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Per person in euros: cheapest direct return flight for 2 to 4 nights. Select a month for flight times, hotels and things to do.

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Discover Zadar

Church of St. Donatus, Zadar
Church of St. Donatus
Zadar Cathedral, Zadar
Zadar Cathedral

City guide

About Zadar

Zadar sits along the northern Dalmatian coast of Croatia, built across a narrow limestone peninsula surrounded by the sapphire Adriatic Sea. The city boasts a three-thousand-year heritage showcased in Roman forum stones, early medieval basilicas, and mighty Venetian fortifications.

Beyond its historic treasures, Zadar is celebrated for modern waterfront installations: the Sea Organ, where underwater pipes play ethereal music driven by ocean waves, and the Greeting to the Sun solar monument. Filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock famously praised Zadar's waterfront sunset as the most captivating in the world.

Best time to go
May, June, and September are the optimal months: endless sunshine, balmy sea breezes, and far fewer crowds than peak July and August. Temperatures during late spring and early autumn range from 22 to 26 degrees Celsius, ideal for both sightseeing and boat excursions to the Kornati archipelago or Krka waterfalls.
From the airport
Zadar Airport (ZAD) is situated in Zemunik Donji, about 8 kilometers east of the city. The Liburnija airport bus meets scheduled flights and reaches the central bus terminal and Old Town peninsula (Poluotok) in 20 minutes. A licensed taxi or rideshare costs approximately 18 to 25 euros.
Getting around
The historic old town is completely pedestrianized and best discovered on foot. For generations, traditional rowers called the Barkajoli of Zadar have ferried foot passengers across the harbor inlet between the peninsula and the mainland in two minutes. Local Liburnija buses connect easily to beach areas like Borik.

What to see in Zadar

  • Sea Organ (Morske orgulje)An acclaimed architectural installation by Nikola BaÅ¡ić on the stone quay, using subterranean pipes and ocean swells to compose haunting musical chords.
  • Greeting to the Sun (Pozdrav Suncu)A 22-meter solar glass circle on the waterfront that absorbs daylight and casts an animated color light show across the promenade after dark.
  • Church of St. Donatus and Roman ForumA grand circular ninth-century pre-Romanesque church constructed with ancient Roman columns salvaged from the adjacent first-century imperial forum.
  • Venetian Defensive Walls and Land GateUNESCO-listed sixteenth-century bastion fortifications featuring the ornate Land Gate adorned with the Venetian winged lion of Saint Mark.

Neighbourhoods

  • Poluotok (The Peninsula)The pedestrian core packed with polished marble flagstones, Roman ruins, People's Square (Narodni trg), and the scenic seafront promenade Riva.
  • Borik and DikloCoastal districts north of the center known for pebble coves, fragrant pine groves, chilled cocktail lounges, and waterfront guesthouses.
  • VoÅ¡tarnicaThe residential district just across the harbour channel, accessible via the footbridge or rowboats, offering authentic neighborhood bakeries and wine bars.

Food and drink

Feast on grilled sea bass or sea bream dressed with local olive oil and garlic, black squid risotto (crni rižot), and slow-cooked peka (meat or octopus roasted beneath an iron dome). Sample sharp Paški sir cheese from nearby Pag island and finish with Maraschino, Zadar's signature liqueur crafted from native sour cherries.

Questions about Zadar

Can you swim right in Zadar city center?

Yes, locals and visitors leap straight into the clear sea from the stone steps of the Riva and near the Sea Organ. For a pebble beach with amenities, Kolovare Beach is a short walk south.

What national parks are easy to reach from Zadar?

Zadar is the premier gateway for boat day trips to the Kornati archipelago, canyon hiking in Paklenica National Park, and scenic walks among the cascading waterfalls of Krka.

Month by month breakdown

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