Šibenik Sailing Itinerary: 7 Days with the Krka River (2027)
A relaxed one-week loop from Šibenik sails up the Krka river to Skradin for the waterfalls of Krka National Park, then works through the Šibenik islands (Zlarin, Prvić, Kaprije and Žirje) before heading south to Rogoznica and Primošten. The route covers about 73 nautical miles in legs of 4 to 15 NM, measured at sea on OpenStreetMap coastlines, so it suits a first Croatian charter or a crew that wants more swimming than sailing. The one big ticket is the park: from June to September 2027, each adult pays €40 to visit the Krka waterfalls, or €30 after 3 pm, and the ticket includes the park boat from Skradin to the falls (NP Krka 2027 price list).
Šibenik is a large charter base. Marina Mandalina, the D-Marin marina south of the old town, had 224 charter boats listed on SkipperCity’s search when we checked (SkipperCity boat search, retrieved 31 October 2026). If this is your first charter in Croatia, start with our Croatia yacht charter guide.
Key takeaways
- A relaxed 7-day loop from Šibenik covers about 73 NM, with legs of 4 to 15 NM: Zlarin, Skradin, Prvić, Kaprije, Žirje, Rogoznica and Primošten.
- Krka National Park charges visitors, not boats: €40 per adult from June to September 2027 (€30 after 3 pm), including the park boat from Skradin to the falls.
- Private boats stop at Skradin: only park vessels may go upstream from the Skradin bridge, and anchoring off Skradin is prohibited, so book a berth at ACI Skradin.
- Yachts under 20 m may use the St Anthony channel into Šibenik freely but must keep to the starboard side; anchoring in the channel is prohibited.
- Krka National Park allows swimming only in clearly marked areas, so plan your swims at Zlarin, Žirje, Rogoznica and Primošten.
What does the 7-day Šibenik route look like?
The loop starts and ends at Marina Mandalina in Šibenik. It goes inland first, up the Krka to Skradin, while the crew is fresh, then turns west to the islands and south along the coast. Distances are our own measurements along a sea route that keeps clear of the coast, so expect your log to read a little more once you tack or detour for a swim.
| Day | Leg | Distance | Night |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Check-in at Šibenik, then Zlarin | about 4 NM | Zlarin harbour |
| 2 | Zlarin to Skradin up the Krka river | about 11 NM | ACI Skradin |
| 3 | Skradin to Prvić Luka | about 12 NM | Prvić Luka |
| 4 | Prvić to Kaprije for lunch, then Žirje | about 15 NM | Stupica Vela, Žirje |
| 5 | Žirje to Rogoznica | about 14 NM | Marina Frapa or Rogoznica bay |
| 6 | Rogoznica to Primošten | about 5 NM | Primošten |
| 7 | Primošten back to Šibenik | about 12 NM | Marina Mandalina |
Charter weeks usually run from Saturday to Saturday, with the boat back in the marina on Friday evening and check-out on Saturday morning.
Day-by-day Šibenik sailing itinerary
Day 1: Šibenik to Zlarin, about 4 NM
Check-in usually takes most of Saturday afternoon. Shop in Šibenik before you leave: the islands on this route are small and their shops are basic. If you are on the water by late afternoon, the hop to Zlarin takes under an hour. If check-in runs late, spend the night in the marina and add this leg to day 2.
Zlarin is a quiet island village just off Šibenik, known for its red coral tradition. Islanders were famous Adriatic coral divers, and Zlarin is one of the few inhabited Adriatic islands with no cars (Zaklada za dobrobit, Zlarin visit).
Day 2: Zlarin to Skradin up the Krka, about 11 NM
This is the day the route is built around. Leave Zlarin early, pass Šibenik through the St Anthony channel (Kanal sv. Ante), cross the Šibenik bay and follow the Krka upstream to Skradin.
St Anthony channel. Yachts under 20 m may use the channel freely but must keep to the starboard side. Overtaking is prohibited except in an emergency or for safe manoeuvring, and you must avoid making wash. Anchoring is prohibited in the channel and in front of its outer entrance; boats may anchor and swim only in the channel’s side bays (HHI, Adriatic Sea Pilot II, corrections to December 2025). Ferries and large ships use the channel too, so keep a lookout and stay to the right.
Skradin. ACI Skradin is open all year and has 180 sea berths with water and electricity (Skradin tourist board). Book ahead in summer: the Croatian Hydrographic Institute noted in 2025 that the mooring buoys south-east of Skradin harbour have been removed and that anchoring there is prohibited (HHI, Adriatic Sea Pilot II). Upstream of the Skradin bridge, only national park vessels may navigate, so the yacht stays in Skradin and you continue by park boat.
In the afternoon, take the park boat to Skradinski buk, the cascade closest to Skradin (see the Krka section below for tickets). In summer, a ticket bought for after 3 pm costs €30 instead of €40 (NP Krka 2027 price list), which also leaves the morning free for the sail up the river.
Day 3: Skradin to Prvić Luka, about 12 NM
Use the morning for Skradin itself, a small town of stone lanes above the marina, then motor back down the river. Once you are clear of the channel, set sail west to Prvić.
Prvić Luka is one of the island’s two villages. Its Faust Vrančić Memorial Centre, opened in 2012, is dedicated to the Šibenik-born inventor and lexicographer best known for the parachute; his remains lie in the village church, as he wished (Vodice tourist board, Prvić). The island’s other village, Šepurine, is a short walk away.
Day 4: Prvić to Kaprije, then Žirje, about 15 NM
Sail south-west to Kaprije for a lunch stop in the village bay (expect to pay for a buoy), then continue to Žirje, the outermost island on this route. Stupica Vela, a bay near the south-east end of Žirje, has mooring buoys; expect to pay for one, as we could not find a current official price. With no town lights, this is the night for stars.
Day 5: Žirje to Rogoznica, about 14 NM
Today’s leg is the longest stretch of open water without a stop, south-east to Rogoznica, which sits in a large sheltered bay. Marina Frapa is the main marina, and the town also has a harbour. Walk to the Dragon’s Eye (Zmajevo oko), a saltwater lake in a deep hollow surrounded by cliffs, connected to the sea underground (Marina Frapa).
Day 6: Rogoznica to Primošten, about 5 NM
A short day for swimming. Primošten’s old town sits on a small peninsula joined to the mainland, with its church on the top. Moor at Marina Kremik, south of the town, or anchor off Primošten in settled weather and go ashore by dinghy.
Day 7: Primošten back to Šibenik, about 12 NM
Sail north along the coast and enter the St Anthony channel again, keeping to the starboard side. The channel passes St Nicholas Fortress, part of the Venetian Works of Defence on UNESCO’s World Heritage List since 2017; Šibenik’s Cathedral of St James has been on the list since 2000 (UNESCO, Venetian Works of Defence; UNESCO, Cathedral of St James). Most charter companies want the boat back on Friday evening with the fuel tank full, so leave time for the fuel dock.
Visiting Krka National Park from Skradin: tickets and rules for 2027
Krka charges each visitor, not each boat. The park’s 2027 price list has no fee for yachts. These are the prices for a ticket to all accessible land sites, which includes the boat between Skradin and Skradinski buk from 1 April to 31 October (NP Krka 2027 price list):
| Ticket, all land sites | Jan–Mar, Nov–Dec | Apr, May, Oct | Jun–Sep | Jun–Sep after 3 pm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adult | €7 | €20 | €40 | €30 |
| Child 7 to 18, student | €4 | €12 | €15 | €11.25 |
| Child under 7 | free | free | free | free |
For a crew of six adults in July, that is €240, or €180 if you go after 3 pm. From Skradinski buk, the park also runs boat excursions to the island monastery of Visovac (€15 per adult, about 2 hours) or Visovac and Roški slap (€20, about 4 hours), from 1 April to 31 October; they are paid on top of the entrance ticket (NP Krka 2027 price list).
The park’s rules matter on a sailing holiday (NP Krka, park rules):
- No swimming outside clearly marked swimming areas.
- No drones, no fishing and no spearguns.
- Stay on the marked trails, and do not walk on the tufa barriers.
- Dogs must be on a leash and are not allowed on Visovac.
For how Krka compares with the other parks’ fees, see our Croatia yacht charter cost guide.
Where to start: Šibenik charter bases
Marina Mandalina is the main charter base in Šibenik itself, and its fleet is close in size to Sukošan near Zadar (221 boats on SkipperCity on the same day). Several smaller bases nearby, such as Zaton, Vodice and Tribunj to the north, work just as well: the loop simply starts with a short coastal leg. Compare the boats in this area on SkipperCity’s Šibenik page.
Variations and alternatives
| If you want | Better choice |
|---|---|
| A relaxed first week, the Krka and short legs | This loop from Šibenik |
| Three or four days only | The short Šibenik and Krka loop |
| A week inside the Kornati | Our Kornati sailing itinerary from Biograd |
| Two weeks, Krka and the Kornati together | Route B of our two-week Croatia sailing itinerary |
| Vis, Hvar and the busier islands | Our 7-day sailing itinerary from Split |
Want more miles? From Žirje, the southern edge of the Kornati is within a day’s sail, so a crew that wants a longer week can add a night in the park on day 5 and come back to Primošten on day 6. You then need a Kornati ticket for the boat: see the current prices in our Kornati sailing itinerary.
Safety and practicalities
- Mooring in the island villages. Zlarin, Prvić Luka, Kaprije and Primošten have small harbours where quay space fills quickly in July and August. Arrive by early afternoon, have fenders and lines ready, and be prepared to anchor in the bay or pick up a buoy if the quay is full.
- Motoring on the Krka. You will be motoring for most of day 2, so check that cooling water is coming out of the exhaust as you leave each marina, and start the week with a full tank.
- Wind. The north-easterly bora can rise quickly on this coast, and the southerly jugo brings swell. Check the forecast every morning, especially before the open-water legs to Žirje and Rogoznica on days 4 and 5, and keep Šibenik or Skradin as a fallback. Read our guide to sailing safely in Croatia before you go.
- Shallows. The Šibenik islands are low and rocky, with many small islets and shoals. Navigate on the chart, not by eye.
- Season. June and September give warm water with fewer boats than July and August; Krka tickets drop to €20 in April, May and October. See the best time to sail in Croatia.
- Emergency. The European emergency number 112 works throughout Croatia.
Getting to the marina
Split airport is the nearest large airport to Šibenik; Zadar airport is the alternative from the north. You can book a fixed-price transfer to the marina with Welcome Pickups from Split airport or Zadar airport, which saves queuing for a taxi with a week’s luggage and provisions.
Recommended reading
- Imray’s Adriatic Pilot: Imray’s cruising guide to the Croatian and Adriatic coast, useful for planning harbours and anchorages.
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Find your boat in Šibenik
Šibenik and the nearby marinas have a large charter fleet. You can compare boats for a Šibenik charter on SkipperCity or browse catamarans for charter in Croatia; our catamaran charter guide for Croatia explains when a catamaran is worth the extra cost.
Frequently asked questions
Can you sail your own yacht to the Krka waterfalls?
No. You can sail up the Krka river as far as Skradin, but upstream of the Skradin bridge only national park vessels may navigate (HHI, Adriatic Sea Pilot II). Moor at ACI Skradin and take the park boat to Skradinski buk; it is included in the entrance ticket from April to October.
How much does Krka National Park cost for a boat crew?
The park charges per person, not per boat. In June to September 2027, an adult ticket costs €40, or €30 after 3 pm, and children aged 7 to 18 pay €15 (NP Krka 2027 price list). A crew of six adults pays €240 in July, or €180 after 3 pm.
Can you swim at the Krka waterfalls?
Only in clearly marked swimming areas: the park’s rules ban swimming anywhere else (NP Krka, park rules). Check the signs at Skradinski buk before you plan a swim there. On this route, swim at Zlarin, Žirje, Rogoznica or off Primošten instead.
Is one week enough for Šibenik and the Krka?
Yes. The loop above covers about 73 NM in a week, with a full afternoon at the Krka falls and short island legs. With three or four days, follow our shorter Šibenik loop; with two weeks, add the Kornati and the central Dalmatian islands.
Can you anchor in the St Anthony channel?
No. Anchoring is prohibited in the channel and in front of its outer entrance. Boats may anchor and swim only in the channel’s side bays, and yachts under 20 m must keep to the starboard side (HHI, Adriatic Sea Pilot II).
Sources
- NP Krka, 2027 price list and park rules, retrieved 1 November 2026.
- Croatian Hydrographic Institute (HHI), Adriatic Sea Pilot, Volume II, summary of corrections to NTM 11/2025, December 2025, retrieved 1 November 2026.
- Skradin tourist board, sailing and nautics, retrieved 1 November 2026.
- SkipperCity, boat search by base (Marina Mandalina 224 boats, Sukošan D-Marin Dalmacija 221), retrieved 31 October 2026.
- Zaklada za dobrobit, site visit to Zlarin; Vodice tourist board, Prvić; Marina Frapa, things to discover in Rogoznica, retrieved 1 November 2026.
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Cathedral of St James in Šibenik and Venetian Works of Defence.
- Distances measured by Yacht Charter Guide on OpenStreetMap coastlines (© OpenStreetMap contributors).
- Photos (all cropped, via Wikimedia Commons): cover “Primošten Croatia” by Martin Vorel, CC0; ACI marina Skradin by ristok, CC BY-SA 2.0; Skradinski buk by kallerna, CC BY-SA 4.0.
