What to see, where to stay and the best time to visit Zadar, Croatia.
Photo: DeLuca G / Pexels
Zadar is a coastal city in Croatia with a population of 70,779. Most sights sit close together in the Old Town, including the Church of St. Donatus, the Roman Forum and the Cathedral of St. Anastasia. On the Riva waterfront you can listen to the Sea Organ and watch the Greeting to the Sun. Areas like Kolovare and Borik suit beach lovers. The best months to visit are June, July, August and September.
Most sights are in the Old Town, and each takes 20 minutes to 2 hours, so the main list fits into a short stay. Plan extra time for beach days in Kolovare or Borik, or slow travel in Diklo.
Old Town waterfront (Riva)
Pipes set under marble steps on the western tip of the peninsula play sounds as waves push air through them. People sit on the steps to listen and look out to sea, especially in the late afternoon.
Old Town waterfront (Riva)
A large circle of solar-powered glass panels set into the pavement, right next to the Sea Organ. It collects light by day and shows a light display after dark, so it pairs well with a sunset visit.
Old Town
A round, early medieval stone church and the best-known symbol of Zadar. It is no longer used for regular services, and its bare, tall interior sometimes hosts concerts.
Old Town
The open remains of Zadar's Roman town square, beside St. Donatus. You can walk freely among the columns and stone fragments, and it is free to wander.
Old Town
The largest church in Dalmatia, with a Romanesque front facing the Forum area. You can climb the separate bell tower for wide views over the old town roofs, the sea and nearby islands.
Old Town
Collections that run from prehistory through Roman times to the early Croatian period, placed beside the Forum. It gives useful background before or after walking the ruins outside.
Old Town
The main Venetian-era entrance to the old town, carved with the winged lion of St. Mark. It sits by the small Foša harbour and is part of the city walls.
Old Town
A square with a row of old stone wellheads built over a cistern that once supplied the city with water. The small Queen Jelena Madijevka Park on the walls above is a quiet spot for a short break.
Average weather and our month score, from 10 years of climate data.
| Month | High / low | Rain days | Sunshine | Sea temp | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 10°C / 3°C | 11 days (101 mm) | 6.5 h/day | 14°C | 3.4/10 |
| February | 12°C / 4°C | 9 days (102 mm) | 7.5 h/day | 13°C | 4.8/10 |
| March | 14°C / 6°C | 10 days (91 mm) | 9.4 h/day | 14°C | 5.9/10 |
| April | 17°C / 9°C | 9 days (69 mm) | 10.8 h/day | 15°C | 7.8/10 |
| May | 21°C / 14°C | 10 days (92 mm) | 11.8 h/day | 19°C | 8.0/10 |
| Best month: June | 27°C / 19°C | 6 days (49 mm) | 13.2 h/day | 22°C | 8.7/10 |
| Best month: July | 30°C / 21°C | 4 days (32 mm) | 13.5 h/day | 25°C | 9.5/10 |
| Best month: August | 30°C / 21°C | 4 days (49 mm) | 12.7 h/day | 25°C | 9.4/10 |
| Best month: September | 25°C / 17°C | 9 days (119 mm) | 10.5 h/day | 24°C | 8.5/10 |
| October | 20°C / 13°C | 9 days (127 mm) | 8.7 h/day | 21°C | 8.2/10 |
| November | 15°C / 9°C | 13 days (173 mm) | 6.5 h/day | 18°C | 5.7/10 |
| December | 12°C / 5°C | 12 days (133 mm) | 5.9 h/day | 15°C | 4.1/10 |
The coolest month, with highs of 10°C, 11 rain days and 6.5 sun hours. It has the lowest score of the year at 3.4, so expect grey, damp days.
Highs of 11.7°C and 9.4 rain days, with 102 mm of rain. It scores 4.8, an ok month if you don't mind cool, wet spells.
Highs reach 13.8°C, with 9.8 rain days. It scores 5.9, so it is ok and milder, but the sea is still cold at 13.8°C.
Highs of 17.1°C, 9 rain days and 10.8 sun hours. A score of 7.8 makes it one of the best months to visit.
Warm at 21.4°C, though 10.2 rain days bring 92 mm. It scores 8, a best month, with the sea at 18.5°C.
Highs of 26.5°C, only 5.5 rain days and 13.2 sun hours. It scores 8.7, and the sea warms to 22.3°C for swimming.
The top month, with a score of 9.5. Highs reach 29.9°C, there are just 4.1 rain days and the sea is 24.8°C.
The hottest month at 30.1°C, with 4.3 rain days and the sea at 24.6°C. It scores 9.4, among the best of the year.
Highs of 24.8°C and a warm sea at 23.5°C. It scores 8.5, but rain rises to 119 mm over 8.5 days.
Pleasant highs of 20.1°C, and the sea is still 21.3°C. It scores 8.2, though 9 rain days bring 127 mm.
The wettest month, with 173 mm over 13.1 rain days and highs of 15.3°C. It scores 5.7, ok if you pack for rain.
Highs of 11.9°C, 11.5 rain days and the least sun, at 5.9 hours. It scores 4.1, an ok month but often grey and wet.
Climate averages 2015–2024 · Best time to visit Croatia →
The best areas to base yourself and who each one suits.
Good for first-timers, sightseeing, evenings out
This is the walled Old Town on the peninsula, with Roman ruins, churches, cafés and the Sea Organ and Sun Salutation on the waterfront. You can walk to nearly every sight and to the ferry and catamaran port. Summer brings crowds and late-night noise, and most streets are closed to cars, so parking is hard.
Good for beach lovers, couples, easy access to Old Town
A residential area just southeast of the Old Town, with a long town beach, a promenade and pine shade. You get a swim close to your door and a flat walk into the centre along the sea. The beach gets crowded in peak season, and some streets near the main roads have traffic noise.
Good for families, resort stays, beaches
A resort area northwest of the centre, with larger hotels, pine woods, shallow beaches and sports facilities. It is good for families who want space, water and green areas in one place. It feels separate from the Old Town, so you will need a bus, a taxi or a long walk to reach the sights.
Good for quiet stays, sea views, sunsets
A calm residential and marina area at the northwest tip of the city, next to Borik, with small beaches and open views towards the islands. It suits travellers who want a local feel and quiet evenings. The Old Town is far enough away that most people take the bus or drive in.
Good for budget-minded travellers, local life
A residential district northwest of the Old Town, founded by Albanian settlers, with apartments, local shops and a seafront path. It is more everyday Zadar than holiday Zadar and often quieter than the centre. There are fewer restaurants and sights, and the walk to the Old Town is long for some.
Good for families, slow travel, drivers
A former fishing village southeast of the centre, now a quiet area of holiday apartments, small pebble beaches and a few seafood restaurants. It is relaxed and close to the water. You will depend on a car or the bus to reach the Old Town, and evenings are very quiet.
A clear, sweet liqueur made from sour Marasca cherries. Zadar has produced it for centuries. Locals sip it after a meal or use it to flavour cakes and desserts.
A hard, salty sheep's milk cheese from the island of Pag, north of Zadar. It is often served in thin slices with ham and olives as a starter.
Dry-cured ham from the Dalmatian region, sliced very thin. Locals eat it with cheese, bread and olives before a meal or with a glass of wine.
Risotto cooked with cuttlefish or squid and coloured black with their ink. You find it in most seafood restaurants and konobas along the coast.
A slow-cooked stew of several kinds of fish with tomato, wine and olive oil. It is usually served with polenta and shared at family meals.
Beef marinated and slowly stewed in wine with dried plums and vegetables. It is served with gnocchi and is a classic dish for Sunday lunch and celebrations.
Yes, August is one of the best months for Zadar, with a score of 9.4. Days reach about 30.1°C and nights stay near 20.9°C. The sea is warm at around 24.6°C. Rain falls on only about 4.3 days, and you get about 12.7 hours of sunshine a day. Expect hot afternoons, so plan sightseeing for mornings and evenings.
June to September is the best time, and July scores highest at 9.5. In July, highs are about 29.9°C, the sea is about 24.8°C and rain falls on only 4.1 days. April and May are milder options. Highs are 17.1°C and 21.4°C, but the sea is cooler at 15.3°C and 18.5°C, so they suit sightseeing more than swimming.
For many swimmers, yes. The sea is still about 21.3°C in October. Air temperatures are cooler, with highs near 20.1°C and lows near 12.6°C. October is wetter than summer, with about 127 mm of rain over 9 days. Sunshine drops to about 8.7 hours a day, so swim on the warmer, sunny days.
Winter in Zadar is cool, wet and quieter. January is the lowest-scoring month at 3.4. It has highs of about 10°C, lows near 2.9°C and rain on 11 days. November is the wettest month, with 173 mm of rain over 13.1 days. December has the least sun, at about 5.9 hours a day. Pack a rain jacket and plan some indoor stops.
A full day is enough to see Zadar's main sights, because they are all in the Old Town or on the waterfront. Most, like the Sea Organ, Greeting to the Sun and Church of St. Donatus, take 30–60 minutes. The Roman Forum takes about 30 minutes. The Archaeological Museum Zadar needs 1–2 hours. Stay longer if you want time for swimming or slow evenings on the Riva.
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