A Visit to Krka National Park in Photos

You may have heard of the popular Plitvice Lakes National Park in central Croatia, but if you are visiting the Dalmatia region along the coast it can be quite the lengthy day trip to get there. The alternative? Visit Krka National Park, Croatia’s lesser known but no less beautiful gem of a park.

It’s an easy day trip from Split, only about an hour drive away (or maybe a bit longer if you take the more scenic drive along the coast). Go early to avoid massive crowds and prepare yourself for crystal clear turquoise waters and stunning natural waterfalls at Krka National Park.

Aside from the waterfalls there is plenty more to see at Krka National Park, like monasteries, archaeological sites, over 1022 plant species and subspecies, and historical monuments. The Krka River area can be traced all the way back to prehistoric times! However, the waterfalls still win for most impressive in my opinion as they are naturally made by travertine, on which limestone settled and accumulated to create organisms like algae and mosses to build geomorphological forms.

Don’t forget to wear or bring your swimsuit — the water is incredible for swimming, which is also how you can get up close to the waterfalls. Beware of the slippery rocks when you’re in the water! If you can get your hands on some water shoes, they will be your best friend when you visit Krka National Park as you constantly see people slipping and falling in the shallow water on those slick rocks.

These photos were taken in August (peak season in Croatia), and since Krka National Park is less popular you can imagine how much more crowded it must have been at Plitvice Lakes National Park.

Where is your favorite national park around the world?