Zadar is a must-see stop on any Croatia trip as there are SO many fun and interesting things to do in Zadar. Any city that mixes history, adventure, and gastronomy together perfectly is an ideal destination in my eyes.
Whether you are looking to spend a couple days here on a road trip or stopover or are looking for things to do in Zadar from a cruise ship in one day, I will cover all options below!
Zadar Overview
Zadar is a popular place to visit on Croatia’s middle-coast. It’s a walled town, and you can still see the old walls and drawbridge and moat areas – some of which are still surrounded by water.
The center of town is comprised of some ancient ruins along the water that are still standing – ancient Roman ruins all scattered around an Ottoman fortress as well. Like many places in Croatia, there are a lot of cute bars, shops, and cafes in the stone alleyways of the old town, and some open-air clubs as well.
Zadar is perhaps most famous for its ‘sea organ.’ This is a little pier with holes drilled in at different widths and lengths so that when the waves crash up against it they play different notes. It’s quite amazing really, and a must-see in Croatia.
How Long to Spend in Zadar
As I mentioned in the title of this guide, I believe that 1-2 days is enough in Zadar Croatia. Many people visit Zadar for a night on a road trip or as a cruise ship stopover. So, I have catered this guide to a short amount of time in Zadar while still listing all the best things to do in Zadar if you have a longer time too.
Getting to Zadar
Zadar is under two hours from Split and is reachable by car or bus. Most people either rent a car or take a bus to Zadar.
Book bus tickets in advance in high season to avoid disappointment! Many people like to visit Zadar as a stop on a Balkans Road Trip, too.
Where to Stay in Zadar
Hostel: Downtown Boutique Hostel is super cute and affordable. It’s in the perfect location and is social for solo travelers or friends alike. It has super nice private rooms OR the amazing pod-like dorm beds with curtains for extra privacy.
Hotel: Bastion Heritage Hotel would be my splurge pick for Zadar for sure. It’s right on the water and many rooms have great views. It’s a unique boutique hotel that is also home to the famous restaurant Kastel – which you should try for sure!
Things to Do in Zadar Town
Here are the best things to do in Zadar’s epic walled town. There’s a lot to explore!
Get Lost in the Tiny Streets of Old Town
Zadar has another incredible old town centered around some ancient Roman ruins which are an UNESCO heritage site! They may not be as well-preserved as Split, but they’re incredible! You can check out the Roman Forum (in the center) and learn a bit about it, wander through many shops and alleyways, walk on the old town walls, and try some delicious takeaway food and pastry.
If you want to get to know Zadar more deeply and truly understand what you are looking at as you walk around, book a walking tour! The one below is highly regarded.
St Donatus Church, Cathedral + Roman Forum
Smack dab in the center of down you will see the cathedral with a classic Dalmatian church tower, the 9th century Byzantine Church of St Donatus, and the ancient Roman Forum all in one place. These are some of the most important things to see in Zadar that are on every postcard!
The Church of St Donatus has an unmissable circular form with high ceilings – 27m to be exact. When you go inside you can see some of the original Roman Forum floors after exploring the whole forum outside, which was only rediscovered in the 1930’s.
Walk the Walls or Marvel at Zadar Land City Gate
With an UNESCO heritage walled city comes the ability to walk on the walls to see the city from (just) above! Start at the Zadar Land City Gate which used to be the main entrance to the walled city near Fosa harbor.
You can’t miss this gate, built by the Venetians in the 1500’s. The Venetian Lions still stand sentinel around the gate to protect it from any unwelcome visitors – which they were successful at as Zadar never fell to the Ottomans!
Visit the Museum of Illusions
After exploring the Old Town, there are a few museums that may be of interest. We visited the Museum of Illusions, which was light-hearted, trippy, and truly fun for all ages. It involves tons of different rooms, photo set-ups, and experiences designed to trick your eyes.
Get your discounted ticket in advance below!
Visit the Museum of Ancient Glass
There are also some other museums in Zadar – it’s also next to a Museum of Ancient Glass if you’re into that kind of thing. This museum is directly next door to the Museum of Illusions so it’s easy to visit both in one trip.
The Museum of Ancient Glass showcases some of the best preserved Ancient Roman glass artifacts outside of Italy – pretty cool right?
Watch Sunset at the Famous Zadar Sea Organ
After walking around and visiting the museums, grab a drink from a market and head to the most famous Zadar attraction, the Sea Organ.
Located on the brim of the old town, the sea organ was constructed so that whenever the waves from the sea hit different sized openings in a platform over the water, they play different notes. Find a place to sit near the sound, crack open a drink (you can have alcohol in public here), and enjoy a perfect view of the sunset over distant islands. Read more about how it was built here.
Walk on the Greeting to the Sun Light Installation
Next to the Sea Organ you will find a huge area of tiles on the ground that light up at different intervals. It comes to life after dark, which is why I recommend visiting the sea organ and Sun Salutation Monument at sunset so you can watch the sunset while listening to the sea organ and then play around on the lights afterwards!
Walk the Riva + Visit Markets Along the Waterfront
After the sunset, meander along the waterfront possibly before or after dinner. Take your time and stop to check out artisans selling goods along the path, food vendors, and also lost of small market stalls in town.
Soak Up Some Sun at Kolovare Beach
The closest and best beach in Zadar town is Kolovare beach. You can reach this pebbly beach in a short 10-minute walk from town and it has beautiful pristine water.
There are plenty of restaurants and shops around this close to the city center. It can get a bit crowded in peak season however. soif you want something less crowded, keep walking farther along the shore!
5 wells square
The history behind the Five Wells is that the Venetians built the square to ensure a supply of water to the city when Zadar faced constant attacks from the Turks.
Peoples square Narodni Trg
Adventurous Things to do in Zadar + Tours
Here are some of the best tours in Zadar. They would be the best things to do in Zadar from a cruise ship or ways to see the whole area if you have one day. Use the night to explore town – it’s super lively!
Kayaking to Dugi Otok Island
Like every major Croatian city, Zadar offers some amazing kayaking tours. Zadar is enclosed by different islands off its coast, namely Dugi Otok. This kayaking tour will take you through beautiful sea caves and cliff jumps – an adventurer’s dream!
Book your kayaking and sea caves tour with Kayak & Bike Adventures below! It’s only a half-day so you can fit in some other activities with it too.
River Canoe Safari to Kaštel Žegarski in Zrmanja
Zadar is lucky enough to be close to the Zrmanja River, home to some fun rapids, canyons, and swimming spots.
The top-rated tour below takes you canoeing and adventuring right from Zadar. It’s a full day so it’s a perfect activity for 1-2 days in Zadar.
Skydiving
Yep, you heard that correctly! You can skydive over Zadar and the beautiful, moon-like islands of Croatia’s north. The views from skydiving here would be incredible; there are so many islands dotting the blue coastline.
If you are an adrenaline junkie, get on it! I know I will next time I am there.
Explore Surrounding Islands By Boat
Zadar has its own archipelago off the coast, and is scattered with tiny and large islands alike. One of the best things to do in Zadar is to explore these remote islands and swim in secluded bays!
Some tours are private and will require you to have a group to split the cost, but the tour below charges per-person for a small group tour and is a much better value.
Take a Tour to Kornati National Park
Zadar even has a a National Park, Kornati, located on an island not too far away. Kornati National Park is a beautifully pristine National park area with 89 islands and islets, some historic fortresses, and more beautiful water than you can imagine.
A lot of tour companies online also run private tours to Kornati National Park. The benefit of a private tour is that you can go wherever you like and spend as much time as you want in each location – or even ask the skipper if you want to go fishing and catch your own dinner!
A group tour is cheaper but, of course, more rigid. Check out my recommendation for each below and take your pick!
Day Tour to Krka National Park
Like Split and Zagreb, you can take a day tour to Krka National Park from Zadar. It’s actually the closest to Zadar, so this might be the best option to explore the area!
Krka is one of two famous waterfall national parks in Croatia, and this is the one where you can swim next to the waterfalls and explore trails through the forest.
You can take a day tour JUST to Krka for a bit cheaper, but I recommend taking the tour below for about 20 euro extra that stops in Sibenik also.
Day Tour to Plitvice Lakes National Park
Plitvice Lakes National Park is the other must-see waterfall national park in Croatia. This one is much larger and has huge networks of waterfalls, lakes, and trails. Zadar is a great destination to take a day trip to Plitvice as it is also quite close – less than an hour and a half!
If you don’t have a car and even if you only have 1 or 2 days in Zadar, it might still be worth doing a day tour to this National Park as it’s a must-see in Croatia.
Where to Eat in Zadar
For a sit-down meal, try Bruschetta (delicious higher-end restaurant) or Restaurant Kastel. Or, grab takeaway food (slice of pizza, anyone?) and sit in the lively main square near the forum.
There are tons of great gelato places as well, which will be beckoning to you you to buy them and eat in the square also.
Things to Do in Zadar at Night
There are lots of cocktail bars and an outdoor club or two in Zadar. The tiny old town streets are lined with bars bumping music that will oftentimes serve 1L jugs of cocktails at happy hour with multiple long straws to share.
Check out Ledana for an outdoor patio club if you like – this is definitely the coolest clubs with a nice vibe surrounded by the old town walls.
Traveling On from Zadar
There are so many places to visit in Croatia that I have over 20 articles about the country and the different destinations in it. Check some more amazing destinations below!
- 21 Places to Visit in Croatia – a whole guide
- Things to do in Split
- Day Trips from Split
- Things to do in Hvar
- Things to do in Korcula
- Croatia Sailing Tours: How to Plan and Book
- Things to do in Dubrovnik
- And more! Have a browse, I have guides. tomost islands and main destinations on the coast. Enjoy your trip!
Passionate, full-time travel blogger with over 230k on social media and 150kMPV blog. Extraordinary photographer with two DSLR's + a drone with a love for capturing candid moments, epic drone shots, and magical compositions. I'm a natural-born content creator originally from California, but I've been on the road for 9 years living, working, traveling, blogging, and photographing my way around the world. I recommend the most amazingly adventurous and unique + boutique travel experiences/stays and helpful products to my audience and write comprehensive guides on my website that have helped millions of travelers so far. I love to inspire people to plan their dream trips, and many readers have given feedback as such. The reach on my platforms continues to soar, especially when combining cutting-edge social content with optimized articles on my high-authority website.