Hotels in Skradin
Skradin sits on the lower Krka, upstream of Šibenik, and its whole rhythm follows the national park. The ticket office stands between the car park and the pier, and from there the park boat takes about 25 minutes up the river to the foot of Skradinski buk. The boat runs from April to October; outside that window, the Lozovac entrance is the way in, with a 4 km road that is open to private cars from November to March. Why sleep here rather than at Lozovac? Because Skradin has a waterfront of konobas and a marina, so the evening is pleasant after the day-trippers leave. The trade-off is the morning: the boat is shared with coach groups, and parking in town is in private paid lots, so I would leave the car at the hotel and walk to the pier. Two things to know before you go. Swimming at Skradinski buk has been banned since 2021, so the hotel pool matters in July and August. And Skradin is not a beach town: the water at the riva is a river mouth, so plan sea swimming around Šibenik.
Skradin is the small river town on the Krka where the park boat leaves for Skradinski buk, and it is the base I would pick for couples and families who want Krka plus a real evening: a riva with restaurants, a marina full of yachts and a short walk from the hotel to the ticket office. It suits people arriving by car or by sea, less so those who want a beach. On this site it has two hotels: Hotel Skradinski Buk, in town with a Dalmatian restaurant, and Hotel Bonaca, with an outdoor pool and a garden, useful on hot days when swimming at the falls is not allowed.
Skradin at a glance
Hotel Bonaca
Family-friendly hotel with a pool, spa, and Croatian dining in Skradin
Why guests love itI would choose Hotel Bonaca for a family planning to visit Krka National Park from Skradin, the small town at the park's southern entrance. After a day on the trails, children can cool off in the outdoor swimming pool or play in the garden, and the restaurant serves Croatian cuisine, so dinner is close at hand. Rooms are air-conditioned with free WiFi, some with balconies, and a continental breakfast is served every morning. A guest score of 9.3 from almost 700 reviews backs the pick.
Hotel Skradinski Buk
A family-friendly nature retreat near Krka National Park
Why guests love itHotel Skradinski Buk is a three-star in Skradin, a short distance from Krka National Park, and I would recommend it to families who come mainly for the waterfalls. The hotel can arrange a rental car, which makes day trips to Krka, Kornati and Paklenica simple to organise. Its restaurant serves Dalmatian specialties, a good way to introduce children to local food without leaving the hotel. A guest score of 8.4 from more than 1,600 reviews supports the choice.
What to expect
- The park boat to Skradinski buk leaves from the town pier, about 25 minutes up the Krka, from April to October.
- Ticket office between the car park and the pier, a short walk from both hotels in town.
- A riva of konobas and a marina that keep the town lively in the evening after the day-trippers leave.
- Hotel Bonaca: outdoor pool and garden, 9.3/10 from 687 reviews; Hotel Skradinski Buk: 8.4/10 from more than 1,600 reviews.
Local tips
- ✓Leave the car at your hotel: parking in Skradin is in private paid lots, while the pier and ticket office are within walking distance of the town centre.
- ✓Take one of the first boats of the day: from mid-morning the boat fills with coach groups coming from Split and Zadar, and the walkways at the falls fill with them.
- ✓Coming between November and March? The Skradin boat does not run, so drive to the Lozovac entrance, where the road to the falls opens to private cars in those months.
- ✓Pack for walking, not swimming: swimming at Skradinski buk has been banned since 2021, so keep your swim for the hotel pool or the coast around Šibenik.
- ✓Book dinner on the riva for the evening, not lunch: once the last boats are back, the waterfront empties and the konobas are at their best.
Where to stay
FAQ
Is Skradin a good base for Krka National Park?
Yes, especially without wanting to drive every day. The park boat to Skradinski buk leaves from the town pier and takes about 25 minutes, from April to October. Skradin also has a riva with restaurants and a marina, so evenings are better than at Lozovac. The downside is the boat queue at peak hours, which you avoid by taking an early departure.
How does the boat from Skradin to Skradinski buk work?
You buy the park ticket at the office between the car park and the pier, then board the park boat, which runs up the Krka to the foot of Skradinski buk in about 25 minutes. It operates from April to October. In winter, the boat does not run and visitors enter through Lozovac instead.
Skradin or Lozovac: where should I stay for Krka?
Skradin if you want a town with restaurants and the boat trip up the river. Lozovac if you want to be first at the falls on foot: its entrance has a free car park and an 875 m path down to Skradinski buk. Lozovac is quiet in the evening; Skradin is livelier once the day-trippers have left.
Can you swim in Skradin or at the Krka waterfalls?
Not at Skradinski buk: swimming below the main cascade has been banned since 2021. Skradin itself is on the river mouth rather than the open sea, so it is not a beach town. For a swim, use a hotel pool, such as the outdoor pool at Hotel Bonaca, or drive to the coast around Šibenik.
Is there parking in Skradin?
Yes, in private paid car parks around town, close to the ticket office and the pier. If your hotel has parking, leave the car there and walk to the pier. The Lozovac entrance, by contrast, has a free car park at the park gate.