Zadar Travel Guide

 
by sanda.muntean
 
  •   Zadar
    by sanda.muntean
  •   Zadar
    by AUSSIECRO
  • View of walk path toward town center
      View of walk path toward town center
    by BruceDunning
  •   Zadar
    by elae
  • The Promenade, Zadar
      The Promenade, Zadar
    by Mikebb
 

Pro

zlatoamor profile photo

 Fantastic weather, beautiful beaches in the area, nice people 


Con

zofka profile photo

 don't come here in the hope of partying 


In a nutshell

DPando profile photo

 Amazing views and full of history 

 

Explore Zadar

Things to Do  

Sea Front

Sea Front, Zadar

 solopes Says:  Not so impressive as in Trogir, Korcula or Sibenik, the approach by sea is also very interesting, without strongholds protecting the town, but with a very harmonious line of vegetation and buildings, showing that people deal well with the sea in Croatia. 

National Square

National Square, Zadar

 solopes Says:  We arrived late at Zadar, and even with a very quick visit, most monuments were seen at dusk or even at night. It's a pity! For instance, this place, with st Lawrence church, City Hall and the municipal guard headquarters, should have been visited with daylight. 

St Mary's church

St Mary's church, Zadar

 solopes Says:  Still facing the Roman Forum, this church from the 11th century, but enlarged in the 16th, has a long and interesting story, having been used as a discreet but efficient place to hide religious treasurers, during convulsive times. We had no time to enter it. 

Natural Jam Session

Natural Jam Session, Zadar

 solopes Says:  All tourists (and locals too) must go to the seaside and sit. Why? Because a local architect (Nicola Basic) constructed a set of large marble steps with holes, where the action of the waves produce musical sounds. The approach of a boat increases the sound level, that,... 

Sr Crisogono Church

Sr Crisogono Church, Zadar

 solopes Says:  One of the most remarkable examples of the combination of different monuments in one. The church was built upon the ruins of an older one, and rebuilt after being bombed in WW2, in combination with a destroyed benedictine convent in its back. Very interesting! 

Hotels  

Kolovare Hotel

 6 Reviews and 42 Opinions  This ** hotel offers you more than only ** hotels, so dont let those stars cheat you. But it is also... 

Falkensteiner Club Funimation Borik

 3 Reviews and 62 Opinions  Rooms were lovely and clean. Good buffet. Good leisure facilities for families. All inclusive was a... 

Restaurants  

Trattoria Canzona: great gnocchi here!

Trattoria Canzona: great gnocchi here!, Zadar

 picek Says:  When it was hard to find something opened on Easter Sunday for a lunch, and market was closed too, we had walked some good deal of Zadar and found Calzona, the restaurant in shades of trees and ancient homes! It rained lots, it was quite cold so we were quite lucky to find... 

Restaurant "Stomorica": traditional Dalmatian cuisine

Restaurant "Stomorica": traditional Dalmatian cuisine, Zadar

 croisbeauty Says:  Stomorica is Dalmatian tavern a very specific kind of restaurant which mainly offering traditional dishes based on seafood. It is situated in quarter of Varos which is working class ambience and so is the tavern, modest and rustical but very clean. Stomorica is in a foot... 

Transportation  

Excursion boat

Excursion boat, Zadar

 croisbeauty Says:  Excursion boats organizing daily tours to the main attractions in Zadar surroundings, such as: National Parks Kornati or Paklenica, Nature Park Telascica and islands in the archipelago aoround the town. There are dozen islands in close vicinity of Zadar and all of them are... 

Hidrofoil

Hidrofoil, Zadar

 croisbeauty Says:  Hidrofoil is very fast boat but exclusevely for passenger service only. It run from Zadar to nearby islands but as far as I know not to all of them. Therefore I suggest to check the sesonal timetable in the passenger port of Zadar. Hidrofoil is suitable to those who aren't... 

Ferry

Ferry, Zadar

 croisbeauty Says:  Jadrolinija is local Croatian company with large number of ferries and passenger boats, operating along the whole Adriatic coastline. This company has monopolistic position which is very bad, and dictating prices which are target of many complains by the clients, both local... 

Shopping  

fish market: if you didn't catch a fish, you can buy one here

fish market: if you didn't catch a fish, you can buy one here, Zadar

 picek Says:  One cannot get tired of fresh fishes. A little problem is that if you go fishing, you need to know where and when and by what... and you need a time. Plus maybe sometimes result is modest, or none at all, or you've caught something you didn't need. Anyways, for those who... 

Local Customs  

hidden inner yards

hidden inner yards, Zadar

 croisbeauty Says:  Almost every courtyard, inside of the old cores of Mediterranean cities, is hidding something valuable and worth of seeing. When strolling around be curious and do not hesitate to enter if the door is open. Remember, open door is invitation to enter, but even closed door... 

New excavations

New excavations, Zadar

 croisbeauty Says:  The town of Zadar has rich and long history which hasn't been entirely studied. Several years ago remains of the church Stomorica have been discovered only by chance. Zadar has been completely destroyed, several times in its long history, and many written documents just... 

What to Pack  

Zadar in Summer
Maria81 profile photo
Maria81 379 reviews

Luggage and bags: If you're only doing the beach holiday, a suitcase. But a daypack would be useful for side trips, such as to the Plitvice Lakes.

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: It's hot. Very hot in summer. So pack plenty of beach clothes - swimsuits, pareos, shorts, skirts, tees. Zadar has less of a posh resort feel than other Croatian locations, so there is not much need to pack the 'dress to impress' items. For Plitvice Lakes, consider comfortable walking shoes, but other than that - shorts and tees are your best bet.

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: Pack plenty of sunscreen. If you're staying out of town, as we did, best to take a few basic items with you (headache pills, band aid, etc.). Again, if you need a particular type or brand of skincare, you may want to consider bringing it with you - it may be much easier than looking for it in Zadar.

Photo Equipment: A camera and lens, as well as memory card. There's no need for particular photographic equipment in Zadar itself, but you may want to consider a wide angle lens for the Plitvice Lakes park.

Camping/Beach/Outdoor Gear: Where we stayed the beach/watersports gear was available for hire - but check with your hotel. Outdoor gear is only really necessary if you want to do hiking in the surrounding hills or in the Plitvice Lakes park. No real need for camping gear.

Written Oct 29, 2011

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Off The Beaten Path  

Kaštel & Tri bunara

Kaštel & Tri bunara, Zadar

 croisbeauty Says:  Kastel is the only what reminds after military structure built in Venetian times with the purpose to protect the port against possible invaders. It is situated right opposite to the Arsenal. Behind the Kastel is small square called Trg Tri bunara (the square of three wells)... 

Telascica II

Telascica II, Zadar

 croisbeauty Says:  Telascica is unique for its bay which is among the safest in whole of Adriatic, it is the largest havens of the Adriatic that includes 25 small bays, the rough cliffs which rising up to 161m above the sea level and falling down vertically up to 90m bellow the sea level, and... 

Telascica

Telascica, Zadar

 croisbeauty Says:  Telascica Nature Park is situated in the south-east part of island Dugi Otok. Actually, it is bay of extreme beauty surrounded by 13 islands and islets, proclaimed a Nature Park in 1988. The whole area of nature park is distinctly contrasted area with peaceful beaches and... 

have a day trip to historic Nin

have a day trip to historic Nin, Zadar

 picek Says:  Maybe it deserves extra page to build about this little historic town, nevertheless - one can have pleasant day trip to Nin while staying in Zadar over few days... and it is definitively worth to devote couple of hrs to catch some colored moments of setting sun in the walled... 

Favorites  

Crkva Svetog Šimuna

Crkva Svetog Šimuna, Zadar

 croisbeauty Says:  Although it looks alike thounands of other churches, the Church of St. Simon is very important one because it houses St. Simon's chest with the saint body and is the most valuable sample of the medieval Croatian goldsmith workmanship. The Huungarian-Croatian queen Jelisava... 

Crkva sv. Frane

Crkva sv. Frane, Zadar

 croisbeauty Says:  Saint Francis church, from 1283, is the oldest Dalmatian church built in Gothic style. This style is so-called type of Gothic monastic church characterized by single nave with a raised shrine. The church was renewed in the 18th century, completely changing appearance.The... 

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