Zadar.
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Overview

Zadar is the biggest city, cultural, economic and transit center of northern Dalmatia and the oldest continuously inhabited city in Croatia. Zadar is today one of the most popular Croatian tourist destinations, named "entertainment center of the Adriatic" by The Times and "Croatia's new capital of cool" by The Guardian in 2017.

Understand

Its Venetian city walls are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Get in

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.

You can also rent a car at Zadar airport. There are multiple car rental companies.

For taxi or pre-booked transfers are also available.

Left luggage. Storage is available at the station.

About half the buses for Zagreb pass through the stunning Plitvice National Park.

Get around

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.

Liburnija. Provides 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 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 improved during the 2010s. But still, foreign traffic participants pay more attention to cyclists than locals.

Bike Station Ullmann. 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.

Zadarski barkajoli. 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.

See

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

Crkva svetog Donata. The 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. Stošije. In 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. St. Mary also houses a museum of antique religious relics and artifacts.

Sveučilište u Zadru. The 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 Romanum. Remains 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 Vrata. Historic entrance gate to the city, built to a design by the Venetian architect Michele Sanmicheli in 1543.

Morske orgulje. This 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 Suncu. This 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. 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. 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. A collection of interactive installations and optical illusions.

Do

Chill in one of the cafes and enjoy the city, the sun, and the people. 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 on average and the sea temperature is about 25°C. 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, 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, 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.

Contemporary art and culture Zadar has been advancing its offerings in Contemporary art and culture in 2010s. With few festivals and strong dance scene it also has alternative cultural centers like Nigdjezemska and Knjigozemska (for indy and grassroot culture), as well as most recent institutional offerings in so called II Palaces (for modern-history and contemporary culture).

Buy

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

Petar Zoranić. General purpose book store, a good place to find tourist guides.

University Book Store. Book store of the university, offering a decent selection of Croatian, English and international literature.

Market Kalelarga. The only supermarket in the old town.

Eat

Crazy Pizza. The pizza is fresh and tasty, the people who serve are very nice. If you seek a quick, easy treat then get to this place. A giant pizza can feed a family of 4.

Konoba Tovar. Small tavern. Real local food. You can eat very well here. Chef and staff ensure good food and a good atmosphere.

Barbakan. Tables outside - nice atmosphere. Frequented especially in the evening by young people and adults. Good food.

Gušti. Very good pizza, quality ingredients, the dough is very soft on the inside and crispy on the outside. Great and fast service, employees speak English. Great atmosphere and kindness.

2Ribara. Small restaurant in the historic center of Zadar, 5-min walk from the Roman Forum.

Restaurant Karoca Gre. 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. 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. 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. 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.

Batak. Well presented Croatian cuisine, with some North American influences (like BBQ chicken wings). Atmosphere is very comfortable, kids welcomed and even get a toy with an order of a kids meal. Good portion sizes, kind staff. There is also a playground in front for children.

Foša. <temporarily closed> Great food and presentation. A dream atmosphere, waiters very nice and friendly. Fresh sea food from Adriatic sea. Great location. Beautiful view.

Drink

Cocktail Bar Mango. 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. A fancy open bar with a lovely view over the harbour, opened by UB40 drummer Jimmy Brown. The Garden also hosts an annual electronic music festival.

The Arsenal. A 17th-century Venetian naval warehouse, now a cool restaurant, bar and club.

Sleep

Sunset hostel. Located at the edge of town near the harbor, this small hostel offers private rooms and dorms on 2 floors. Communal kitchen, Wifi. Small courtyard, balconies.

Hotel Kolovare. The only hotel close to the city center.

Youth Hostel. Not the most romantic place, but one of the cheapest.

Villa Nico. 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.

Falkensteiner Hotel & Spa. A five-star hotel north of Zadar in Punta Skala peninsula.

Hotel Niko. 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. Hotel Bastion is a boutique hotel, built on the remains of a medieval fortress. Hotel Bastion has 28 rooms, including 5 suites.