Are you looking for the top things to do in Zadar? Check out this travel guide and let it help you plan your trip!
This beautiful Croatian city offers travelers a chance to experience the best of what Europe has to offer, from its vibrant culture to its stunning beaches and amazing historical attractions. Whether you’re looking for an action-packed vacation, or something more relaxed and laid-back, Zadar is the perfect place. With so many things to do in Zadar, it can truly be said that this is a destination like no other.
There are plenty of sightseeing opportunities for those looking to explore the city’s rich history and culture. The old town of Zadar is home to multiple churches and monuments, such as the St. Donat Church, which was built in the ninth century, and St. Anastasia Cathedral, which dates back to the 13th century.
Also, ruins from the Roman Empire are scattered throughout the city, offering insight into what life was like in this bustling metropolis. For art lovers, there are numerous galleries showcasing modern and traditional works from local and international artists.
Adventure seekers will find plenty of exciting activities as well in Zadar! Take a boat out on one of the five nearby lakes for some delightful fishing or kayaking, head up into the mountains on guided hikes or mountain bike tours, or venture out on rafting trips down one of Croatia’s many rivers. Adrenaline junkies can also go paragliding in the nearby beautiful Paklenica National Park.
At the same time, nature enthusiasts can enjoy scenic walks through lush forests full of wildlife before finishing off with a dip at one of Zadar’s spectacular beaches. Shopping enthusiasts won’t be left out either; with an array of markets selling handmade crafts and designer items, there’s something for everyone!
The food scene in Zadar is also worth mentioning – it has something for every taste! From fresh seafood dishes served at waterfront eateries to traditional Croatian fare prepared by talented chefs at local restaurants – not forgetting all kinds of gourmet treats available at popular bars and cafes around town – your taste buds will thank you for visiting!
So if you’re looking for an unforgettable experience with loads of things to do in Zadar, then look no further – explore this incredible destination today!
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A short history of Zadar
Zadar is one of the oldest cities on the Adriatic Sea, with a history of merely 3000 years. The first one to settle in this area was Liburnians long ago, in the last millennium B.C.
The Old town was built on a small, quite tiny peninsula – it covers the surface of approximately 0,3 km2 (1000 meters long and 300 meters wide). The Old town has maintained the grid of the plan of the Roman colony; hence you probably won’t have a problem reading the city map. Romans ruled in Leader (the Roman name for the City) till the 5th century. Still, unfortunately, by the time Croatians got into the city (around the 8th c.), many monuments were destroyed, either by brutal attacks or a massive earthquake.
Starting from the year 1000, Croatians struggled a lot with Venetians who saw Zadar as a port/useful point on their way to the East. Zara (the way Venetians called it) fought back vigorously when finally, in the 15th c. Zadar and the whole of Dalmatia were sold to Venetians.
There starts the period of economic and social stagnation, where Zadar (and every other city in Dalmatia) was – in one word – a fortress, defending from Ottomans not only Venice and West Europe but also preserving Christianity over Islam.
The times under Austro Hungarians were generally a real refreshment – the Old town assured its cultural, social, and mundane status with luxurious cafes, sophisticated theaters, and beautiful open spaces for promenades.
WWII brought one of the greatest catastrophes – 60% of Old town’s surface was demolished in the bombing by the Allies. But yet, Zadar arose once again, like a phoenix from ashes. After a Yugoslav period, Zadar has finally become a city of independent Republique of Croatia.
Experiences and top things to do in Zadar
The Sea Organ and Greeting to the Sun
The two modern installations, Greeting to Sun and Sea organ, have won citizens’ and tourists’ hearts and minds. Architect Nikola Bašić conceived the “sisters” installations in 2005. Those are a tribute to the sunset, nature, beauty, and force.
Greeting to Sun represents a solar system on the pavement, and the circles for Sun and planets are equipped with photovoltaic modules that absorb solar energy. Only after the sunset do they begin to produce a light of incredible nuances and rhythm that reminds a lot of waves making an unforgettable experience.
You can find the Sea organ a few steps from Greeting to Sun. Its uniqueness and beauty will call you, again and again, to come, sit there on the steps, relax and enjoy. The sea organ is 70 meters long, and part of the waterfront consisted of steps that slightly descend to the sea. Below these steps, you can find pipes – the music depends on the currents of waves and their strength.
If you don’t believe me, I guess a word from the world-famous Alfred Hitchcock should convince you – “Zadar has the most beautiful sunset in the world, more beautiful than the one in Key West, in Florida.” If you visit Zadar tourist attractions during the summer, you should take your place on time to admire the sunset and enjoy the miracle of sea music because it can get crowded.
Where to stay in Zadar? Check out these hotels and find great deals!
Book this unique experience: Plitvice Lakes National Park Tour from Zadar
Roman Forum
The biggest Forum on the Eastern coast, Forum in Zadar, had been built from the 1st B.C. to 3rd B.C. Unfortunately, we can admire it only from a scheme you can find near the Forum. Today you can see the original pavement, foundations of taverns, and fragments of ancient architecture.
Where to stay in Zadar? Check out these hotels and find great deals!
Church of St. Donat
Placed on the pavement of the ancient Forum, the church re-used the fragments of the Romans’ main square. It’s a city symbol; you should visit the medieval church inside (paying entrance) and realize its greatness.
In the beginning, consecrated to Holy Trinity, after the 15th c., it was named after Bishop Donat, who gave it built in the 9th c. Deconsecrated in the 18th c, today usually, concerts are held because of their outstanding acoustic characteristics.
Where to stay in Zadar? Check out these hotels and find great deals!
Book this unique experience: 5-Hour Canoe or Kayak Trip in Kaštel Žegarski in Zrmanja
Are you planning your travels? Here’re my top travel resources!
I’m a serial planner both in life and in travel – I have bucket lists, things to do, see, and everything. So, I always love when my life is sorted easily using tools and resources that would make my general planning a little smoother and easier. Therefore, in my many years of traveling the world, I’ve seen myself returning to these travel resources repeatedly. And here I am, sharing my tips to make your life easy and breezy so you can stress less, travel heaps, and focus on the fun part of travel!
- Booking.com – I book all my hotels through this website and don’t honestly use anything else. They always have the best prices, in my opinion.
- Airbnb – If I’m traveling long-term to one destination, I book my flats through Airbnb.
- Skyscanner – The best place to find cheap flights on flexible dates. I use this a lot to score cheap flights within Europe!
- SafetyWing – Always travel insured! Never leave your home country without one. It is worth the extra money, I promise you!
- GetYourGuide – Hands-down, the best place to find cool and unique tours if you don’t feel like winging it, and go straight to a local expert. I use this a lot in new destinations to get acquainted with the area!
- My Pretty Wild World Travel Diary (coming soon) – A book you can write down your travel plans, create itineraries, track down your budget, and dot down memories along the way! A handy book you can keep and read later to revisit memory lane.
- Pretty Wild World Travel Planning Printables (coming soon) – Are you a nut like me when it comes to planning? Yes? Good. My travel planning resource in one zip file is an easy-to-use printable planner that comes with tips that helps you plan your travels during the planning stage, a pre-flight checklist, an itinerary planner, and so on.
Cathedral and a view from the bell tower
Consecrated to St Stosija (Anastasia – one of the City’s patron saints), it is the largest cathedral in Dalmatia. On that site, an early Christian basilica stood, which kept broadening over centuries till it finally gained its actual size in the 13th c. in Romanesque style. Plain yet majestic, its interior evokes particular serenity.
For those who aren’t afraid of heights, I recommend checking out the view over the Old town from the bell tower.
Where to stay in Zadar? Check out these hotels and find great deals!
Church and especially the sarcophagus of St. Simon
St. Simon, the most popular saint in Zadar, found his shelter here. Literally. The silver sarcophagus contains the remains of the Saint; that way, numerous Christians come every year to celebrate the Holy Mass; they witness the opening of the chest and pray to their patron.
As Queen Elizabeth did, the legend says, in the 14th c. when she gave the sarcophagus to be made, praying to have at least one son who would continue the family name. It is an extraordinary piece of medieval art with sophisticated details and, at the time, high-quality representations of some parts of the City.
Where to stay in Zadar? Check out these hotels and find great deals!
Check out this amazing tour: Full-Day Sailing Trip to Kornati in Zadar
Kalelarga and the Main Square
Well, what’s there to say? Anyone who wants to see and be seen, don’t miss this promenade on the most important street of Zadar. Kalelarga (Calla Larga = broad, wide street) was traced on the same position and direction (E – W) by Romans and remained the road that divides the peninsula into two practically equal parts throughout the centuries.
So, take your time, and walk by the modern shops and cafes on Kalelarga till you arrive at the Main Square. You can admire two Venetian buildings from the 16th c., one facing another. Or, enter the cafe “Lovro” where you’ll find a small church dating from 11th c. (yes, a church within a cafe! And no, it’s not common for Croatians to build churches in cafes. It’s just a cute story).
Where to stay in Zadar? Check out these hotels and find great deals!
Hold up! Have you thought about the importance of travel insurance?
Remember this: anything can happen. Travel is fun, but your health is more important; thus, I always, always, always recommend getting insured during the duration of your trip. I have benefitted from having one multiple times, and it has been covered for thousands of euros!
The latest one is not necessarily “health” related – it was during the peak of the unspeakable terrible C that consumed the world. I was living in Vietnam when I received an email from SafetyWing (my travel insurance) that if I want they’ll fly be back home to Finland as the world goes through a global emergency alert. I flew back fully covered, and dealing with SafetyWing was a breeze despite the roar of people in contact with them trying to get back home.
I can’t highly recommend them enough. Otherwise, I rarely get sick; hence I don’t always need to head to a hospital, but knowing that I have travel insurance makes me feel safe at the very least.
Read my post about why you should get travel insurance for more information. Otherwise, you can get a free quote from SafetyWing – they’re the best, in my opinion.
Museum of Ancient Glass
The recently opened museum has, without bragging, the most fabulous collection of ancient glass in this part of Europe. It’s housed in a palace that dates from the 19th c., right on the eastern part of the City walls, and offers a unique experience to visitors.
It guides you through the history of glassmaking with all kinds of ancient glass tools buried in their funeral rituals: from bottles, jugs, cups, and plates to jewelry and cosmetics accessories that were once part of Roman day-to-day life. Two words: mind-blowing!
Where to stay in Zadar? Check out these hotels and find great deals!
Book this unique experience: Full-Day Ugljan Self-Guided Bike Tour from Zadar
“Friday live” at small restaurants in Varoš
You must eat at this restaurant, especially after visiting all the things to do in Zadar. Eventually. So why not visit the part of the Old town named Varos, where you’ll find cozy restaurants with typical Dalmatian food. The gastronomy in Zadar is Mediterranean style: seafood (fish, shell, octopus), lots of olive oil, vegetables, wine, goat, and sheep cheese. Joined by traditional music on Friday nights (during summer) is an exquisite experience that most tourists wish to repeat.
Where to stay in Zadar? Check out these hotels and find great deals!
Maraschino
Still in gastronomy and not to miss – Zadar has a fantastic liqueur made of cherries. Still, extraordinary ones that grow in the hinterland of Zadar, and cause of the specific weather conditions, contain more bitterness and are called Maraska. Maraschino has a long tradition, and quite fascinating history – lots of European courts had it delivered, and supposedly it was found on the Titanic.
Where to stay in Zadar? Check out these hotels and find great deals!
What are my favorite travel must-haves?
As a frequent traveler, I’ve learned a lot throughout my years of travel, and there are five items that I always carry with me regardless of where I go and how long the trip is. Here are my five travel must-haves!
- Warm packable jacket – I always carry a light jacket, even when heading to warm countries. There hasn’t been a time I never used it, especially in airports and planes.
- Transparent toiletry bag – I often bring a carry-on if I’m only traveling within Europe for a few days. Life is so much easier to go through security checks with a transparent toiletry bag.
- Kindle Paperwhite – I love a good read and always take my Kindle everywhere. It keeps me entertained during long flights and waiting times.
- Powerbank – I don’t know how I could travel without one! Having a power bank saved me a ton since I carry a lot of electronic devices with me.
- Travel Adapter – I never leave my luggage without a travel adapter! I carry one with me all the time. It is just one of that travel-must haves that doesn’t hurt to have in your bag at all times.
Foša
Foša, or the Land Gate, is the most magnificent monument that Venetians left on our coast. Dating from the 16th c., at a time, it was the only entrance in the city by the land.
The most beautiful view you can catch is from the park of Queen Jelena, right on the side of this outstanding monument. It’s also pleasing to see the whole eastern part of Great City’s preserved walls.
Where to stay in Zadar? Check out these hotels and find great deals!
Book this unique experience: Private Walking Tour Through 3,000 Years of History in Zadar
Planning to visit Croatia? Check out these posts!
- Croatia Points of Interests: Castles to visit, Places to visit
- Split Travel Guide: Things to do, Day trips, Split to Krka National Park
- Zagreb Travel Guide: Things to do, Day trips
- Dubrovnik Travel Guide: Things to do, Day trips
- National Parks to visit: Plitvice National Park
- Other Places to Visit: Istria, South Dalmatia, Zadar, Split
Where to stay in Zadar
Booking.comTours to do in Zadar
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