When planning an adventure to Krka be sure to include the northern part of this Croatian National Park for: the largest waterfall, hiking, lovely overlooks to drive along, an orthodox monastery with donkeys and famous Roman ruins. At only forty Kuna a person this is the cheapest part of the park.
Krka National Park is made up of one hundred and nine kilometers square including the river basin. The park is segmented into three parts; the segmentation is for organizing the cost of visiting and transportation around the park. Tickets are broken down into “all accessible land sites” which doesn’t include boats- this area of the park includes Skradinski buk which is where the popular swimming waterfall is located, it also includes across the bridge, up the steps to a viewing area of the waterfalls and an ethno presentation with watermills from the pre-industrial era and trails. There is a restaurants in the stone building and a café. On the other side of the ethno area there are trails that lead back to Skradinski buk waterfalls. The trails guide walkers on wooden footpaths along and over beautiful blue waters.
The next portion of the park is the Roški slap ticket. If coming from Skradinski buk area there is a boat which takes visitors to both the Visovac island for the Franciscan monastery and then to Roški slap which includes the Ozidana pećina walkway along necklace shaped cascades. Along the cascade’s trail there are steps to the cave. The ticket for Roški slap includes the boat to get from Skradinski buk to Roški slap. There is also a bus that goes from Skradinski buk and stops above the cave for visitors who don’t want to spend fifteen minutes walking up steps.
The northern area of the park includes a lot! There is a boat from Roški slap which can be found off the Ozidana pećina, instead of crossing the wooden bridge on the Ozidana pećina continue straight for the boat to Krka Monastery. This boat ride offers some amazing views. Otherwise the northern part of the park is accessible by the bus, or to drive. Additional sites in the northern park ticket are the Manojlovac slap and Archeological site Burnum.
When driving from Roški Slap the first stop is Archeological site Burnum; the only Roman military amphitheater in Croatia and many walls where the Roman army under Claudiae Piae Fidelis and the IV legion of Flaviae Felix practiced their military exercises.
Manojlovac slap is only a few hundred meters from the Burnum. The hike downhill is easy enough for novices to walk along a tidy well-kept trail. When waters are high the waterfall clashes with the deep waters bellow creating a rainbow mist throughout the area. Past the waterfall and famous Burnum arch there is also an archeological museum, the ticket for the north park includes the museum too.
Boat and bus transfers are only available during summer months so if planning to see Krka outside of the July-September time then plan on driving. I think driving is the best way to see the park because so much of the park is outside of the most popular areas. The largest waterfall is Manojlovac slap, it’s only accessible by driving to it then hiking downhill to see this lovely waterfall surrounded by lush forest. I’ve seen people swim there, but I’m not sure if that’s legal, it’s probably not.
If you’re planning to stay in the park for more than two days the most economical way of buying tickets is the annual pass. I explain how to get this non-advertised pass on my Roški Slap blog post. I’ve posted more information about Krka on the blog post Skrandin and Krka.
Rumor has it that after 2020 swimming in the park will be suspended going forward. If we can still swim in 2021 I’ll update, but I’m told we can’t.
