Croatia is increasingly famous as a destination for stunning landscapes beyond the crystal-clear seas, incredible rock formations, soft white sandy beaches, diverse marine life and more of her perfect and renowned seaside resorts and cities. In addition to these wonderful coastal scenes, there are plenty of jaw-dropping vistas and awe-inspiring places to be explored. So, on your next vacation in Croatia, be sure to pack your activewear and hiking boots and get out into all of that outstanding natural bounty.
One of the most beautiful scenes that you might hope to stumble across while exploring Croatia is the Skradinski Buk Waterfall. This is famously one of the best known natural beauties of Croatia and is a series of cascades on the Krka River that is composed of travertine barriers, islands, and lakes. Located in Croatia’s Krka National Park, one of the country’s eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the falls can be viewed throughout the year and offer different, and equally wonderful, experiences no matter when you visit. While the Plitvice Lakes National Park is the most famous national park in the country, Krka has its own charms, is likely to be a little less busy, and is equally appealing, especially because of the Skradinski Buk Waterfall. If you have found a vacation rental in Šibenik-Knin, it is definitely a must-see for those spending any time in the region.
“Buk,” means “cascade” and Skradinski Buk is made up of a natural travertine barrier along the Krka River that is divided into 17 cascades over the course of 800m, at varying widths of 200m to 400m, ending in a large pool that is a popular swimming spot. It is just one series of dozens of waterfalls in the park along the Krka over a length of 74km, with Skradinski Buk being the closest to the coast, the most famous, and the waterfall that is often seen as the representative of the area, regularly being referred to simply as the Krka Waterfalls.
There are two ways to reach the falls; you can head to Lozovac and find the main park entrance, or head to the village of Skradin, where there is a secondary entrance. A Lozovac, you will find free parking and free bus transfers from April to October and, from April to November, you will find boat access to the falls from the Skradin entrance. Another option is to hike the 875m long trail from the Lozovac entrance or the 4km long trail and bicycle path from Skradin.
As noted, the falls can be viewed throughout the entire year via the network of paths and bridges that surround it and you can also hike the surrounding Skadinski Buk trail (1.9km long) to take in various excellent viewing points over rapids, cascades, flora, and fauna. In winter and autumn, this is the most desirable option.
During the warmer months, you might also decide to go swimming in the pool at the base of Skadinski Buk. It is one of the best waterfall swimming spots that you could ever hope to find, with the majestic falls as a backdrop and with the final fall (at 12m high) as a great spot for the daredevils among you to get a thrill by jumping into the water below. Do keep in mind, however, that it is a very popular spot during the high season and if you arrive later in the day, you’re likely to encounter quite the crowd! It is also worth keeping in mind that officials have limited access to the Skradinski Buk Waterfall section of the park to 10,000 visitors at a time, which is further reason to get there good and early in summer. Finally, be sure to respect this gem as people going off-trail in the name of photographs and generally not adhering to rules or taking care of the park have put it at risk of losing its UNESCO status. Don’t be one of those people!
All of that being said, if you have found a holiday rental in Šibenik-Knin and you want to take in some of the majestic beauty of Croatia, then a visit to the incredible falls of Skradinski Buk is an absolute must.
“Buk,” means “cascade” and Skradinski Buk is made up of a natural travertine barrier along the Krka River that is divided into 17 cascades over the course of 800m, at varying widths of 200m to 400m, ending in a large pool that is a popular swimming spot. It is just one series of dozens of waterfalls in the park along the Krka over a length of 74km, with Skradinski Buk being the closest to the coast, the most famous, and the waterfall that is often seen as the representative of the area, regularly being referred to simply as the Krka Waterfalls.
There are two ways to reach the falls; you can head to Lozovac and find the main park entrance, or head to the village of Skradin, where there is a secondary entrance. A Lozovac, you will find free parking and free bus transfers from April to October and, from April to November, you will find boat access to the falls from the Skradin entrance. Another option is to hike the 875m long trail from the Lozovac entrance or the 4km long trail and bicycle path from Skradin.
As noted, the falls can be viewed throughout the entire year via the network of paths and bridges that surround it and you can also hike the surrounding Skadinski Buk trail (1.9km long) to take in various excellent viewing points over rapids, cascades, flora, and fauna. In winter and autumn, this is the most desirable option.
During the warmer months, you might also decide to go swimming in the pool at the base of Skadinski Buk. It is one of the best waterfall swimming spots that you could ever hope to find, with the majestic falls as a backdrop and with the final fall (at 12m high) as a great spot for the daredevils among you to get a thrill by jumping into the water below. Do keep in mind, however, that it is a very popular spot during the high season and if you arrive later in the day, you’re likely to encounter quite the crowd! It is also worth keeping in mind that officials have limited access to the Skradinski Buk Waterfall section of the park to 10,000 visitors at a time, which is further reason to get there good and early in summer. Finally, be sure to respect this gem as people going off-trail in the name of photographs and generally not adhering to rules or taking care of the park have put it at risk of losing its UNESCO status. Don’t be one of those people!
All of that being said, if you have found a holiday rental in Šibenik-Knin and you want to take in some of the majestic beauty of Croatia, then a visit to the incredible falls of Skradinski Buk is an absolute must.
Photo credit: dmytrok / CC BY-ND 2.0
