Croatian National Parks: A Guide
Another blogger writing a Croatian National Parks Guide… yep just what we need, another one – like there isn’t already enough!
Well, this blog is your one stop-shop containing all the information you need, all in one place, for an epic day out at both Krka & Plitvice National Parks!
Whilst no trip to Croatia is complete without exploring the simply breathtaking National Parks – the thing which baffled me most was which entrance to use to get the most out of your day at each park; which offers best value and which offers best sightseeing route.
It doesn’t matter how much time you have, theres a strong chance you’ll still miss something out! Hence, I hope this Croatian National Parks Guide will be useful for those trying to plan their day out.
My reasons for compiling this are pretty simple; I HATE having to research! Prior to visiting the National Parks of Croatia, I thought I better find out a few things before arriving, only then did I become absolutely bamboozled with information!
I want everything in one place – so here’s my compilation of useful info + my take on the national parks & how to get the most out of your day there.
Its worth mentioning first that the best way to get around Croatia is by car – rental car in my case. Its the most flexible way to get from top to bottom & see everything you planned to!
I used Discover Car hire; they provided an exceptionally priced car, excellent value for money, well looked after & best of all, the pick-up & drop-off process was so straight forward and simple. Check them out for their range of rental vehicles; https://www.discovercarhire.com/**
Krka…
The land of waterfalls – I’m not even kidding, there’s more waterfalls here than ever seen in my life! I’d even go as far as to say there’s more waterfalls than you can take photos – and I take a lot of photos!!
I’ve had bad experiences with waterfalls in the past, but these ones – turquoise and clear – just took my breath away! (Thankfully this time, I walked away without broken bones!)
Where is it? Located in 10 miles inland from Šibenik – mid way down the west coast of Croatia, situated on the Krka river and spanning an area of 109km2.
Opening hours? 8am – 8pm in July. Varying throughout the year; http://www.np-krka.hr/stranice/working-hours/144/en.html
Getting there? Two main entrances; Lozovac or Skradin. Piece of cake to drive if you have a rental car, with free all day parking in Lozovac. You do have to pay at Skradin, where a boat takes you up the lake to the main Skradinski Buk Waterfall. From Lozovac, there is a free shuttle bus.
Day trips are widely advertised from nearby Šibenik & Split, as well as campsites etc. offering daily excursions.
Car parking? Available at Lozovac (free), Skradin, Roski Slap (free)
What to do? The best thing about Krka National Parks is that you are allowed to swim – so don’t forget your swimming cozzie! The main attraction is the Skradinski Buk waterfall – this is the famous Instagram photo location! There are also many kilometres of hiking trails on offer around the National Park, as well as boat excursions which take in other famous landmarks around the park; Francisan monastery on Visovac island, Krka monastery, as well as the ruins of Trošenj and Nečven fortresses.
How much? 200kuna, which probably equals about £25 today. All funds contribute towards the up keep of the park. This ticket gets you into all the entrances apart from Skradin.
Facilities? Toilets, snack bars/café’s, information desks, free maps, souvenir shops. Guides are also available.
Best time to visit? Like anything in July, get there early. It gets busy, with bus loads of tourists! Its probably wise to visit out of peak season, spring/early summer.
My routes & recommendations? Park at Lozovac. Jump on the free bus and take the gentle 2km educational trail round to Skradinski Buk – totally worth a dip! It isn’t possible to get lost, just keep following the boardwalk trails. I’d also recommend taking a hike around Roski Slap, followed by another swim beneath this fall, where it is much quieter!
In total I’d say I spent about 6/7 hours here – it’s easy to see it in less, equally it’d be so easy to make it a much more leisurely/full day.
My personal recommendation is to hire a car for your Croatia trip & drive to the Lozovac entrance – I like to be unconstrained, hence my preference not to be on organised trips. You can arrive and leave at whatever time you please & can spend the day at your own pace.
****See infographics at the bottom of this article.
Plitvice…
Also the land of waterfalls – This time, there’s more to it than just impressive waterfalls, here the lakes and surroundings in general are just breathtaking. You could hike for hours (I did) & not get bored, the views, scenery & colours are just irresistible!
From lush green, to stunning turquoise & alluring blue, this national park has every incredible colour!
Where is it? Middle of absolutely no-where! It’s pretty centrally located on the border between Karlovac county, Lika-Senj county & Bosnia Herzegovina – I wouldn’t even begin to say it’s near a well-known city!
Opening hours? 7am – 8pm in July, with ticket sales stopping at 6pm. Varying throughout the year; https://np-plitvicka-jezera.hr/en/plan-your-visit/hours-of-operation/
Getting there? Like everything in Croatia it’s easy to access if you have a rental car, but given the extortionate parking fees, I’d probably suggest looking up an organised trip to alleviate this cost.
There are lots of nearby hotel & camping accommodation; https://np-plitvicka-jezera.hr/en/plan-your-visit/hotels-and-camps/
Car parking? Available at 3 different entrances – unfortunately they all cost 7kuna per hour.
What to do? Simply walk and take it all in – it’s as simple as that in Plitvice. Its just incredible! Whilst you aren’t able to swim in this National Park, you’ll soon forget that when you immerse yourself in the natural surroundings of this beautiful UNESCO World Hertiage Site.
How much? 250kuna, which probably equals about £33 today. Again all funds contribute towards the up keep of the park. This ticket gets you access to the entire park, with regular boats and shuttle busses helping you get around the park with ease.
Facilities? Hotels/campsites, toilets, snack bars/café’s, information desks, free maps, souvenir shops. Guides are also available.
Best time to visit? Exactly the same as Krka – get there early. It gets busy. Its probably wise to visit out of peak season, spring/early summer – when it isn’t as hot either.
My routes & recommendations? Whilst the entire National Park is incredible, I would’ve said the upper falls are the more spectacular – The lower lakes are beautiful, but the waterfalls aren’t as dramatic.
I would recommend a map as several of the trails overlap each other, that said, its really well sign-posted.
My route for the day saw me park at entrance number 2, taking the ferry from P1 to P2, then hiking the ‘E’ trail. From there I took the ferry across to P3, following the ‘H’ trail back round to ST1 – before catching the bus back to ST2. You’ll find some brilliant boardwalks, going across the many lakes and falls, as well as stunning forest walks on these trails – they have everything!
The hiking is super easy and flat, it just takes time due to the sheer volume of people and spectacular scenery!
My personal recommendation is to camp at Camping Borje – 20 minutes from entrance 2, where a free bus operates daily from the campsite. Roughly I spent 5/6 hours wandering Plitvice, due to queues and photo opportunities – in reality you aren’t walking for that long.
Thanks for reading – as ever, feedback is hugely appreciated! Please feel free to like, comment and share.
Infographics…
In all honesty, despite the queueing and expense – its totally worth it for the pristine, unspoilt beauty if the National Parks – they are really well kept & not over trampled or ruined by idiots. It wouldn’t surprise me if those in the UK end up this way – due to silly and irresponsible wildcamping, littering and setting off fires – whilst I would promote wildcamping, it has to be responsible to preserve these stunning natural areas!
**This is an affiliate link. For every transaction made through this link, I will make a small amount of money through commission – every little helps to keep the adventures going!
