Krka National Park's waterfalls are Split's standout day trip – a river cruise, a boardwalk through cascading travertine falls, and a swim stop that, these days, happens somewhere other than the falls themselves.
The waterfalls
Skradinski Buk, the park's largest and final waterfall, is a genuine spectacle: 17 cascading steps spread across roughly 800 metres, dropping nearly 46 metres in total, and recognised as the longest travertine barrier of its kind in Europe. A boardwalk loop lets you walk right through the falls at close range, and most day trips pair the walk with a river cruise along the Krka.
About the swimming
Swimming at Skradinski Buk itself has been banned since 1 January 2021, after decades of heavy visitor numbers began eroding the delicate travertine formations that make the falls what they are. It's a real change from how the park used to work, and older guides that describe swimming under the falls are out of date. Most day tours from Split have adjusted by building a swim stop into the day at a nearby coastal spot instead – Primošten on the standard tour, or Skradin itself on tours that add a winery visit.
Getting there
Krka is about an hour from Split by road, comfortable as a single day trip, though most organised tours run closer to a full day once the boat cruise, the waterfall walk and a swim stop are all included – leaving the rest of your stay free for Diocletian's Palace back in the city. If you have time for a second waterfall park, Plitvice Lakes is the longer alternative, built around 16 terraced lakes rather than one main falls.
Booking
The Krka Waterfalls trip with boat cruise and swimming is the most-booked option, running about nine hours and combining the cruise, the waterfall walk and a swim stop at Primošten. For a longer day that adds a winery visit, the Krka Waterfalls, Food & Wine Tasting Tour runs closer to ten hours with a swim stop in Skradin instead. Both are heavily booked in peak season, so reserve a few days ahead.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Not at Skradinski Buk, the park's main and most famous waterfall – swimming there has been banned since 1 January 2021 to stop the travertine formations eroding from decades of heavy visitor numbers. Swimming is still permitted at a few other designated spots inside the park, and most day tours from Split now include a swim stop at a nearby coastal town instead.
Image: Mara Pilić via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)