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How to Get to Zadar
Zadar is easily accessible by land, air, and water. There are plenty of buses, cheap airlines, and ferries going from many destinations in the country. We took a bus from Trogir to Zadar for 73 Kuna per person. I bought the tickets at the bus station in Trogir, right after we have arrived.
Top 12 Things to Do in Zadar, Croatia
Some of the most important Zadar attractions are located in its Old Town, accessible by a pedestrian bridge from the ‘modern’ part of the city. The area is quite big and unlike Split or the island cities, you’ll need a day, or even a two to get a real feel of Zadar.
Cross the doomed bridge to access the Old Town
As I said above, the Old Town of Zadar is accessible by a pedestrian bridge. However, that’s not the original one. The first bridge of the city was built in 1928 but the devastating events of World War II destroyed it.
In its place, the local authorities built a temporary floating bridge anchored on brass barrels. Strong winds made it hard to cross the bridge so in 1962 a new bridge was constructed – 152 meters long and six meters wide. This is the one that adorns the city today.
Admire the People’s Square
People’s Square has been the center of the city for decades. Even today, it’s a meeting point for many locals and public events. Admire the clock tower that has been there since 1803.
Right in front of the clock tower, you’ll see a copy of the electric light bulbs that illuminated the city on New Year’s Eve in 1894.
Wander through the ancient ruins
The Roman Forum is one of the iconic Zadar attractions that bring many tourists to the spot. Here, you can stroll through the ancient ruins of the old city dating back to Roman rule.
Sit down at a nearby chair and take in the history and if you are up for it even visit the nearby St. Donat’s Church and hike up the Bell Tower for the panoramic views of the city.
Visit one of the most beautiful town gates
One of the things to do in Zadar is to visit the Land Gate, located at the Fosa port. The gate was built by Venetians in 1543 and was the only entry to the city. It was immediately valued as luxurious and one of the noblest monuments that Venice gave the Dalmatia region.
Stroll down in the first public garden in Croatia
Right next to the Land Gate, there’s Queen Jelena Madijevka Park, the first public city garden in Croatia opened in 1829. You can come here to relax, sit down in a cafe, or just walk around, so make sure you include it in your list of Zadar attractions
Visit the Five Wells Square
Other iconic things to do in Zadar include exploring the Five Wells Square. As the name suggests, the square features five wells lined in a row. In the Middle Ages, there was a protective channel below the old city walls. In the 16th century, the Venetians helped the city to face Turkish attacks by creating a large water tank with five beautiful wellheads. Unfortunately, the wells are not used today, they are just a tourist attraction.
See the Sphinx statue
Looking for an unusual and hidden Zadar attractions? Then Sphinx is your answer. Built not by the Ancient Egyptians but a local artist in 1918 after the death of his beloved wife as a memorial to her, the statue is very different from the Egyptian culture. It’s made of concrete and has fingers instead of paws.
Drink locally produced liqueur
One of the things to do in Zadar is to try its locally produced liqueurs which gained a world recognition back in the day. In 1857 there were 18 distilleries that produced more than 35 different types of liqueurs in the city! We have tried several from the Makarska brand and they were exceptionally tasty. If not the luggage limit, we would have brought a box.
Watch the sunset and listen to the Sea Organ
Interested in how the sea can play music with its waves? Then you should definitely come to Zadar. The first time I have heard about the Sea Organ on social media, I knew I had to see it with my own eyes. It’s such a unique and interesting creation that has become one of the most iconic Zadar attractions.
How it works you may ask? Well, the waves push air through 35 underwater pipes that stretch across 70 meters, and the sound pops-up along a small part of the promenade. Sit here after a long walk within the old town of the city, bring a snack, a bottle of local wine, and enjoy the sunset and the music nature plays for you. However, do note that all of the tourists want to do the same, so to secure a spot come here early.
Greet the Sun
When the sun vanishes on the horizon and the day becomes darker, the solar-powered piece of the art lights up right next to the Sea Organ. This is Greeting to the Sun, made from 300 multi-layer glass plates that create a 22 diameter circle. These brightly colored lights kind of reminded me of the disco floors of the 80s.
Similar to the Sea Organ, this gets quite crowded as well with everyone wanting to take pictures in every possible pose!
Download the Secret Zadar App
The tourism board of Zadar has released an app called Secret Zadar which gives the information of the most interesting facts about the city you might not read in the typical guidebooks.
One of the great things about the app is that it gives you the location of the building, a cafe or anything that it includes, so you can track it down and visit it yourself.
Go on a day trip to Plitvice Lakes National Park
While making your list of things to do in Zadar itinerary, make sure to include Plitvice National Park as one of your day trips. We have visited the park in a day and it was enough to walk along the major trails. However, if you want to see all of its lakes, you can stay at one of the guesthouses within the nearby villages.
This UNESCO World Heritage Site boasts with exceptional natural beauty where 16 lakes cascade into each other.
Prepare for the trip
To ease your travel planning, check out all the posts about Croatia travel. Additionally, here are some of the websites and services I use when preparing for my next adventure anywhere in the world.
– Book affordable flights on Kiwi.com, a platform that shows the best routes and flight deals to your destination. There’s a money-back guarantee if you miss the flight!
– Check iVisa to see if you need a tourist visa to visit Georgia, how to apply online if applicable, or where’s the nearest embassy or consulate
– Find budget-friendly deals on all sorts of accommodation types on Booking and Agoda, or find a cool apartment on Airbnb and get $34 off on your first stay (my invite expires in 30 days after you sign up! )
– Buy the most flexible and budget-friendly travel insurance, SafetyWing, to cover all sorts of health problems on the road
– Pack your copy of Lonely Planet’s Croatia country guide. Alternatively, buy Rough Guide to Croatia or Insight Guides Explore Croatia
– Book in advance some of the best city walks, cultural experiences, and day tours to maximize your stay and experience here
4 comments
Thanks for sharing this. This has been super helpful in planning my trip there in a few months. Seems like there is lots of things to do but i am super excited for the national park; it looks stunning!
I have never visited the south of Croatia. It’s so far from Italy to reach by car. But your shots are so beautiful so I have to plan a trip over there. Thanks for sharing all your tips, very helpful 🙂
You’re not wrong about those beautiful gates! I’ve never heard of Zadar, but would like to return to Croatia and see more. The lakes are gorgeous, and I can imagine how much better it is in person!
Great 13 reasons ti visit Zadar. It´s seems like a great place to spent some vacation!