Planning a Trip

Visitor Information

Zadar is a tourist-friendly town with well-marked streets and addresses and large, illustrated, explanatory posters installed in front of almost every notable building. For more detailed information, maps, and brochures, you can check with the local Tourist Information Center at Narodni Trg 5 (tel. 023/316-166). Or try the Zadar Tourism Board at Ilije Smiljanica bb (tel. 023/212-412; tzg-zadar@zd.htnet.hr; 8am-4pm Mon-Sat). For information on Zadar and the surrounding region, contact the Zadar County Tourist Board at Sv. Leopolda B. Mandica 1 (tel. 023/315-107: www.zadar.hr).

Most accommodations near the city center are private and can be secured through Aquarius Travel Agency at Nova Vrata bb (tel. 023/212-919), which can get you a room or book an excursion to regional sites, too. Atlas Agency at Branimirova 12 near the footbridge (tel. 023/235-850), one of Croatia's largest, offers lodging and excursion bookings plus access to some transportation services.

Getting There

Almost every mode of transportation flows through Zadar, but some methods of getting there are better than others.

By Car -- Driving is one of the easiest ways to reach Zadar since the new A1 super-highway along the coast opened in June 2005, reducing the drive time between Zagreb and Zadar from 6 or more hours to 3.

By Bus -- Bus service to Zadar from Zagreb is convenient and inexpensive at about 100kn ($18) each way. The Zadar bus station, just northeast of Old Town, is as busy and bright as any suburban shopping mall, perhaps because it has so much traffic. There is a place to leave your luggage for 1.20kn (25¢) per hour; it's open from 6am to 10pm. You'll also find cafes, bakeries, and a market open the same hours. There are two ATMs and a couple of travel agencies for those who need local money, plus public phones for those who want to call home. For schedule and ticket information, contact the Zadar Coach Station at Ante Starcevica 2 (tel. 023/211-555: www.liburnija-zadar.hr).

By Boat -- Ferry travel is common up and down the Dalmatian coast, whether the route originates in Rijeka or Italy, and Zadar is a major stop for most lines during the summer months. Jadrolinija runs ferries between Ancona and Bari (Italy) and Zadar, and between Zadar and just about all coastal Croatian cities.

By Plane -- Zadar Airport, about 8km (5 miles) south of the city, handles an average of four domestic and international scheduled flights per day (more on weekends) -- from Croatia Airlines shuttles to flights on private planes, international carriers, and commercial airlines. Contact the airport at P.O. 367, 23000 Zadar (tel. 023/313-311, or flight information 023/205-800; fax 023/205-805; www.zadar-airport.hr).

Croatia Airlines in Zadar, Poljana Natka Nodila 7 (tel. 023/250-094; fax 023/250-109; Zadto@croatiaairlines.hr), is open 8am to 4pm Monday to Friday, 9am to noon Saturday, closed Sunday.

By Train -- Train travel in Croatia improved in 2005, including travel to Zadar. That said, it should be noted that it still takes about 7 hours to get to Zadar from Zagreb via train because rail travelers must change trains at Knin on that route. Thus it takes roughly twice as long to get to Zadar from Zagreb by train than it does by car. The Zadar train station (Ante Starcevica 4; tel. 060/333-444: www.htnet.hr) is adjacent to the bus station.

Getting Around

Croatia Airlines provides shuttle service between the airport and Zadar's center every hour for 15kn ($2.50). Zadar's Old Town is closed to vehicular traffic and thus is only navigable on foot. However, most of the hotels are outside the center and reachable by city bus or by car.

Weekend Traffic -- Avoid driving to Zadar or anywhere on the coast Friday morning through Sunday afternoon during July and August. The sheer volume of traffic that descends on Croatia from outside its borders combined with local traffic heading to the same destinations on the coast can create backups 32km (20 miles) or longer, especially at border crossings and at tunnels.