Zadar

Welcome to the city elected European Best Destination 2016!

The Entertainment Capital of the Adriatic, as it was defined by the “Times“, is a city that will win you over from the first glance, a splendid combination of past and present. The city boasts a first-rate historical and cultural heritage: everywhere there are, and well impressed, the testimonies of the past, and, despite the devastation suffered, the city has always been able to recover.

Today, Zadar, known by the Italian name of Zara, is one of the most lively centers of Dalmatia, especially during the summer, when, unmissable, cultural events, concerts and reviews are organized. Beautiful, suggestive and wonderful, Zadar was awarded, by a selected jury of experts in the sector, as BEST EUROPEAN DESTINATION 2016. One more reason to spend a holiday discovering the city, and, above all, the surrounding area between islands, Natural Parks and National Parks.

HOW TO GET THERE

PLANE

Zadar has a small airport, located in Zemonico, about 8km from the city. Air traffic is rather limited. Croatia Airlines guarantees two weekly flights from Zagreb all year round; otherwise, connections are concentrated exclusively in the summer period.

Split airport (about 130km away) can be an excellent compromise, being very well connected with direct flights to the main European destinations. Once landed in Split you can continue by car or bus (via Trogir). There are numerous rental agencies at the airport.

TRAIN

Zadar’s railway station is very well connected to the most important cities in Croatia, a little less so to destinations beyond the border. From the main European destinations, on average, two or more changes are needed to reach your destination. Also taking into account the fact that trains are anything but frequent and efficient, this means of transport is recommended only if you intend to visit the hinterland. The official website of the Croatian Railways, moreover, is not very usable.

GETTING TO ZADAR BY BOAT

From the Port of Ancona, in Italy, from June to September, Jadrolinija, operates direct connections, by sea, with the port of Gazenica, operational since March 2015. From here, ferries to/from Ancona and local ferries to the peninsula and the islands dock.

The crossing to Ancona lasts 7 hours. It is also possible to embark your own car.

Alternatively, you can reach the port of Split (from Ancona, Bari or Brindisi) and then reach Zadar by bus.

CAR

From Italy, taking Venice as a reference, you have to travel about 470 kilometers to get to Zadar, of which about 310 kilometers on the highway. From Munich (Germany), it is over 700 kilometers to travel, crossing the A8 and the A1. From Vienna, it is just over 600 kilometers and from Prague, over 900. Remember to buy the motorway vignette if you cross Slovenia and Austria.

The Croatian road section, being mostly coastal, is traveled slowly. Be careful and cautious especially in the evening: in these areas the signs and lighting leave much to be desired.