Whether you’re just visiting for a day or you decided to enjoy a longer stay in the city, there are plenty of things you will enjoy.
Located in central Dalmatia, north of famous Croatian tourist destinations Dubrovnik and Split, the city of Zadar found its place. If you don’t want to spend your vacation trying to find your way among the crowd but still enjoy exploring Romanian ruins, stone alleyways, and beautiful sights, Zadar is a perfect place to visit.
Zadar is one of the most beautiful and largest Dalmatian cities and whether you’re just visiting for a day or you decided to enjoy a longer stay in the city, there are plenty of things you will enjoy.
But what to do in Zadar if you’re visiting on a budget?
Explore the Old Town
Most of the famous Zadar sights are located in the Old Town and can be found while strolling through the labyrinth of old streets filled with cute souvenir shops, bakeries, and restaurants. You can start your walk at Venetian Land Gate, one of the historical gates that can be found around the perimeter of the wall that surrounds the city.
Next, look for the famous Zadar spot, Five Wells Square, built by Venetians to provide drinking water to citizens during the Turk attacks on the city. The five wells are no longer in use but the square is very popular among tourists as well as locals.
Just a few minutes from Five Wells Square another central point of the city found its place. People’s Square is a perfect place to absorb a little more of the local history, locals enjoy spending time here and it’s considered the main city square thanks to many municipal buildings, like City Hall, that are placed here.
While exploring the Old Town don’t forget to take a walk through Kalelarga, the most famous street in Zadar.
Enjoy a cup of coffee on the Roman forum
Roman ruins can be found in streets and squares all around Zadar but the most significant and famous ones are the ones on the Roman Forum. Unlike in other cities, in Zadar, you can walk among these ruins, touch them or even relax on them, they are part of everyday city life.
The Roman Forum is placed in the center of Zadar and except for the Roman ruins, you can find the Church of St. Donatus, Zadar Cathedral, and The Bell Tower here. It’s possible to visit the Church of St. Donatus as well as climb The Bell Tower for a small fee or you can just sit in the Forum and enjoy a cup of your favorite drink in beautiful surroundings.
Listen to Sea Organ in the sunset
There is no better way to finish your day than enjoying the sunset on one of the most unique attractions in the world. Right on the Zadar promenade, you can find an interesting sound installation that uses sea motions and waves that hit the tubes hidden inside the steps that enter the sea.
The sea movement creates beautiful music that is a perfect background while you sit on the stairs and watch the sunset on the horizon.
Right next to the Sea Organ, another amazing installation by the same creator, creates a unique show when the sun sets and the night falls, Monument to the Sun. More than 300 glass panels are built in the ground in circular shapes. The biggest one represents the sun and is surrounded by smaller ones that represent the rest of the solar system.
When the night falls the panels glow in different colors so the visitors can enjoy a mesmerizing light show while listening to the most beautiful music created by Sea Organs.
