2025 Zadar Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in April)

From Plitvice Lakes we arrived near the Sea Organ in Zadar, just in time for the beautiful sunset! The entire sea surface and steps were dyed golden yellow, which was simply stunning! When the sun slowly slid towards the sea level, everyone sat on the steps and admired it. The sea here is really blue, and the reflection of each other is beautiful. 🌅Unlike other sunsets, Zadar not only has a golden sunset, but also the melody of the sea organ accompanied by the waves hitting the stone steps. 📜The sea organ plays music through the resonance of the waves and the polyethylene pipes under the marble steps. The music will also change with the frequency of the waves. Every sunset has its own music, a European romance, love to death! Sea Organ Sea Organ 📍Obala kralja Petra Kresimira IV, 23000, Zadar, Croatia 🍽️: The old town is right next to it. You can find a restaurant to have dinner at any time. It tastes really great. Especially the octopus appetizer! Restoran Bruschetta 📍Ul. Mihovila Pavlinovića 12, 23000, Zadar, Croatia #globaltravel #trip #EasternEurope #sunset

Wish I could transport back to my ##summervacation to beautiful Zadar #croatia Decided to go last minute and was only here for a few days, but had such an amazing experience! The stay was cheap and so was the flight from france. The weather was beautiful and people were so kind. Most of these pictures are from Dugi otok. Took a 7€ ferry from Zadar and stayed the whole day at Sakarun Beach! 10/10 recommend #instatravel #trip

Attraction: The Greeting to the Sun Address: Istarska obala, Zadar, Croatia Direction: Uber, Bus or Walk Opening Hours: 24 Hours In Zadar, near the Port has one of the best place for sunset. Next to it is the sea organ so you can hear “flute” like music while enjoying the sunset. After sunset, you can enjoy the light show right at the spot from “The Greeting to the sun” which is a solar panel that create colourful night show at night once it gets dark. Make sure you take lots of pictures! Tip: It can be very hot and sunny during the day, make sure to have enough water and sunscreen. #timetotravel #sunset #croatia #zadar

The city of Zadar is an ancient city with a history of 3,000 years. It is not a big city. You can explore the ancient city in about half a day. After visiting Plitvice Lakes National Park, it is a good stopover to the next city. #Local Tour

I traveled to Zadar in early September, there I visited a near by island called Preko and it was amazing. If you go there you should go to visit it.

| Croatia | Zadar | Most Beautiful Sunset | The evening in Zadar is the essence of the whole day, and the afterglow of the sunset still lingers in my heart. Zadar has a sunset that is known as the most beautiful in Europe and even in the world. Even the horror master Hitchcock once said: "If you want to see the most beautiful sunset in the world, please come to Zadar." A nine-day trip through Croatia. I have gone out to sea at dusk in Dubrovnik; sat on the pier of Hvar Island waiting for the sunset; and lay on the beach in Split to enjoy the sun, but I have to say that the sunset in Zadar is the most magnificent. Croatia, with temperatures below 30 degrees Celsius, is warm and it made me understand what a heat wave is like. It has a strong Mediterranean style while retaining a historical atmosphere. The locals' pursuit of life can be summed up in one word: "leisurely". Will Croatia be my next backpacking destination? Erm...I would still like to come on vacation and enjoy the Mediterranean sunshine and beaches in a different way. The most beautiful sunset serves as a summary of Croatia and brings this journey to a perfect end. Next stop, Slovenia. _____________________________________________ 📍 Obala kralja Petra Krešimira IV, 23000, Zadar, Croatia #mytravoto #LifeThisNeverEndingJourney #IslandHoliday #TravelInspiration #TheMostCoolTravelExperience #OverseasTravel

| Croatia | Zadar | Sea Organ | Croatia's last stop - Zadar. Although it is the fifth largest city, the number of tourists here is obviously less than before, but the historical flavor is still increasing. The historical monuments in the old town are all influenced by the Renaissance in neighboring Italy, and also have some architectural styles from the Goethe period. Surprisingly, the buildings here are in perfect harmony with the surrounding shops, and the two blend perfectly. After lunch, take a walk along the seaside and visit the world's first ocean organ. Thirty-five hollow steel pipes of different lengths and sizes are buried at the bottom of the white stone steps. As the tides rise and fall, they create pieces of ocean music. This open-air concert attracted tourists from all over the world to take a break. I took off my shoes, sat on the bottom step of the stone steps, soaked my feet in the cool sea water, and enjoyed the Mediterranean style. The sound of the waves crashing together with the tones of the sea organ create a unique melody. This is the "voice of the sea". _____________________________________________ 📍 Obala kralja Petra Krešimira IV, 23000, Zadar, Croatia 🕑 Open 24 hours #mytravoto #LifeThisNeverEndingJourney #BestTravelExperience #TravelInspiration #ScenicScenicPhotographyGuide #OverseasTravel

The #seaorgan is an architectural sound art object located in #zadar, #croatia and an experimental musical instrument, which plays music by way of sea waves and tubes located underneath a set of large marble steps. #unbelievable #happynewyear

Zadar to a historic old town of Roman ruins, medieval churches, cosmopolitan cafes and quality museums. #zadar old town has a lots of beautiful #gardens at every corner of the town. #happynewyear

One of the most intriguing things about #zadar in #croatia, there is the way Roman ruins seem to sprout randomly from the city's streets. Nowhere is this more evident than at the site of the ancient forum, constructed between the 1st century BC and the 3rd century AD. As in Roman times it's still the centre of civic and religious life. #travelinspiration #roman #ruins #happynewyear

#AprilTravelSupport This is a restaurant I stopped by while sightseeing in Zadar Old Town. The outdoor chairs were so pretty, so I enjoyed a cup of coffee here and the Old Town. The atmosphere was great, so I recommend it as a place I want to go eat next time. 📍Ul. Jurja Dalmatinca 3, 23000, Zadar, Croatia

#AprilTravelSupport The FRITTO MISTIO I tried at a Zadar restaurant had a really thin batter, which was just my style. When I go to other restaurants, the batter is often thick and the fillings are small, but this place was really different. The batter was of exceptional quality, and the dip I dipped it in was so delicious. I recommend it because it tastes so good with Radler beer. #croatiatravel

#AprilTravelSupport This is the restaurant where I had the most delicious food in Zadar, so I recommend it. Since there are no tables if you don't make a reservation for dinner, I visited during a quiet time and had a leisurely, delicious black risotto. I've had it elsewhere, but this one was much more al dente, and I could feel that the fish broth was made with a richer flavor. I like this place even more because it was recommended by a Zadar Museum employee. #croatiatravel

When "Game of Thrones" transformed Dubrovnik into the prototype of "King's Landing," when Zadar's Sea Organ was named "World's Most Beautiful Sunset" by Lonely Planet, Croatia still maintains its mysterious low profile. Once the vacation backyard of the ancient Roman Empire and a golden stopover for Venetian merchant ships, it is now Europe's hidden template for slow living—red roofs burning under the sunshine, sea water as blue as if God had adjusted its color, and time forever frozen in the crevices of medieval stone steps. --- ### 📜 7-Day Classic Route: From Epic Ancient Cities to Secret Lakes Day 1-2 Dubrovnik | Pilgrimage Site for Game of Thrones Fans - Must-Experience: - Enjoy the city walls at 7 AM (ticket €35), overlooking the "jewel blue" gradient of the Adriatic Sea - Find the "Walk of Shame" stairs on Stradun Street (free), with Mother of Dragons' style ice cream in hand - Take the cable car to Mount Srđ (€27), order squid risotto with sunset at Panorama Restaurant - Secret Spot: Buža Bar cliff bar, jump into crystal waters through a gap in the city wall Day 3 Hvar Island | Lavender-scented Party Paradise - Transportation: 1.5-hour speedboat from Split (Krilo company/€25 one-way) - Activities: - Rent electric bicycles to tour the island (€20), photograph purple lavender fields in Stari Grad town (best in June) - Climb the Spanish Fortress at dusk (ticket €7), watch white sailboats turn golden pink Day 4 Split | Living Fossil of Ancient Rome - Wonder: Diocletian's Palace Basement (filming location for Mother of Dragons' dungeon, ticket €10) - Food: Stewed baby octopus at Konoba Varos (€28), paired with local Plavac Mali red wine Day 5-6 Plitvice Lakes | Europe's Jiuzhaigou - Photography Bible: - Head straight to the Great Waterfall (Veliki Slap) from Entrance 1, capture the "green silk" lake surface in morning mist - Take the electric boat across Lake Kozjak (included in ticket), chance encounters with wild deer drinking water - Accommodation Comparison: Hotels inside the park vs. lakeside cabins, the latter saves 50% of your budget Day 7 Zadar | Listen to the Sea Organ - Magical Moment: Arrive at the Sea Organ steps 1 hour before sunset, tides play "Earth's Song" - Easter Egg: Greeting to the Sun installation, light up the LED light dance with your footsteps --- ### 🍽️ Taste of Croatia: 3 Must-Try Soul Foods 1. Black Risotto (Crni Rižot) - Seafood hidden in squid ink-dyed rice (recommended at "Proto" restaurant in Dubrovnik) 2. Truffle Pasta - Wild white truffle shavings from the Istrian Peninsula (most authentic in Motovun town) 3. Peka Stew - Slow-cooked lamb chops + potatoes in stone oven (reservation required 4 hours in advance) --- ### 🚗 Practical Toolkit - Transportation: Coastal self-driving offers the most freedom (car rental €50/day), book island ferries in advance using the Jadrolinija App - Money-saving: Buy Dubrovnik Pass (includes city walls + 5 museums), picnic with bread + smoked meat from supermarkets - Avoid Traps: Check Google ratings for old town restaurants, avoid "tourist traps" with English-only menus --- The magic of Croatia lies in turning every traveler into a time traveler—eating ice cream under Roman columns in Diocletian's Palace, drinking the same red wine in Hvar's vineyards as 2,000 years ago, understanding why Earth needs national parks in front of the waterfalls of Plitvice Lakes. There's no anxiety of "social media check-ins" here, only the Adriatic sea breeze year after year, carving the contours of stone walls and souls. "We will eventually return to Croatia, Not because of unfinished scenery, But because of those incomplete Lessons about slow living." --- 📌 Blogger's Exclusive Tips - Outfit: Prepare white/red long dresses, perfect for photos against the old town backdrop - Question: Add at the end "Which Croatian experience appeals to you most? Game of Thrones scenes/island hopping/waterfall hiking?" - Related Content: End with links to "Croatia Self-driving Pitfall Guide" or "Balkan Three-Country Tour Guide"

#AprilTravelSupport When I entered the hamburger shop that was full of only locals, everyone stared at me. The atmosphere was good, the hamburger was juicy, the bun was a brioche bun that was soft, and the sauce seemed to be a sauce that they had developed themselves. It was so delicious that I recommend it if you have a place to stay nearby, even though it's not in downtown Zadar. 📍PICNIC - mingle&fun #croatiatravel

#AprilTravelSupport This is the gate that leads to the port where you can take a passenger ship from Zadar Old Town in Croatia. There is a parking lot in front of this gate, so if you have a space, park here and take a look around because it is right in front of the Old Town. 📍Ul. Vrata Svetog Krševana, 23000, Zadar, Croatia

#AprilTravelSupport When you cross the bridge to get to Zadar Old Town, there are many ship companies anchored on the right. You can catch a ship to Preko here. The schedule is different during the off-season and peak season, so I recommend checking before boarding. #croatiatravel

#AprilTravelSupport This is a famous pizza restaurant in Zadar that I visited. I went there during a quiet time instead of a busy time, so I was able to sit on a nice terrace and eat. The rose wine was also delicious. I recommend stopping by and eating after sightseeing in Old Town. #croatiatravel

#AprilTravelSupport Zadar City Hall was built in an arched space, and it was interesting to see something like a modern building connected behind it. And when touring Zadar Old Town, one thing to be careful of is that the floor is very slippery. I recommend wearing sneakers when touring Zadar Old Town. #croatiatravel

#AprilTravelSupport The tower building that used to be an observation deck in Zadar Old Town Park is gone, but now there are stairs that people can climb up. Once you get to the top, you can rest on the flat ground and look out at the view, so I recommend it. 📍Queen Jelena Madijevka Park

#AprilTravelSupport You can find traces of Roman walls all over Zadar's Old Town. Zadar, where the remains of Roman walls mingle with modern buildings from back in time, is worth seeing, so I recommend it to those traveling to Croatia. #croatiatravel

#AprilTravelSupport There was a wonderful art exhibition at Captain's Tower located in Five Wells Square. If you want the works of local artists, you can buy them, so I recommend it to those who are interested. #croatiatravel

#AprilTravelSupport There was a small gallery inside Captain's Tower that was open for free, so I visited for a while. They said that if you pay 3 euros, you can go up to the top of the tower and look at the view, but unfortunately, the day I visited was very cloudy, so I recommend visiting on a day with good weather. #croatiatravel

#AprilTravelSupport Zadar Old Town Trg Petra Zoranica Square is a special place where cafes and restaurants are gathered between archaeological ruins, so I recommend you visit it. As the evening approaches, it becomes more crowded and lively, so I recommend it as a good place to feel the Croatian vibe. #croatiatravel

While exploring the area near Five Wells Square, I had the chance to visit the Catholic church when it happened to be open. After the mass ended, during the cleaning time, a group of tourists entered the church, and I joined them to take a look around. This church houses the relics of St. Simon and does not seem to be open all the time. However, it is definitely worth a visit, and I highly recommend it. 📍Ul. don Ive Prodana 13, 23000, Zadar, Croatia

#AprilTravelSupport While waiting for a bus from Zadar Airport to the city center, a man approached me and offered to wait for other passengers to gather for the same price as the bus (5 euros) and then take me to the city center in a 9-seater van. I didn't trust him, so I just took the bus into the city center. I'm not sure if it's legal, and there were no company names or billboards, so I recommend being careful. #croatiatravel

#AprilTravelSupport There were boats, cafes, and booths promoting boat tours parked in front of the Gradski Bridge in front of Zadar Old Town. If you visit Zadar, I recommend it as a beautiful place to pass by or enjoy the scenery. 📍Obala kneza Branimira 10A, 23000, Zadar, Croatia #croatiatravel