Things you need to know while traveling to Zadar

Travelling Croatia may be one of the best investments for your sailing holidays this year. Croatia is known for its various islands that have been around for thousands of years, and one of the oldest ones is Zadar. This article will help you understand everything you may need to know about Zadar and what locations you should visit if you are on an Adriatic cruise:

What is the history facts about Zadar?

Zadar is the oldest Croatian city that has never been left barren. It has always been inhabited by some civilization. Because of low overall crime levels in the city as well as a completely tourism-friendly location, Zadar has been making a lot of strides in recent years. Here are some facts that you should know:

The land where everything is introduced

Zadar has been a strategically very important location for the past civilizations. Under the Venetian rule, it was the largest fortified city. In the recent centuries, especially from the 19th century onward, Zadar has been the first city where everything has been getting introduced. 
For example, in the Napoleon era, it was the first Croatian city to ever have newspapers printed. Later, it became the first city to harbor a public park. The first operation under ether narcosis was taken here too.

There is a Sphinx here too

 It is certainly interesting how many Sphinxes have ended up in the Croatian region. Of course, Zadar would get one too, and why wouldn’t it? It has always been a popular destination for civilizations for thousands of years. 
The sphinx here was built by Villa Attilia’s owner to commemorate his wife. If you are on a romantic luxury cruise to this location, you will definitely want to visit the Sphinx. It is said that this Sphinx can help grant romantic wishes. 

Here are some locations that you would definitely want to visit

Saint Donatus’ Church

You may have heard of the City of Four Lakes or even the Four-Gated City novel, but have you ever heard of the city that had four legendary patron saints? Saint Simon, Saint Chrysogonus Martyr, Saint Zoilus and Saint Anastasia. All of these saints have their own stories to tell, though since we don’t want to spoil it for you, you should visit their tombs to find more about. 
Saint Donatus’ Church may not be one about of these legends’ but there certainly is charm to the most visited Church in the city. 

Roman Forum

The Roman Forum is not only one of the most important landmarks of the city, but also seems to harbor the most location for a landmark in the city. It can take around two hours trying to fully tour the entire Forums as there is a lot to cover. A rather interesting thing about these ruins is that they seem to randomly pop up from the city’s streets -as if they were meant to be the center of civic life.
If you are visiting Saint Donatus’ Church, this forum directly links to it. 

The Sea Organ

Of course, looking at old ruins all day may wear out the best of people – no pun intended. If you are looking for modern architecture that compliments nature’s beauty, you will certainly admire Sea Organ’s tranquil sounds that combine the soothing sound of the sea organ and the beauty of the human architecture. This unique instrument was built in 2005 and has about 35 pipes of different lengths and diameter. The sea plays the sounds – and there is something new every single day. 

Greeting to the Sun

If you loved the Sea Organ, the same architect: Nikola Bašić designed a beautiful piece of art that is known as the Greeting to the Sun. It is also a great piece of art that is meant to applaud nature. A 22-meter diameter circle that consists of 22 solar panels embeds the sidewalk. As the sun sets, the energy that is absorbed by the solar panels then turns it into a psychedelic light show for everyone to enjoy. It is not only a greeting to the Sun, but also a prayer to the saints that watch over this location. Certainly, a piece of art that the civilizations of the future will appreciate. 

Queen Jelena Madijevka

If you are coming here through a private charter, you may want to spend a few moments of your arduous journey resting in a public park. We mentioned earlier that Zadar was the first city to introduce a public park in all of Croatia, right? It is none other than Queen Jelena Madijevka and you can either take a public bus to the location or trek a little. It was built around 200 years ago, so you should still be able to appreciate its beauty. 

Things to try in Zadar

Here are a few things that you should try in Zadar:

• Play basketball – basketball is the number one sport that is played in the region and if you are a fan of the sport, you will certainly love the enthusiastic locals who are always looking to up their game. 
• Check the first university – like many other things, it was Zadar that introduced Croatia’s first-ever university. The university still stands today, 7 centuries later, and you can still find its great library to be open for the public. 
• Maraschino liqueur – no city in Croatia is complete without its healthy dose of wine, and the most famous product from this region is the Maraschino liqueur. Yes, it may not be a drink that many will find easy to gulp down their throat, there are variants available in many of the wineries all around the city. 

Restaurants in Zadar

Here are a few restaurants in Zadar that you should definitely check out:

• Pet Bunara – Pet Bunara is one of the most famous restaurants in the location, and for good reason. Their exotic dishes are made for everyone in mind, so everyone can have something to taste in this restaurant. 
• Restoran Bruschetta – if you are tired from your 2-hour tour around the Roman Forums, you can find the Restoran Bruschetta nearby. Because of its luxurious offerings, many of the tourist guides will recommend this location. 
• Burgers & More – sure, fancy foods have their own offerings but nothing beats a good old burger eaten in the comfort of a foreign country. Burger & More is affordable and uses local ingredients to make food that tastes just like home – but in another country. 
• Butler Gourmet & Cocktails Garden – if you want a great view while dining in the most popular tourist spot, Butler Gourmet & Cocktails Garden can provide a premium experience with outdoor seating. They offer both grilled food and cocktails at this location – everything to spice up your tongue. 

Final Thoughts

We hope that you were able to find everything you needed in our simple Zadar guide. If you are on a 7-8-hour trip to this location, we recommend visiting the Roman Forums as well as the Sphinx. Oh, and for food, our choice is Pet Bunara though if you want something affordable, Burgers & More is almost always open.

We do recommend that you upgrade your trip to our special 7-day luxurious trip that gives you access to a private charter and a boat of your own choice. If you are visiting a city for the first time, you should do it the right way!