How to Spend a Day in Zadar

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through a link, I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you. These commissions help keep this website up and running, and I thank you for your support. Read my full disclosure here.

Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post, I paid for this trip myself. All recommendations are my own.

As part of our two week road trip in Croatia, we were supposed to arrive in Croatia via Zadar airport. However, due to heavy rain our flights were cancelled, and we ended up getting redirected via Rijeka. I was disappointed that we were going to miss out on visiting Zadar, so we managed to squeeze it in between our drive from Plitvice to Krka National Park.

Located on the Dalmatian coastline, Zadar has become a popular tourist destination in recent years and in 2016 it was elected Best European Destination. There is enough to see in do in this sweet little coastal town that will keep you busy for the day.

Land Gate

We parked just out of the city walls on the other side of the park Perivoj Vladimira Nazora. It was only a short walk through the park to Land Gate, the main entrance into the city by little Foša harbor. Built by the Venetian architect Michele Sanmicheli in 1543, it’s decorated with motifs such as St. Chrysogonus (Zadar’s main patron saint) on his horse, and the Shield of St. Mark (the coat of arms of the Republic of Venice).

The Forum

We made our way through the narrow winding streets and headed to the municipal square, the Forum. From the Roman era, it was built from the 1^st century BC to the 3^rd century AD. We picked up some delicious cheese pastry pie from a local bakery on our way, so we sat down on the park benches for some lunch and a chance to soak up the historic atmosphere.

Roman Ruins and Pillar of Shame

Zadar was a Roman colony from 48BC until the end of the Roman empire in the 5th century. You will find lots of Roman ruins scattered throughout Zadar, and beside us in the Forum was a large display of ruins.

Near St Donatus Church is the Pillar of Shame. People were tied to this pillar and humiliated and even whipped. You can still see the metal rings attached to the pillar to this day.

St. Donatus Church

Built in the 9^th century, St Donatus is a Byzantine church built on the Roman forum, of which parts were used to build it.

Cathedral of St. Anastasia

Beside St. Donatus is the Cathedral of St. Anastasia dating back as far as the 12^th and 13^th century and built in the Romanesque style. You can pay a small entry fee to walk up the bell tower for views of the city. It’s usually closed on Sundays and holidays.

The Sea Organ

The sea organ fascinated me and was one of the sites I was really looking forward to visiting in Zadar. Created by Croatian architect Nikola Bašićis, there is not much to actually see on the surface, as the waves push air through 35 underwater pipes stretching across 70 meters. The sound pops-up out of holes all along the promenade, known as the Riva and provides its audience with a haunting serenade. It’s lovely to sit in the sun on the broad marble steps with an ice cream in your hand, listening to the music as the water rushes in and out. It’s a popular spot at sunset.

Greeting of the Sun

Next to the sea organ is a solar powered art installation called the Greeting of the Sun which displays an array of brightly colored lights. Unfortunately, we didn’t stay late enough to join the nightly dancing on the lights, but this is a popular spot to enjoy in the evening for both young and old.

Museums

If you have more time than we did, there are several museums to see including the Gold and Silver Museum, The Museum of Ancient Glass and the Archeological Museum.

Practical Tips for Visiting Zadar

How long should I visit for? There is enough to keep you busy here for at least half a day.
How to get there: We drove, but you can also get here by bus from Split or Dubrovnik. There is no train line.
Toilets: There are free toilets (very rare in this part of Europe!) near the sea organ.
Language: Croatian. Although most people we came across spoke some English, do try your hand at a few Croatian words:
- Yes = Da (da)
- No = Ne (ne)
- Please = Molim (MOH-leem)
- Thank you = Hvala (HVAH-lah)
- Hello = Bok (bohk)
Currency: Croatian Kuna.
Tipping: Not required, but people usually round up.
Electricity: The electrical current is 230 volts AC. Wall outlets generally take the European two round prong plugs. However, you are better off purchasing a [amazon_textlink asin=’B073PQ9N1Z’ text=’worldwide adaptor with USB ports’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’howbeautifullifeis-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’d7bcee73-c7e9-11e7-aad7-53330b631d54′] that can be used in Croatia as well other countries. At least then you can potentially get some further use out of it on future vacations. If you’re taking a number of electronics with you, then I would recommend purchasing a couple of these adaptors.
Electricity: The electrical current is 230 volts AC. Wall outlets generally take the European two round prong plugs. However, you are better off purchasing a worldwide adaptor that can be used in Croatia as well other countries. At least then you can potentially get some further use out of it on future vacations. If you’re taking a number of electronics with you, then I would recommend purchasing a couple of these adaptors.
Navigating: We used Google’s free Offline Maps. Google Offline Maps allows you to access free maps for navigating that can be used offline i.e. you don’t need WIFI, data, or roaming to be able to use them. Follow this detailed guide on how to use Googles Offline Maps. Using your phone as a GPS will drain your battery quickly, so use a portable battery charger which you can use to charge your phone and any other USB chargeable devices. If you prefer a paper map, then purchase a Croatian road map before you go. At least it’s reliable and won’t run out of battery or malfunction like the electronic options!