The Krka River, with its calm flow, is ideal for boating. In the past, where there were no bridges, people and cargo were transported across the river by boat. Even today, several boathouses are preserved along the Krka, where people once stored their wooden boats. Today, the Krka River is most often used for relaxing boating, stand-up paddling, rafting, and recreational rowing.
The activities are ideal for a simple and accessible way to explore Novo Mesto from the water, especially in the warm summer months. The river’s gentle flow allows for safe recreation for individuals, families, and groups, while also offering a glimpse into the landscape in which the town has developed over the centuries. The Krka was significant even in prehistoric times, as evidenced by rich Hallstatt finds now displayed in the Dolenjska Museum. In the Middle Ages it served the town’s defence and the needs of its inhabitants, and later its banks became home to growing craft and industrial activities.
The waterside perspective is particularly interesting in Novo Mesto: from the river you gain views of the old town centre on Kapitelj, the Franciscan monastery, the Kandija Bridge, and the town’s distinctive riverbank. The water-based activities are also suitable for beginners, as the Krka is calm and easy to navigate in this part of its course.
The River Krka is entirely tranquil – a typical karst river with a slow current, more than a hundred small weirs, and stretches of shallow water. For this reason, it is not navigable for larger motor vessels, but much of its course is well suited to boating, kayaking, and paddleboarding. The most popular and straightforward sections for recreational navigation are found in its lower course, between Žužemberk, Novo Mesto, and Otočec, where the water is at its calmest and access points are the easiest.