Zadar and surroundings

Diklo – Tranquil Seaside Village Near Zadar

Northwest of Zadar, just 4 km from the old town and near the Puntamika tourist area, lies the village of Diklo. This charming resort is known for its villas, private houses, and all the necessary infrastructure for a relaxing holiday.

Diklo offers beautiful and easily accessible beaches, ideal for families with children. Pebble and rocky beaches are well-equipped with amenities for recreation and water sports. In the village and surrounding areas, you’ll find tennis courts, bike trails, and opportunities for diving, sailing, surfing, water skiing, canoeing, paragliding, and more. There’s also a playground, amusement park, and sports harbor.

If you're looking for nightlife, bars, restaurants, and cultural attractions are just a short trip away in Zadar. Sandy bays such as Zaton and Nin are reachable by car or bus in about 15 minutes. You can also explore popular destinations like Zrće Beach on Pag Island or Saharun Beach, as well as several nearby national parks.

Nin – a nearby gem

Northwest of Zadar, just 15 kilometers away, lies a true jewel: Nin, the medieval Croatian cultural center. A European Destination of Excellence (EDEN), Nin is known as the first capital of the Croats, the oldest Croatian royal town, and the city of salt, medicinal mud and long sandy beaches—irresistible, especially the one called Queen’s Beach, described in many legends.

Coast and Islands

World adventurers are well familiar with the Velika and Mala Paklenica canyons, located in the magnificent Velebit mountain, rich in hiking trails and climbing routes. But Velebit is only part of the story—few places in the world offer so many natural and cultural treasures in such a small area.

The proximity of five national parks (North Velebit, Paklenica, Krka, Plitvice Lakes and Kornati) and three nature parks (Velebit, Vrana Lake, Telašćica) offers visitors a wide range of activities, tailored to the wishes of all guests, and places Zadar, Nin and Starigrad at the top of Croatia’s tourism offer.

The extremely indented coastline, many islands and untouched nature attract numerous boaters. The archipelago consists of 24 larger islands and about three hundred small islands and rocks.

Churches and Museums

Titled "A thousand-year-old culture within the walls", Zadar offers a special experience when walking through its stone streets. It’s a walk through history, but also a glimpse into modern life. Many churches and monuments from different historical periods have been preserved, with the most famous being the Church of St. Donatus—the ancient symbol of Zadar.

In the old town peninsula, the relics of St. Simeon are kept in a 250 kg silver and gold chest, donated by Queen Elizabeth, whose original 14th-century crown is displayed in the Museum of Gold and Silver of Zadar. In the Museum of Ancient Glass, visitors can learn about the ancient art of glass blowing, or visit the Archaeological Museum of Zadar and explore its permanent collection of Roman emperors.

In Nin, one should definitely visit the Church of the Holy Cross—known as the smallest cathedral in the world—and touch the toe of the statue of Gregory of Nin for good luck. In the Stari Grad hinterland, it’s worth seeing mirila—stone memorial markers placed along the slopes of Velebit.

Health and Wellness

Zadar’s heritage is certainly among the most interesting features of the region, so visitors can enjoy its cultural institutions and the entire old town as an open-air museum. On the other hand, Zadar also offers the largest wellness center in Croatia.

The region has great potential for medical tourism, with various dental and other specialist clinics offering modern services to international guests.

Hitchcock and the Zadar Sunset

Zadar has its own urban legends, and one of the most famous says that forty years ago, Alfred Hitchcock proclaimed the sunset in Zadar to be the most beautiful in the world.

This happened in Hotel Zagreb on the waterfront, where the famous director stayed during his visit to Zadar in May 1964. Watching the sunset from the window of room 204, he wrote:

“The sunset in Zadar is the most beautiful in the world, even more beautiful than the one in Key West, Florida.”

The next morning, the famous director stood in front of the camera of local photographer Ante Brkan, who managed to capture one of the best portraits of Hitchcock.

Years later, many tourists still enjoy the same view of the sunset in Zadar, now accompanied by the globally known Sea Organ and Greeting to the Sun light installation.