Zadar

General information about Zadar

For our most recent visit To Croatia we visited the Northern Coastal area called Istria and stayed in Rovinj and Pula. There are flights to Pula from the UK and we arranged a transfer with the owner of the apartment in Rovinj. We then used either buses or ferries for the rest of our travels onward to Pula, Zadar and finally Split.

Zadar is in Northern Dalmatia, the old town packed with Roman remain, medieval sites and modern day highlights is on what is almost an island linked to the rest of the city by a couple of bridges. The setting is lovely and there are numerous ferries to the various islands along the coast. There are nearby beaches and swimming platforms at the end of the old town.

Hotels & Accommodation in Zadar

The majority of the accommodation in the historic parts Croatian cities is in apartments which are easily booked through the usual sites, there are larger hotels outside the towns in beach resort areas and some small boutique hotels in the towns.

Check out the usual booking sites such as www.booking.com or www.hotels.com. Staying in the old part is a great idea to be able to make the most of the sites and larger hotels are in the new part or along the coast.

Restaurants & Bars

Restaurants

Pet Bunara, Stratico 1, is highly rates and situated in a lovely square packed with historic buildings. Booking is recommended and we had a lovely table on the terrace. The food was in the main excellent, one main was disappointing but it was removed from the bill without having to ask. The service was excellent and it is recommended.

4 Katuna, Varoshka 1, in the heart of the old town this very popular restaurant has outdoor seating but also a large very smart inside space. The food was excellent and it is easy to see why it is so popular.

Konoba Teatro, Jurja Bijankinija 7, is a friendly local feeling restaurant where we enjoyed an excellent lunch and also stopped for a drink, staff friendly and prices very reasonable.

Salsa Rossa, Poljana Pape Aleksandra III, we found this by chance and enjoyed a reasonably priced dinner with friendly service, a bit lacking in atmosphere but worth a visit.

Bars & Cafes

Bars & cafes in Croatia sell drinks, coffee and alcoholic but in 90% of cases no food, not even crisps or nuts but in most places if you are going for a coffee places are quite happy for you to take in your own pastry from one of the many bakers.

Deja Brew, Borelli 8, is a popular bar specialising as you may have worked out beers. Tables outside are very popular as it is a great place to people watch.

Wine Garden Zadar, Zlatarska 13, is a recent opening just close to the market and offers a wide range of Croatian wines, cocktails and meats & cheese.

Caffé Bar Doma, Varoska, in a busy narrow street in the centre of the historic old town this is one of a number of bars in this street and is a very local popular place to stop for a coffee or something stronger.

Caffé Galerija Gina, Voroska, another lovely café bar in the same street, another one to stop at while exploring the old town.

Caffe Bar Lloyd, Trg Svete Stošije, is a good local bar and café in a lovely square, very popular with locals, reasonable prices and friendly service.

Drink

Croatian wines are very good but they haven’t yet made it into the UK market as yet unlike Greek wines therefore the varieties can be obscure so worth checking out before you go. Wine comes by the glass in much smaller measure than we are used to at home. Simpler restaurants usually have house wine by the glass of half litre at very reasonably prices and usually good.

Beer is popular, lager types vary by where you are and there is also quite a lot of craft beers in bars.

Spritz is popular and they do some interesting varieties including with a Rose Vermouth, also cocktails and these are usually reasonably priced.

Culture

Explore the old town, the market is worth a visit and of course the Roman Remains but the highlights are two art installations, Sea Organ & Sun Salutation, these are at the far end of the “island” and a two musts, the Sea Organ at any time but the Sun Salutation at sunset.