Zadar

In 2016 Zadar won a contest for the European Best Destination. Its Venetian city walls are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Tourist information

• Turistička zajednica Grada Zadara

  address: Mihovila Klaića 1

By plane

• Zračna luka ZadarThe airport shares its airfield with military. It used to be a civic road crossing its taxi lanes, so the traffic was regulated by lifting gates, but it doesn't seem the case anymore. Nevertheless it's an international airport with flights by Croatia Airlines, Eurowings, Ryanair, and few others; various charters in season.

Ground transportation

• Airport shuttleThe bus runs to the city's bus station and then continues up to the bus hub at the old town.

Buses run to the Central bus station and Old town from Zadar airport terminal. These buses are clean, comfortable and efficient. Buses run in conjunction with arriving flights. Therefore they will run more frequently during weekdays than at weekends, as more flights are arriving at the airport. However, at weekends it is still possible to catch a bus. The airport bus costs 25 kn.
You can also rent a car at Zadar airport. There are multiple car rental companies.
For taxi or pre-booked transfers are also available.

By bus

• Autobusni kolodvor Zadar

  phone: +385 23 211555
  Frequent buses run to and from Zagreb (3hr 30 min), Rijeka (change for Trieste in Italy), Pula, Sibenik, Split and on to Dubrovnik, some services to destination in Germany. In the season daily buses to Banja Luka in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Left luggageStorage is available at the station.

About half the buses for Zagreb pass through the stunning Plitvice National Park.
Eurobusways runs buses from Budapest to Zadar from door to door.

By train

• Kolodvor Zadar

  address: Ante Starčevića 3
  A few slow trains a day run to Knin and connects with trains for Zagreb (5.5 hours or 8.5 with overnight trains) and Split (3.5 hr).

Virtually nobody uses this train to get to these cities. The train to Knin is just of one carriage with no A/C and can be quite uncomfortable, however the scenery is beautiful and will leave you in wonder at the numerous stations which appear to be in the middle of nowhere.

By boat

• Long distance ferries

  address: Istarska obala
  Jadrolinja runs large ferries every few days up and down the coast between Dubrovnik and Rijeka, stopping off at ports including Zadar and islands on the way. They also run almost daily ferries in summer to and from Ancona, Italy.

• Local ferries

  address: Liburnska obala
  Zadar is a hub for local boats and hydrofoils in Northern Dalmatia. Services run to and from Olib, Mali Losinj, Ugljan, Dugi Otok, Premuda and others. Timetables and prices are available online from Jadrolinija.

On foot

The centre is easy enough to get around on foot. To reach the bus and train stations or Youth Hostel you will probably need to catch one of the frequent local buses, which are the only form of public transportation.

By bus

• LiburnijaProvides local bus services in the city. Buses are relatively new and well maintained.

Virtually all the routes have a stop at the Autobusni kolodvor (Bus station). In the newer part of the city there is another popular bus stop: – at the a post office at the crossroads of Ul. Josipa Jurja Strossmayera and Ul. Stjepana Radića.
Single tickets can be bought either at the driver or at Liburnija kiosk at a bus stop. Double ride tickets, sold individually or bound into a carnet of 10 (so for 20 rides) are available at newsstand (Tisak) kiosks.
Buses are usually scheduled from early morning (05:30 - 06:30) and finishing just before the midnight, so plan your trips accordingly.

By bicycle

The cycling infrastructure is getting better during the recent years. But still, foreign traffic participants pay more attention to cyclists than locals.

Bicycle service

• Bike Station Ullmann

  phone: +385 23 244 010
  address: Blaža Jurišića 1, 23000 Zadar
  They work primarily with quality products you hardly find elsewhere in Croatia. When it comes to Rohloff, SON/Schmidt and mobile power supplies, Bike Station Ullmann are the specialists in Croatia. First address for bicycle tourists and mountain bikers.

By taxi

The main taxi ranks in Zadar are located at the following locations:

• Autobusni kolodvor (Bus station)
• Ferry quay at the Liburnska obala in the old town (near the bus stop), tel. +385 (0)23 251 400
• Obala kneza Branimira at the opposite end of the bridge across the Jazine bay

By boat

• Zadarski barkajoli

  phone: +385 95 802 6134
  A small rowing boat makes regular trips between the old town and the breakwater at the other side of the harbour. The boat is 10.5 meters long, 1.76 m wide, capacity: 10 passengers. These days it's mostly a tourist attraction.

Walk around the atmospheric streets of the old town, located on the peninsula. There are 34 old churches situated on the peninsula, and all of them with a very rich history. The oldest is St. Simeon (Sv. Šime).

• Crkva svetog DonataThe church is one of the best preserved pre-Romanesque buildings in the world. It is pretty difficult to miss, as it has become the most recognizable symbol of Zadar. The church is no longer in use for religious ceremonies, and today is a museum. It also holds a series of classical music concerts every summer.

• Katedrala sv. StošijeIn the cathedral there is an impressive organ that was nearly destroyed in the last war. Climb up the bell tower for a nice view over the city. The bell tower's entrance is separate from the rest of the cathedral.

• St. Mary & St. Simeon

  address: Trg Šime Budinica
  St. Mary also houses a museum of antique religious relics and artifacts.

• Sveučilište u ZadruThe university in its current modern form was refounded in 2002, but it was founded 1396, which makes it the oldest university in Croatia, and one of the oldest universities in Europe.

• Forum RomanaRemains of the Roman forum - One of the best preserves Roman forums in existence. This is a common place for locals to stroll, sit down among the ruins and enjoy a nice summer day.

• Kopnena VrataHistoric entrance gate to the city, built to a design by the Venetian architect Michele Sanmicheli in 1543.

• Morske orguljeThis man-made organ works with the motion of the waves and 35 pipes to create a musical soundscape. A favorite for locals and tourists alike, and accompanied by a light display that creates visualisations of the sounds being produced by the organ.

• Pozdrav SuncuThis monument of a 22-meter diameter circle made of 300 multi-layered glass plates. It represents the sun. There are 8 similar proportionate (in size and distance) circles representing the 8 planets. The circles are illuminated at night.

• Arheološki Muzej

  phone: +385 23 250 516
  address: Trg Opatice Čike, 23000
  Houses artifacts that testify to Zadar's long and rich history. The third floor covers prehistory up until Roman times. The second floor covers Roman times and the first floor covers post-Roman periods.

• Muzej antičkog stakla

  phone: +385-23 36 38 33
  address: Poljana Zemaljskog Odbora 1
  Covers the history of glass, from early glass jewelry and decorative items, to Roman era amphorae and bottles, up to contemporary glass art. Live glass blowing demonstrations are also given before 16:00.

• Muzej Iluzija

  phone: +385 23 316 803
  address: Poljana Zemaljskog Odbora 2
  A collection of interactive installations and optical illusions.

• Crkva Svetog Krševana

• Sveta Marija

  address: Madijevaca ul. 10

• Samostan Sv. Frane

  phone: +385 23 250 468
  address: Trg Sv. Frane 1

• Relax in one of the cafes and enjoy the city, the sun, and the people.
• Swim, Take a dip in the beautiful clear waters. It's quite common to see people sunbathing and swimming along virtually the entire coast of Zadar. The most popular beaches are:

• Kolovare, Situated close to the city centre, a favorite for locals.

• Borik, A massive hotel complex hosting numerous activities such as parasailing, water slides and other activities.

• Vitrenjak, Located close to Zadar's sailing club, Uskok. A beach frequented by mostly families. In the nearby sailing club you can find a lovely open terrace cafe offering refreshments and food.

Walk, Take a stroll along the paved seafront on a summer evening for one of the best sunsets in Europe and listen to the relaxing sounds of the rather original 'sea organ' set into the harbour wall.

Sail, If you wish to spend your holidays on a yacht charter, Zadar has a lot to offer.The best season for sailing is early summer with good S/SE winds in May and June, while the winds during July and August are generally calmer. Summer temperatures are 26-30°C in average and the sea temperature is about 25°C.

Adventure Driven Vacations

phone: +385912539025

address: Zadar Airport

Provides skydiving, sea kayaking and rock climbing tours in the Zadar area.

Zadar Day Trips

phone: +385 91 225 5323

Provides several boat tours of nearby islands.

Zadar has 2 major shopping areas: the old town with its numerous shops, and the Voštarnica commercial district.

• Petar Zoranic

  address: Knezova Šubića Bribirskih 10
  General purpose book store, a good place to find tourist guides.

• University Book Store

  phone: +385 23 200 555
  address: Ul. Ruđera Boškovića 5
  Book store of the university, offering a decent selection of Croatian, English and international literature. Tourist guides for Croatia available for 100 kn.

• 2Ribara

  phone: +385 23 213 445
  address: Ul. Blaža Jurjeva 1
  Small restaurant in the historic center of Zadar, 5-min walk from the Roman Forum. Decent food for a fair price.

• Hungry Eyes

  phone: +385 23 213 992
  address: Sutomiska 3
  Specialized in grilled meat and fish. Large portions, fast service, competitive prices. Suitable for large groups and lunch or dinner with kids. Outside the old town, reachable by public transport (bus 8 Diklo - Kolodvor).

• Mijo

  phone: +385 23 332 728
  address: Ul. Tina Ujevića 28
  Italian restaurant specialized in sea food, pizzas and pasta. Outside the old town, but close to a Borik. A romantic restaurant offering dining inside and outside, great for couples but not for families with kids. Large portions for fair prices.

• Papica

  phone: +385 23 312 957
  address: Veslačka ul. 2
  Specializes in quality burgers served with fries, but with a Mediterranean flavor. Quick service, no-nonsense. Suitable for families with kids. Easily reachable by public transport (bus 8 direction Diklo).

• Kornat

  phone: +385 23 254 501
  address: Liburnska Obala 6
  Upscale Croatian Mediterranean cuisine, high prices. Making a reservation is necessary. Next to a busy road, so not recommendable if you're looking to dine outside.

• Cocktail Bar Mango

  phone: +385 91 734 0769
  address: Krešimirova Obala 12
  Lounge bar with a view over the bay. Large selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Comes to life in the early evening, only during the busy summer months.

• The Garden

  phone: +385 23 25 06 31
  address: Liburnska obala 6
  A fancy open bar with a lovely view over the harbour, opened by UB40 drummer James Brown. The Garden also hosts an annual electronic music festival.

• The Arsenal

  phone: +385 23 253 820
  address: Trg tri bunara 1
  A 17th-century Venetian naval warehouse, now a cool Restaurant-Bar-Club.

Budget

• Hotel Kolovare

  phone: +385 23 211 017
  address: Bože Peričića 14
  The only hotel close to the city center.

• Youth Hostel

  phone: +385 23 331145
  address: The Obala kneza Trpimira 78
  Not the most romantic place, but one of the cheapest.

• Hostel Ljepotica

  phone: +385 23-224-840
  address: Obala kneza Branimira 10A
  Cheap hostel close to the city center.

• Villa Nico

  phone: +385 23 337 540
  address: Krešimirova Obala 138
  A small family-run hotel and restaurant at the sea side, halfway between Borik and Diklo. Bus stop of line 8 is 50 m away from the hotel. Fair prices, friendly service.

Splurge

• Falkensteiner Hotel & Spa

  phone: +385 23 500 901
  address: Falkensteiner Hotels & Residences Punta Skala
  Falkensteiner Hotel & Spa is a five-star hotel, located north of Zadar in Punta Salka peninsula.

• Hotel Niko

  phone: +385 23 337 880
  address: Obala kneza Domagoja 98, HR-23000 Zadar
  Hotel Niko is 3.5 km from Zadar city centre. It offers a panoramic view of the old town of Zadar. It has 15 stylish and comfortable rooms.

• Hotel Bastion

  phone: +385 23 49 49 50
  address: Bedemi zadarskih pobuna 13, HR-23000 Zadar
  Hotel Bastion is a boutique hotel, built on the remains of a medieval fortress. Hotel Bastion has 28 rooms, including 5 suites.

• Free WifiDeployed at the centre of the city. SSID: Grad_Zadar_Free

• Dugi Otok – for its beautiful landscape, salt lake and donkeys at the Telašćica Nature Park
• Šibenik for the World Heritage listed Cathedral of St. Jacob
• Krka National Park where you can explore the breathtaking scenery and swim close to the waterfalls
• Kornati National Park – a national park of more than 80 islands where you can find peace and quiet
• Hike and climb in the Paklenica National Park
• Visit the stunning waterfalls and lakes of the Plitvice National Park