Knin, Croatia: Things to Do, Fortress, Walks & Travel Tips

Knin is an inland town in Croatia with mountain views, rivers, hiking routes, and several interesting sights. The main attraction is Knin Fortress, with over 1000 years of history.

Knin is a great place for outdoor activities, including cycling, hiking, or river activities, as it’s surrounded by countryside. This includes walks along rivers and waterfalls, as well as some long-distance cycling routes along the river towards Krka National Park.

We visited twice and really enjoyed our stays. Once in winter and once in spring, when the weather was warmer and ideal for hiking.

Things to Do in Knin

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Throughout town, maps highlight the main attractions and best hiking routes.

Knin Fortress

Knin Fortress is the second-largest fortress in Croatia and thus a fascinating sight to visit. The fortress dates from the 9th century. However, the current layout was mostly developed during the 17th and 18th centuries. You can learn about the site’s history and defensive features when you visit.

It sits atop a hill overlooking the town and the nearby countryside, offering views of Dinara, Croatia’s highest mountain, and the impressive Krčić waterfall. The hill to the fortress is a steep walk from the centre, and the first sight is Loredanova vrata, the castle’s entrance gate.

The ground in the fortress is rough underfoot, so wear good shoes. You can access all the historic buildings throughout the fortress and explore the battlements. They have a few galleries and museums on site, which we found interesting.

As a bonus, there is a cafe/restaurant at the top for refreshments. If visiting with children, there are a few fun aspects for younger visitors.

Slap Krčić

One of the area’s top sights is Slap Krčić, a fantastic waterfall. Slap Krčić is an hour’s hike from the train station.

The walk along the banks of the river Krka is scenic. I visited the waterfall in spring when it had a powerful flow. It is tall, at 22 metres high, and the mist and noise are exhilarating. They have picnic tables, which were handy for a break.

The water flows from Dinara, Croatia’s tallest mountain, then continues downstream toward Krka National Park.

Krka River Walks

During my visit, I explored downstream from the town. The first part was near the fortress, then the countryside opened up. I found the Royal Terrace Cafe Bar at the start of the river trail, which was ideal for a pre-hike beer. There was also a children’s playground, picnic tables, and a zip line, which was closed for winter but looked like a good run across the water.

The river downstream was quiet, and not a soul was in sight, which was pleasant. The river path is a national cycling route, which I would guess is popular during the warmer months.

After you pass the shadow of the fortress, the Krka runs parallel to the river Marčinkovac, which is lovely, and there are benches. I liked exploring this section of the river at sunrise, as the views of the castle hill were good.

I followed the Marčinkovac back into town, and it is surrounded by pretty farmland. I also spotted a derelict watermill on one of the narrow channels.

Town Centre Churches and Features

Knin is small, but it has a few churches and monuments to see. The tree-lined Tuđmanova was great for a good walk for Henry, and the park at the north end had a cool Monument to King Zvonimir. Trg. dr. Ante Starčevića features a fountain and a Monument to the fallen and missing defenders.

Also on Tuđmanova were some churches to pop into: Crkva Pokrova Presvete Bogorodice, Crkva sv. Josipa and Church of Saint Anthony of Padua.

The town is also home to Kninsko pivo Brewery, a small place that is rarely open, but if it is, the local beers are nice, as we tried them at the fortress.

Knin Travel Guide

Food & Drink

There are plenty of cafe-bars and places to dine out. These serve Croatian food and beer, and we found them cheaper than on the seaside. For a special meal out, we went to Restoran Tvrđava, which is at the fortress, for a huge meat platter.

Other notable restaurants were Buffet Dinara for a cheap meal and Tri Lovca for its barbecue and spit roasts. We tried some local street food places for easy meals during our visits. Bakeries offer meals on the go or bread for sandwiches; our favourite was Mlinar in the centre.

Where to Stay?

While researching our visit, we found a few accommodation options on the Booking.com website. Our main prerequisites were price, dog-friendliness, and proximity to the railway station. We chose Lijepo uređen stan u centru grada, which exceeded these expectations, and we stayed there twice. The apartment had a good location, a comfy bed, and a lounge-kitchen combination. Checking in was easy, and we found the hosts helpful and flexible.

Getting to Knin

Knin is on the main train route between Zagreb and the Dalmatian coast. The train ride is long and slow, but very scenic. Knin is also connected by rail to Sibenik, a nearby seaside resort. Bus and coach routes also pass through Knin, which you can find on the Omio website. A Konzum supermarket is at the station, which is handy for stocking up on refreshments before onward travel.

Is Knin in Croatia Worth Visiting?

If you enjoy historic sites or nature, then Knin in Croatia is well worth visiting. I’m glad we stopped to break up the long train ride from Zagreb to Split and the return leg for a longer stay. Beyond the fortress and countryside, the town is a lovely place to spend time. It also has a range of bars and reasonably priced restaurants.