Krka Waterfalls from Zadar: Guided Tour, Skradin Boat or Go Alone?
Updated October 20, 2026 · 6 min read
The answer first
If you have no car, a guided day trip with the Skradin boat ride is the easy way to see Krka from Zadar. If you do have one, the park ticket plus an hour’s drive each way is the cheaper day and gives you the schedule. Krka is closer than Plitvice, so driving yourself fits into a day with time to spare.
How far it is, and where you enter
Krka National Park lies near Šibenik. From Zadar, travel sources give roughly 50 to 60 minutes by car to the two main entrances, Skradin and Lozovac, both on the lower stretch of the river. The ticket for the park includes the boat between Skradin and Skradinski buk, the big waterfall, at the regular schedule, so entering at Skradin means arriving at the falls by water. Lozovac is usually the easier entrance for drivers because of the car park.
The guided options
| Tour | Price per person | Rating | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Krka Waterfalls Day Tour with Skradin Boat Ride | €40 | 4.7 from 482 reviews | 8 to 9 hours |
| Krka Waterfalls Day Tour with Boat Ride & Guide | €45 | 4.6 from 519 reviews | not stated |
| Krka Waterfalls Afternoon Tour with Guide & Entrance Ticket | €63 | 4.7 from 336 reviews | 8 hours |
| Day Trip to Waterfalls in Krka National Park | €36.9 | 4.4 from 313 reviews | 9 hours |
Of these four tours, only the €63 afternoon tour says in its title that the entrance ticket is included. The €45 tour lists a panoramic boat ride and a guide, and the €40 and €37 trips do not state in their descriptions whether park entry is part of the price, so check the booking page before you read €37 as the bargain. The entrance ticket sold on its own is listed from €7 and has 2,054 reviews, a rating of 4.4: the €7 is the low-season price, and the park raises it with the season, so the gap between a “cheap” tour and the real cost can be large in July.
Going alone
You buy the park ticket, drive to Lozovac or Skradin, and take the boat from Skradin if you enter there. The road is about an hour each way; the park part is the ticket on the park’s current price list. If you need a car for the day, compare car hire for Zadar and put the day price next to a seat on the €40 tour.
What the tour adds is the guide, the coach and a fixed return time. What it takes away is the choice of how long to stay at the falls.
One thing to know about swimming
Swimming at Skradinski buk has been banned since 2021 to protect the travertine. Swimming is reported to be allowed at a few other spots further up the river, in summer only; check the park’s current rules. One listing mentions a refreshing swim, so ask the operator where; do not pack for a swim at the main falls.
Who should choose what
- No car, a day to fill: the Skradin boat tour at €40, with the entry question settled first.
- No car, an afternoon only: the €63 afternoon tour with the guide and ticket in one price.
- Car, shoulder season: drive yourself; the ticket is far cheaper outside summer.
- Plitvice instead? Krka is shorter and closer, Plitvice bigger and further; the Plitvice guide has the numbers.
Our recommendation
Book the Krka Waterfalls Day Tour with Skradin Boat Ride, and confirm that the park entry is included before you pay. If you have a car and it is not high summer, go alone.
See availability and prices for the Krka Waterfalls Day Tour with Skradin Boat Ride
More trips are on the Krka waterfalls page.
