Plitvice Vs. Krka – Krka National Park Or Plitvice

I often get questions about choosing between Croatia’s two most amazing national parks: Plitvice Lakes and Krka. It’s a tough choice, as both are undeniably stunning examples of natural beauty, each offering its unique set of natural wonders.

If you’re trying to decide between the iconic turquoise lakes flowing below the wooden boardwalks of Plitvice or the accessible Krka waterfalls and Krka Monastery, you’re not alone. So, I’ve put together a guide that weighs up Krka vs Plitvice – to help you decide.

Are you in a rush and want to know how to choose between Plitvice Lakes National Park andKrka National Park? Here is what we think you should know:

Spring is the best time to see all of Croatia’s eight stunning national parks. This means it’s the time of the year that one of the most common questions I’m always asked lands in my inbox – over and over again.

Which of the national parks to visit? Readers always ask me to help them choose between Plitvice Lakes National Park and Krka National Park.

Yikes, decisions, decisions!

The best answer to the Plitvice or Krka question is: If you have time, you should visit both because they are equally beautiful in their own ways.

If you don’t have enough time, however, and you have to choose between Krka and Plitvice, it all comes down to where you’ll be based, your interests, and how much time you actually have.

Plitvice Lakes National Park is larger and has more to see, but it is farther inland and takes longer to reach than Krka Lakes if you stay in Dubrovnik or Split.

On the other hand, Krka National Park is much more accessible from Zadar and Split, but it is smaller. So, if you’re short on time, that helps loads.

See what I mean? Choosing between Krka and Plitvice Lakes is already getting confusing. There are just so many factors. It all depends on your situation.

Keep reading below for our in-depth analysis on weighing up Plitvice Lakes vs. Krka National Park.

Let’s compare Krka National Park vs. Plitvice Lakes National Park, discuss their features, main attractions, and downsides, and see what decision you make at the end. We’ll start with the more famous national park: Plitvice Lakes.

Plitvice Lakes National Park

PLITVICE LAKES - Day Trips From Split

The Plitvice Lakes are about 2 hours from Zagreb and about 1.5 hours from Zadar by road.

You’ll find lots of tours and buses that head here. You can also get to Plitvice Lakes from the coast, but because it is further away from the coast, you’ll pay more for these than you would from Zagreb.

However, this shouldn’t put you off, because it isn’t on the UNESCO World Heritage List for nothing! Obviously, this will also depend on traffic, as during the summer season, it seems like everyone is trying to get to this park!

Plitvice Lakes has a series of 16 interconnected lakes, which spans a much larger area than Krka does, with the lake system stretching roughly 8 km from top to bottom, and 3covering 00 square kilometers 

It can take about minutes to walk from parking areas to specific park entrances, but the size of the park is a blessing because it doesn’t get so crowded.

If you have a weekend spare, you should definitely dedicate it to exploring Plitvice, because a day, including travel time, probably wouldn’t leave you enough time to explore.

Swimming And Walking

Plitvice or Krka or Plitvice Lakes

Swimming at Skradinski Buk has been entirely prohibited since 2021, and the ban remains in force.

You can’t swim in the park; it’s prohibited. On the other hand, countless hiking trails around the park take you around the lakes and the natural landscape.

If you want to take a million stunning photos, Plitvice is the best bet, as some of the sights you’ll see are truly amazing. If you’re into wildlife spotting, you may spot birds and other wildlife, though large mammals such as wolves and brown bears are scarce to see.

Plitvice Lakes Entry Costs

Krka or Plitvice Lakes Or Krka

Entry into the park depends on the season and is subject to change, so please double-check before making your way there. Check the park website for the latest fees.

Adult Tickets – Entry fees

• January, February, March, November, December: €7
• April, May, October: €20
• June, July, August, September: €40
• Reduced price after 15:00 (June–September): €30

Children’s Tickets (Ages 7 to 18) – Entry fees

• January, February, March, November, December: €4
• April, May, October: €12
• June, July, August, September: €15
• Reduced price after 15:00 (June–September): €11.25

Free Entry

• Children under 7 years of age

Ticket Includes

• Access to Skradinski Buk waterfalls and all land sites
• Bus transfer (Lozovac–Skradinski Buk, April–October)
• Boat transfer (Skradin–Skradinski Buk, April–October)

Additional Notes

• Tickets are limited in high season
• Strongly recommended to buy tickets online in advance

Reasons To Avoid Plitvice Lakes

Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia is an enchanting destination during the spring season.

• Suppose you have small children in a pram. This park is not pram-friendly. Even if you have a travel pram, with the number of people, narrow tracks, or no trails, you cannot push a pram through the park.
• If you require a wheelchair, sorry, but it would be tough to push a wheelchair around.
• If you don’t like crowds, do not go to Plitvice in summer. Not even early can you escape the thousands of day-trippers. One summer I was there, it was wall-to-wall bodies; I could not even see the central falls without dozens of people pushing and bumping into me. Gross.
• You want to swim. Swimming is prohibited, and fines can be issued for entering the water.

Brands We Use And Trust

Krka National Park

KRKA - Day Trip From Split

When comparing Krka vs. Plitvice Lakes solely on size, Krka National Park loses. This is the smaller of the two parks, Krka, but it also comes with some advantages over its bigger neighbor. For starters, Krka might be smaller, at around 109 square kilometers, but it is closer to the main coastal resorts, just an hour from Zadar by road, in Sibenik-Knin County.

As the largest town near Krka, Šibenik now offers travelers plenty of accommodation options.

The exact times depend upon traffic, especially during the summer season. You won’t struggle to find day trips for sale at excursion offices either.

Krka Falls encompasses the most significant section of the Krka River and is home to 7 stunning waterfalls, including the largest, Skradinski Buk.

The smaller park size also makes it ideal for families who want a day out in nature but don’t want to travel too far or exert themselves too much.

However, Krka National Park isn’t all about nature, as there are a few nods to history within its borders, too. There is a working loom and a blacksmith within the small village, and you can see how life used to be before the dawn of the Industrial Revolution.

So, while Plitvice might be ideal for a weekend in nature, Krka is undoubtedly the best bet for those with an extra day.

Swimming & Walking

Krka_How to get from Split to Krka

We mentioned that you couldn’t swim in the lakes of Plitvice, and as of 2021, a swimming ban was also placed at Krka. You used to be able to swim in front of the biggest waterfall, Skradinski Buk, but now you’ll have to hope to catch some spray as you pass to cool off. 

The downside is that Krka has fewer walking routes than Plitvice.

However, you won’t miss out on nature, as this trail offers beautiful scenery; plus, when the trees bloom, you’ll notice a pleasant scent in the air during the summer months.

Krka National Park Entrance Fee

There are five entrances to the park, with most people catching the boat ride from Skradin or using the Lozovac entrance. If traveling by car, there is free parking at the Lozovac entrance. You can also enter at Visovac, Slapove Krka, and Burnum

Entry costs vary by season, and there are discounted entries for children.

• Individual Adults – All Accessible Land Sites:
  • January, February, March, November, December: 7.00 euros
  • April, May, October: 20.00 euros
  • June, July, August, September: 40.00 euros
• Individual Adults – Specific Sites (Roški Slap, Kistanje, Manojlovac, Burnum, Krka Eco Campus):
  • January, February, March, November, December: 7.00 euros
  • April, May, October: 12.00 euros
  • June, July, August, September: 20.00 euros
• Individual Children/Students/Hiking Society Members – All Accessible Land Sites:
  • January, February, March, November, December: 4.00 euros
  • April, May, October: 12.00 euros
  • June, July, August, September: 15.00 euros
• Individual Children/Students/Hiking Society Members – Specific Sites:
  • January, February, March, November, December: 4.00 euros
  • April, May, October: 8.00 euros
  • June, July, August, September: 12.00 euros
• Groups of Adults – All Accessible Land Sites:
  • January, February, March, November, December: 5.00 euros
  • April, May, October: 16.00 euros
  • June, July, August, September: 30.00 euros
• Groups of Adults – Specific Sites:
  • January, February, March, November, December: 5.00 euros
  • April, May, October: 10.00 euros
  • June, July, August, September: 15.00 euros
• Groups of Children/Students – All Accessible Land Sites:
  • January, February, March, November, December: 4.00 Euros
  • April, May, October: 10.00 Euros
  • June, July, August, September: 15.00 Euros
• Groups of Children/Students – Specific Sites:
  • January, February, March, November, December: 4.00 euros
  • April, May, October: 7.00 euros
  • June, July, August, September: 10.00 euros

Find the price list here.

Prices, access rules, and included areas change frequently, so always confirm current fees and entry conditions on the official Krka National Park website before visiting.

Reasons to Avoid Krka National Park

• You want to hike for days. Krka is a day-tripper’s paradise. If you’re going to get lost in the woods, it is not for yo.u
• You have small kids who need to be in a travel stroller – this is impossible (trust me, we had to carry ours)

Don’t Take Just My Word For It

I asked the Plitvice vs. Krka question on my Facebook page a few years ago – and you can see just what everyone had to say – and read the comments to see why.

So, Which Should You Visit? Plitvice Or Krka?

Croatia Travel Blog_Plitvice Lakes Or Krka National Park_Which To Choose

The best answer I can give to choosing between Krka National Park and Plitvice Lakes National Park is simple. Don’t.

I urge you to find the time to go to both. Okay, I know most of you are short on time, so here goes: if you’re mostly staying on the coast, head to Krka Waterfalls. If you land in Zagreb, go to Plitvice on the way to the coast.

Both parks are genuinely stunning, and while Plitvice is much larger and some say more beautiful, that is not the only factor.

So, tell us, which of these beautiful places is worth visiting for you? Will it be Krka or Plitvice Lakes?