Ever heard of Zadar? One of the hidden gems of Croatia, this city is a must-see during your Croatian road trip. I’ll be the first to admit that like you (likely), I didn’t know anything about Zadar before deciding to stop here on our way down the coast.
Despite the bizarre-sounding name, this Croatian city has quite a lot to offer visitors. It’s also absolutely stunning. Looking back now on our time in Zadar I think the only way to describe it is underrated and more often than not, overshadowed by the more well-known cities of Split, Zagreb and Dubrovnik.
The town itself is located along the water and has done an excellent job of blending together modern and ancient architecture. While you could easily see the main sights of the city in one day, I would give yourself 2 just to leave some time for relaxation.
How to get there
Given its location on the coast, it is likely that you are visiting the city by car. I actually found Croatia as a whole relatively easy to drive around as the highways are well-paved (although take note of the tolls!) and they drive on the same side as North America.
We were coming from Rijeka which took us about 3 hours in total driving. Don’t be daunted by the amount of time though, driving along the coast there are lots of cool sights to see. In fact, it actually took us longer than 3 hours because we kept stopping along the way.
Another popular city to come from is Split, which can take you just under 2 hours to get to. This trip is also along the coast and equally as beautiful (we drove to Split from Zadar so we have done this trip!).
If renting a car isn’t your thing then you can take a bus from city to city. There isn’t really a train system in Croatia unfortunately and as I suffer from horrible motion sickness, driving for us was the best option. The bus will likely be faster than driving (and cheaper) but you won’t be able to stop and take pictures along the way! Check out Rome2Rio for your options of traveling between cities.
Where to stay
There are lots of different hotel options in Zadar for your stay so make sure to look around. One of our favourite places to book hotels is Booking.com or Airbnb.
For this particular trip we stayed at Hotel Bastion it was in a great location and had all the amenities we would have needed for our stay. The room we had even looked out onto part of the city wall and the harbour.
What to do
Spending 2 days in Zadar gives you plenty of time to see all of the major sights. Because the city is so small, you can also walk to everywhere you want to go. In fact, I would definitely encourage you walk, it’s just so much more enjoyable.
The Sea Organs
The organs are the most notable sights in Zadar. As you walk along the open marble pathway you come to a long stretch of what looks like stairs. These stairs however are perfectly placed with tubes underneath the marble that make noise as the waves crash onto the shore. I could have sat on those marble steps for hours, mesmerized by the waves and the relaxing sounds they made.
Sun Salutation
Close to the Sea Organ, you will find the Sun Salutation. This landmark is a giant solar panel that entertains its audience with lit designs after the sun has gone down. During the day, the solar panels look like a giant circle mysteriously placed in the middle of the marble pathway.
Walk along the Sea Wall
Follow the path from the Sea Organ and the Sun Salutation to find yourself along the city wall. The light coloured stone is really quite beautiful to see and touch up close. There is a spot near the entrance of the city that gets really narrow but keep going until you reach the doorway. It’s a great spot for a photo. The wall also has lots of Croatian inscription along it for you to admire.
Church of St. Donatus
Constructed in the 9th century the church was originally named the Church of the Holy Trinity. It’s an amazing building and can seem a little out of place because it’s so large and overbearing but it’s not something you want to – or can miss. In fact – much of the space around the Church of St. Donatus consists of small walled ruins. As you walk up to the church it’s almost as if the city is trying to humble you, a small being walking towards a giant structure.
Perivoj Kraljice Jelene Madijevke
This public park is located on top of Zadar’s oldest fortifications. The gardens were well kept, the stone steps well placed and the benches perfectly positioned. We spent some time walking through the small gardens and admiring the views. Walking up one of the hills you get get a great glimpse of the city below.
Explore the old town
There is truly nothing I love more than exploring old towns in Europe. The old town in Zadar is no exception. The buildings are beautiful and the people are friendly. Walk along the cobblestone streets and make your way in and out of the local shops for an authentic experience.
When is the best time to visit?
We actually went to Zadar in November. While we love to travel in the off-peak season, I did find that it was almost too dead in November. The weather was temperate and easy to walk around in ut I can imagine how much livelier the city would have been if we had visited in the height of the summer.
From what I have read since visiting, I think September would be a perfect time. A lot of the kids have gone back to school but it’s still warm enough to take advantage of the seaside town.
Zadar might be slightly out of the way for most visitors trekking to Croatia but I would say it is totally worth the trip. The town isn’t overly busy, it’s gorgeous and it’s along the water! What more could you want?
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