Zadar and its surroundings offer numerous adventures for an active vacation, whether you want to get to know the beautiful nature of its archipelago, explore the rich cultural heritage or admire the power of nature in national parks and nature parks. You choose, but while you are visiting, definitely do not miss the following:
Zadar beaches for children and family vacation
The clean sea and gentle Zadar coast make the area around the town itself a beautiful public beach that is a favourite of locals and visitors alike. However, if you want to enjoy the shade or embark on water adventures, you will have the best family outing at Borik and Vitrenjak beaches. You can also enjoy Kolovare, Diklo and Punta Bajlo beaches, which are known as the best in the town.
Beaches of Petrčane
Petrčane has beaches that are safe for children, while offering the shade of pine trees that you can relax under when you have had enough of the sun. You can choose between developed concrete, pebble, or sandy beaches, and what they all have in common is the shallow sea, which is ideal for a carefree day-long enjoyment of the sea.
Beaches of Kožino
Crystal clear sea, shallow coves, and developed pebble or concrete beaches adorn Kožino. In addition to the eponymous Kožino beach, in this small picturesque town, you can also find a cove in one of the beaches that will meet your specific needs for an ideal family day by the sea.
Beaches in the vicinity of Zadar you can’t miss
Although Zadar and its surroundings already offer an abundance of beautiful beaches, we recommend exploring the pearls of its archipelago and other attractive beaches:
- Queen’s Beach, Nin. Just a few kilometres northwest of Zadar lies the three-kilometre-long sandy Queen’s Beach (Kraljičina plaža) with a shallow lagoon.
- Sabunike Beach, Privlaka. Relax on the remote Sabunike beach not far from Nin, ideal if you want some peace and privacy. Indulge in the sea currents in a surfing adventure against the backdrop of the Velebit mountain!
- Sakarun Beach, Dugi otok. A visit to Zadar is not complete without exploring the fascinating Dugi otok and its Sakarun beach, a sandy bay with a unique colour of the sea.
- Slanica Beach, Murter. A slightly longer trip to the Slanica beach on the island of Murter is worth it. You will be greeted by shallow and clean water splashing against silky sand, with the tempting shade of scented pines nearby.
Dog-friendly beaches in Zadar
What is a vacation without a pet? If you are a pet owner, you will be interested to read about the places where you can freely enjoy the sea and the sun with your dog. At the end of the Punta Bajlo beach on the islet of Sveti Klement, Zadar has a special beach for dogs where you will find everything you need for your four-legged friend’s vacation.
Cultural attractions of Zadar
Start your exploration by visiting the Sea Organ and the Greeting to the Sun, architectural installations designed by Nikola Bašić. Enjoy the sounds of the organ set in motion by the sea waves, and at sunset, experience the Greeting to the Sun, a unique installation consisting of three hundred solar panels that collect sunlight and proudly glow in a spectacle of colours in the evening.
If you continue further into the town, you will reach the church of St. Donatus, a magnificent cylindrical church dating back to the 9th century, which is nowadays the symbol of the town. While admiring the view, you will also be able to see the remains of the Roman Forum, which once served as the main centre of public life. Do not forget to take a walk or drink a coffee on the People’s Square, visit the Zadar Cathedral, and explore the Five Wells Square, all important cultural pearls of the town. To finish off, take a walk down Kalelarga, the most important street in Zadar and a place for an unforgettable summer walk.
UNESCO heritage of the Zadar region
The uniqueness of the cultural heritage of the Zadar region has also been recognised and protected under the UNESCO designation: Zadar town walls and Pag lace. If you take a walk around the magnificent town walls of Zadar at night, you will understand why they were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2017. As the once largest fortified town of the Venetian Republic, during that time, Zadar got its imposing town walls for naval defence. And while you can only admire the town walls, you can learn the process of making Pag lace on a beginner’s course and thus create your own work of art.
Fortresses of Zadar and its surroundings
Turbulent history has left traces in the Zadar area, some of them in the form of defensive fortification systems from various periods. Experience the Zadar from another time.
- Fortress of St. Michael on the island of Ugljan is a magnificent build by the Venetian Republic dating back to the 12th century. A visit to this fortress will also reward you with views of the impressive Zadar archipelago.
- Today, Maškovića Han in Vrana is a boutique hotel, but it was originally conceived and built in the middle of the 17th century as a summer residence of Jusuf Mašković, a high dignitary at the Ottoman court.
- Benković Citadel from the second half of the 15th century was built by the noble family of the same name. Today, it serves as a stage for various cultural events.
- The fortress in Novigrad is the most impressive medieval building in the town, which tells an interesting story about Queen Elizabeth of Bosnia.
National parks and nature parks of the Zadar area
The impressive nature of the Zadar region is reflected in the fact that it has three nature parks:
- Nature Park Telašćica on the southern part of Dugi Otok consists of a peculiar bay, numerous islands and cliffs with many incredible beaches and coves. The park is recognizable by its high cliffs and the Mir salt lake.
- Vrana Lake Nature Park is the largest natural lake in Croatia and an ornithological reserve housing as many as 251 species of birds!
- Velebit Nature Park will amaze you with its impressive rocks, caves, and numerous exploration trails that await the bravest!
Do not miss out on the wonders of nature in as many as five national parks in the wider Zadar area:
Paklenica, Northern Velebit, Kornati, Krka, and Plitvice Lakes.
Do you have any questions that you need us to answer? Contact us at sales@zadar-apartments-and-villas.hr, we will do our best to provide you with all the information you need.
