Sponsored content
In Zadar, located in the middle of the Adriatic coast, adventurers needn’t choose between exploring the mountains or the sea – both are easily reached from this vibrant and storied city. Sandwiched between the Velebit mountains and the blue Adriatic Sea and blessed with hundreds of islands, history-drenched streets and a thriving food and wine scene, Zadar might just have it all.
Whether you fancy hiking, cycling, diving, kayaking or just a tour of a few sunny vineyards, we’ve rounded up ten of the best adventures on offer.
10 adventurous ways to explore Zadar
Zadar City strolls
Start off with a city stroll around Zadar. This 3,000-year-old UNESCO city has endless layers of fascinating history to uncover, from the Romans to the Venetians, but today the Old Town also has a modern, buzzy feel, with locals grabbing coffee or stopping for an ice-cream in the sunshine. Follow the famous City Walls, which defended the city from invaders for centuries, to reach Zadar’s two most famous art installations, the Sea Organ, which plays music made by waves passing through tubes, and the ‘Greeting to the Sun’, a solar-powered display which lights up at night. This is also the perfect spot to catch a Zadar sunset – Alfred Hitchcock called them the most beautiful in the world.
Island hopping in Zadar
Hop on a boat right from Zadar’s harbour to seek out hundreds of gem-like islands and islets. There’s Ugligan, famous for its olive groves, rocky Pag, great for mountain biking, off-the-beaten track Premuda, or even tiny Galesnjak, which went viral online for its perfect heart shape. It’s hard to pick just one island to explore in Zadar but Dugi Otok is a great place to start – just 45 minutes by boat from the city centre, it’s a green and peaceful place edged by rugged cliffs and sandy beaches, perfect for hiking, swimming and stand-up paddleboarding.
Kayaking Dugi Otok
While you’re on Dugi Otok, be sure to grab a kayak to explore its rugged coastline and sapphire seas by paddle power. Start in Sali or Božava, where you can rent sit-on-top kayaks, and explore along limestone cliffs and sea caves, stopping at Saharun Beach for a swim in shallow turquoise waters or braving the eerie sea caves near Brbinjšćica Bay.
Diving the deep
Adventures await under the water, too - did you know Zadar is a hotspot for diving and snorkelling? Dive into the clear waters of the Adriatic Sea to explore vibrant marine life, underwater caves, and ancient shipwrecks. Zadar's dive sites cater to both beginners and seasoned divers, but the top location for diving has to Nature Park Telašćica, where the Adriatic cliffs create huge underwater sea walls home to amazing wildlife.
Hiking the hills of Zadar
Pack your hiking boots for Paklenica National Park. Only 30 minutes from Zadar city, this is a sprawling rocky playground for hikers and climbers. Part of the Velebit mountain massive, the largest mountain chain in Croatia, there’s something for every hiker here, from easy to demanding trails, but they all offer breathtaking vistas of limestone gorges and deep canyons as well as mountain huts to stop off at.
Rocking out: Climbing in Zadar
Paklenica National Park is also world-famous for its rock-climbing routes. If you’re an expert, you can get up close and personal with Anića Kuk, Zadar’s version of El Capitan, which draws crowds of climbers each year to its notorious north face. There are also a further 590 marked and bolted routes to suit all levels across the park, and lessons for beginners and kids are also available with the local guides at Paklenica Advanturist.
Cycling the countryside of the Zadar Region
Zadar is perfect for exploring by pedal power. Mountain bikers should head to Paklenica for an 8km route of the national park or head to the island of Pag to explore its moonlike rocky landscape on two wheels. For a relaxed day out, cycle from Zadar to the seaside city of Nin. Or pack your binoculars and bike to Lake Vrana - the largest lake in Croatia is known for its biodiversity and offers more than 50km of cycle paths in and around an ornithological reserve.
White water rafting in Zadar
For a big dose of wet’n’wild adrenaline, hop on board a raft. The rivers of Zrmanja and Krupa are home to rocky falls, white-horse rapids and spectacular canyons as well as wide expanses of more peaceful waters for an easier ride. Riva Rafting takes groups on the Zrmanja River over a 14km course suitable for families and beginners.
Cool caving in Zadar
Head deep in the heart of Zadar by donning a helmet for a spot of caving. A local speleologist will be your guide to the huge cathedral-like expanses of Modrič Cave, home to stalactites and stalagmites and immense underground chambers hidden under Paklenica National Park. Or for something truly awe-inspiring, head to the vast Cerovac Caves, the largest cave complex in Croatia. Located in the beautiful Nature Park Velebit, there are two main caves open to the public, allowing visitors 725m into the cave system and following in the footsteps (pawsteps?) of ancient cave bears that used to call these caverns home.
Vineyard-hopping in Zadar
Zadar has a thriving wine scene, and grapes have grown in the region for thousands of years. Today, boutique and eco-friendly wineries dotted across the countryside are perfect for a vineyard-hopping adventure, and many also serve the very best local food – Zadar specialties include pag sheep’s milk cheese, wind-dried prosciutto, grilled fish and a hearty stew known as peka.
For more information about finding adventure in Zadar, go to zadar.hr
