Neighborhoods in Brief

Zadar's Old Town peninsula is unquestionably the city's core, but there are several areas outside the walled center that visitors should note.

Kolovare: This residential area is directly east of Old Town and home to the hotel that is closest to the city center. Kolovare's personality is quite civilized and full of shady paths, cafes, and private villas. It is also home to Zadar's public beach and a long coastal promenade.

Arbanasi: This older, non-touristy older district north of Kolovare is home to a nice assortment of Neolithic and Roman archaeological remains. It is a quiet neighborhood much like an upscale suburb in the U.S. or Great Britain.

Borik: This large hotel-resort complex is one of the Zadar area's most popular because of its position on the sea and its proximity to town. Parts of Borik already resemble a Disney community, and Croatia's exploding tourism industry is spurring development of more facilities, restaurants, and other attractions.

Puntamika: The city lighthouse resides in this district on the sea, which once was guardian to Zadar's shipping port in Old Town.

Relja: Zadar's biggest and newest indoor shopping mall is here, though it pales in comparison to Zagreb's Jankomir Center. The rest of the area is made up of older residential buildings and a few restaurants and cafes.

Vostarnica: This could be classified as Zadar's blue-collar neighborhood with commercial enterprises and residences dominating. It is west of the footbridge.

Old Town Peninsula: Old Town is Zadar's undisputed main attraction, with its gaggle of churches and monasteries; its mishmash of preserved and rebuilt historical sites and Roman ruins; its ferry port and its burgeoning collection of shops and boutiques; and its galleries, restaurants, and cafes -- all crammed into the fortified peninsula.