Zadar Travel Guide
Zadar is a coastal city in Croatia, known for its beautiful sunsets, the old town of Zadar is a great place to visit. Yet the historical part is quite small and mixed with a more modern city. It is different from other old towns of Croatia and much more modern as it is bigger.
We visited Zadar in August 2021 on a Road trip from Plitvice to Split.
We spent a couple of hours there before heading out. Here is what we discovered.
Table of Contents
Mapping the day
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Getting there
If you are coming by car, you can easily park in Zadar, a great and cheap parking is the one called [P] ZADAR PARKING located Ravnice 2, 23000, Zadar, Croatia
If you are flying to Zadar, the airport is well connected and has airport buses every 30min.
The last option would be to come by bus.
Moving Around
Once in the city center you can simply move around Zadar on foot. All attractions are nearby one another.
When to Visit
The best time to visit Zadar is from April to October. Though it is good to know that July and August are the warmest month as well as the most crowded.
The best recommendation would be June or September when you get into the lower tourism season and out of the peak temperatures.
Where to Stay
We didn’t stay overnight in Zadar but if we would have :
Things to do In Zadar
The Land/sea Gate & City wall
Zadar is known for never falling to the Ottomans during their conquests. The city defense system was made by the Venetians around 1500s and consist of a series of walls and gates.
The Five Wells Square
Made to supply the city with water in case of attacks. Those 5 wells are connected to a cistern underneath.
Crkva sv. Šimun
Also known as St. Simeon’s Church, this place is known for what it is hiding within its wall, the chest of St. Simeon. A wooden sarcophagus covered in silver and gold, boasting crazy detailed reliefs and inscriptions that seem to defy what people thought was possible in that age.
People's Square
The main square in the old town, filled with restaurants and shops, it is the heart of the city.
Crkva sv. Donat
Also known as the Church of St Donatus, this byzantine church was built in 800 and remains in an almost perfect state of preservation. Nowadays, the church is a venue for music events. We couldn’t visit it during our trip there as it was being renovated.
Roman Forum
The Roman forum of Zadar, or at least what is least of it is the largest one in the Adriatic. It was constructed under Emperor Augustus at the turn of the 1st century. After being bombed in the Second World War the space was cleared and by the 60s the forum began to take shape once more.
St. Mary’s Church
This Benedictine Monastery was founded in the 11th century. After being damaged during WWII like the Roman forum it was renovated and today looks amazing. A permanent exhibition of Religious Art is held in it.
Cathedral of St. Anastasia
One of the best things to do in Zadar to get an amazing panorama is to visit this place. Built in the 1100s on the site of an old Christian Basilica, its bell tower can be visited and walk up to have a 360° view of Zadar.
Sea Organ & Greeting of the Sun
At the end of the waterfront, all the way to the end of the old town’s peninsula is the sea Organ, an award-winning monument. The sea organ is a series of large marble steps leading down to the water, and beneath each platform is a tube that creates a musical note generated by the power of the waves that break underneath.
Next to it is the Greeting of the Sun, made of photovoltaic cells that absorb the suns ray during the day and then releases it in a vivid graphical display as it starts to get dark.
Queen Jelena Madijevka Park
This Park is the biggest greenery area near the old town. Dating back from 1829 by the Austrian commander, Governor Baron Franz Ludwig von Welden who was a nature lover. Designed as a romantic garden but unfortunately damaged in WWII.
Itinerary
As we only visited this town for a few of hours, we do not really have an itinerary. Just strolling around the old town is enough to see everything is a few hours.
Žuri polako
‘Hurry slowly’: More speed, less haste.
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