On this very rainy day we will explore another Croatian coastal town – Zadar. It’s known for its beautiful old town and famous for its sunsets. Due to the horrible weather we will do a bit of a speed run through Zadar’s most famous tourist attractions, and then we will try to trick the rain by driving to the nearby Nin, which is truly a gem. Have you heard about it? But of course we will come back to Zadar for the sunset. We have to see if it is truly one of the most beautiful sunsets in the world.
So grab your raincoat and let’s figure out what to see in Zadar together!
Location: Zadar
Cost: Free (if You just explore outside and don’t go in any of the attractions)
Length: We spent ~4h in total to explore all the attractions listed below, but I would recommend spending the whole day here if you have the time
How to get there: Public transport or driving. We parked in paid parking close to Old town.
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What to See in Zadar Old Town?
When you’ve visited enough cities along the Dalmatian coast, you start noticing a pattern. All these cities have an old town that’s separated from the rest of the living quarters by thick walls, with a grand entry gate (or gates) that feels like a portal to another world. Once you step through, you’re transported from the everyday world into a land of beautiful old buildings, winding streets, and delightful surprises around every corner.
Zadar’s Impressive Land Gate
Location: Land gate
There are multiple grand entry gates to Zadar’s Old town.
But the gate you really can’t miss is the Land Gate. It’s adorned with the Venetian Empire’s coat of arms—the iconic winged lion—and some other truly impressive sculpture work. What other symbols can you find in this pic?
People’s Square of Zadar (Narodni Trg)
Location: Narodni Trg
Not even the rain can stop people mingling in Zadar’s streets. And one of the best spots for people-watching is said to be the People’s Square. Now, I’m not a huge people-watcher myself—I prefer admiring beautiful old buildings. Luckily, People’s Square has plenty of those too.
If you look at the right you’ll see a building that is practically an art piece – adorned with multiple reliefs of what I believe are city scenes. The detailing is phenomenal! I think this is the Zadar Town Hall, but don’t quote me on that.
On the other end of Zadars people square you’ll spot a clock tower. That’s the city’s old guard. Let me impress you with some numbers. It was built in the 1500’s. The clock was added later in the 19th century.
As I later found out there is also a Church of St. Lawrence hiding somewhere here, but I couldn’t spot it. Maybe you’ll have better luck playing detective than I do!
On the third side of the square is the Zadar City Loggia. I don’t have a good photo of it (blame the rain), but it’s a building with grand columns and arches. It used to serve as a courthouse, but now it’s an exhibition hall. We peeked inside, and I loved that they’ve kept the giant stone judge’s desk as the centrepiece.
Wandering Through Zadar’s Old Town Streets
When it comes to wandering through Zadars Old town streets – it’s fifty shades of Beige. But it’s not a sad beige, as the textures and details bring it to life. And the little shops selling clothes, souvenirs, and even rubber ducks add a pop of colour with their vibrant window displays.
If you wander without a plan, you might stumble across hidden gems like this charming little courtyard. Look up! I bet the neighbours on opposite sides could open their windows in the morning and enjoy coffee together.
5 Wells Square in Zadar
Location: 5 wells square
For some reason, the image I associated most with Zadar before coming here was the 5 Wells Square.
As you might guess, it’s a large open-air area with five identical wells. They’re no longer functional, though. The buckets are gone, and they’re locked with metal covers now, but they for sure are beautiful. Plus these wells have already served their time, back in the day, providing Zadar with water during turbulent times.
In the background, you can see Captain’s Tower, which was once part of the city’s defence system. And on the right, you’ll find the city walls and an entrance to Queen Jelena Madijevka Park – the oldest one in the town.
Zadar’s Churches
Location: St. Donatus church
There is a lot to unpack in this scene. As there are 2 intriguing churches fighting for your attention in the same place.
The smaller, round one is the Church of St. Donatus, dating back to the 9th century. What I find fascinating is that some of the parts from the old Roman Forum, on which it was built, were used in its construction.
And that beautiful tower belongs to St. Anastasia’s Cathedral. I saw a blog post describing this church as “elegant,” and I couldn’t agree more. Just look at those ornaments above the window arches!
Climbing the bell tower is a top tourist activity in Zadar. It was on my bucket list too. But due to our plan of escaping the rain we thought we would come back to it later. But we never did. So if you do climb it, please let me know how it was!
Our side quest to Nin (just ~30 min away)
What to See on Zadar Promenade?
Although I love Split’s palm trees, Zadar’s promenade might just be my favourite from all the promenades I visited during my Croatia road trip.
Sunset on Zadar Promenade
Location: Zadar promenade
You start your walk on a narrow pathway by the old town walls and then come to this open area by the sea where the pavement stretches as far as the eye can see. I bet it’s beautiful any time of day, but it’s perfect for an evening stroll to catch the sunset.
Let’s just take a moment to enjoy the peace and quiet.
The closer we get to the end of the promenade, the busier it becomes. We had this brilliant idea to watch the sunset from here, but guess who else had the same idea? Literally everyone else in Zadar.
By now, the Sea Organ—a mystical musical instrument that plays haunting sounds created by the waves—was swarmed with tourists. No chance of getting a seat to hear its melody. So here is a pro tip: come at a different time of day to really enjoy it.
Luckily, there’s plenty of space at the end of the promenade where we can sit. We watch the sun dip below the horizon, and the ships sail by. When a larger ferry passes, its waves give a boost to the Sea organ and we hear a long lonely howl from up here too.
And for those wondering—the sunset in Zadar is indeed beautiful.
Greeting to the Sun
Location: Greeting to the Sun
Once the sun sets, everyone, almost like they’re part of an organised group, moves to the next attraction.
On Zadar’s promenade, there’s an installation of solar panels that collect light during the day and turn it into a playful light show after dark.
People gather around it, forming a big circle, waiting for the “Greeting to the Sun” to come to life. At first, everyone seems a bit shy, hesitant to step onto the panels. Only the kids are having the time of their life, running around and doing tricks.
The lights start off a bit shy too, but as the night grows darker, they shine brighter, displaying various colourful patterns. Visitors loosen up as well, eventually stepping onto the installation to snap that perfect selfie.
What a perfect way to end the day in Zadar.
Thoughts?
As I mentioned earlier, we had very little time to explore Zadar due to our side quest to Nin. I’d rather call this visit a “starter” than the main course. But from what I saw, Zadar is yet another beautiful Croatian town with historic buildings and arguably the most walk-friendly promenade I’ve experienced on this trip.
Frequently asked questions about visiting Zadar
Zadar vs Split. Which one to choose?
Both cities boast charming old towns, stunning beaches, and mouthwatering seafood, so you really can’t go wrong with either.
Now, I’ve heard that Zadar is supposed to be less touristy than Split, but honestly, from what I experienced, the crowds seemed pretty similar. The number of people wandering the attractions and streets felt about the same, and prices didn’t differ much either. That being said, I visited in the beginning of June, so the situation may be different in peak season.
For me, the biggest difference between the two cities lies in the day trips they offer. If you’re dreaming of exploring Plitvice Lakes or Kornati National Park, Zadar is your best bet—it’s closer to both of these natural wonders than Split. Plus, Šibenik is just a short drive away from Zadar, making it an easy and worthwhile trip.
How did we get around Zadar?
Although we had a rental car, Zadar’s old town is pedestrian only, so we left the car in one of the paid parking lots and explored by foot. The price of the parking lot was within our budget, but make sure you have cash on hand, as the one we parked at was cash only.
What to see in Nin, Croatia
Full Croatia – Bosnia road trip itinerary