre series of shallow cascading barriers called the “Necklaces” (Ogrlice) before plunging 22.5 metres into Lake Visovac. A 517-step wooden stairway climbs the canyon cliff to the Oziđana pećina cave, where archaeological layers prove human habitation from 5000 to 1500 BC.
The cascades of Roški slap upstream. Photo: Michael Newman, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0.
Burnum Roman amphitheatre
Near the northern village of Ivoševci lie the ruins of Burnum, a Roman military legionary camp that housed Legio XI Claudia during the 1st century AD. The surviving stone arches of the military command building (praetorium) and an excavated military amphitheatre holding 8,000 spectators are open to park ticket holders.
Practical rules for visitors
- Footwear: the boardwalks are slick with river spray. Wear non-slip shoes or trainers; flip-flops and smooth-soled sandals slip on damp boards.
- Bicycles: cycling is forbidden on the Skradinski buk boardwalk loop. The park provides separate marked cycle routes through the surrounding hills.
- Pets: dogs are permitted on terrestrial trails and boat transfers provided they remain on a leash; muzzles are mandatory on public shuttle buses and boats. Dogs are not allowed on Visovac island.
- Drones: recreational drone flights are illegal across all Croatian national parks without written approval from the park directorate.
What to see next
- Day trips from Split: other Dalmatian excursions compared, including Hvar and Vis.
- Trogir day trip from Split: the UNESCO-listed medieval island town, on the way back from Krka.
- Klis Fortress and Salona day trip: the Roman provincial capital and a mountain fortress, 12 km from Split.
- 3 days in Split itinerary: where a Krka day trip fits in a long weekend.
- Getting around Split: the bus terminal, airport coaches and local transport.
- Best time to visit Split: weather and crowds by season.
Common questions
Can you swim at Skradinski buk?
No. Swimming at Skradinski buk and throughout the travertine waterfall areas was banned by the national park authority on 1 January 2021 to protect the fragile tufa formations. Bathing is allowed only at designated beach areas outside the barriers, such as in the lower lake near Skradin and at Roški slap.
How much does Krka National Park cost?
An adult day ticket for the entire land park, including Skradinski buk, costs €7 from January to March and in November and December, €20 in April, May and October, and €40 from June to September (€30 for afternoon entry after 15:00). Children aged 7 to 18 and university students pay €4, €12 or €15 in those periods, and under-7s are free (Krka National Park 2026 tariff).
Do the park boat and bus run all year?
No. The boat transfer from Skradin to Skradinski buk and the bus from Lozovac to the top of the falls run only from 1 April to 31 October. In winter (November to March), transport is not operated; visitors enter on foot from Lozovac or walk the 4 km trail from Skradin.
What are the opening hours at Skradinski buk?
Skradinski buk opens at 09:00 and closes at 16:00 in November, December, January and February, at 17:00 in March, at 18:00 in April, at 19:00 in May and September, and at 20:00 from June to August.
How long does a visit to Skradinski buk take?
The circular wooden boardwalk loop around Skradinski buk is 1,900 m long and takes about 1.5 to 2 hours at a relaxed walking pace. It is a one-way trail with viewing terraces, historical watermills and footbridges over the river.
How far is Krka National Park from Split?
The main park entrance at Lozovac is 85 km north-west of Split, and the river entrance at Skradin is 88 km away. Driving takes about 60 to 75 minutes via the A1 motorway.
