Should I spend 1 or 2 weeks in Zadar?

Should you spend 1 or 2 weeks in Zadar?

Not sure how much time you'll need in Zadar, Croatia? Most people spend one to two days in Zadar during their visit. After all, the vibrant town will let you swim at the beach, learn about the history of the town, enjoy a meal at a restaurant, and admire the wonderful scenery.

Zadar is a seaside city on the Dalmatian Coast. It has a small, walled old town and an active nightlife. This beautiful town is filled with cafes and historical sights. There are also beaches in the area and some nice snorkeling opportunities that can be reached by boat.

Do you have one or two weeks to visit Zadar? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.


Is one week enough time in Zadar?

One week is more than sufficient for a beach trip to Zadar, giving you the freedom to set your own pace. Swim at the beach, learn about the history of the town, enjoy a meal at a restaurant, and admire the wonderful scenery on your own schedule. Then, unwind at your hotel or use Zadar as a hub for some nice day trips in the surrounding area.

How to spend a week in Zadar

Don't miss the Sea Organ and the Sun Salutation during your trip to Zadar, as it's one of this destination's most well-known attractions. You should make sure to set aside enough time to see it.

You'll absolutely want to spend some time enjoying the food scene in this town, so make sure you spend time at one of the local restaurants where you can taste the delicious cuisine for a meal or two. The town is filled with outdoor cafes that serve up a healthy and delicious selection of recipes. The ingredients are fresh and local with olive oil and seafood making frequent appearances on the menus. Prices are also reasonable.


A few tour suggestions include:

  • 3-Hour Zadar Food Tasting Tour ($103)
  • Krka Waterfalls, Food & Wine Tasting, Boat Ride & Zadar Old Town ($52)
  • Local Craft Beer Tasting Experience ($12)

Zadar is a very walkable city. With only a day in the town, you'll have no trouble exploring the local sights. The old town is particularly walkable and can easily be explored on foot in a few hours.

The beautiful beaches await you in Zadar, so spend the day (or several, if you can) relaxing on the sand or swimming in the water. There are some nice beaches outside of town with one of the most famous being Sakarun Beach, which is part of the Zadar archipelago. There are a handful of beaches nearby that are pebbly and popular with the locals. These include Puntamika Beach and Beach Borik.


A few tour suggestions include:

  • Zadar: 3 Island luxury Speedboat Tour w/ Drinks & Snorkeling ($35)
  • Private Half Day Speedboat tour to Zadar's Nearby Islands ($133)
  • Speedboat guided Tour to Ugljan, Osljak & Galevac ($52)

Zadar is known to be such a beautiful destination, so just exploring and taking it all in should be one of the top things to do on your list. It's a charming medieval town that is at its most beautiful during the spectacular sunsets.


A few tour suggestions include:

  • Zadar: 3 Island luxury Speedboat Tour w/ Drinks & Snorkeling ($35)
  • Zadar Walking Tour ($17)
  • Private Half Day Speedboat tour to Zadar's Nearby Islands ($133)

Public transit in Zadar is easy and efficient. In just a few days, you should be able to get around the town quite easily. There are 11 bus lines that travel around town.

The charming atmosphere and history of the old town area is worth exploring, so spend the day learning about the history and culture of the area. The small old town is filled with charm and character. It's a walled medieval town that can easily be explored in a few hours.


A few tour suggestions include:

  • Zadar Walking Tour ($17)
  • Krka Waterfalls, Food & Wine Tasting, Boat Ride & Zadar Old Town ($52)
  • From Zadar: Plitvice Lakes with Boat Ride & Zadar Old town tour ($52)

This town is very popular for nightlife. After the sun goes down, head out to one of the many popular venues around town. The town comes to life at night when the bars and restaurants fill with people chatting and socializing. This is an easy place to enjoy the evening as almost all of the nightlife venues are within a five minute walk of each other.

The surrounding waters are great for scuba diving and snorkeing, so spend some time in the water to see nature up close. This is an easy place to snorkel because the water is so clear. There are also half and full day snorkeling trips that take you to some of the best spots.


A few tour suggestions include:

  • Zadar: 3 Island luxury Speedboat Tour w/ Drinks & Snorkeling ($35)
  • Adrenaline Adventure on Speedboat with 3 stops and Snorkeling ($34)
  • 3 Island Swimming and Snorkeling Cruise with Prosecco ($31)

There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Zadar.

This town offers some good museums and historic landmarks, so it's worth your time to spend a day exploring a few of them. Pick the ones that appeal to you the most and get started. The old town is like a living museum, with city walls and a historic gate. The Church of St. Donatus, Zadar Cathedral, and the Zadar Archaeological Museum are all fascinating places to visit in town, but if you're looking for the most unique sight, make sure you check out The Sea Organ and The Sun Salutation.

There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Zadar.

Shopping in Zadar is very popular, and it's easy to see why. Spend time exploring the many shops and boutiques to find the perfect gift, souvenir, or outfit. There are small, boutique shops around the old town that sell designer merchandise. There are also shopping malls on the outskirts of town.

There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Zadar.

After you've explored most of Zadar, take a day trip to one of the many beautiful destinations nearby.


A few tour suggestions include:

  • Hello Kornati - Small group one day trip from Zadar ($110)
  • Visit 2 Islands of Zadar on a traditional wooden boat during half-day trip ($31)
  • From Zadar: Kornati National Park Day Trip with Breakfast & Lunch ($61)

There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Zadar.

Is 2 weeks enough time in Zadar?

Two weeks is more than enough time to see the activities and enjoy the beach in Zadar. Many visitors prefer to spend one to two days here, so more time would allow you to experience the beaches, the historic old town, the cuisine, and the beautiful scenery at your own pace. We have a few suggestions of things to do while you're visiting, and then take a day trip if you're looking to explore further around the area.

Zadar, Croatia Zadar, Croatia

How to spend 2 weeks in Zadar

Having 2 weeks in Zadar will provide you with more time to take in the best activities in the town.

With so much time here, you should absolutely take another day trip to one of the many nearby destinations around Zadar. Plenty of amazing options are available.

There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Zadar.

Another fun day at the beach awaits, so spend more time relaxing and swimming. After all, a beach vacation usually calls for plenty of time to have fun on the sand and in the waves.

There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Zadar.

With so much time here, you should absolutely take another day trip to one of the many nearby destinations around Zadar. Plenty of amazing options are available.

There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Zadar.

Another fun day at the beach awaits, so spend more time relaxing and swimming. After all, a beach vacation usually calls for plenty of time to have fun on the sand and in the waves.

There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Zadar.

With so much time here, you should absolutely take another day trip to one of the many nearby destinations around Zadar. Plenty of amazing options are available.

There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Zadar.

Another fun day at the beach awaits, so spend more time relaxing and swimming. After all, a beach vacation usually calls for plenty of time to have fun on the sand and in the waves.

There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Zadar.

With so much time here, you should absolutely take another day trip to one of the many nearby destinations around Zadar. Plenty of amazing options are available.

There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Zadar.

More Info

If you're looking for more information about Zadar, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.

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