Zadar

44° 6' 53.56" N 15° 13' 44.22" E [44.1149, 15.229] (KML)

Zadar [M] Airport IATA: ZAD, ICAO: LDZD. handles only domestic flights and also operates as a commercial and air force training base. Cheap flights exist but also may be hard to find.

There is an evening flight from Zagreb [M]. During the summer seasons there are also various tourist flights from several European cities, however, during the off season during fall and winter,

• AdriaJet [S] [1] sells tickets on charter flights ☎+385 48 240600.

• Ryanair [S]; [2] operates low cost flights from London Stansted, Edinburgh, Dublin, Brussels (Charleroi), Dusseldorf (Weeze), Oslo (Rygge), Frankfurt Hahn, Bari and Pisa to Zadar [M].

The adjacent bus and train stations [S] are about 15 min walk from city centre. There are frequent buses and taxis.

Buses run to the Central bus station and Old town from Zadar [M] 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 following website outlines the timings of buses, which run between the airport, bus station and old town [S] = [3]

Frequent buses run to and from Zagreb [M] (3h 30 min), Rijeka [M] (change for Trieste in Italy), Pula [M], Sibenik [S] [M], Split [M] and on to Dubrovnik [M]. Information ☎ +385 23 211555.

Reservations by phone are possible with some operators.

• Contus [S] ☎ +385 23 314477.

• Touring Eurolines Germany [4], connects Zadar [M] with several German cities.

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

A few slow trains a day run to Knin [S] and connect into trains for Zagreb [M] (5,5 hours or 8,5 with overnight trains) and Split [M] (3.5 hr). Virtually nobody uses this train to get to these cities. Train to Knin is one carriage long 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.

• Jadrolinja [S] [5], Large ferries run every few days up and down the coast between Dubrovnik [M] and Rijeka [M], stopping off at ports (including Zadar [M]) and islands on the way. They also run almost daily ferries in summer to and from Ancona in Italy.

• Local boats [S], Zadar [M] is also a hub for local boats and hydrofoils in Northern Dalmatia [S]. Services run to and from Olib [S], Mali Losinj, Ugljan [S], Dugi Otok [S], Premuda [S] and others. Timetables and prices are available online from Adrialines [6].

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

Buses in Zadar [M] are relatively new and well maintained, and you will be able to catch a bus to any part of the city from the main hub in the city called Mala Pošta (Little Post Office); ask any local where this is and they can direct you to it. A bus ticket in one direction costs 8 kuna (cca. US$1.60) while a two way ticket costs 13 kuna (cca. US$2.50). However, 2 way tickets are only available for purchase at newspaper stands, although they are easy to find. One way tickets are available for purchase upon entering any bus.

Do not attempt to board a bus without a ticket, without purchasing a ticket or avoiding stamping a bus ticket. Bus drivers in Zadar [M] are notoriously militant about enforcing payment, and you could get into trouble.

Also, be advised that bus services cease just after midnight during the summer, so if you plan to get back to a hotel that isn't close to the city center after that time, you might have to walk or catch a taxi.

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

• St. Donat's - St. Donat's church is one of the best preserved pre-Romanesque buildings in the world. It is pretty difficult to miss, as it has become the most recognizable symbol of Zadar [M]. The church is no longer in use for religious ceremonies, and today is a museum. It also holds a series of classical music concerts every summer.

• Remains of The Roman Forum [S] - One of the best preserves Roman Forums in existence. This is a common place for locals to stroll, sit down amongst the ruins and enjoy a nice summer day.

• St. Anastasia [S] (the Cathedral) - Zadar's main cathedral with an impressive organ that was nearly destroyed in the last war.

• St. Mary & St. Simeon [S] - St. Mary also houses a museum of antique religious relics and artifacts.

• University of Zadar [S] [M] - originaly founded 1396., which makes it the oldest university in Croatia, and one of the oldest universities in Europe.

• The Archaeological Museum [S] - Houses artifacts that testify to Zadar's long and rich history.

• Enjoy the otherworldly sounds of the Sea Organ [S] (Croatian: Morske orgulje) on Zadar's Riva. This man-made organ works with the motion of the waves and 35 pipes to create a musical soundscape. A favorite for locals and tourists alike, and accompanied by a light display that creates visualisations of the sounds being produced by the organ.

• Sit, Just lounge around in one of the cafes and enjoy the city, the sun, and the people. There are very few Internet cafes. For more information visit the tourist office [7]

• 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 [M]. The most popular beaches are:

• Kolovare [S], Situated close to the city centre, a favorite for locals.

• Borik [S], A massive hotel complex hosting numerous activities such as parasailing, water slides and other activities.

• Vitrenjak [S], Located 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.

• 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.

If you are looking for a good printed tourist guide try the Petar Zoranic [S] bookstore, Knezova Subica Bribirskih 10

• Restaurant Kornat [S], near the harbour, excellent Croatian Mediterranean cuisine.

• Restaurant Nika [S], beside the harbour in the Puntamika district, fantastic food and service in a beautiful setting.

• The Garden [S], Bedemi zadarskih pobuna, http://www.watchthegardengrow.eu/] ☎ +385 23 254509. A fancy open bar with a lovely view over the harbour, opened by UB40 drummer James Brown. The Garden also hosts an annual electronic music festival.

• The Arsenal [S], Trg tri Bunara, ☎ +385 23 253 820, [8]. A 17th century. Venetian Naval Warehouse, now a cool Restaurant-Bar-Club.

• Hotel Kolovare [S], [9]. The only hotel close to the city center.

• The Youth Hostel [S] Obala kneza Trpimira 78, ☎ +385 23 331145. Friendly, (5 km from the city centre by the marina in Borik [S]. Take buses 5 or 8).

• Hotel Adriatic [S], on the beach Biograd 30 km south of Zadar [M], +385 23 383556, [10]. 3 star designer hotel, great pool.

• ˝Hostel Ljepotica¨ [S], right across the foot bridge, close to the city center, friendly, +385 23/224-840 Obala kneza Branimira 10A

• Visit the stunning waterfalls and lakes of the Plitvice National Park [M].

• Rent a boat and explore surrounding islands, especially Kornati [S].

• Not 1hr away by car is Krka National Park where you can explore the breathtaking scenery and swim close to the waterfalls.

Text content was last edited at 13:51, on 24 September 2011 by Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel. Based on work by poana@sannet.ne.jp and Michaël Luitaud, Wikitravel user(s) Ikan Kekek, Felix505, Majaz and Vidimian, Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel and others. A list of contributors is available at the original article on Wikitravel. This text content is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0.