Zadar Tours &
Things to Do
Discover the best Zadar tours, the Roman old town with its famous Sea Organ and Sun Salutation, island-hopping speedboat trips to the Kornati and Dugi Otok, and day trips to the Plitvice Lakes and Krka waterfalls. Compare top-rated activities and plan your perfect Zadar itinerary.
rating
Explore Zadar by interest
Whatever brings you to Zadar — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
Island hopping
Hidden bays and beaches.
ExplorePlitvice Lakes
Croatia’s natural wonder.
ExploreOld Town
Roman Forum and the Sea Organ.
ExploreKornati Islands
The national park maze.
ExploreKrka Waterfalls
Emerald cascades and pools.
ExploreFood & wine
Dalmatian flavours and wine.
ExploreKayak & adventure
The Zrmanja river canyon.
ExploreDay trips
Plitvice, Krka and Pag.
ExploreTop attractions in Zadar
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Kornati Islands
The national park maze.
Plitvice Lakes
Croatia’s natural wonder.
Sea Organ & Sun Salutation
Music and light by the sea.
Krka Waterfalls
Emerald cascades and pools.
Roman Forum
Ancient ruins and St Donatus.
Pag island
A unique moon-like landscape.
Dugi Otok & Sakarun
White-sand bays and caves.
Food & wine
Dalmatian flavours.
Zadar in 1 day
- 1Roman Forum & St Donatus
- 2Marble streets
- 3Sea Organ
- 4Sun Salutation sunset
Zadar in 2 days
- 1Day 1: Old town & Sea Organ
- 2Day 2: Island hopping
- 3Swim & snorkel
- 4Sunset by the sea
Zadar in 3 days
- 1Day 1: Old town & Sea Organ
- 2Day 2: Island hopping
- 3Day 3: Plitvice or Krka
- 4Waterfalls & lakes
Zadar with kids
- 1Sea Organ music
- 2Boat trip & swim
- 3Krka waterfall pools
- 4Sun Salutation lights
1.5 hrs awayPlitvice Lakes
Croatia’s natural wonder.
1.5 hrs awayKrka Waterfalls
Emerald cascades and pools.
Full day awayKornati Islands
The national park maze.
1 hr awayPag island
A moon-like landscape and cheese.
Boat awayDugi Otok
Sakarun beach and caves.
1 hr awayŠibenik
A UNESCO cathedral city.
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Zadar visitor asks before booking.
The sweet-spot months
Late spring (May–June) and early autumn (September) bring warm weather, a swimmable sea and thinner crowds, with all boat trips running — the best times to visit.
Spring (Apr–Jun)
Mild, blooming days ideal for the old town and parks, with the sea warming by June.
Summer (Jul–Aug)
Hot and lively, perfect for island-hopping and beaches, but the busiest and priciest; book ahead.
Autumn (Sep–Oct)
Warm sea, golden light and fewer crowds — a wonderful time for boat trips and the parks.
Winter (Nov–Mar)
Mild but quiet, with many boat trips paused; good for the old town, history and lower prices.
Boat season
Island-hopping and Kornati boat trips run mainly from spring to autumn, peaking in summer.
One day
Enough for the old town, the Sea Organ and a food tour.
Two days
Add an island-hopping boat trip.
Three days
The sweet spot: the old town, the islands, and Plitvice or Krka.
Four to five days
Add more parks, Pag island and the Zrmanja canyon.
A week or more
Use Zadar as a base for Dalmatia’s parks and islands.
Travelling with kids
Mix the Sea Organ, a gentle boat trip and Krka at a relaxed pace.
On foot
Zadar’s old town on its peninsula is compact and best explored on foot along the marble streets and waterfront.
Boats & ferries
Boats and ferries from the harbour reach the islands, the Kornati and Dugi Otok — the scenic way to travel.
Buses
Local and intercity buses connect the old town, the suburbs and the wider Dalmatian coast affordably.
Day-trip transport
Tours bundle transport for Plitvice and Krka, and boats for the Kornati and island-hopping.
From the airport
Zadar Airport links to the centre by shuttle bus in about 20–25 minutes.
By bike
The flat old town and waterfront are pleasant to cycle, with bikes available to rent.
Book boats & parks ahead
Popular island-hopping boat trips and Plitvice and Krka day trips sell out — book ahead in summer and around cruise calls.
Currency
Croatia uses the euro; cards are widely accepted, though carry some cash for small cafés and markets.
See the sunset
Watch the famous sunset by the Sea Organ and Sun Salutation — Alfred Hitchcock called Zadar’s the most beautiful in the world.
Try Dalmatian food
Sample fresh seafood, Pag cheese, prosciutto, olive oil and local wine in the old town’s konobas.
Pack swim gear
Bring swimwear, water shoes and snorkel for island trips and the parks; many boat tours stop for swimming.
Krka vs Plitvice
Choose Plitvice for grandeur and more lakes, or Krka for easier walks and swimming spots near Skradin.
Island-hopping trips
Popular speedboat and island tours sell out — book ahead.
Plitvice day trips
Plitvice Lakes tours fill up in summer — reserve early.
Krka day trips
Krka waterfall tours have limited places — book ahead.
Kornati cruises
Full-day Kornati boat trips are popular — reserve early.
Food & wine tours
Small-group food and wine tours fill up — book ahead.
Summer peak
July and August are very busy — plan well ahead.
Island-hopping trips
Around €40–90 for an island-hopping speedboat or boat tour.
Plitvice day trips
About €55–100 for a full-day Plitvice Lakes tour with tickets.
Krka day trips
Roughly €50–90 for a full-day Krka waterfalls tour.
Kornati cruises
Around €60–110 for a full-day Kornati National Park boat trip.
Old Town & food
About €18–55 for a walking or food-and-wine tour.
How to save
Walk the old town, enjoy the free Sea Organ and Sun Salutation, and pick group boat trips over private charters.
Zadar through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
- Best for
- Mild days for the old town and parks.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- The sea warms by June; great for boats.
- Best for
- Hot days for island-hopping and beaches.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Busiest; book boats and parks ahead.
- Best for
- Warm sea and fewer crowds.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- A wonderful time for boat trips.
- Best for
- Quiet old town and history.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Many boat trips pause; lower prices.