Holiday in Zadar

What makes Zadar special as a destination?

Zadar on the Croatian Adriatic coast is a 3,000-year-old city that combines ancient Roman ruins with avant-garde art while remaining surprisingly unpretentious. Alfred Hitchcock called the sunset in Zadar the most beautiful in the world — and anyone standing on the promenade in the evening watching the sun sink into the sea immediately understands why. The Sea Organ (Morske Orgulje) designed by architect Nikola Basic is unique in the world: beneath the wide marble steps by the sea are tubes that produce natural, meditative sounds through the movement of the waves — an endless concert of the sea. Right next to it, the Greeting to the Sun (Pozdrav Suncu), a circular installation made of 300 glass plates that store solar energy during the day, transforms the promenade into a fascinating light show after dark. The old town on a peninsula houses the oldest university campus in Croatia, the Romanesque Cathedral of St. Anastasia, the unique round church of Sveti Donat from the 9th century, and the Roman Forum — the largest east of the Adriatic. The streets of the old town are filled with cafes, konobas, and boutiques, without the mass tourism of Dubrovnik. From Zadar, excursions to the Kornati National Park, an archipelago of 89 barren, uninhabited islands with crystal-clear water, which is among the best sailing and diving spots in the Mediterranean, start. The Krka Waterfalls and Paklenica National Park are also within reach. Zadar is a perfect insider tip for those seeking authentic Croatia.