When visiting Croatia, there is so much to see and do. So it’s understandable to only have one full day in Zadar. But be ready for a jam-packed day to get to see and do it all. With a rich history, walled streets like Dubrovnik, great national parks nearby, and a big nightlife scene, there’s something in Zadar for everyone. So, let’s dive into the perfect itinerary for one day in Zadar!
This guest post was written by Heather Arbour from ArboursAbroad (author bio below)
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Where to Stay in Zadar
With only one day in Zadar, I recommend booking a stay at the Villa Diana, a cozy apartment rental in Zadar. Villa Diana offers a stay with a full, well-stocked kitchen so you can prepare breakfast and a lunch for your day exploring the national parks nearby. The apartment is located right in town, with free parking and an easy twenty-minute walk from both the beach and Old Town Zadar. It really is the perfect location in the city.
The Perfect Itinerary for One Day in Zadar
A day in Zadar isn’t complete without visiting one of Croatia’s famous national parks. I suggest renting a car in Croatia, saving money with these Croatia car hire tips, and then starting your morning bright and early heading into a park.
Whether you’re spending one or two days in Zadar, it puts you in the perfect location for a day trip to one of Croatia’s National Parks. Both Plitvice Lakes National Park and Krka National Park are within a couple of hours’ drive from Zadar and are both popular places for travelers staying in Zadar to visit. It’s best to wake up extra early and visit the park of your choice. Then head back to Zadar for an evening in the city.
Choosing a National Park to Visit from Zadar
Visiting Plitvice Lakes National Park
Plitvice Lakes National Park is the most famous national park in Croatia. If you’ve seen pictures of beautiful cascading waterfalls into pools of greens and blues, you’ve seen a picture of Plitvice Lakes. A short 1.5-hour drive from Zadar will get you to this bucket list destination. Be sure to leave Zadar as early as possible, as the crowds start to build at Plitvice starting around 10:00 am.
There are loads of walking trails at Plitvice Lakes, and most of them are trails made of wood crossing over lakes leading visitors to nearly 100 different waterfalls! If you don’t do well with crowds, Plitvice Lakes isn’t the best option for you. Instead, check out Krka National Park.
Visiting Krka National Park
If you’d rather not give most of your day to visiting Plitvice or want to escape the crowds, Krka National Park is a great option. It’s right under a one-hour drive from Zadar and is a smaller national park, so you won’t be as tempted to spend as long there.
While Plitvice Lakes National Park is clearly a much more popular national park than Krka, Krka National Park is still beautiful and offers areas to swim in the refreshing water. With that said, you can’t swim in all the areas. There are designated swimming zones, and you should double-check where swimming is allowed before jumping into the inviting waters.
Returning to Zadar
After wrapping up your time at one of the national parks near Zadar, return to your accommodation and freshen up before going out to explore the city. When looking at a map of Zadar, there’s a very obvious peninsula in the city. This peninsula is known as the Old Town of Zadar, and it’s full of rich history, a crazy nightlife scene, and some beautiful art pieces.
The Old Town of Zadar is where you’ll want to spend your evening in the city. Similar to the walled city of Dubrovnik, Zadar’s old town also has a walled-in area. Getting lost in the marbled streets of Zadar is part of the fun of visiting this historic city. I say “getting lost” lightly here, because it’s really hard to get lost in Old Town Zadar. It is a peninsula after all, so in theory, all roads lead to the sea!
Highlights of Old Town Zadar
Visit The Roman Forum
The Roman Forum is a partially walled square right in the center of the peninsula. Built between the first century BC and the third century AD, this forum is believed to be the oldest Roman Forum in Croatia. It’s free to walk the grounds and is quite a historic site to see. If you’re lucky, you may visit this area when there’s a public market or even a concert going on. The Roman Forum is just as lively today as it was centuries ago.
Climb the Bell Tower
At the Roman Forum, you can climb the bell tower to St. Anastasia’s Cathedral. Climbing the tower gives you views of not just the Roman Forum from above, but also 360-degree views of all of Zadar.
Pop into the Archeological Museum
If you have time, and museums are your thing, pop into the Archeological Museum right at the Roman Forum. This museum is a great way to learn more about the history of this area and gain a better understanding of what you’re looking at in Old Town Zadar. If you fancy museums, there are quite a few other museums in Old Town. One that caught my eye when visiting Zadar was the Museum of Ancient Glass. It’s on the second floor of a building, so the views are nice, and you can even buy blown glass work done there!
After wrapping up your time in this area, head toward the Sea Organ to catch the sunset and the last bit of light of the day.
Sunset at the Sea Organ
The Sea Organ in Zadar is a musical instrument built into the edge of the Adriatic Sea. This is a very popular place to catch the sunset in Zadar and for a good reason! Sitting on the edge of the sea, as the waves crash into the ground, the water moves through the organ built underneath, creating a beautiful sound. It’s the perfect place to sit and reflect on life and feel just waves of gratitude as the sea plays its song.
Once the Light Fades, Turn to the Greetings to the Sun
The Greetings to the Sun is an art installment built directly into the ground right at the Sea Organ. This installment was created by Nikola Basic, an architect in Zadar. It’s an installation of hundreds of small solar panels that soak up the sun during the day. And then as the sun fades, the lights begin to illuminate through the night. Visitors can walk on the art installation and are encouraged to appreciate this unique piece of art.
Grab Dinner Near the People’s Square
The People’s Square is an important piece of Zadar’s history. This is the area where town meetings are held. And it’s the perfect place to grab some food in the evening. Multiple restaurants in this area have both indoor and outdoor seating, so you’ll find a mix of all sorts of different styles of both food and restaurants.
Enjoy the Night Life
While you’re exploring Zadar, pay attention to the amount of places that are open through midnight! The nightlife in Zadar is a major thing. Zadar is well known for its party scene. You’ll find places to go out late into the night all along the peninsula. After a night on the town, head back to your accommodation and rest up for your next full day of adventuring in beautiful Croatia!
Best Time to Visit Croatia
Shoulder Seasons in Croatia
I visited Croatia in the shoulder season, and can honestly say that’s the best time to visit not just Zadar, but Croatia as a whole. There are two different shoulder seasons, one from May through early June and the other from mid-September through October.
During these times, you’ll find much cheaper prices for accommodation, rental cars, and flights. And the crowds are less than half they are in the high season — June through September. If you’re hoping to spend more time in the sea, I recommend visiting in the later shoulder season. From September to October the Adriatic Sea is still warm from the hot summer temperatures, and you’ll be able to stay in the water much longer!
High Season in Croatia
During high season in Croatia, June through September, you’ll find masses of people and really crowded national parks. I know people who go to Croatia every year, and after one year of visiting in the high season, they’ll never return during that time again. As one can expect, everything is much busier during the high season, making all the things to do a bit less appealing.
Off-Season in Croatia
In the winter months in Croatia, you’ll find that everything dies down. A lot of the family businesses will completely close during the winter, as this is their time to have time off. I don’t recommend visiting in the winter, November through April, at all because while you can still do a lot of the things in this guide to one day in Zadar, a lot of the best parts of Croatia are closed and the weather isn’t so great.
Don’t forget to save this post for your perfect day in Zadar!
Author Bio
Heather Arbour is a full-time travel writer who spent 2.5 years living in a van traveling through the United Kingdom and Europe. She and her husband currently live in a van in the United States with their cat, Georgie, traveling and finding nature escapes all over the western United States while sneaking in trips abroad when they can.
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