Kornati: Islands, Nature and History

Kornati combines a remarkable island world with distinctive geological formations and traces of different eras. The national park covers 218 km² and includes 89 islands, islets and rocks. Together, the islands have 238 km of coastline. These figures give you an idea of the scale of the protected area as you plan your trip; marked trails, coastal formations and historic sites each offer their own focus.

Rocky Landscapes and Marine Life

Kornati’s “crowns” are seaward cliffs that descend more than 90 metres below sea level in some places. Another geological feature is Magazinova škrila, the largest layered limestone slab in the Adriatic. The area’s natural diversity is also worth exploring underwater: Posidonia oceanica is well established and widespread in the Kornati Archipelago. Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) are also among the marine life found in the Kornati area.

Marked Trails and Water Activities

The 1.4-kilometre Trtuša interpretation trail focuses on Kornati’s geological foundations and human presence. The interpretation trail on Vela Panitula is much shorter, at 165 metres. Located at ACI Marina Piškera, it features eight information panels on the national park’s natural and cultural heritage. Access to the marina may be seasonal, so plan your visit according to current access conditions.

When hiking in the national park, you may use only trails and paths explicitly marked for that purpose. Water activities have their own rules: no special permit is required for snorkelling. Swimming is allowed in the national park, except in strictly protected zones. If both activities are important to your trip, take the different rules into account when planning.

History and Cultural Landscape

The Tureta Fortress on Kornat was probably built in the 6th century. It is the only fortress from that period on the Adriatic that has not been destroyed. At the foot of the fortress are the remains of an early Christian three-aisled basilica: much of its apse and parts of the original foundations have survived.

A Venetian fortress dating from the early 16th century stands on the small island of Vela Panitula. It was built to collect fishing taxes from Kornati’s fishermen. Another trace of the past can be found on Lavsa: at low tide, the remains of a 14th-century saltworks emerge from the sea.

The dry-stone walls are also among the national park’s defining cultural attractions. They extend for around 330 kilometres within the park. Gospe od Tarca offers another way to experience history and tradition: a mass with the blessing of the fields and the sea is held there every year on the first Sunday in July. A boat procession to Tarac follows. If you’d like to include the occasion in your trip, check the specific event arrangements.

Getting There and Choosing Your Destination

Murter is the closest departure port to the national park; Kornati can only be reached from there by boat. Operators and timetables may change, so check the current departures for your chosen route before making plans.

Explore more destinations: Murter.

Return to the main travel overview: Murter.