Where to stay in Zadar
Zadar is a small town on a walled peninsula, and almost everything a visitor wants is on it or within a short walk. The choice is mostly between the old town itself, a quieter neighborhood just beside it, and a beach district a bus ride away. Stay on the peninsula or in Arbanasi or Kolovare for a first visit: you can walk to the forum, the Sea Organ and the waterfront from the peninsula and from Kolovare. Borik and Diklo are better for swimming and resort stays than for sightseeing. The thing to think twice about is a room on a bar square in the old town on summer nights: the stone lanes carry sound a long way.
The short answer
- First trip
- On the old town peninsula, or in Arbanasi or Kolovare if you want it calmer and cheaper.
- Couples
- The old town for lanes at night, with a room away from the bar squares.
- Families
- Kolovare for a pebble city beach, or Borik for resort hotels by the sea.
- Tight budget
- Kolovare or Arbanasi, Kolovare about fifteen minutes and Arbanasi 25 to 30 minutes from the old town on foot.
- Quiet
- Diklo or Puntamika, both quiet and a bus ride from the center.
How we judge an area of Zadar: walking time to the sights, noise at night, transport, and price. Nothing on this page is paid for, and the hotels we choose will say who chose them and when they last stayed.
Zadar's neighborhoods, side by side
| Area | Best for | At night | The Roman forum | The Sea Organ | Bus station | Getting around | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Old town peninsula | Sights on foot | Lively, loud near the bar squares | 5 min | 10 min | 25 min | On foot; no cars in most streets | €€€€ |
| Arbanasi | Calm, close in | Quiet | 30 min | 40 min | 10 min | On foot; buses on the main road | €€€ |
| Kolovare | Beach, value, buses | Lively on the beach in summer | 20 min | 30 min | 5 min | On foot; buses; the bus station | €€ |
| Puntamika | Swimming, quiet | Very quiet | 25 min | 15 min | 50 min | Buses and taxis to the center | €€ |
| Borik | Beach holidays, hotels | Busy in summer, quiet in winter | 40 min | 30 min | 60 min | City bus; taxi | €€€ |
| Diklo | Peace, swimming | Very quiet | 60 min | 55 min | over an hour | Bus, car or taxi | €€ |
Walking times are the straight line between two points plus a third for real streets, at an easy pace, rounded to five minutes. They are measured from the middle of each area, so a hotel at its edge will be a few minutes either way. Zadar is flat, so the times hold, but the straight lines to Borik and Diklo are long, and those areas are better reached by bus. Price is our read of a standard double in the same week, from € (cheapest) to €€€€ (dearest), until booking-site prices replace it.
Where the neighborhoods are
The old town, for the forum and the sea
The walled peninsula itself: the Roman forum, St Donatus, the cathedral and the waterfront, all within ten minutes on foot.
The old town is about three kilometers long end to end and under a kilometer wide, so a room here puts the forum, the cathedral, the market and the Sea Organ within a short walk. Most streets are closed to cars. Stay in the middle for the shortest walks, or near the western tip for the waterfront and the sunset.
It is also where the visitors are. The squares with bars and restaurants stay busy late in summer and the stone lanes carry every voice. Many buildings are old, with steep stairs and no lift, and rooms are the most expensive in town. Ask the hotel what is under or opposite the room before you book.
Good for
- Seeing the sights on foot, early and late
- A short stay of two or three nights
- Sunset at the Sea Organ
Think twice if
- You sleep lightly and are here in July or August
- Stairs and luggage are a problem
- You want the lowest price
Staying in Old town peninsula: nearby sights, food and getting around
Arbanasi, for a calm base a walk from the old town
A residential neighborhood about 2 km south-east of the old town, 25 to 30 minutes on foot from the Land Gate.
Arbanasi sits about 2 km south-east of the old town peninsula and was once a settlement of Albanian families. Today it is a local neighborhood with small houses, a few restaurants and cafes, and a quieter feel than the peninsula. The old town is a long walk or a short bus ride to the north-west.
It has fewer hotels, so many stays here are guesthouses and apartments. The streets are quiet at night, and the walk into the old town is flat and takes 25 to 30 minutes. The compromise is that you eat and drink in the old town, and there is little to do in the neighborhood itself.
Good for
- A quieter night than the peninsula
- A flat walk or short bus ride into the old town
- Prices a little below the old town
Think twice if
- You want to step into the old town's lanes at the door
- You want a big choice of hotels
Kolovare, for the beach and lower prices
The residential district on the mainland side with a pebble beach, the bus station and good-value rooms, about fifteen minutes from the old town.
Kolovare is Zadar's city beach, a stretch of pebbles with shallow water, a seafront walk and cafes. Behind it are apartment blocks and guesthouses that cost less than anything on the peninsula. The main bus station is close, which helps if you are traveling on to Plitvice, Krka or the other towns.
The beach is busy on summer weekends, with music from the beach bars, so choose a room back from the water. The walk into the old town is flat and takes about fifteen minutes through the Land Gate, with buses and taxis on the main road.
Good for
- Families who want a beach in town
- Value: lower prices than the old town
- Bus links for day trips
Think twice if
- You want a quiet night next to the beach in summer
- You want to be in the old town's lanes in the evening
Puntamika, for coastal swimming
A residential shore north-west of the center, with pebble beaches and a long seafront walk, about thirty minutes on foot from the old town.
Puntamika is a quiet strip of villas, apartments and small hotels along the coast, with a seafront path used by locals for walks and swims. It is a good base for a slower stay, with pine trees, small coves and easy parking.
It is not a place for evenings in the old town on foot, because the walk back is long. The city buses run to the center, and taxis are cheap enough for short trips. Restaurants are few, and the beaches are packed at weekends in summer.
Good for
- Sea swimming from the rocks
- Quiet nights and apartments with a balcony
- A stay with a car or bus pass
Think twice if
- You plan evenings in the old town on foot
- You want restaurants and bars on your street
Staying in Puntamika: nearby sights, food and getting around
Borik, for resort hotels and a long beach
Zadar's resort strip, with large hotels and a pebble beach, about two and a half kilometers from the old town.
Borik is where Zadar's bigger hotels and holiday apartments are. The seafront is lined with pebble beaches, cafes and a promenade, and rooms often have a sea view or a pool. It suits a beach holiday with a day or two in the old town.
It is a bus ride or a long walk to the old town, and the evenings are mostly spent where you stay. It is busy and louder in July and August, and many places close or go quiet in winter.
Good for
- Beach holidays with a hotel pool or sea view
- Families who want everything in one place
- Parking and a bus link
Think twice if
- You want to walk to the old town in the evening
- You want a quiet, local feel
Diklo, for a quiet seaside stay
A calm coastal suburb about four kilometers north of the old town, with small beaches and family-run places.
Diklo is a low-key neighborhood of villas, small hotels and apartments along a rocky shore, with a few cafes and restaurants and not much else. The sea is clear and the beaches are quiet outside July and August.
You will want a car, a bike or the bus to reach the old town, which is a long walk. It suits people who want to swim and rest and see the town once or twice, not those who want an evening out.
Good for
- Calm nights and quiet swimming
- A relaxed stay with a car
- Lower prices than the old town
Think twice if
- You want to walk to restaurants and sights
- You do not have a car and dislike buses
Where not to stay in Zadar, and what to do instead
Every booking site lists these places to stay in Zadar. We would skip them, or at least choose with care. Nobody pays a commission on a warning.
- A room above a bar square in the old town in summer, if you sleep lightly
The squares around the forum and the harbor stay lively late and the stone lanes carry sound. Ask for a room on a side lane or at the back, away from the bars.
- An old town apartment up a long flight of stairs, with luggage
Listings say 'in the old town' and leave out the stairs. Ask how many floors and whether there is a lift.
- A cheap room in Diklo or Puntamika without a plan for the evenings
They are quiet and good for swimming, and the old town is a long walk away. Choose them for beach days, and plan the bus or a taxi.
- A bed next to Kolovare beach, if you want a quiet night in summer
The beach bars play music late on weekends. Choose a street behind the beach.
- A big resort in Borik if you want to be in the old town every evening
It is a bus ride or a long walk back at night. Stay on the peninsula if the old town is the point.
Before you book a room in Zadar
The practical things that decide whether a good hotel in Zadar makes a good stay.
- The tourist taxCroatia charges a tourist tax per person per night, set by each town and collected by your host, and it is often not in the price the booking sites show. We could not confirm Zadar's current rate from an official source, so ask the hotel what it will add to the bill.
- From Zadar airportThe airport is about 10 kilometers east of the old town. A Liburnija bus runs between the airport and the main bus station, which is close to the old town, takes about 20 minutes and costs about €5 one way, with baggage included. The ticket stays valid for 90 minutes on the city buses. A taxi is quicker and costs more: agree the fare first.
- Cars and parkingMost of the old town is closed to cars and parking nearby is limited. If you are driving, choose a hotel with its own space and ask what it costs.
- Stairs and luggageMany old town buildings have steep stairs and no lift. If stairs are hard for you, ask the exact number before you book.
- Summer heat and crowdsJuly and August are hot and busy, and rooms cost the most. May, June, September and early October are easier on both counts.
Where to stay in Zadar: questions people ask
What is the best area to stay in Zadar for a first visit?
The old town peninsula, which puts the forum, the cathedral and the Sea Organ within a short walk. Choose Arbanasi, a 25 to 30 minute walk away, if you want a calmer night.
Is it worth staying in Zadar's old town?
For walking everywhere and for the evenings, yes. The drawbacks are noise from the bar squares in summer, stairs and no lifts in many buildings, and the highest prices in the city.
Is Kolovare a good place to stay?
Yes for a city beach, lower prices and the bus station, about fifteen minutes on foot from the old town. Choose a street behind the beach, since the beach bars play music late in summer.
Should I stay in Borik or in the old town?
In the old town if you are here for the sights and the evenings. In Borik if you want a resort hotel, a pool and a beach, with a bus ride into town.
How do I get from Zadar airport to my hotel?
A Liburnija bus goes to the main bus station in about 20 minutes for about €5. A taxi is quicker and costs more.
Can I walk everywhere in Zadar?
Around the old town and Kolovare, yes, and Arbanasi is 25 to 30 minutes on foot. Puntamika, Borik and Diklo are farther, so those need a bus or a taxi.
Where should I stay for Plitvice and Krka?
Near the main bus station, in Kolovare, or in the old town if you have a car or a tour with a pick-up. Both parks are a long day out from Zadar, so start early.
