Zadar

Culture & History

Visit  Plitvice National Park on a full-day tour departing from Zadar. Granted UNESCO World Heritage status in 1979, Plitvice is marked on old maps as the “Devil’s Garden" and consists of 16 interconnected terraced lakes gushing over moss-covered rocks. Depart from Zadar early and drive for about 1 hour and 45 minutes before reaching Plitvice National Park, home to diverse flora and fauna, including wild boar, wolves, and even bears. Once at the national park, begin your 4-hour guided tour, visiting Upper and Lower lakes and enjoying the unspoiled nature of one of the most beautiful national parks in the world. Although you can’t swim in the protected lakes, your guide will show you the best places to explore and relax in this paradise of natural wonders. Your tour also includes an electric boat ride on Kozjak Lake. Return to Zadar at around 18:00.

Depart Zadar at 08:30, and journey towards Plitviče Lakes National Park. Drive through the hinterland of the picturesque Lika region for about 2.5 hours, and then enter the park for the start of your 2-hour guided tour. Marvel at the natural scenery of the Upper Lakes area, where 12 of the 16 lakes of Plitvice can be found. Cross Kozjak Lake by boat to experience the largest and deepest of the lakes from a different perspective. Belonging to the Upper Lakes group, Kozjak Lake is the result of 2 smaller lakes merging into one and is the only navigable lake in Plitviče Lakes National Park. Glide across the serene waters, where the travertine Stephanie`s island was named by the Crown Princess Stéphanie of Belgium (wife of Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria) after a visit in 1888.  Admire the idyllic scenery of the Lower Lakes region, characterized by small waterfalls, turquoise waters and surrounding greenery. Nearby lies the underground cave of Šupljara, where the conditions have given rise to an abundance of unusual cave fauna. Go to the Great Waterfall within the Lower Lakes and see the water cascade from a height of 78 meters. Then, enjoy 1.5 hours of free time to explore the park on your own and have lunch before the return journey to Zadar at 16:00. 

Visit three Croatian islands on this boat tour from Zadar. Get access to areas that big tourist ships cannot get to. Marvel that the beauty of Ugljan, Ošljak, and Galevac island. Stop for a swim at the beach and see old villages.  Meet your guide at City Bridge and embark on your boat trip. Admire panoramic views of the city center from the water. Sail towards Ugljan island. View some pristine beaches and stop for a swim in the crystal clear water. Explore charming villages with coffee bars, souvenir shops, and fresh seafood restaurants. Head to the smallest inhabited island in Croatia, Ošljak island. Admire the old red-roofed stone buildings on the shore. Continue to Galevac, a small island with a 15th-century Franciscan monastery that is only accessible by a paddle boat.

Take a journey through ancient history on a guided walk along the streets of Zadar's old town, a UNESCO World-Heritage Site. Stop by the Church of St. Donat, a pre-Romanesque structure dating from the 9th century. See the site of Roman Forum, built between the 1st century BC and the 3rd century AD. Visit the Cathedral of St. Anastasia, the largest church in Dalmatia. The tour continues to the Sea Gate, Land Gate, City Walls and 5 Wells Square. Visit the famous city market and marvel at the wide variety of products from nearby farms. The duration of the walking tour is 1 hour and 40 minutes.

Discover the beautiful islands of Ugljan, Ošljak and Školjić on a private 4-hour speedboat tour from Zadar. Escape the crowds and speed across the Adriatic Sea to the car-free island of Ošljak. Learn the history of the sparsely populated settlement from your knowledeable guide. Find a secluded beach and relax in the shade of the pine trees, or marvel at the marine life and snorkel in the sea. See the 19th-century windmills and discover a small church said to date back to the 5th or 6th century. Wander around the olive groves to find an old olive oil press.  Sail to the smaller island of Školjič and stroll to the Franciscan monastery. Visit the museum that has a copy of the Holy Bible from the 15th century. Then relax near the pier or at a sandy beach with shallow, crystal clear water. Head to one of the villages on Ugljan island to enjoy a snack in a local fisherman’s restaurant. Try some of the local wine, or go for a walk through the village and soak up the atmosphere.

Book your entrance ticket for Zadar's Museum of Illusions and get access to dozens of exhibits including the Vortex Tunnel, the first of such in this part of Europe.  Be amazed by awesome tricks that will teach you about vision, perception, the human brain, and science. Learn why it easier to perceive why your eyes and see things that your brain cannot understand.  Be brave enough to jump into the crazy illusion created by the Vortex Tunnel. Experience a feeling of heavy struggle as you try to step forward through a rotating cylinder – on a surface so stable and flat.  Deform the image of yourself in a Mirror Room. Loose yourself in the Infinity Room and resist the laws of gravity, size, and ratio. Watch each optical illusion and carefully view each installation. They are entertaining and brilliant reminders that our perception of the world is sometimes just a perception.  Visit the playroom, which contains intriguing and educational games and puzzles. at the end of your visit, make sure you take photos of yourself in every possible position in the Rotated Room.

Zadar represents one of the most interesting and oldest urban localities in the Mediterranean, constantly inhabited from 1000 BC. In the 1st century it became a Roman colony and acquired the characteristics of a city. You will visit remains of a Roman Forum, the biggest one built in Croatia and the center of social life at the time. Zadar was the capital of Dalmatia region from the fall of the Western Roman Empire until the end of the First World War. Hear the story of its defensive walls that the Venetian Republic built in the 16th century for protection against the Ottomans and see the picturesque port of Fosa with its beautiful Land Gate. You will walk the famous Kalelarga, the main and most famous street in the city. Stand in front of the church of St. Donat, the symbol of Zadar and see Zadar Cathedral dedicated to St. Anastasia. Zadar is famous for its Sea Organ and Greeting to the Sun art installations situated at the Riva promenade. You will listen to the unique music of the sea played by the Sea Organ while learning the most interesting facts about these modern installations. Next, taste maraschino cherry liqueur, the recipe of which dates from the 16th century.

The virtual reality tour of Zadar's history is a combination of an audio guide translated in 7 languages, a super friendly assistant who walks you to the right places and the Virtual Reality glasses with amazing 360° views, interesting animations, 3D objects, and sound effects. Instead of imagining how Zadar once looked, you will experience it in a different and innovative way. Recreated VR visuals of most significant historical moments in Zadar's history will show you Roman Forum, which was the center of social and economic life in the ancient Zadar. You will learn more about 4th Crusade and see the invasion coming from the sea in 1202. You will visit the St. Chrysogonus' Church, which is otherwise closed to the public. Besides that, you will stand at the location of the former city market, which in relation to today was on the other side of the town. Enjoy in the view of the old city from the hot-air balloon and discover how Zadar looked after World War II. Simple user interface allows the user to choose when to see the next point. Users do not need advanced technological knowledge to manage the VR glasses. In any case, the assistant will be at your disposal throughout the tour. Book your VR adventure and time-travel in Zadar's history.

Take a scenic ride on a speedboat through the Zadar Channel towards Komati island and see all the beauty the Zadar archipelago has to offer. This tour is designed to meet your requests and preferences. So while cruising along, let your skipper know what you're interested in doing or seeing, whether it's swimming, hiking, or just cruising through. Begin your tour with scenic views of the islands of Žut, Sit, Dugi Otok, Iž, Lavdara, and Kornati and pass the bridge between the islands of Ugljan and Pašman. Arrive at Kornati National Park and tour its 89 islands, islets, and reefs. Discover the many secrets that make Kornati so unique from your skipper who will take you by a historical defensive fortress that also once served as a movie set. Stop for panoramic views of the surrounding landscape before exploring the park further. Come across many secluded and private beaches and enjoy a quick dip in the refreshing water, some snorkeling, or a bit of sunbathing.  Since the Komati Islands are know for the freshly caught fish, let your skipper know if you'd like to stop for a meal at your own personal expense. They will be happy to recommend restaurants for a gourmet lunch or alternatively suggest picnic locations for those who have brought their own meals. Afterward, if time allots, have another swim before concluding your tour.

Explore the magnificent beauty of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Plitvice Lakes with a guided tour of the Upper and Lower Lakes, Kozjak Lake and the Great Waterfall. Discover what many proclaim as one of the most beautiful places in the world. Learn about life and traditions of the people living in the area. Visit the Upper Lakes, a group of 12 of 16 Plitvice lakes separated by the travertine barriers. See Kozjak Lake, the largest and the deepest lake in Plitvice Lakes National Park. Immerse yourself in the idyllic scenes of small waterfalls, turquoise water and surrounding greenery of the Lower Lakes, with the underground cave of Šupljara situated nearby. Marvel at the Great Waterfall, with a height of 78 meters, the highest waterfall in Croatia.