Zadar

Zadar is the biggest city, cultural, economic and transit center of northern Dalmatia and the oldest continuously inhabited city in Croatia. Zadar is today one of the most popular Croatian tourist destinations, named "entertainment center of the Adriatic" by The Times and "Croatia's new capital of cool" by The Guardian in 2017.

Understand
Its Venetian city walls are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Ground transportation


Buses run to the Central bus station and Old town from Zadar airport terminal. These buses are clean, comfortable and efficient. Buses run in conjunction with arriving flights. Therefore they will run more frequently during weekdays than at weekends, as more flights are arriving at the airport. However, at weekends it is still possible to catch a bus. The airport bus costs.

You can also rent a car at Zadar airport. There are multiple car rental companies.

For taxi or pre-booked transfers are also available.

By bus


About half the buses for Zagreb pass through the stunning Plitvice National Park.

By train
Very few people use train to get to these cities. The train to Knin is just of one carriage with no A/C and can be quite uncomfortable, however the scenery is beautiful and will leave you in wonder at the numerous stations which appear to be in the middle of nowhere.

On foot
The centre is easy enough to get around on foot. To reach the bus and train stations or Youth Hostel you will probably need to catch one of the frequent local buses, which are the only form of public transportation.

By bus


Virtually all the routes have a stop at the Autobusni kolodvor (Bus station). In the newer part of the city there is another popular bus stop: – at the a post office at the crossroads of Ul. Josipa Jurja Strossmayera and Ul. Stjepana Radića.

Single tickets can be bought either at the driver or at Liburnija kiosk at a bus stop. Double ride tickets, sold individually or bound into a carnet of 10 (so for 20 rides) are available at newsstand (Tisak) kiosks.

Buses are usually scheduled from early morning (05:30 - 06:30) and finishing just before the midnight, so plan your trips accordingly.

You can check the map here.

By bicycle
The cycling infrastructure improved during the 2010s. But still, foreign traffic participants pay more attention to cyclists than locals.

By taxi
The main taxi ranks in Zadar are at the following locations:
 * Autobusni kolodvor (Bus station)
 * Ferry quay at the Liburnska obala in the old town (near the bus stop), tel. +385 (0)23 251 400
 * Obala kneza Branimira at the opposite end of the bridge across the Jazine bay



See
Walk around the atmospheric streets of the old town, located on the peninsula. There are 34 old churches on the peninsula, and all of them with a very rich history. The oldest is St. Simeon (Sv. Šime).

Do

 * Chill in one of the cafes and enjoy the city, the sun, and the people.
 * Walk: take a stroll along the paved seafront on a summer evening for one of the best sunsets in Europe and listen to the relaxing sounds of the rather original 'sea organ' set into the harbour wall.
 * Sail: if you wish to spend your holidays on a yacht charter, Zadar has a lot to offer.The best season for sailing is early summer with good S/SE winds in May and June, while the winds during July and August are generally calmer. Summer temperatures are 26-30°C in average and the sea temperature is about 25°C.
 * Swim: take a dip in the beautiful clear waters. It's quite common to see people sunbathing and swimming along virtually the entire coast of Zadar. The most popular beaches are:


 * Kolovare, close to the city centre, a favorite for locals.


 *  Borik, a massive hotel complex hosting numerous activities such as parasailing, water slides and other activities.


 * Vitrenjak, close to Zadar's sailing club, Uskok. A beach frequented by mostly families. In the nearby sailing club you can find a lovely open terrace cafe offering refreshments and food.

Contemporary art and culture
Zadar has been advancing its offerings in Contemporary art and culture in 2010s. With few festivals and strong dance scene it also has alternative cultural centers like Nigdjezemska and Knjigozemska (for indy and grassroot culture), as well as most recent institutional offerings in so called II Palaces (for modern-history and contemporary culture).

Buy
Zadar has 2 major shopping areas: the old town with its numerous shops, and the Voštarnica commercial district.

Connect
As of Sept 2021, Zadar and the coastal highway have full 4G and sporadic 5G coverage from T-Mobile/Hrvatski Telekom, A1 and Tele2. Wifi is widely available in public places and in most cafés.

Go next

 * Dugi Otok – for its beautiful landscape, salt lake and donkeys at the Telašćica Nature Park
 * Šibenik for the UNESCO World Heritage lists its prominent Cathedral of St. Jacob
 * Krka National Park where you can explore the breathtaking scenery and swim close to the waterfalls
 * Kornati National Park – a national park of more than 80 islands where you can find peace and quiet
 * Hike and climb in the Paklenica National Park
 * Visit the stunning waterfalls and lakes of the Plitvice National Park