Visiting Kornati National Park

UPDATED: 18.1.2023.

Kornati National Park is called a “nautical paradise” thanks to its incomparable and unique beauty. Nacionalni park Kornati is an archipelago of 89 gorgeous islands, islets, and reefs in the northern part of Dalmatia, near Dugi Otok, Pašman, Murter, Zadar, and Šibenik. Like Brijuni National Park, Kornati National Park is comprised of both land and sea.

The park has a true summer “olive climate”, warm with hot and dry summers, and some rain in the autumn. Fields, paths, and charming stone walls make Kornati National Park a popular destination for tourists and locals alike. There are no residents on the Kornati islands, making it a wild destination for exploring.

Why you should visit Kornati National Park

• Memorial crosses

  In honor to 12 Croatian firemen who died in a fire in 2007, spomen-križevi (memorial monuments) were built using dry stone walling. This tragedy was called the Kornati tragedy. [Read: Croatia’s tradition of dry-stone walls]

• Kornati pastures

  Kornati land owners burned pastures every few years to grow better grass for the sheep and goats raised on the land. Over the years, this led to poor, yet uncommon and otherworldly landscapes where few trees have risen. The islands of Kornati have an extraterrestrial look to them.

• Eagle Owl

  The sova ušara (eagle owl) is a rare and endangered European species. It is a very attractive bird that lives in the Kornati islands. This endangered breeding bird is very rare in Europe, but they are still numerous on the Croatian coast and islands.

• Kornati underseas

  For the ones who are interested in the underwater world, it is important to know that Kornati has 353 species of algae, 3 species of underwater flower plants, and 850 animal species. An endemic underwater flower plant, called Posidonia, lives in Kornati’s sea and is referred to as “the lungs of the sea” because it releases oxygen into the water. Kornati is a prime spot for snorkeling and scuba diving.

How to visit the Kornati National Park

Where it is

Kornati National Park is situated at the Adriatic sea, in the northern part of Dalmatia. It belongs to Šibenin-Knin county and it is a bit south from Zadar and west from Šibenik. When speaking in nautical miles, it is ~15 nm from Zadar and Šibenik, and ~7 nm from Murter.

When to go

Kornati National park is open for visits throughout the whole year. Every part of the year has its perks. No matter when you visit, you can enjoy the stunning silence and peace. If you don’t like being in the very bright and hot sun, visit the park in spring or autumn.

How to get to Kornati National Park

You can get to Kornati Islands by:

• Any sea-going vessel including your own boat
• Transport service of one of many local boatmen from the mainland
• Organized tour from Murter, Šibenik, Zadar or some other place on the Adriatic coast, as many agencies offer this trip. The price varies around 35-40€ per person and it includes the boat ride, a welcome drink, the entrance ticket, lunch, and a tourist guide.

[Read: How to import and register a boat in Croatia]

Tickets and pricing

Tickets are charged only for vessels, regardless of the number of people on the vessel. There are no individual entrance tickets.

If you come within an organized tourist agency, the price of the excursion will include the vessel ticket.

Where to buy tickets

Tickets can be purchased at:

• Reception desk in Murter (Phone: +385 (0)22 434 077)
• Reception desk in Luka Zakan on the island of Ravni Zakan (NP Kornati)
• Reception desk in Uvala Vruje on the island of Kornat (NP Kornati)
• Spots of comission ticket sales – View the latest list here
• Webshop
• MySea web site
• Boat mobile reception desks at Kornati NP that sail in the area of the park to greet guests, sell tickets, and provide park information

Ticket Prices

Tickets purchased outside the park and on the webshop are cheaper than tickets purchased from receptionists inside the park.

Ticket prices for Kornati National Park depend on the length of the vessel, the number of days your boat is in the park, and the month you are visiting. A price list for Kornati is available here.

If you’re visiting Kornati as a part of an organized tour, the boat ticket will be included in the total price of the excursion.

Please note that mobile reception desks work only during the summer season.

Visit other National Parks in Croatia

• Brijuni National Park
• Krka National Park
• Mljet National Park
• Northern Velebit National Park
• Paklenica National Park
• Plitvice National Park
• Risnjak National Park

Source:
NP Kornati