Kornati and Krka by Boat: Šibenik, the National Parks and the Islands of North Dalmatia (2026)

North Dalmatia is where you can go from a river gorge to a bare island archipelago in one morning. Šibenik sits at the mouth of the Krka, guarded by a Venetian sea fortress; upriver, the waterfalls of Krka National Park begin at Skradin. Offshore lie the Kornati, a national park of stony islands and reefs, and beside them Telašćica on Dugi Otok, with a salt lake and sheer cliffs facing the open sea.

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This guide is part of our Croatia yacht charter series, the site’s first country beyond Italy. If you know the island parks from our Italy by boat guides, one thing will feel familiar: you pay to enter, and where you drop anchor matters.

Harbours and marinas: where the boats leave from

Drive times are approximate.

• Šibenik: the old town waterfront and the Mandalina marina just south east of the centre. Roughly 45 to 50 minutes from Split airport.
• Skradin: the gateway town to Krka National Park, with an ACI marina on the river. About 20 minutes by car from Šibenik.
• Murter and Jezera: on the island of Murter, linked to the mainland by a bridge at Tisno. The closest departure point for the Kornati; the park’s administration is in Murter town. Around 35 to 40 minutes from Šibenik.
• Biograd na Moru: a busy charter harbour on the Pašman channel, placed for both Kornati and Telašćica. Roughly 30 minutes from Zadar airport.
• Zadar: the city harbour and marinas, best for Telašćica. Zadar airport is about 15 minutes away.
• Primošten: a peninsula town south of Šibenik, suited to half days along the coast. About 25 minutes from Šibenik.

The routes in detail

Times assume a skippered motor boat with swim stops; your skipper will adapt the order to the wind.

Route 1, half day: St Anthony’s Channel, St Nicholas’ Fortress and Zlarin

From the Šibenik waterfront the boat runs out through the St Anthony’s Channel. At its mouth stands St Nicholas’ Fortress, a sixteenth century Venetian sea fort and part of the UNESCO listed Venetian Works of Defence. From a private boat you see it from the water; to go inside, join the organised visit, which leaves by boat from the fortress information centre on the waterfront and takes about two hours with a guide. Beyond the channel, swim in a cove on Zlarin or Prvić, then return for lunch in Šibenik. Allow three to four hours.

Route 2, half or full day: up the Krka to Skradin

The boat leaves Šibenik and winds up the Krka estuary, through the wide stretch called Prokljan lake, to Skradin, around eight nautical miles from the channel entrance. A low road bridge just beyond Skradin stops further progress, so you moor there and continue on the park’s boat to Skradinski buk, the best known waterfall; the whole park ticket includes that boat. You can no longer swim at Skradinski buk, so swim in the sea on the way back. Allow at least five hours, a full day with lunch in Skradin.

Route 3, full day: Murter into Kornati National Park

From Murter or Jezera a fast boat is among the islands within roughly half an hour to 45 minutes. A typical day threads the channels between Kornat, the largest island, and the outer chain, where cliffs drop straight into the open sea. Swim stops depend on where anchoring is allowed, such as Vrulje, Opat, Ravni Žakan, Lavsa or Anica on Levrnaka. Lunch is at an island konoba, several of which have a jetty or a few buoys. Back in Murter by late afternoon.

Route 4, full day: Biograd or Zadar to Telašćica

Telašćica Bay cuts into the south eastern end of Dugi Otok, roughly 45 minutes to an hour from Biograd on a fast boat, a little longer from Zadar. Moor in Mir and walk to Lake Mir, a salt lake about 900 metres long, then on to the cliffs on the open sea side, which rise up to 160 metres. Tripuljak Bay has a short underwater snorkel trail. The northern Kornati lie directly south, so many skippers combine the two parks.

Route 5, three to five days: Murter, Žut, the Kornati and Telašćica

A loop from Murter or Biograd shows the scale of the archipelago: a night at Žut, just outside the park; a night at ACI Marina Piškera or in a permitted Kornati bay; a night in Telašćica or at Sali on Dugi Otok; then back along the Pašman channel. Multi day Kornati tickets, or the three day combined Kornati and Telašćica ticket, cost less than single days.

The rules: national parks, anchoring, fees and swimming in 2026

The facts below come from the parks’ own websites in 2026. Rules change, so confirm with your skipper or the park on the day.

Kornati National Park

• Tickets: every boat needs a valid ticket for each day in the park. Tickets bought before you enter (park online shop, national parks web shop, authorised sales points) are cheaper than one day tickets from the mobile reception desks inside the park. Online tickets must be bought by 10:00 on the day and cannot be refunded.
• Prices: the park’s 2026 list charges by length and season (June to September is high season). For 7 to 10.99 metres in high season, one day costs €65 in advance; for 11 to 17.99 metres, €95. Our research turned up contradictory information on the price inside the park: the park’s price list can be read as €130 and €190 or as €200 and €300 for the same sizes, so confirm with the park before you rely on buying on the water.
• Piškera: boats paying the regular daily berth at ACI Marina Piškera get a park ticket valid on the arrival day and the next day until 19:00.
• Anchoring: anchoring and overnight stays only in listed bays, including Stiniva, Lupeška, Šipnate, Strižnja, Vrulje, Opat, Smokica, Ravni Žakan, Lavsa, Vela Panitula on Piškera, Anica on Levrnaka and Koromašna.
• Strict protection zones: no visitors around the reefs of Purara, Klint and Volić, Mrtenjak, Kolobučar, and Mali and Veli Obručan.
• Diving: scuba only in organised groups with a park permit; spear guns prohibited.

Krka National Park

• Tickets: online through the park’s shop or at the entrances. With an online ticket you go straight to the Skradin dock. Boat excursions further upriver, to Visovac or Roški slap, are sold only on site.
• Swimming: only in the marked areas at Roški slap, Stinice and Pisak, from 1 June to 30 September. Not at Skradinski buk. Jumping from waterfalls or bridges is prohibited, as are drones, canoes and kayaks.
• Private boats: the park’s site does not set out rules for visiting yachts, but the national navigation rules as amended in April 2026 limit speed in the Krka estuary to 8 knots and ban anchoring in the St Josip and Skradin channels; anchoring, swimming and diving are allowed only in the channel coves. Moor at the marina or town quay in Skradin and check fees with the harbour.

Telašćica Nature Park

• Tickets: from park rangers on arrival, partner agencies, or online no later than the day before. When we checked, the price list was still headed 2025, so confirm the current rate with the park.
• Speed limits: 10 knots towards the head of the bay, inside the line between the capes of Pod Poljica and Gubac; 5 knots in the busy bays including Mir, Tripuljak, Kruševica, Pasjak and Jaz.
• Other rules: no climbing the cliffs, no collecting shellfish or other marine life, no spearfishing. Diving needs a permit. Rangers can fine on the spot.

General Croatian rules

Croatia updated its navigation safety rules in 2025. As reported in the nautical press, boats under 15 metres must keep at least 50 metres from the shore, the limit within 300 metres of the coast is 8 knots, and anchoring within 150 metres of natural beaches is not allowed. Harbour masters can add closures and buoyed swimming areas. We found no park closures announced for 2026; check with the parks for spring or autumn dates.

Boats, what is included, and licences

For a day out, choose a skippered speedboat or rigid inflatable (fast enough for Kornati or Telašćica in a day), a larger motor yacht with shade and a cabin, or a sailing yacht or catamaran for a slower day and multi day trips.

Typically included: the boat, the skipper, safety equipment, water, and snorkelling gear on many boats. Often extra: fuel on motor boats, park tickets, mooring and marina fees, lunch ashore and drinks. Ask in writing whether park tickets are included.

Bareboat: you need a licence that Croatia recognises, and charter operators generally require someone aboard to hold a VHF radio certificate. Which foreign licences are accepted depends on the boat, so check with the operator or the harbour master before you travel.

Route comparison

Best months, winds and practical tips

June and September bring warm water and fewer boats. In July and August the popular Kornati bays and the buoys at Mir can fill by early afternoon, and the Skradin dock is crowded. Late May and early October are lovely when the weather holds, but some island konobas open only in the main season, so ask before planning lunch.

Winds: in summer the maestral, a north westerly sea breeze, usually builds in the afternoon, which is why skippers like early starts. The bura, a gusty north easterly, can blow hard with little warning; on those days the Krka river and the Šibenik channel are the sheltered choice.

• Bring: water shoes for rocky entries, a hat, reef safe sun cream, a light layer for the ride home and cash for small konobas.
• Seasickness: the park days cross open water; take a remedy beforehand and choose a larger boat.
• Booking: reserve the boat several weeks ahead for July and August, and book a konoba lunch through your skipper.
• From Italy: in summer a Jadrolinija catamaran links Ancona with Zadar in about four hours (in 2026 from late June to early September), so a Marche holiday can continue here by sea. There is no direct ferry from Puglia to Zadar; from Bari, ferries run to Split and Dubrovnik.

Where to stay near the harbours

D-Resort Šibenik

The resort sits directly above the Mandalina superyacht marina, south east of Šibenik’s old town, with a shuttle boat into the centre. It has 72 rooms, several pools including one by the marina, a spa and gym. Split airport is about 48 kilometres away. It closes from November to February, and sea swimming on site is limited; ask the hotel.

Best for: stepping from the room onto the boat for Krka, Zlarin and the Kornati.

Check rates at D-Resort Šibenik

Heritage Hotel Life Palace

A restored fifteenth century palace in Šibenik’s car free old town, with 17 rooms and suites keeping stone doorways and beamed ceilings. There is a café on the square and a small top floor wellness area with a sauna and jacuzzi, but no full restaurant. The waterfront departure points are a few minutes downhill on foot; ask the hotel about parking and luggage.

Best for: couples who want character and a walk to the boat.

Check rates at Heritage Hotel Life Palace

Bastion Heritage Hotel

A Relais & Châteaux member in Zadar’s old town beside the Venetian walls, with 28 rooms and suites, a spa with sauna and jacuzzi, and an à la carte restaurant serving Dalmatian and international dishes. The waterfront is a short walk away, Zadar airport about 15 minutes by car.

Best for: a city base for Telašćica, with dinner on foot.

Check rates at Bastion Heritage Hotel

Falkensteiner Hotel & Spa Iadera

A resort at the tip of the Punta Skala peninsula at Petrčane, north of Zadar, with a 6,000 square metre spa, hammam and sauna area, and indoor and tiered outdoor pools above the sea. Zadar is roughly 20 minutes by car; the hotel offers a free airport transfer for stays of ten nights or more.

Best for: a spa stay with one or two days on the water.

Check rates at Falkensteiner Hotel & Spa Iadera

Extend the trip on land with our guide to Split and Diocletian’s Palace, our Plitvice Lakes guide and our Croatia wine guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you swim at the Krka waterfalls?

Not at Skradinski buk. Swimming is allowed only in the marked areas at Roški slap, Stinice and Pisak, from 1 June to 30 September.

Do I need a ticket just to sail through the Kornati?

Yes. The park requires a valid ticket to sail through, charged per boat per day. Buy it before you enter; inside the park it costs more.

Can I visit Krka and the Kornati on the same day?

Not comfortably. Choose Krka on a windy day and the Kornati when the sea is calm.

Is Telašćica worth it after the Kornati?

Yes: a sheltered bay, a salt lake and cliffs up to 160 metres make a different day, and it pairs easily with the northern Kornati.

Heading south next? Continue with Split by boat or Hvar and the Pakleni Islands. For an Italian archipelago park with its own entry rules, see Sardinia by boat.