Sibenik to Krka National Park: DIY Guide to Krka Waterfalls

Embark on a DIY journey from Sibenik to Krka National Park, where cascading waterfalls await! This comprehensive guide will help you navigate the various transport options from Sibenik to Krka National Park, which entrance at Krka National Park to use, your ticket prices & options and of course, the top unmissable highlights at Krka National Park. I’ve also got a DIY excursion map for you both at Sibenik and at Krka National Park. Let’s get planning your day trip!

Undecided whether Krka National Park is for you? Then skip all the logistical stuff and jump straight to my top highlights to see at Krka National Park here.

This is Part 3 of my Sibenik Cruise Port Guide series. Here’s links to the other parts:

• Part 1: Sibenik Croatia Guide: UNESCO Fortress & Hidden Gems
• Part 2: Sibenik Card – Is it Worth It for Your Cruise DIY Excursion

This blog post may contain affiliate links which may earn a commission for purchases made at no cost to you.

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Sibenik to Krka National Park: Is a DIY Excursion Easy? 😎😎😎😎 Straightforward

Planning to travel from Sibenik to Krka National Park and see the famous cascading Krka Waterfalls? Here’s why I rate this DIY excursion 😎😎😎😎 straightforward:

• Direct Coach To Krka: Direct coach services leave from Sibenik Bus Station, right in the heart of Sibenik to the main entrances of Krka National Park! Once you get off the coach, you can enter the park straight away using the convenient shuttle buses.
• Coach stops at both entrances: Two of Krka’s National Park entrances are a mere 15-20 minute drive away from Sibenik. I’d give you all the details below about these two entrances and which one you should pick.
• Easy ferry ride to waterfalls: If you would like to keep walking to a minimum, then there’s an included ferry ride from the Skradin entrance. Once you get off the ferry, the main waterfall is only a few minutes walk away!

Sibenik to Krka National Park Essentials: All You Need To Know

• Currency: Euro
• Language: Croatian – as Croatians rely heavily in tourism, you’ll find that almost everyone working in tourism related businesses will speak English with you. When I visited Krka National Park, all the park guides I encountered spoke English with me.
• Official Website: Krka National Park’s official website is www.npkrka.hr
  • Check latest Park updates: Do check the latest updates on Krka’s website before you visit. I’ve found that it contains very useful up-to-date information about the status of various parts of the National Park.
• Recommended Transport App:
  • Sibenik: I used Google Maps for general navigation.
  • Krka National Park: I would recommend using a good old fashioned map, because it highlights the various facilities a lot better.
    • Skradinski Buk waterfall map (PDF) – this is the main waterfall easily accessible from both Skradin and Lozovac entrances
    • Krka National Park map (PDF): I think this is only useful if you spend an entire day in Krka National Park, to visit Visovac & Roški slap
• What to Wear:
  • Dress for heat during summer: Be prepared that Krka National Park is consistently hotter than Sibenik, although there is sufficient shade near Skradinski Buk (the main waterfall) that it will feel cooler in the shade than surface temperature. I visited in August during a heatwave when it was 32℃ (~90°F) by 9am and 36°C (~97°F) by 10:30am through till ~7pm. Bring (and use) sunscreen and a hat!
  • Sensible Footwear: If you intend to walk down to Skradinski Buk from Lozovac entrance to see all the cascading waterfalls, do wear sensible footwear. The trail is in good condition but the paved footpaths are sufficiently uneven that I felt better walking in sneakers than in flip flops. However, if you plan to use the Skradin entrance and catch the ferry to Skradinski Buk, then flip flops will do just fine!
  • Walking Poles If You Normally Use Them: If you normally hike with walking poles, then bring at least one. The last stretch of the walk towards Skradinski Buk from Lozovac entrance has steep steps leading down to the main waterfall. (I usually only use hiking poles during steep descents. While I could have done this stretch without poles, I was a lot more confident with one.)
• What to Bring:
  • Filled Water Bottle or a refillable water bottle: You can buy snacks and water inside Krka National Park – expect very inflated prices – but it’s easier bring at least one filled water bottle with you. There’s a water fountain for refills near the start of the trail from Lozovac entrance.
  • Swimwear & Towels: Bring your swimming gear if you’d like to swim near Roški slap
    • Swimming near Roški slap: It is possible to swim near Roški slap! (Roški slap is the smaller waterfall. You’ll need to catch a boat ride to it. It’s not possible to walk from Skradinski Buk to Roški slap. Most locals drive to a different entrance to Roški slap for swimming.)
    • No Swimming at or near Skradinski Buk: No swimming is allowed near Skradinski Buk, the main waterfall.

Sibenik DIY Excursion Map

👇 Use this to navigate to Sibenik Bus Station – see Transport Options below. Read my main Sibenik Croatia Guide for how to get from Sibenik Cruise Port or Sibenik Old Town to Sibenik Bus Station.

• On Desktop | Laptop? Use buttons on bottom left to zoom in/out. Click on the upper right hand corner to see a bigger version.
• On Tablet | Mobile? Pinch your screen to zoom in/out and use two fingers to move map around. If you have Google Maps installed on your tablet/mobile, my map will open in your Google Maps app if you click on the upper right hand corner.
• If map is not loading correctly, click here to see it directly on Google Maps

Sibenik to Krka National Park: Your Transport Options

1. Sibenik to Krka National Park by Public Bus

There’s two bus companies running services from Sibenik to Krka National Park – Autotransport d.d Šibenik and Gradski Parking. (I thought that Gradski Parking runs parking garages but it turns out it runs both parking garages and buses! 😁)

• Autotransport d.d Šibenik: Bus services stops at Lozovac entrance first and then at Skradin entrance. The “bus” is in fact a motor coach.
  • Website & Timetables: www.atpsi.hr – NOT an affiliate link – the website is in Croatian only but works with Google Translate or use Chrome browser
    • Alternatively use GetByBus for timetables
  • Journey Time: 20 minutes to Lozovac entrance and 25-30 minutes to Skradin entrance
  • Tickets: €3.60 one-way. If you board the bus at Sibenik Bus Station, buy a ticket from the ticket office before boarding. From Skradin or Lozovac, the bus driver accepted cash for tickets. (No cards accepted on the bus.) If you don’t have cash, then you’ll have to buy online using GetbyBus.
  • Frequency: There’s usually multiple departures per day, except Sundays when departures are limited. I travelled on a Sunday and there were two AM departures to Krka and one PM departure from Krka to Sibenik.
• Gradski Parking:
  • Website: www.gradski-parking.hr
  • Timetables: Bus route #701 starts at Sibenik Bus Station and stops at Lozovac entrance. This bus route does not stop at Skradin entrance but continues onto Konjevrate (the next town from Lozovac in the opposite direction to Skradin).

My Experience: I travelled on a Sunday in August and I thought that the limited bus services on Sundays meant the buses would be jam-packed. It wasn’t. While I pre-booked my tickets using GetByBus, it turns out to be unnecessary, because the bus driver did not have the capability to scan the QR code on the ticket. The coach ride was a good point-to-point service and I got off at the first stop – the Lozovac entrance. Read below for which entrance to use.

For your return trip to Sibenik, I’ve marked both bus stops in my Krka National Park DIY Excursion map below 🗺️📍👇

2. Sibenik to Krka National Park by Taxi or Uber

Some of my fellow cruisers travelled from Sibenik to Krka National Park via Uber – one-way fares would be around €15 – €20. The distance itself is about 12.5 km (~8 miles). So if it turns out that the bus times are inconvenient for your DIY itinerary, then you can also easily zip from Sibenik to Krka National Park without breaking the bank!

One of my fellow cruisers also commented that the journey from Sibenik to Krka National Park is close enough such that if you miss the bus, you know that a return journey back to Sibenik is easy enough to do independently!

Sibenik to Krka National Park: Which Entrance To Use?

There are in fact ten entrances to Krka National Park but most of these are smaller entrances geared to those driving into Krka National Park. For independently travellers arriving by bus, Uber or taxi, the two main entrances to use are:

1. Lozovac Entrance

The Lozovac entrance is the higher of the two entrances, in terms of altitude. To get to Skradinski buk, the main waterfall at Krka National Park, you can catch a shuttle bus from the Lozovac entrance, down to the main entrance to the circular trail (~ 2km or 1.2 miles) to Skradinski Buk. The circular trail allows you to see the 19 cascading waterfalls, leading to Skradinski buk. Skradinski buk is about half-way through this circular trail. Most of this trail is under shade.

It is also possible to walk from the Lozovac entrance down to the start of the circular trail. It’s about 1 km (0.6 miles) but to be frank, it’s not the most exciting trail as it doesn’t have views. Personally, I would just skip this walk and catch the shuttle bus. If you’re a keen walker, I’ll share “better” walks below.

2. Skradin Entrance

The Skradin entrance is further away from Skradinski buk than the Lozovac entrance. It’s a 3.4 km walk (~2.1 miles) to Skradinski buk or a 30-minute ferry ride away. At the end of the walk or ferry ride, you’ll be at the same location as the half-way mark of the circular trail above. So you can tag on the circular trail on top if you’re a keen walker.

3. Which Entrance to Use?

Which entrances to use depends on how much walking you’d like to do. Here’s my three suggested options:

• Enter via Lozovac Entrance, leave via Skradin Entrance: This was my preferred option and I decided to do this during my 36°C (~97°F) visit in order to minimise my time in direct heat.
  • Shuttle Bus to Trailhead: I caught the shuttle bus outside the ticket office at Lozovac entrance to the start of the circular trail. This shuttle bus ride is included in the Krka National Park ticket.
  • Trail Down to Skradinski Buk: I walked half of the circular trail to Skradinski buk (~1 km or 0.6 miles). Most of the trail is either flat or walking down with steps and almost the entire trail is under shade. I saw all the cascading waterfalls along the way as well as the main waterfall at Skradinski buk. It’s a lovely walk, with lots of wonderful views to enjoy, so there’s no need to rush this trail.
  • Break at Skradinski Buk rest area: There’s stalls selling food & drink as well as picnic tables & WCs. So this is a good area to have a break.
  • Ferry to Skradinski Buk: I caught the ferry from Skradinski Buk to the Skradin entrance. This 30-minute ferry ride is included in the Krka National Park ticket.
  • Return to Sibenik from Skradin: The bus stop for the return ride to Sibenik is a few minutes walk from the Skradin entrance. There’s quite a few cafes and food stalls for drinks and snacks. There’s also a big supermarket if all you want is to hydrate!
• Enter and return at Lozovac entrance: I met a couple on the return bus to Sibenik who did this option. It’s actually a slightly quicker option despite the longer walk. It’s quicker as there’s no waiting time for the ferry ride:
  • Shuttle Bus to Trailhead: As above
  • Circular Trail from Lozovac entrance: This takes about 90 minutes to complete, with a short break in between. The circular trail is about 2 km (or 1.2 miles) but what goes down must come up! This means that while the first half of the trail is mostly flat or downhill, the second half of the trail has an uphill portion.
  • Return to Sibenik from Lozovac entrance: The bus stop for the return ride to Sibenik is just outside the park gates at Lozovac. There’s also cafes and food stalls for drinks and snacks, as well as WCs for a break before your bus ride.
• Enter and return to Skradin entrance: This is the option with the least amount of walking but is also my least favourite. Here’s why:
  • Ferry Ride from Skradin to Skradinski Buk: This only runs every 30-60 minutes depending on the day. Since my trip, I’ve read many online reviews about long waits at Skradin for the ferries and it seems that it’s possible not to get on the first ferry due to overcrowding! (Fortunately, I didn’t have an issue with the ferry when I travelled!)
  • Alternative Walk from Skradin to Skradinski Buk: Alternative to the ferry is the walk to Skradinski Buk. But at 3.4 km (~ 2.1 miles), it can be quite hard in the summer heat and most of this trail is not shaded.
  • Optional Circular Walk: You can also tag on the circular 2 km walk at Skradinski Buk to get better views of the smaller cascading waterfalls.

Tip: If you choose to enter and return to the Skradin entrance, be sure to take a photo of the ferry times for your return trip! (Those ferry times are on a wooden plaque and seem to change depending on the day.)

Note: Boats and buses do not run in the winter period. They only operate during summer months (April to October). If you’re visiting in the winter season, your best bet is to walk or bike from the Skradin entrance. Even Krka National Park does not recommend entering via the Lozovac entrance during the winter season, due to the lack of shuttle buses to the trail head.

Krka National Park: Your Ticket Options (2024 & 2025 Prices)

Entrance fees to Krka National Park varies depending on when you visit. Here’s your ticket options – 2025 prices have already been announced and will be the same as 2024 prices:

2024/2025 Prices	June to September	April / May / October	November to March
Adults	€40	€20	€7
Kids (7-18)	€15	€12	€7
Kids under 7	Free	Free	Free

What’s included: Shuttle bus ride from Lozovac entrance and the ferry from Skradin entrance

What’s not included: Ferry rides to Roški slap or Visovac – the island home to the monastery and Church of Our Lady of Mercy with the museum. I did the 4-hour return trip from Lozovac to Roški slap (with a 90 minute break for lunch) for €20 extra. The 2-hour return trip from Lozovac to Visovac island with a 30 minute break at Visovac is €15 extra.

Note: If intend to hire a car and drive into Krka National Park, there’s a cheaper ticket which only allows you to enter the top of Krka National Park near Roški slap, one of the smaller waterfalls. This cheaper ticket does not allow access to Skradinski Buk, the main waterfall.

Krka National Park: Should You Buy Tickets Online in Advance?

If you visit Krka National Park’s official website, it will tell you to pre-book tickets online in advance. Unlike Plitvice Lakes National Park (the other famous Croatian National Park features waterfalls), Krka does not impose a strict timed quota on number of visitors which can enter Krka National Park every hour. (Plitvice does and often sells out completely.)

I visited in August 2024, supposedly one of the busiest summer months and tickets did not sell out. That said, you can save time by pre-purchasing tickets, because you don’t have to queue and can hop straight onto a shuttle bus at the Lozovac entrance. So whether you’d like to pre-book is entirely up to you!

Krka National Park: How Much Time Do I Need?

• Minimum: The minimum amount of time to enjoy Krka National Park is about 2 hours, assuming that you enter and leave via the Lozovac entrance.
  • Two hours includes the shuttle ride from Lozovac entrance down to the circular trail and back to the bus stop at Lozovac entrance.
• Typical: I’d say that the typical visit is around 3-4 hours. This allow time for a break for coffee or snacks, as well as plenty of time for photos!
• My Experience: If you wanted to spend the whole day at Krka National Park, there’s plenty to do! I spent 7 hours at Krka National Park, from 9:30am to 4:30pm. I catch the 9am bus from Sibenik. Arrived at Krka National Park gates by 9:30am. I enjoyed some of the circular walk and then joined a 4-hour return boat trip to Visovac & Roški slap, with a lunch break and som swimming to cool down. I returned to Lozovac after the boat trip around 3pm, walked down to Skradinski Buk and caught the 4pm ferry from Skradinski Buk to Skradin. I exited Krka National Park at 4:30pm, with time for a snack and drinks before my 5pm bus back to Sibenik.

Krka National Park: DIY Excursion Map

• On Desktop | Laptop? Use buttons on bottom left to zoom in/out. Click on the upper right hand corner to see a bigger version.
• On Tablet | Mobile? Pinch your screen to zoom in/out and use two fingers to move map around. If you have Google Maps installed on your tablet/mobile, my map will open in your Google Maps app if you click on the upper right hand corner.
• If map is not loading correctly, click here to see it directly on Google Maps

Krka National Park: Top Unmissable Highlights

1. Skradinski Buk

The main attraction at Krka National Park is Skradinski Buk! You’ll get to walk across along bridge and this is the view from the bridge! 👆 You’ll get lovely views of the waterfall as you walk down from Lozovac entrance 👇

2. Krka Hydropower Plant (Disused)

You can see remnants of the Krka Hydropower Plant (aka Jaruga I), within a short distance from the start of the circular trail. It is the world’s second oldest functioning hydroelectric power plant and the first commercial alternating current (AC) power system in Croatia!

Built in 1895, it began operating just two days after the famous Adam Power Plant at Niagara Falls, so it could have easily been the first! So do check out this early renewable energy source. There’s also a gift shop close by.

3. Historic Water Mills

The historic mills harnessed the power of the Krka River to perform various essential tasks, from milling, weaving to washing clothes! Some of these mills date back centuries, with the first mentions appearing as early as 13th century. The restored mills now contain exhibits about the milling process and how the water mills work.

Featured Image by Ramon Perucho from Pixabay

I hope that this guide has given all that you need to plan your DIY excursion from Sibenik to Krka National Park ! When I initially saw the weather forecast, I was very apprehensive about visiting Krka National Park on what would turn out to be one of the hottest days in Croatia in 2024 with severe weather alerts. But it turned out fine, as there’s plenty of shade and many places for rest breaks and to hydrate. You may find online reviews that you should skip Krka National Park and go to Plitvice Lakes National Park instead but I think they’re both amazingly beautiful. So I hope you’ll also have a wonderful time at Krka National Park!

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