Croatia is rather a small country, but full of beautiful places and some of the best national parks in all of Europe. This article will be a comparison between the only national parks with waterfalls in Croatia – Krka National Park vs. Plitvice Lakes. If you have time, we suggest visiting both, but since most people have only enough time to visit just one national park during their vacation in Croatia, this article might help you choose which one will be.
Both Krka and Plitvice Lakes have stunning waterfalls, lush vegetation, and abundant wildlife. They are must-visit destinations of many travelers who visit Croatia. However, each of these parks offers somewhat different experiences, and choosing the right one for you depends on your travel style, time, and preferences. Here’s a full comparison to help you decide whether to visit Krka National Park or Plitvice Lakes.
One of the waterfalls at Plitvice Lakes 1. Overview of Each Park We are going to start with a short overview of each of these parks, their location, and most famous attractions.
Krka National Park
Location: Southern Croatia, near ŠibenikFamous For: Waterfalls, swimming areas, boat toursSize: 109 km²Best For: Visitors who want a mix of nature and relaxation, shorter walks, and the option to swim near waterfallsMain Attraction: Skradinski Buk waterfall, a large and scenic cascading waterfall
Plitvice Lakes National Park
Location: Lika region, Central Croatia, between Zadar and ZagrebFamous For: Cascading lakes, wooden trails, and turquoise watersSize: 296 km²Best For: Visitors looking for longer hikes, high waterfalls, and a more immersive nature experienceMain Attraction: 16 interconnected lakes with stunning waterfalls, including the 78-meter-high Veliki Slap – the highest waterfall in Croatia
Skradinski Buk, one of the most famous places of Krka National Park 2. Waterfalls & Natural Beauty This section will be a comparison between waterfalls and the overall landscape of each of these national parks.
Feature Krka National Park Plitvice Lakes National Park Waterfalls Several waterfalls, with Skradinski Buk being the most famous one 90+ waterfalls, including Veliki Slap, the tallest waterfall in Croatia Lakes One main river (Krka River) 16 interlinked lakes with stunning colors Swimming Allowed at Roški Slap and designated areas Not allowed anywhere Scenic Beauty Lush landscapes and waterfalls with easy access More dramatic and surreal, with cascading lakes and stunning waterfalls
Wooden pathway in Plitvice Lakes National Park 3. Accessibility & Walking Difficulty From the previous sections, you can see that Plitvice Lakes cover almost 3 times more surface than Krka National Park. According to that, Plitvice will take more of your time to explore larger portions of the park. Let’s see other differences between Krka and Plitvice when it comes to accessibility.
Feature Krka National Park Plitvice Lakes National Park Accessibility Easier to reach, closer to famous coastal cities like Split and Šibenik (many day trips are available from these cities) A longer drive from major cities like Split and Zagreb Walking Difficulty Easy to moderate, short trails, mostly flat Moderate to difficult, with longer hikes and some steep sections Time Needed 2-4 hours for a full visit 4-8 hours for a complete experience
Boat tour to Visovac Island 4. Activities & Things to Do While both of these national parks are somewhat similar they differ in many things. Activities and things to do in each of them are different and here’s what to expect out of each of these national parks in Croatia.
Krka National Park
Swim near waterfalls (only in designated areas like Roški Slap)
Boat trips to Visovac Island where a 15th-century monastery is located
Short walks and boardwalk trails
Birdwatching and wildlife spotting
Visit Skradinski Buk, the most famous waterfall
Plitvice Lakes National Park
Hike along wooden pathways and bridges over crystal-clear lakes
Boat ride across Kozjak Lake
Panoramic train ride through the park
Explore different trails, ranging from 2 to 8 hours
Photography paradise with stunning reflections and landscapes
Rent a boat and row on the lake
Plitvice Lakes 5. Best Time to Visit Now this is similar to both parks although there are some differences, one of them being snow which is quite a rare event on Krka, but falls almost every winter at Plitvice Lakes. Here’s how each of the parks looks through the year.
Season Krka National Park Plitvice Lakes National Park Spring (March – May) Lush greenery, fewer crowds, waterfalls at peak flow Great time to visit, lakes at their fullest, fewer tourists Summer (June – August) Best for swimming, but very crowded Beautiful but crowded, hot weather for long hikes Autumn (September – November) Once again fewer crowds, pleasant temperatures Stunning fall colors, ideal for photographers Winter (December – February) The most peaceful time of the year, and very few visitors Magical frozen landscapes, but some areas may be closed due to snow
Exploring Visovac Island in Krka National Park 6. Which One Should You Choose? And finally, we come to the last part of the comparison of Krka National Park vs. Plitvice Lakes. In this section, we’ll do a quick overview of each park for each given category.
Category Krka National Park Plitvice Lakes National Park Best for swimming Yes No Best for hiking No Yes Best for families with young children Yes No (longer walks), Yes if you want to visit part of the park Best for photographers Yes Yes (Plitvice are slightly better) Best for a quick visit Yes No Best for a full-day nature experience No Yes
Veliki Slap, tallest watterfall in Croatia in winter 7. How to Get There You should already have a clear image of which of these 2 national parks is a better fit for you. Here is how long will it take to reach each of these parks from different cities in Croatia.
Krka National Park
From Split: 1-hour driveFrom Šibenik: 20-minute driveFrom Zadar: 1.5-hour driveBy Bus: Buses from Split and Šibenik run dailyBy Tour: Many organized day trips to Krka National Park are available from Split, Zadar, and Šibenik
Plitvice Lakes National Park
From Zagreb: 2-hour driveFrom Zadar: 1.5-hour driveFrom Split: 2.5-3 hour driveBy Bus: Direct buses from Zagreb, Zadar, and Split during the seasonBy Tour: Full-day guided tours are available from Split and Zagreb
Krka National Park vs. Plitvice Lakes final Verdict: both parks are beautiful, but which one will suit you best?
Choose Krka if: You want to swim, prefer shorter and easier walks, or need a quick day trip from Split or Šibenik.Choose Plitvice if: You love long hikes, want to see cascading lakes, and prefer a more immersive natural experience.Visit Both if: You have enough time and want to experience two very different but equally beautiful natural wonders in Croatia.
We hope the last option will be your choice since both of these national parks offer similar, but somewhat different experiences. Or you can always leave a visit to one of these for your next visit to Croatia . Because let’s be honest, you’re coming back.
Enjoy in the national parks in Croatia.
