Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links that may earn me a small commission should you click through and make a purchase (at no extra cost to you)

Practical information

Let’s start with some practical information about Kraka national park!

Krka national park opening hours

The national park is open all year round, only with the exception of the 25th and 26th of December. On the 24th and 31st of December the park closes at 12. Opening hours vary throughout the year, as well as having different opening hours for different parts of the park.

The main place of interest, Skradinski Buk, is open as follows:

June through August: 8AM to 8PM
September: 8AM to 7PM
October 1st through October 15th: 8AM to 6PM
October 16th through October 31st: 9AM to 5PM
November through February: 9AM to 4PM
March: 9AM to 5PM
April: 8AM to 6PM
May: from 8AM to 7PM

Note that the Krka monastery is closed from November throughout March.

Click here to see the complete opening hours

Entrances to Krka national park

There are five entrances to Krka national park, with the main ones being Lazovac and Skradin. Here I’ll go over what you need to know about each of the entrances.

Lozovac

This is the main entrance when arriving by car or in a tourist bus. At this entrance you have a ticket office as well as free parking for visitors. Tourist buses are allowed to transport visitors from the entrance to Skradinski Buk, and from April through October there is an organized transport for individual visitors from the entrance to Skradinski Buk. If you are visiting ouside of those months, you can enter with your vehicle. For those that like to hike, you also have the option to take the 875m (0.54 miles) hiking trail from the entrance to Skradinski buk.

Skradin

A part from being a picturesque town, Skradin is also the location of one of the five entrances to Krka national park. Those that arrive on a public you will likely enter through Skradin. There is parking available in Skradin, but it’s limited, so if you’re driving I’d recommend that you choose the Lozovac entrance.

Once you arrive in Skradin, head to the ticket office if you haven’t already purchased your ticket online. You then have the option of either heading to the pier and hop on a scenic boat ride that will take you to Skradinski Buk, or you can opt to for the equally scenic 3.4km (2.1 miles) hike. The boats run approximately every hour from April through mid November, you can see the complete schedule here.

Roski Slap/Laskovica

You can reach Roski Slap by road from Skradin, Knin and Drnis, as well as by one of the Krka excursion boats from the Skradinski Buk waterfall. Parking is available at this entrance and normally it has plenty availability. There is a ticket office where you can purchase tickets for the national park as well as for the boat excursions.

The boat excursions to the Krka monastery (note that it’s closed from November throughout March) and to Visovac Island are available from June through September, you can find the complete schedule here.

PIN IT!

Burnum/Puljane

Those that are interested archaeological sites will want to choose the Burnum entrance. It offers access to an archaeological site where you can see parts of Roman Burnum as well as artefacts that have been dug up, including weapons and daily use items. Burnum can only be reached by road and parking is available.

Kistanje/Krka monastery

Krka monastery can be reached by an organized boat excursion from Roski Slap waterfall during the months of April through October, as well as by car from Kistanje all year round.

From Kistjanje, follow the signs for the Krka monastery and head down the twisting road to the monastery, where you’ll find parking.

How much is the entrance fee to Krka?

The entrance fee to Kraka national park depends on the season, ranging from 50 kunas (7EUR) during winter to 300 kunas (40EUR) in the summer.

Click here for complete information on prices

Is Krka national park worth visiting?

Yes, Krka national park is absolutely worth visiting! The picturesque Skradinski Buk waterfall alone makes it worth a visit, not to mention the six other waterfalls and the beautiful landscape.

How much time do you need in Krka national park?

Krka national park can be explored within a day, and if you have enough time I’d recommend that you allow for a whole day at the park. Skradinski buk is the main sight, but the park also features six more waterfalls, a museum, a few cafés and restaurants, not to mention the stunning landscape. You can go on a boat tour (which I’d highly recommend), check out the souvenir shops as well as simply walking along the boardwalks and taking photos.

How to get to Krka national park?

Krka national park is easily accessible from coastal cities such as Split, Sibenik and Zadar. You can opt to rent a car, take a public bus or do a guided tour.

Getting to Krka by car

The most convenient way to get to Krka national park is by renting a car. This will of course give you the greatest flexibility, this is especially true during off season when public transport and tours run less frequently then during the summer months. Driving in Croatia is easy and the roads are in great condition.

Driving distances to Krka from the major towns:

Sibernik: 20km, approx. 20min drive
Zadar: 73km, approx. 1 hour drive
Split: 92km, approx. 1.15 hour drive
Zagreb: 325km, approx. 3 hour drive

I would recommend choosing the Lozovac entrance if you’re driving as it has the greatest availability of parking.

If you are looking to rent a car for your trip to Croatia, I’d highly recommend using RentalCars to compare prices between all the major car rentals to make sure you get the best deal!

Getting to Krka by public bus

It’s possible and relatively simple to get to Krka by a public bus from the major cities. Note that buses area much more frequent during the summer months, with only a few of departures a day during the winter months. The bus stop in Skradin is only a few minutes walk from the ticket office and the pier where you can take a boat to Skradinski Buk. The boats run approximately every hour from April through mid November, you can see the complete schedule here.

The bus ride from Sibenik takes around 30 minutes. There are 3-4 departures a day during off season while they are much more frequent during summer.

The journey from Zadar takes around an hour. During the winter months there are two departures per day, but up to eight in July and August.

The bus ride from Split takes around an hour and 20 minutes. There are around four departures a day during winter, but up to twelve in July and August.

Find your bus ticket to Krka here:

Visiting Krka on a guided tour

For those that prefer to go on an organized tour, you can do so from either Split, Zadar or Trogir. This is a great option for those that aren’t comfortable doing the trip on their own or those that simply want the convenience of having someone else organizing everything.

Note that entrance fee to the park is usually not included in the tour prices.

Day trips from Split to Krka national park

There are plenty of guided tours available from Split to Krka.

This top rated day trip includes a visit to a local winery where you’ll get a chance to taste local wines, cheese and olives.

For those that aren’t into wines, check out this highly rated tour that combines a visit to the Krka national park with visits to the picturesque towns of Skradin (pictured below) and Primosten.

Day trips from Zadar to Krka national park

From Zadar you have fewer options for day trips than from Split – I’d recommend checking out these two.

This trip includes pick up and drop off at your accommodation in Zadar and will take you to Krka in a minibus. You will have 6 hours to explore the park, which is plenty of time to see everything. Afterwards, the driver will be waiting for you and will drop you off at your accommodation.

For those that are into wines, I’d highly recommend checking out this trip that includes a visit to a local winery where you’ll get a tour of the winery and the procedures, followed by wine & cheese tasting!

Day trips from Trogir to Krka national park

This full-day tour from Trogir will allow you to see the famous Skradinski Buk, as well as the Roski Slap waterfall and the stunning Visovac Island. After visiting Krka national park, you will explore the small picturesque town of Sibenik.

Another option is this highly rated tour from Zadar that includes 5 hours in the Krka park, followed by a visit to a winery where you’ll learn about the production and taste some local wines!

Can you swim in Krka?

No, it is not allowed to swim in Krka anymore. It used to be possible to swim by the Krka waterfalls, but since 2021 it has been forbidden to swim there in order to preserve the waters of the park.

Final thoughts on visiting Krka national park

Visiting Krka was honestly one of the highlights of my time in Croatia! I visited on a beautiful autumn day at the beginning of November. I got to enjoy the park without hardly any other visitors, which really added to the experience. I’m sure it’s equally as stunning during the summer, just try to arrive early at Skradinski Buk to avoid the crowds. I would recommend doing a boat tour if you have the chance! Since I arrived by bus, I entered through Skradin and took the boat from there to Skradinski Buk, which was incredibly scenic. After having visited Krka, I can promise you won’t regret doing a day trip there!

If you are planning a trip to Croatia, you might also want to read:

• Getting around in Croatia: How to travel within Croatia
• 11 Things that surprised me about Croatia
• Best cafés to work from in Split
• 10 Things to do in Split
• Where to eat in Zagreb

PIN IT!

The post Visiting Krka National Park in Croatia appeared first on Sóldís Alda.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links that may earn me a small commission should you click through and make a purchase (at no extra cost to you)

Driving in Croatia

Driving is definitely the best way to get around in Croatia. Driving in Croatia is easy and convenient as the roads are wide, in excellent condition and easy to navigate. Of course it also gives you the freedom to explore the beautiful landscapes at your own pace and stop whenever you please. Note that driving within towns and cities during the summer months can become pretty crazy as Croatia receives lots of tourists during those months, many of which rent a car to get around. But as soon as you get out of the cities and on the highway, driving is usually a breeze.

Generally speaking, the speed limits are 130km/h (80m/h) on motorways, 90km/h (55m/h) on open roads and 50km/h (30m/h) within cities.

Toll roads in Croatia

All the multi lane roads connecting different parts of Croatia are toll roads. These roads will be marked with the letter A, followed by the road number. At the entrance you will take a ticket from the toll booth and then you’ll pay at the exit. The toll can be paid in Kunas, the local currency, in Euros, or by card. The tolls range from 40 kunas (5EUR) to 230 kunas (30 EUR).

Click here to compare prices of rental cars from all the major companies to make sure you get the best deal!

Traveling by bus in Croatia

Traveling by bus in Croatia is efficient and affordable. Buses are modern, reasonably priced, covering most of the country and departures are frequent enough. Tickets can usually be purchased at the station, but I’d recommend booking tickets in advance, especially during summer when popular routes are often sold out. The easiest way to find and book tickets is to use Omio, which allows you to compare bus routes by different companies – saving you the hassle of having to visit many different websites to find the best route.

On longer journeys (more than 3-4 hours) the buses will have one or more stops on the way, usually for 10-20 minutes each. Often you’ll be able to get some drinks and snacks during those stops, but don’t count on it as sometimes they stop in really small towns where there are no shops. The stops are mostly for people to use the restroom, often you’ll need to pay a small fee (10-20 kunas) for the use of restrooms, so make sure you have some cash. The biggest downside of traveling by bus is that you won’t have the freedom to stop whenever you want.

Note that many bus companies charge for each piece of luggage stored in the baggage compartment. The charge is usually 10-20 kunas per piece and must be paid in cash.

Traveling by train in Croatia

Train travel within Croatia is, unfortunately, very limited. Croatia’s train system covers only some of the north and east – mainly connecting Zagreb to a few cities on the coast. There are no train lines running up and down the coast, there is for example no train station in Dubrovnik. Main routes of interest would be from Zagreb to Rijeka or Split, and from Rijeka to Pula. Although trains may be slightly cheaper than buses, they are usually slower than buses and departures aren’t nearly as frequent. Furthermore, trains tend to be unreliable and often have long delays (a few hours), so I’d recommend taking a bus instead of trains when traveling in Croatia.

Timetables are shown at the stations, where you can also purchase tickets. You can also see timetables and purchase tickets directly through Croatian Railways (HZPP) or simply use Omio to compare bus and train routes to make sure you find the best option.

Interrail and Eurail passes are valid in Croatia.

Domestic flights

Croatia boosts an extensive schedule of domestic flights, making air travels within Croatia relatively easy. This is especially true for summer months, when departures are more frequent and popular routes are often served by many airlines. The main operator of domestic flights is the local Croatia Airlines. Prices are affordable, but do vary a lot depending on which time of year you’re traveling and how far in advance you book your tickets. Generally speaking, the summer months (May-August) is when air fare prices are the highest, while they drop significantly during the winter months. During winter months tickets can cost as little as 330kn (46USD), compared to up to 800kn (110USD) during high season.

The obvious advantage of flying is that it saves time, especially on longer routes. For example, a flight from Zagreb to Dubrovnik takes just under an hour, while driving takes over 6 hours.

To find and book domestic flights I’d recommend using Kiwi, One Travel, Omio or Skyscanner.

Traveling by ferries and catamarans

Ferries and catamarans connect the main cities on the coasts to the many surrounding islands. The main operator is the state owned Jadrolinija, which operates car ferries as well as catamarans. Krilo is the other operator, which is privately owned and operates only catamaran ferries. Catmarans are faster passenger only ferries, while ferries refer to the slower car ferries. The main hubs are Split, Dubrovnik, Zadar, Rijeka and Sibernik. The most popular routes will have multiple departures a day, especially during the high season, while less popular routes might only have one departure per day. I found the Jadrolinija website really difficult to use and not very user friendly, so I find that the best way to compare routes and prices is by using either Get By Ferry or Croatia Ferries.

Fares for passengers are very reasonably priced, ranging from 20-120kn (2,8-17USD). Bringing your vehicle on board will have an additional cost of 100-300kn (14-42USD), depending on the size of the vehicle and the travel distance.

Both the ferries and catamarans are well equipped, have indoor and outdoor seating and have toilets on board. Snacks and drinks are available for purchase, and bigger boats will also sell food and alcoholic beverages. There is usually free wifi on board. It’s advised to arrive at the port 45 minutes before departure, which I’d recommend, especially in the high season. Outside of the high season you don’t really have to, unless you’re bringing a vehicle on board, which we’ll get to next!

You might also like: 14 tips for staying safe while traveling

Bringing a car on board the ferries

Bringing your car or vehicle on the ferries is certainly possible. Spaces for vehicles are limited, and are on first comes first served basis, so make sure to get to the port early. When you get to the port, the first thing you should do is drive your car to the queue. There will be at least five lanes for cars, each of them are clearly marked with a number. Those that arrive first will go to lane number 1, which will be the first line to be able to drive aboard the ferry. Then lane 2, and so on.

Once your car is parked in one of the lanes, you can go and buy your ticket if you haven’t already. Locals will usually park their car in the lanes, and then go for a walk grab a coffee at one of the cafés at the port. Just make sure to be back at your car when the ferry is docked, as you don’t want to be the person holding up the entire lane

Island hopping

Island hopping between the many Adriatic islands in Croatia might very well be the highlight of your trip. With over 1200 islands dotted across the stunning blue waters of the Adriatic sea, it’s easy to see why Croatia is a popular destination for island hopping. Some islands worth visiting include Hvar, Korčula, Vis, Brač, Rab, Mljet and Cres. To get to one island to another you can take the Jadrolinija or Krilo ferries/catamarans or charter a private boat for a more luxurious experience. To make the most of your trip, I’d highly recommend doing some day trips to explore more of the islands.

Final thoughts

Something I feel like I have to mention, is that Croatia is split into two parts. Twenty kilometres (12 miles) of Bosnia-Herzegovinian coastline separate the Dubrovnik region from the rest of the country. So what does this mean for you? In practice, you can normally just drive through without having to show your passport or any paperwork. However, it is possible that you will be stopped at the borders so make sure to carry your passport and additional visa documents, if relevant. Schengen passport holders do not need a visa to travel to Bosnia or Croatia.

I hope this post helped you plan your next trip to Croatia! If you want to get notified when I publish new posts, just click the red bell in the lower right corner or follow me on instagram where I usually announce new posts

If you are planning a trip to Croatia, you might also want to read:

• Visiting Krka national park in Croatia
• 11 Things that surprised me about Croatia
• Best cafés to work from in Split
• 10 Things to do in Split
• Where to eat in Zagreb

PIN IT!

The post Getting around in Croatia: How to travel within Croatia appeared first on Sóldís Alda.

Find the perfect accommodation in Croatia here:

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links that may earn me a small commission should you click through and make a purchase (at no extra cost to you)

1. Croatia has a whole lot of islands

I was aware that Croatia had quite a few islands, but I had no idea that along the coast of Croatia there are over 1000 islands. 1244 islands to be exact. Most of those islands are small and uninhabited, with only 47 of them being inhabited.

2. Cash is king

In Croatia, you need cash. Croatians love cash, and surprisingly seem to not be to fond of debit and credit cards. This especially goes for the islands and the smaller cities such as Pula, Rovinj, Zadar, Rijeka… In the larger cities debit and credit cards tend to be more widely accepted, but even there, many businesses have a very high minimum spend when paying by card. For someone (me ) that is used to pay literally everything by card, I found this incredibly annoying and often found myself in a situation where I wanted to purchase something but I didn’t have any cash

the old town in dubrovnik! edited with the soft tones preset pack/photo filters, available here

3. Croatians are very friendly

I mean I wasn’t expecting them to be unfriendly, but I found them to be incredibly helpful and friendly. I have heard the same about other Balkan countries, so I guess the same goes for the locals the other Balkan countries.

4. Just about everyone speaks English

No matter where I went, just about every Croatian I interacted with spoke English. The fact that there was no language barrier just makes everything so much easier. After having a chat with a few locals, I learned that their high level of English is probably due to the fact that Croatia doesn’t dub movies and TV shows to Croatian, but instead show them in their original language with Croatian subtitles.

The only minor language problem I faced was in the supermarkets when trying to read the ingredients lists on products, which are usually only in Croatian and/or other balkan languages. But this was easily solved just by asking locals for help.

5. Coffee is a part of daily life

Having a cup of coffee at an outdoor café is part of daily life in Croatia. Judging by the fact that I never had a bad cup of coffee in Croatia, I’m gonna go ahead and assume that coffee in Croatia is pretty good.

You might also like:

6. Smoking is very common

Just like drinking coffee, smoking is very much a part of daily lives of Croatians. Pretty much everyone smokes, and when it comes to where to smoke, just about everything goes. Smoking inside bars, and sometimes even restaurants, is allowed and socially accepted. Many bigger restaurants have a designated smoking area, allowing those that want to stay clear of it. When going to bars, you can be pretty sure you will smell like an ashtray when you go home :)))

7. Croatian sounds aggressive

As someone that doesn’t understand Croatian, I kept thinking a fight was about to break out when I heard people having a conversation in Croatian. It’s just something about the language that sounds somehow harsh. I used to step back as I didn’t wanna get caught in the middle of it, only to then seeing them hugging and realising it’s just friends catching up :)))

8. There is a “colosseum”

Yes that’s right. In Pula there is a Roman amphitheatre that looks pretty similar to the Colosseum in Rome. It used to be home to gladiator fights, but now it serves as a venue for concerts, sporting events as well as Pula Film Festival.

9. It’s very seasonal

There is a huge difference between visiting Croatia during high season and low season. From mid-May to early October, Croatia is bustling with life as tourists and locals gather outside to enjoy the warm sunny days. Cafés and restaurants are often packed, especially in popular cities, such as Split, Hvar and Dubrovnik, to name a few. During the low season, however, it’s an entirely different story. As October comes to an end, with more rainy days and less sunshine, the street become quiet, locals seem to go out less and there are hardly any tourists around. Many activities, bars and restaurants close in October and then reopen in April or May, when the tourism season start.

10. Breakfast can be hard to find

I’m not sure why, but finding restaurants that serve food in the morning can be very challenging. Some bars, if you’re lucky, will have croissants – which usually are filled with some type of marmalade, again, not sure why :)))) But the marmalade croissants were often the only food restaurants seemed to be serving before 12pm.

11. It’s not as cheap as you might think

Don’t get me wrong, Croatia isn’t expensive, but it’s not as cheap as you might expect for an Eastern Europe country. I found that prices are more similar to those in Spain and Italy, rather than to other countries in Eastern Europe.

a viewpoint in dubrovnik! edited with the ocean blues preset pack/photo filters, available here

I can’t recommend Croatia enough and hope that this post has perhaps encouraged you to add it to your bucket list, if it wasn’t there already! If you are planning to visit Croatia, you might also want to check out this post about How to get around in Croatia

PS if you want to get notified when I publish new blog posts, just click the red bell in the bottom right corner or follow me on instagram where I usually announce new blog posts :))

If you are planning a trip to Croatia, you might also want to read:

• Visiting Krka national park in Croatia
• Getting around in Croatia: How to travel within Croatia
• Best cafés to work from in Split
• 10 Things to do in Split
• Where to eat in Zagreb

PIN IT!

The post 11 Things That Surprised Me About Croatia appeared first on Sóldís Alda.