3 Best Waterfalls to Visit in Croatia in 2023
Last Updated: June 10, 2023
Croatia is known for its pristine coastline and Game of Thrones filming locations, such as Dubrovnik and Split. And of course, when visiting Croatia, you should definitely take your time to sunbathe and enjoy the ambience and seafood of coastal cities like Trogir. But if you are blessed with time to venture beyond the cliches, we recommend chasing waterfalls. Croatia’s falls are nothing like the rivers and the lakes that you’re used to. In this post, we’ll talk about 3 waterfalls, including one just north of Croatia in Bosnia & Herzegovina. (Who doesn’t love adding another country to their list?!) We’ll also help you decide which waterfall is the best for you to visit in Croatia.
1. Plitvice Lakes National Park
Plitvice is a massive park, and very green. It’s so big that the park offers multiple parking lots and shuttles to get from one point to the next. Plitvice is also the kind of place where the photos just don’t do it justice. (If you want perfect waterfall photos, check out recommendation #2.) For a more intimate approach to the water at Plitvice, you could opt for a kayaking experience down the Mreznica River just before the falls.
How do you enter Plitvice Lakes National Park? If you’re renting a car in Croatia, it’s very easy to find the parking lot, pay for parking, and walk up to the entrance. We drove in from Vodice, where we were staying. If you prefer not to rent a car, you can book a full-day tour from Split or Zagreb, which includes transport and your entrance fee.
If you don’t book a tour with tickets included, there is a well-marked ticket window at Plitvice Lakes National Park, where you can buy tickets when you arrive. We arrived at the window around 12:30 pm, and there was a pretty long line. We waited around 20 minutes in line.
Once you walk into the national park, the emerald vibrance of the water will quickly take you by surprise. THAT will 100% show up in your photos. There’s also no shortage of trails, so be prepared to do a lot of walking.
You’ll of course want to see the main water falls, but don’t miss out on the enchanting smaller water falls and caves dispersed throughout the park.
Also, be sure to bring plenty of water, as there aren’t many locations to refill. I ended up purchasing a bottle of water from one of the shuttle stops. After a full day of walking in the heat, we stopped at the park cafe by the entrance on our way out for dinner.
How much time should you spend in Plitvice Lakes National Park?
If you prefer, there’s also the option to buy a skip the line ticket, where you’ll be guided in a small group of 15 people. The local guides are incredible because they have both local and national knowledge of Plitvice Lakes.
2. Krka National Park
Krka National Park is the perfect spot to take the BEST waterfall photos. Although swimming used to be allowed, it was banned in early 2021 to preserve Krka’s pristine beauty. Once you see it, you’ll better understand why.
(But if you were hoping to swim, check out our 3rd recommendation below, Kravice.)
Krka is not as trafficked as Plitvice and you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into a nature lover’s oasis. If you arrive right when Krka opens, you might even be one of the few people on the trail.
We got there at 8:30am and decided to have Croatian pancakes (palačinke) and coffee at a cafe at the entrance. Then we hopped on the park shuttle and started the trail at 9:30am. It took about an hour and a half to get down to the base of the waterfall. You’ll likely spend most of your time at the Skradinski Buk Waterfall which is the main attraction.
We walked at a leisurely pace and stopped multiple times to take photos. On the trail, you’ll breathe in nature as your eyes capture the diverse flora and fauna. The trail is marked by bridges, caves, cheerful birds, and fish swimming beneath you. Apparently there are 18 species of fish on the Krka River!
There were also several stops for snacks, drinks, and bathrooms. Do wear sunblock, as it was quite hot when we visited in early August.
By 1:00pm we were back by the parking lot where we had first had our breakfast. There are multiple restaurants at the entrance, and we decided to stop and try another restaurant for lunch before leaving.
How much time should you spend at Krka National Park?
We’d recommend spending about 4-5 hours at Krka National Park to fully take in the views of the waterfall and surrounding trails. Go earlier in the day to beat the heat and the crowds. As we were leaving a lot more caravans and buses arrived for excursions and field trips.
Truthfully, Krka was recommended to me by one of my good friends from Croatia, and it was the best local advice we could have received. We actually preferred Krka over Plitvice. Krka is also a better stop than Plitvice if you’re staying closer to Trogir, Split, or Dubrovik because it is a shorter drive. If you’re not renting a car, you can easily find an affordable day trip tour from Split or Trogir.
3. Kravice Waterfalls
Kravice Waterfalls (also spelled “Kravica”) is perfect if you’ve always dreamt of swimming under the falls. And Kravice is a great spot to cool off after a hot walking tour in Mostar.
(We also recommend visiting Mostar in Bosnia, as it’s just 25 miles north of the falls. Mostar was a fascinating, beautiful town with a rich history.)
The water is icy, and fish swim beneath you. The shore is rocky, and there are no life guards, so swim at your own risk. The falls themselves are massive, about 80 feet high before they splash to the lake below. The immense force of the water is the massage you knew you always needed.
How much time should you spend at Kravice Waterfalls?
We got to Kravice Waterfalls around 3:30pm and left by 5:30pm, because we were short on time. But Kravice was definitely worth it. So even if you only have 2 hours to spare, we recommend a stop here. If you have more time, you can easily spend all day at Kravice, as there are options for eating, drinking, and camping!
If you’re daunted by driving around Bosnia, but still want to see sites such as the Kravice Waterfalls that are further from popular cities, we recommend taking a tour. Your tour will include highlights in Mostar and the Kravice Waterfalls, and also provide historical highlights from a local guide.
Which Waterfall in Croatia is Best?
Although Plitvice Lakes National Park is the most popular waterfall in Croatia, we preferred Krka National Park. Krka offers amazing photo opportunities and a more up close and personal experience than Plitvice Lakes.
Krka is also closer to the coast. So if you’re staying in any of the popular coastal cities, like Split or Trogir, visiting Krka is super doable.
However, for the most unique experience, we’d recommend visiting Kravice Waterfalls in Bosnia, for an opportunity both to visit a new country, and jump into a waterfall like Pocahontas.
