How to Have the Perfect Evening in Zadar, Croatia

Zadar was the last stop on my Croatia and Slovenia itinerary. While sad that my trip had come to its end, I couldn’t have chosen a better place to spend my final evening. It’s an adorable historic city on Croatia’s Dalmatian coast. If you have just a short time, Zadar is a great place to visit because it has the charm of a beautiful old city, without being packed full of tourists.

This post contains affiliate links, If you make a purchase through these links I will earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!

Where to Sleep in Zadar

You can’t drive in Zadar’s old town so if that’s where you are staying, be prepared to drag your suitcase a bit. The old town is a compact area so it isn’t too bad but a consideration.

Zadar is full of affordable places. Compared to other places like Dubrovnik or Split, it is quite a bit cheaper.

I stayed at La-La Rooms. It was clean and a great location to explore Zadar from as it is in the old city. It is just a room though rather than an apartment as there is only a mini-fridge.

Also located in the old town is Boutique Apartments Luce & Tonka. Great reviews for a huge apartment that is located in the heart of Zadar.

How to Get To Zadar

Air Zadar is convenient to access by air as the airport is nearby and budget airlines, including Ryanair, service it. The bus service to the old town from the airport runs on a schedule to service flights and quite a bit cheaper than a taxi.

Ferry There are local ferries to nearby islands as well as an international ferry from Ancona in Italy.

Bus Rijeka, Split, and Zagreb are the nearest major cities, each about 3-4 hours away.

Car Park outside of the walled old city, there is paid parking. Zadar is served by well-kept highways.
Split 1 hour 40 mins, Rijeka 3 hours, Zagreb 3 hours, Dubrovnik 4 hours

Visit the Uniquely Zadar Sites

Monument to the Sun

Zadar has two sights I have never seen (or heard) anywhere else. Both are designed by local architect Nikola Bašić. The first is the Monument to the Sun. It’s a 22-metre dance floor that is solar powered and lights up when the sun goes down. It changes colours and is the place to be as the sun sets. While the large floor represents the sun, nearby you can find smaller solar lights that depict the planets.

Zadar’s Sea Organ

The second attraction that makes Zadar a unique coastal town is its Sea Organ. As you walk along the promenade, you will start to hear an organ. The music notes are created by the waves of the Adriatic Sea when the water goes into the underwater pipes of the promenade. It makes it sound as if the sea is singing to you. This installation also means there are lots of steps to sit on right down to the sea so you’re almost guaranteed to find a place to sit and enjoy the sunset.

Zadar has some of the best sunsets in Croatia because of the huge promenade with unimpeded views of the nearby islands. Alfred Hitchcock visited Zadar in 1964 to scout for a movie location because he had heard rumours of stunning sunsets. He didn’t end up shooting a movie there, but he did proclaim it as the most beautiful sunset in the world.

See the Historic Roman Forum of Zadar

Away from the sea, Zadar has those same gorgeous marble buildings and walkways that you can find in the rest of Dalmatian Croatia. Like Split and Dubrovnik, Zadar is also a walled city. You’ll have to head to Dubrovnik if you want to walk city walls though, you can’t do that here.

One of the most recognizable buildings in Zadar’s old town is the round Byzantine-style Church of St Donatus. It was built in Zadar’s Roman Forum in the 9^th century. Croatia’s connection to Rome was never apparent to me before visiting. The forum here was commissioned by Roman Emperor Augustus. I was even more shocked to discover the well-preserved Diocletian’s Palace in Split. Keeping with Roman history, some broken columns are on display here that you can explore.

Right next to the Church of St. Donatus is Zadar’s St Anastasia Cathedral. This cathedral is the largest in Dalmatia and dates from the 12^th century. It has a prominent bell tower right next to it. You can climb the bell tower for views of the old town.

Finish the Evening with a Delicious Dinner in Zadar

While my food recommendation might have you thinking of Italy, Dalmatia has amazing pasta. I love pasta so it was a fitting final meal in Croatia. Pasta & Svasta is a great place to sit on the patio and enjoy some yummy gnocchi and wine.

After dinner, there is enough time to stroll the well-lit streets of Zadar. There are bakeries and ice cream shops to stop at and pick up some dessert.

Spending More than an Evening in Zadar

I don’t often see Zadar on the must-visit list for Croatia, but it belongs there. I highly recommend it and would return to spend more time there. Zadar is less “discovered” than Split or Dubrovnik so there are fewer tourists and a relaxing vibe to the city.

Zadar can be used as a base to jump off to other places as well because it is an hour to Krka National Park, and an hour and a half drive to Plitvice Lakes National Park. While you can do a self-driving tour of the parks you can also join a day tour to Plitvice or to Krka waterfalls. Paklenica National Park is even closer and is a fantastic location to do some hiking or rock climbing in the Velebit mountains. If you enjoy more active vacations, a good option is to take a kayak trip to the Zramanja River.

If you are an island-hopper or beach bum, Zadar has easy access to nearby islands. Sakarun beach is close by and offers up white sandy beaches on Dugi Otok island. You can explore some of the islands by joining a tour to sail to the Kornati Archipelago.

Pin it for Later