Add dates

Zadar Culture & history

Our most recommended Zadar Culture & history

Zadar: Walking Tour with Maraschino and Pag Cheese Tasting

1. Zadar: Walking Tour with Maraschino and Pag Cheese Tasting

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.

Zadar: Museum of Illusions Entrance Ticket

2. Zadar: Museum of Illusions Entrance Ticket

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: Speedboat Tour to Ugljan, Osljak, and Galevac

3. Zadar: Speedboat Tour to Ugljan, Osljak, and Galevac

Explore the islands of the coast of Zadar on this half-day experience. Travel between them in style by speedboat, as you experience Ugljan, Osljak, and Galevac. Meet at Jazine harbor in Zadar and board your speedboat. Look out for the city's famous Sea Organ as you speed away from the port. Travel across the crystal blue waters as you begin your island-hopping adventure. Alight from the boat for your first stop at Galevac Island. Once there, pause to visit the Franciscan Monastery of St. Paul The Hermit. Then head back across the water to Preko on Ugljan for a snack or ice cream (own expense). Ugljan is a delightful large island featuring medieval architecture and charming shops and cafes. Next, clamber back on the speedboat as you head for Osljak Island. Here, the azure waters are perfect for a refreshing swim. This is the smallest inhabited island in Croatia, so small you can circle it by foot in only 20 minutes. Enjoy another thrilling ride to the sandy beach at Kostanj. Take a final moment to pause once again away from the city heat and noise, before hopping back on the boat for the journey back to Zadar.

Zadar: Private Walking Tour Through 3,000 Years of History

4. Zadar: Private Walking Tour Through 3,000 Years of History

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.

Zadar: Guided City Walking Tour & Zadar Cathedral View Point

5. Zadar: Guided City Walking Tour & Zadar Cathedral View Point

Meet us on the Five Wells Square, where you start your journey through the past and present of Zadar. The first stop is the historical entrance to Zadar - the 16th-Century Land Gate with a great look at the UNESCO World Heritage Site fortification system. The next stop is the St. Simeon's Church after which we will stroll down the main street in town - Kalelarga. The People's Square awaits with its historic buildings including the Town Guard and the Town Lodge. We will stop to taste the perfect combination - famous Zadar cherry liqueur Maraskino and world-renown cheese from the island of Pag. We will continue to the Roman Forum covered with archeological remains. In the center is the iconic rotunda - the St. Donatus Church. The highest building in both the Forum and the whole of Zadar is the Bell Tower of St. Anastasia's Cathedral. We will climb the 183 steps to be rewarded with the best view of Zadar! The tour continues with the world's unique Sea Organ played by the waves. Sit down, relax and listen to the music of nature and see why the great Alfred Hitchcock said: "Zadar has the most beautiful sunset in the world, more beautiful than the one in Key West, in Florida, applauded at every evening." When the sun sets, right next to us a new one rises - the Greeting to the Sun installation starts to shine - all night long.

Zadar: Virtual Reality Guided History Walking Tour

6. Zadar: Virtual Reality Guided History Walking Tour

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.

Communism and World War II Tour

7. Communism and World War II Tour

Explore what it was like to live under fascism, nazism, and communism in a guided walking tour of Zadar. Supported by historical photos, walk through the city and discuss the many regimes that have ruled over the 20th century. Zadar came under the rule of fascist Italy in the first part of the 20th century. As an important fascist and later nazi strategic point, Zadar was a target of a disastrous bombing campaign in the Second World War when 80% of the Old Town was destroyed. After the war, there was a new totalitarian rule: a communist one. A specific liberal style of communism brought both prosperity and misery to the people. Western products were copied or smuggled into the state, Western movies were filmed in Yugoslavia and Western culture influenced the younger generations. This tour includes more than 80 photos and pictures while discussing workers, workplaces, tourism, everyday life, products, music, movies, and much more with the goal of providing an in-depth perspective on what the life of ordinary people looked like in a communist state.

Frequently asked questions about Zadar

What top attractions are a must-see in Zadar?

The must-see attractions in Zadar are:

What are the best day trips and excursions from Zadar?

The best day trips and excursions from Zadar are:

Plitvice Lakes National Park

What are the best deals and discounts on activities and attractions in Zadar?

Other Sightseeing Options in Zadar

Want to discover all there is to do in Zadar? Click here for a full list.

What people are saying about Zadar

Overall rating

4.5 / 5

based on 173 reviews

Sime was an excellent guide! Extremely knowledgeable and proud of his hometown he extended the length of the tour at no cost to ensure that the group got the best experience of Zadar. Couldn’t recommend him highly enough!

Due to a ferry cancellation we ended up with a few hours to kill in Zadar. This tour was an excellent introduction to old town Zadar, and Marko was exceptional as a guide.

He is super kind! He knows how to make children laugh and adjusted our journey for my 7-year-old daughter. We thoroughly enjoyed our tour even though it was late October.

Really interesting tour. The guide was very knowledge about Croatian history and seemed to enjoy teaching others about it. Would recommend

Nice and competent ... it was a nice and informative tour of the old town