When it comes to Croatia, you’ve probably heard about Plitvice. But have you heard about Krka?

Krka National Park is just as beautiful as Plitvice, and guess what? You can even swim there!

Come discover 10 amazing places to see in Krka.

 

10 things to see in croatia krka national park

 

The main destination in Croatia is definitely Plitvice Lakes; most people go there on their travels to Croatia, and it’s the most visited Croatian National Park. However fewer people know about Krka National Park, and even fewer people know that Krka has a lot of different stunning places you can visit.

I’ve tried to make this guide as comprehensive as possible so that you can plan your Croatia trip in the best way possible. I’ve included all of the places worth visiting around Krka (more than the main swimming spot), information about the National Park, and tips to help you prepare for your trip to Krka. Download my private map right below: 


 

And here are the 10 things you should see in Krka: 

  1. Skradinski Buk
  2. Roški Slap
  3. Bilušića buk
  4. Brljan
  5. Manojlovac Slap
  6. Rošnjak
  7. Miljacka Slap
  8. Visovac and Visovac Monastery
  9. Krka Monastery
  10. Burnum Amphitheatre

Keep reading to learn everything about these places and best prepare for your trip to Krka.

 

Krka National Park, Croatia

Krka is a pretty big national park: it extends over 42 square miles (109 square kilometers), and is situated along the Krka River, from which it draws its name. In the park, you can find 7 waterfalls: each one of them is beautiful in its own way.

 

skradinski buk waterfallsPhoto by Raphael

 

Did you enjoy Plitvice? Then you’ll love Krka.

Wondering if you should visit Plitvice or Krka? Then you should visit Krka.

Were you disappointed you couldn’t swim in Plitvice? Then you can go swim in Krka.

Krka National Park is another one of the beautiful National Parks you can find in Croatia, and after exploring the location I can definitely say I recommend wholeheartedly to squeeze Krka in your Croatia itinerary.

Odds are that you know Krka as « Like Plitvice Lakes, but where you can swim ». While this is totally true, there is much more to Krka than just swimming in waterfalls. I’ve compiled a list of 10 amazing places to see in Krka, that you can find below.

 

Krka National Park Facts

Because I’m a huge fan of facts, I’ve put together a list of interesting facts about Krka. If you’re not a fan of facts, you can click on any part of the Table of Content above to go straight to any part you wish.

 

krka national park croatiaPhoto by Raphael
  • the waterfalls in the park are fragile formations: they are made of layers of travertine
  • more than 850 species of plants can be found in the park
  • the fauna is also pretty abundant in the park: 18 species of fish and 222 species of birds
  • the government has limited the visits of Krka to 10,000 visitors at the same time
  • there are a lot of caves under the National Park, hosting 18 species of bats

Now that you know more about Krka National Park, let’s dive into the 10 amazing places that you can see in the area.

 

10 amazing places to see in Krka National Park

1- Skradinski Buk

Skradinski Buk (Waterfalls of Skradin) is the main location of Krka: this is where you can swim, and that’s where most people come to enjoy the view and relax in the water.

 

krka national park - croatiaPhoto by Raphael

This is the place where the travertine waterfalls end, and it makes for a wonderful show. The waterfalls here span over an average of 350 meters (1200 feet) in width, and pretty high too. When I was there, I witnessed some locals jumping into the lake from the waterfall. Sadly, only locals are allowed to go in the falls to jump.

There is also a nice trail going along the waterfalls and above the lakes on a wooden bridge, that you can follow for a nice hike around the park.

 

2- Roški Slap

Roški Slap, or cascades of Rogovo, are even wider than Skradinski Buk; they span over 450 meters (1500 feet). This waterfall is pretty unique: it starts with a lot of small waterfalls, that dripple down below to form several massive waterfalls.

 

roski slap

 

Around the waterfall, you can see the ruins of Rog Hill-fort, as well as many mills. Some of the mills have even been restored, and they are now in use.
You can reach Roški Slap from the road, or from the boat with one of the boat tour offered in the National Park.

Here’s a map of Roški Slap and the area around:

 

roski slap map

 

3- Bilušića Buk

From the 7 Krka waterfalls, Bilušića Buk is the first. It’s located 16km (10 miles) from the source of the Krka River, and flows all-year round.

 

bilusica bukPhoto by Antonio Pejic under CC BY-SA 4.0

Even though the waterfall has been blasted by dynamite 4 separate times (to modify its flow and stop the flood), it remains stunning. You can access Bilušića Buk from the road by heading to Raducic.

 

4- Brljan Buk and Brljan Lake

Brljan Buk, the Brljan Waterfalls, are located downstream from Bilušića Buk. After the waterfalls, you’ll find Brljan Lake, a lush part of the park of pristine beauty.

 

brljan lake

 

This part of the park might be dried out if you visit during summer, as the river is drained to aliment the hydroelectric plant of the area.

 

5- Manojlovac Slap

If you keep going down the river, after Bilušića Buk and Brljan Buk, you’ll find Manojlovac Slap: the waterfalls are the highest of Krka National Park, at 32 meters high (105 feet).

 

manojlovac slap

 

To me, Manojlovac Slap is the most beautiful waterfall of Krka. I highly recommend going to see it from above, it’s such an impressive sight.
Be aware that it can be dried out in summer, just like Brljan waterfalls.

 

6- Rošnjak

Rošnjak falls are the least visited waterfalls of Krka National Park. This isn’t because they’re the least beautiful: no, it’s because they’re inaccessible.

 

rosnjak waterfall in krka croatia

 

Unlike all the other waterfalls in the park, made of multiple drops, Rošnjak Slap is of pure simplicity: one drop, in between 200 meters high cliffs (656 feet). This is the rawest waterfall you’ll find in Krka National Park, that will totally transport you into a serene zone.

 

7- Miljacka Slap and the Miljacka Hydroelectric Plant

To complete the list of the 7 Krka Waterfalls, you need to visit Miljacka Slap. The Miljacka Slap is made of 3 main drops, and a lot of small travertine drops. Around the waterfalls, you’ll find several interesting things: destroyed mills, the Miljacka hydroelectric plant, and caves that host thousands of bats of many species.

The hydroelectric plant is situated on the left bank of the river; you can go right up to it on the road. You can download my free private map with the location of the plant, and Miljacka Slap, so that you’ll easily find both on your travels there.

 

8- Visovac and Visovac Monastery

Did you enjoy Lake Bled LINK and the church on Bled Island? Well, then you’ll probably enjoy Visovac Lake and Visovac Monastery

 

visovac monasteryImage by Nerijp under CC BY-SA 2.0

Visovac Island is a tiny island, with barely 17 meters of coastline (56 feet). On the island, you’ll find the Visovac Monastery, which is actually called the Franciscan Monastery of Our Lady of Mercy. Next to the monastery is also a church, the Church of Our Lady of Visovac. Both of them have been built in 1445, and they stand there ever since.

You can actually visit the island, the monastery, and the church, via a boat tour: click here for more info

Another option is to drive to the best viewpoint around, where you’ll have a clear view of Visovac from above. The viewpoint is located right before reaching the Kapelica na Krki. The name of the viewpoint is Spomenik Hrvasktom kralju Petru Svacicu.

Download the FREE private map by filling the form below to find this viewpoint the easiest way possible.


 

9- Krka Monastery

Following Visovac Monastery, another amazing place to visit in Krka National Park is Krka Monastery. The Krka Monastery, or Saint Michael Archangel Monastery, is another location of incredible serenity.

 

krka monasteryImage by Beat Estermann under CC BY-SA 4.0

 

The monastery is built close to the river and is still in use. You’ll need a guide if you wish to visit the monastery or the mysterious Roman catacombs underneath. But even without a guide, you can enjoy the calmness of the location, and the beauty all around.

You can reach the monastery by road, coming from Kistanje. You’ll find signs for the monastery: follow them, and go all the way down the winding road.

 

10- Burnum Amphitheatre

The last location of this list is Burnum Amphitheatre. It’s probably not what you think about when you imagine Krka National Park, but if you love history, architecture, or if you’re just a sucker for ancient things in general, you’ll probably enjoy visiting Burnum.

 

burnum amphitheatreImage by Carole Mage under CC BY-SA 2.0

The amphitheater is a remain of an old Roman Military camp, that was set around the 1st Century, in AD 42.It’s also situated near Manojlovac Slap, so you can visit one after the other while you’re there.

 

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So there you have them, the 10 amazing things to see in Krka National Park.

To help you further with planning your trip to Croatia and Krka National Park, you can find specific tips below.

 

Tips to Plan Your Krka Travels

How to Go to Krka Croatia

If you’re staying in Split, Krka National Park is a 1h30 drive. One of the best places to stay near the park is Skradin, a nice town right next to Krka.

Driving is definitely the best way to explore the National Park, as you’ll be able to go freely to all of the incredible places you can see in the area.

 

Where can I swim in Krka?

In Krka National Park swimming is allowed, but not everywhere in the park. The main area to swim in is Skradinski Buk (#1 in the list above).

 

When should I travel to Krka National Park?

There are 3 answers to that question, depending on what you’re looking for.

If you want to swim in the park, next to the waterfalls, then you’ll have to go during summer. The park will likely be crowded, so I recommend going as early as you can (8am) straight to Skradinski waterfalls to swim when there is no one around. Then as the day goes by, you can explore the other parts of the park.

If you want to swim, but could do with colder temperatures, you should go in June or September.

If you don’t really need to swim, you should avoid summer and visit in May or October. By going on these dates, you won’t have to pay the extra high-season fee, and there will be less crowds in the park. In any case, avoid going to Croatia in winter to fully enjoy Krka. 

 

Krka National Park Opening Times

The park working hours vary depending on the season. You can find below the times:

 

 

Krka National Park Entrance Fee

As for the times, the entrance fee varies depending on the month.

July-August: 200 KN (27 EUR)
April-June/September-October: 110 KN (15 EUR)
January-March/November-December: 30 KN (4 EUR)

For more details, check out the full prices here.

 

How do I find my way in Krka National Park?

To make sure you find your way, you can find below a Krka National Park map:

 

krka national park map

 

You can also download my personal map of the location that I’m sharing with you below:

Now you’re ready to discover Krka National Park: you know the 10 amazing things you can visit, and you have all the tips you need to plan your trip there in the best way possible!

 

I hope you enjoy your trip! Let me know how it was when you get back.

In the meantime, you can check other travel guides for Croatia and its neighbor country, Slovenia, to plan your travels.
Guide to Plitvice Lakes
Inspiration to visit Plitvice
15 things to do in Slovenia

 

Disclaimer: When I was on a road trip in Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia, all of my gear got stolen in Bosnia (camera, laptop, drone, passport, keys, hard drive, …). Sadly I don’t have any photos from this trip after Slovenia (I backed up the Slovenia photos on the spot). The images in this article are either shots of my friend Raphael https://www.instagram.com/raphtravels/ or free rights images.