Visiting Croatia’s Krka National Park with kids

While Croatia might be more famous for its beaches and cities, there is some truly beautiful countryside to discover here – and after a taste on a previous trip to Plitvice Lakes National Park, I knew a day out at Krka National Park with kids would be unmissable.

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Based in Split for our holiday in Croatia, it’s an easy day trip whether you’ve got your own transport or – like us – are looking for a day tour to Krka National Park with kids to avoid having to hire a car (never much use in Split itself).

The park is famous for its waterfalls, and you won’t be disappointed: it’s ridiculously pretty strolling along the boardwalk under the trees, with falls and cascades all around, turning the turquoise water into white foam.

How to get to Krka National Park with kids

If you’re driving to Krka National Park, there are five official entrances, although if you’re coming from Split, the entrance at Lozovac is the most useful – there’s also free parking here, and you’ll be walking down the steps to the waterfalls, rather than hiking up them.

Otherwise, you can also go to Skradin and visit the park from there, although you’ll need to pay for parking and make sure you time your visit to coincide with the boat. For either entrance, follow the A1 motorway directly from Split and look out for the signs.

The others include Roški Slap – although you can also reach this by boat from the Skradinski Buk waterfalls, as well as using this as a starting point to visit Krka Monastery and Visovac Island from April to October.

You can find plenty of car hire firms close to the old town in Split – I recommend Zest Car Rental or you can also compare rates at Discover Cars

Or if you choose to take a bus tour from Split, there’s a huge choice, usually with another stop included as this is one of the easiest day trips from the city.

This day trip from Gray Line tours departs from both Split (near the Riva) and Trogir, visiting the national park and Skradin, while this day tour also includes a more unusual stop at a hydroelectric power station (and meets at Booker Travel agency in the centre of town)

Our tour with Go Adventure left from the Sukoišan bus terminal on Lička ulica (not the bus terminal by the port), a short walk from the historic centre with the option of wine tasting or to visit Skradin outside peak season, and Primošten during the summer months.

You can also team Krka National Park with another seaside stop in Sibenik on this tour from Pelican Tours – it is a longer tour than some of the others, so better with older kids. Or this tour from Split (from South Tours in the old town) and Trogir visits Primošten, Sibenik and Krka National Park, although inevitably that does mean more of a rushed day

A day at Krka National Park with kids

Setting off for Krka National Park on our family day out, my daughter had looked slightly dubious to be dragged away from Split – although the photos I’d shown her of the park’s waterfalls had already made her jaw drop.

And from the moment we drew up at the car park, to amazing views of the tree-lined hills and the water stretching away to the horizon, she was a convert.

The fact that we almost instantly spotted a couple of marmalade cats snoozing in the sunshine on the warm stone walls was an added bonus for a 10-year-old.

Although our day trip came with a guide, it’s very easy to explore alone – one path leads through the National Park from the car park to the restaurant and picnic spots, near to where you can get the boat to Skradin.

In the end, most of our group ended up staying together as we walked through but in April, you could easily go at your own pace as it wasn’t crowded, stopping to take countless photos, and reading some of the information boards about the park and its wildlife along the way.

There are a few particular places to look out for though, including some of the buildings in the little village.

The first stop is the old blacksmith’s, with tools still hanging on stone wall, as if he had just popped out for a few moments.

Around the corner, there’s the mill where huge stone grindstones would once have been powered by the park’s water to turn grain into flour – depending when you visit, one of the grindstones is still operational and you can sometimes see it turning, although out side peak season, you’ll just have to use your imagination.

Nearby, there’s a laundry and fulling mill, which both make the most of the racing water – at the fulling mill, raw fabric would get pounded by the force of the water as part of the cloth-making process, while in the cave which served as a laundry, water races into a pool, swirling round almost like a natural washing machine.

But while it’s always interesting to get a little taste of what daily life was like, it’s the scenery that’s the big attraction here, and rightly so.

Skradinski Buk might be the most famous of the waterfalls here, but wherever you turn in Krka National Park with kids you’ll find cascades connecting the pools.

Sometimes small, just an enthusiastic trickle, others crashing down the rocks in a splash of white foam, while some were longer, joining two larger pools.

The water seems incredibly clear and almost all a greeny-turquoise colour. Sparkling in the sunlight, enlivened by the waterfalls and glimpsed through the trees, it’s just endlessly lovely.

There are some stops to look out for along the way too, including the imperial viewpoint.

Otherwise, the path leads you on for a little over a mile, with a wooden boardwalk and little bridges taking you over some of the small rivers and streams.

Along the way, keep an eye out for the wildlife which makes its home in Krka National Park – we spotted a small army of frogs, as well as fish and birds galore as we strolled.

There was no sign of the (harmless) water snakes sadly, but we did see evidence of where wild boar had gouged up the banks. The boar themselves, along with most of the other animals living here, tend to hide away from humans though in quieter parts of the park.

And at the end, you come to Skradinski Buk, the most famous of the waterfalls to look out for when you’re visiting Krka National Park with kids – the one you’ll see in a thousand Instagram photos.

With reason, the curve of waterfalls and the colour of the water is gorgeous, plus there are some great spots to take photos from the bridge – even in April, there was something of a bottleneck as everyone stopped to take their snaps, so be prepared for big crowds in peak season.

While you used to be able to swim in the waters here, it’s been strictly forbidden for the past few years as the number of tourists splashing about in this beautiful spot was beginning the harm it.

I can’t deny it must have been a great memory to have taken a dip here, but without anyone swimming by the waterfall, it’s even more beautiful so I couldn’t regret the changed rules.

If you are exploring independently, there is plenty more park to explore with a whole string of walking trails – you can check maps of Krka National Park here – as well as taking the boat to Visovac island and visiting Krka monastery during the summer months

Visiting Skradin

If Krka National Park was the only stop during your family day out, it would still be well worth it, but as a bonus, your ticket includes a 20-minute boat trip along the river to Skradin.

The scenery here is spectacular too, cruising along the water and passing through the sheer cliffs of the gorge.

Do check the boat times in advance – these usually run every hour, although bear in mind that the last boat of the day is often very busy, so it’s worth arriving early

We had around an hour in this pretty little town in the shadow of a ruined fort, just the right amount of time to explore without feeling rushed – and even for a stop in the playground (or you could rest your legs and watch the world go by from a cafe).

As you wander the streets, you can spot Venetian and Austro-Hungarian influences in the colourful houses, remnants of two of the empires which once ruled Croatia.

But save some time to walk up to the fortress to soak in the views.

There’s not a great deal of the fortifications left, and there are some sheer drops if you’re visiting with younger kids, but the walk up the hill isn’t tricky and the viewpoint is lovely.

In summer, you can even expect to see a few celebrity yachts in the marina, although in April, it was all sleepily relaxed. There’s also a city beach here where you can swim during the warmer months.

Not all tours include a stop at Skradin – in summer, a lot will go to the beach at Primošten or visit another combination of sites but many include this in the trip and it’s easy to do if you’re travelling independently.

Travel tips for visiting Krka National Park with kids

When to visit Krka National Park?

Unsurprisingly, the national park is a popular spot to visit, so it pays to time your visit wisely.

We visited in April, during the Easter holidays, which meant there were far fewer visitors to the area than if we’d come during the peak summer months.

It can get very hot during July and August, and while there is some shade under the trees, the paths can turn into a line of people rather than having the chance to amble through, plus you might find yourself waiting longer for boats.

From November to March, it’s cheaper to visit but some of the boat tours don’t run. April/May and October are cheaper entry than the summer months but with most attractions open (and good weather to enjoy the scenery).

Year-round, if you can arrive early, you’ve got a better chance of beating some of the crowds – especially if you’re coming from Skradin and want to avoid waiting for the boat. Our tour went straight to Krka National Park, arriving at around 10.30am rather than detouring to Sibenik or Primošten, or if you’re driving, it’s worth setting off early.

The park opens at 8am from April to mid-October, and 9am at other times of year if you’re visiting independently.

How to get entry tickets

You can prebook tickets online, which is well worth doing to skip the queues in the summer – numbers are limited so this ensures you can get in. You just need to know which entrance you’ll be arriving at, as there are different ticket options. The main ticket for the whole park is for the main entrance.

Our tour had an option to pay our entry to the national park when we booked, but you’ll find that a lot of tours ask you to pay on the day (though often at a reduced rate for groups). You may need to bring euros for this, so it’s worth making sure you have the right change.

The prices change depending on the time of year, so you can check on the National Park website (although if you’re taking a tour, the company should let you know what it will cost in advance).

Is there anywhere to eat at Krka National Park

There are some places to get food close to the boat stop, but they’re the only options. If you arrive mid-morning, you’ll reach them at around lunchtime, but any later and you might find yourself walking through Krka National Park with kids who are ravenously hungry.

It’s mostly fast food, with sweet options like crepes, while there is also a small restaurant/bar to get drinks. You can also bring your own food to picnic, with tables scattered around

Are there toilets at Krka National Park?

Yes, there are several sets of toilets, including near the village, by the imperial viewpoint and near Skradinski Buk waterfall.

Sightsee on the journey

If you’re travelling from Split, as we did, you can spot a few more sights on the journey from the city (although you won’t be stopping there).

As well as an ancient Roman aqueduct, which once led to the Roman settlements at Split and nearby, keep an eye out for the Fortress of Klis up in the rocky cliffs.

A filming location for Game of Thrones, it’s well worth visiting for fans, but even kids who’ve never seen the show will love a glimpse of its fortifications and remote setting – it absolutely looks like somewhere which would have dragons…

Work out your return route

If you buy a full day ticket, it includes entry to the park as well as the boat ride to or from Skradin – but only one-way.

So if you’ve parked at Lozovac and are taking the boat to Skradin afterwards, you’ll need to work out your return route back to your car, or vice versa if you’ve started at the Skradin entrance. For guided tours, you’ll be told where you’ll be collected in Skradin.

For more things to do in Split with kids, including day trips and ideas for how to spend a day on Hvar with kids

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