What are the best things to do in Zadar?
Start with Sea Organ, Paklenica National Park, and Sveto Brdo. This guide maps 47 curated places in Zadar, including sights, activities, food and shopping.
Photo: Andrej Šalov / CC BY-SA 3.0
Your complete guide to Zadar: the landmarks worth your time, the food locals love, the quiet corners most visitors miss, plus what's on while you're here. Discover it all in the CroVenture app.
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Zadar travel questions, answered
Quick answers based on 47 curated places and 3 ready-made routes.
Where can I find hidden gems in Zadar?
The guide currently includes 8 hidden gems in Zadar. Start with Sea Organ, Paklenica National Park, and Sveto Brdo and use the city sections to see each place alongside nearby sights and routes.
Which walking itinerary can I follow in Zadar?
Choose from Zadar's Roman Heart, Where the Sea Sings, and Zadar's Collections. Each route shows its curated stops in order, so you can plan the walk before using CroVenture on location.
Tours and tickets
Browse all Zadar experiences Book things to do in Zadar
Guided walks, boat days and skip-the-line tickets in and around Zadar, bookable in a couple of taps with free cancellation on most.
Walking and city tours
Get your bearings with a local guide and see the highlights first.
View availabilityBoat trips and islands
Island hops, sea caves and swim stops on the water.
View availabilityDay trips and tickets
National parks, wine country and skip-the-line entries nearby.
View availabilityAffiliate disclosure: Croatia Atlas may earn a commission when you book through these links, at no extra cost to you. Prices and availability are handled by the provider.
Plan
Zadar itineraries
Ready-made walking routes with a clear order and curated stops.
9 stops
All Croatia itinerariesZadar's Roman Heart
Wander the ancient forum and churches
Plan4 stopsWhere the Sea Sings
Catch the sunset by the Sea Organ
Plan3 stopsZadar's Collections
Roman glass, reliquaries and illusions
PlanDon't miss
Hidden gems in Zadar
Legendary
Activity
Sea Organ
Marble steps where the sea itself plays music.
Photo: Andrej Šalov / CC BY-SA 3.0
Legendary
Activity
Paklenica National Park
The Velebit hiking gateway above Starigrad, with canyons, peaks and marked mountain trails.
Photo: Andro Galinovic / CC BY-SA 4.0
Legendary
Activity
Sveto Brdo
A high Velebit summit with huge views and a demanding approach.
Photo: Martin Vavrik / Public domain
Watch
Zadar on video
City films and short reels from the streets, the water and everywhere between.
TikTokZadar from the water
TikTokZadar
TikTokZadar's Greeting to the Sun after dark
TikTokZadar
Meet. Feel. Explore. Zadar
YouTubeZadar2:24
Places
Explore Zadar by category
Open the category you need now, then take the full set with you in the app.
Sights
20
Sights
20
Hidden gem
Sight
Church of St Simeon
A baroque church guarding a saint in a silver chest.
Photo: Maestralno / Public domain
Hidden gem
Sight
Stomorica Church Remains
Excavated footings of an early medieval church.
Photo: Andrej Šalov / CC BY-SA 3.0
Hidden gem
Sight
Oštri Rat Lighthouse
A lighthouse north of the entrance to Zadar harbour.
Photo: Böhringer Friedrich / CC BY-SA 2.5
Sight
Church of St Donatus
A round 9th-century Byzantine church.
Photo: Pudelek (Marcin Szala) / CC BY-SA 3.0
Sight
Roman Forum
The largest Roman forum on the Croatian coast.
Photo: dronepicr / CC BY 2.0
Sight
Cathedral of St Anastasia
The largest Romanesque cathedral in Dalmatia.
Photo: H.Helmlechner / CC BY-SA 4.0
Plus 14 more, unlocked as you explore in the CroVenture app.
- Crkva sv. Klementa
- Land Gate
- Five Wells Square
- Kalelarga
- Church of St Mary
- People's Square
- Captain’s Tower
- City Guard
- City Loggia
- Zadar City Walls
- Sea Gate
- Church of St Chrysogonus
- Church of St Michael
- Church and Monastery of St Francis
Activities
24
Activities
24 Legendary
Activity
Sea Organ
Marble steps where the sea itself plays music.
Photo: Andrej Šalov / CC BY-SA 3.0
Legendary
Activity
Paklenica National Park
The Velebit hiking gateway above Starigrad, with canyons, peaks and marked mountain trails.
Photo: Andro Galinovic / CC BY-SA 4.0
Legendary
Activity
Sveto Brdo
A high Velebit summit with huge views and a demanding approach.
Photo: Martin Vavrik / Public domain
Hidden gem
Activity
Gold and Silver of Zadar
A thousand years of reliquaries the nuns hid from war.
Photo: Marie-Lan Nguyen / Public domain
Activity
Greeting to the Sun
A circle of light that makes the stored sun dance at night.
Photo: Hajotthu / CC BY-SA 3.0
Activity
Museum of Ancient Glass
Roman glass, and glassblowers at work.
Photo: Carole Raddato from FRANKFURT, Germany / CC BY-SA 2.0
Plus 18 more, unlocked as you explore in the CroVenture app.
- Queen Jelena Park
- Museum of Illusions
- Kolovare Beach
- Arsenal Zadar
- Duke’s Palace
- Providur’s Palace
- Archaeological Museum Zadar
- National Museum Zadar
- Zadar Riva
- Foša Harbour
- Borik Beach
- Puntamika Beach
- Uskok Beach
- Karma Beach
- Diklo Beach
- Velika Paklenica Canyon
- Tulove Grede
- Zrmanja Canyon Viewpoint
Shopping
3
Shopping
3
Shopping
City Galleria
Compact shopping mall with shops and cafés.
Photo: Böhringer Friedrich / CC BY-SA 2.5
Shopping
Zadar Green Market
The city market by the old town walls: stalls of fruit, vegetables and local produce from early morning.
Photo: Matti Blume / CC BY-SA 4.0
Read
Zadar stories & guides
Local know-how to make the most of your visit.
ItineraryZadar to Ugljan without a car: an easy day in Preko
Use the passenger boat from Zadar's central port, then combine Preko's waterfront, historic churches, Galevac views and a swim without needing an island transfer.
12 August 2026Zadar4 min
GuideZadar tips: what to see beyond the sunset
The Sea Organ gets the evening. The rest of Zadar is a Roman forum, a round ninth-century church and one long street that organises everything.
29 July 2026Zadar4 min
GuideZadar sunset guide: Roman stone, sea music and the right final hour
Zadar is at its best when the Old Town slowly turns toward the water. Use this route from Land Gate to Forum, Sea Organ and Greeting to the Sun.
3 July 2026Zadar6 min
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