National park in Dalmatia – Šibenik
Kornati
- Best time to go
- May, June, Sept
- Part of
- Dalmatia – Šibenik
Kornati is the densest group of islands in the Adriatic, a maze of bare, pale islands, islets and reefs off the coast of Šibenik and Zadar.
The islands have almost no trees and no permanent villages, only dry stone walls, old olive groves and stone cottages used by their owners in summer. The seaward cliffs, called crowns, drop straight into the open sea, and the water around them is very clear. It is a place for boat days, swimming in empty bays and fish lunches in small konobas.
Things to do
Don't miss in Kornati
- Spend a day on a boat trip through the islands, with stops to swim in quiet bays.
- Look at the crowns, the steep white cliffs on the seaward side of the outer islands.
- Walk up a hill on Kornat, the largest island, for a view over dozens of islands at once.
- Have grilled fish or lobster at one of the seasonal konobas in the bays.
- Snorkel in the clear water around the rocks and islets.
- Combine your trip with Telašćica Nature Park on Dugi Otok, right next door.
- Sail through the islands on your own boat and anchor overnight in a bay.
Where to stay
Pick your neighbourhood
Murter
the closest base, with many boat trips and the families who own most of the land on the islands
Vodice
a lively beach town with plenty of day trips and nightlife
Biograd na Moru
families and sailors, with a big marina and trips that often combine Kornati with Telašćica
A konoba on the islands
sailors who want to spend the night in a bay, as some islands have seasonal konobas with moorings
Tours and getting around
Day trips from Kornati
Boat trips to Kornati leave in season from Murter, Vodice, Biograd, Zadar and Šibenik, and many include lunch on board and swimming stops. Some combine Kornati with Telašćica Nature Park. Check whether the park entry ticket is included in the price.
Boats are what you need here. In Murter, Biograd and the other marinas you can charter a sailing boat or rent a smaller motorboat, with or without a skipper. On land, a car helps you reach Murter and the marinas.
Getting there
How to get to Kornati
Kornati is a group of 89 islands, islets and reefs out at sea between Zadar and Šibenik, and the only way in is by boat. There is no ferry line. Most visitors come on a day trip from Murter, which is the closest base and is joined to the mainland by a bridge, or from Vodice, Biograd, Zadar and Šibenik. If you sail your own or a rented boat, you pay a park entry fee for the boat. Check opening hours, ticket prices and any visitor limits on the park's official website before you go, as they change with the season.