Zadar is a wonderful little city, it was one of my favourite places in Croatia. It’s full of historic buildings, good cafes and it’s not hugely crowded.
The best place to stay is in the historic walled old town as you’ll be right in the centre of things. It’s about a 20 minute walk from the main bus station. If you do want to stay there you’ll need to book a private room or apartment as there aren’t any hotels.
The old town is very compact and its almost impossible to get lost. Grab some gelato (there are places selling it on almost every corner) and spend some time wandering around the streets.
The old town is lined with restaurants with tables set up on the street. Choose one and sit and people watch over a meal and a coffee or glass of wine.
There is also a fresh produce market just off the main square which is open every day and is good for picking up supplies if you’re staying in apartment or have access to a kitchen.
Along the waterfront are two of the cities main attractions, worth a look just for the novelty value. The first is the Sea Organ which is a series of pipes set under the water which produce haunting notes as the water rushes through them.
The other (by the same designer) is the Sun Salutation. It’s a series of brightly coloured solar panels which soak up the sun during the day to light up like a disco floor once the sun sets. Go for a stroll early evening, watch the sun set into the water and then watch the panels light up.
The mainland is connected to the old town by a bridge. If you walk across it you get a good view back over the city. Water taxis also leave from near the port (look for the small sign). For a few KN they will row you to the other side.
I was a little wary of this at first, thinking it was a bit of a tourist gimmick but some research indicated that local families have been providing this service for many years and the boat licences are handed down from father to son. I also saw more locals than tourists using the service.
Even though it isn’t a long walk I’d recommend doing it at least one way to support the local families and ensure the traditional survives.
If you’ve got more than a day in Zadar its worth taking a local ferry across to
Ugljan, the nearest island, a trip of about 25 minutes. The boats leave from the port in the old town and you can book your tickets online. On the island you’ll find beautiful beaches and restaurants dotted along the coast.
You can also hire a bike and ride around the island. If you want something more energetic there are hiking trails up into hills.
A trip to one of the local beaches near the old town is also a great way to see how the locals live. The nearest one is on the promenade about 10 minutes walk south of the Land Gate entrance to the old city. It has a salt water swimming pool and a tower from which local teenagers dive into the ocean.
There is also a little café / bar there where you can grab a coffee or a glass of wine if you need it after the heat of the city. It’s full of locals doing the same.
Other places in Croatia
If you’d like to read my posts about other places in Croatia see the following links: