As one of the most popular tourist destinations in Croatia, Zadar has remarkably lot to offer: from an abundance of historical heritage and culture to stunning beaches and a fantastic gastronomical offer. This city will keep every kind of a traveller engaged and entertained, whether you’re coming in the height of Summer or in post-season.

For those of you who like to be on the move, Zadar’s surroundings have a number of truly amazing places you can visit for a daily adventure: towns and nature sites you can easily reach by car within a single hour (give or take a few minutes). We bring you a selection of eight attractive locations for a phenomenal field trip: towns and nature parks that are sure to enrich your holiday with new and unforgettable experiences.

1. National Park Krka

Centred around the river Krka, the eponymous national park is a Nature’s fairytale landscape dotted with archaeological sites that date back to early Stone age. Here, the evergreen forests of pines meet the deciduous oak, ash, maple and rowan, creating a home for many endemic and protected species of flora and fauna. The wolves and the wildcats roam the Park’s woods, countless bird species nesting in the branches above them, while bats sleep in the caves, otters and turtles swim the emerald waters of the river and the snakes and lizards slip over the rocks and into the green meadows.

But, don’t worry - humans are allowed in. You can take your adventure biking or hiking through the forests, or opt for a leisurely boat ride to Visovac islet and its monastery or the Roski Slap waterfall and its mills. The nearly two kilometer long educational trail will take you around Skradinski Buk, past its famous waterfall, and once you’ve explored all the sights on the way, you can take your well deserved break in one of the restaurants and perhaps pick up a souvenir or two of your adventure in the gift shop.

2. Sibenik

No matter the season, this friendly Dalmatian town will welcome you with its cordiality and an abundance of sights and activities. The Cathedral of St. Jacob built entirely of stone with no binding whatsoever thanks to the ingenuity of its builder and architect Juraj Dalmatinac will wow you with its blend of Gothic and Renaissance styles. Sibenik’s four forts still guard the rich heritage of the city with the help of augmented reality technology and serve as a stage for various cultural events. St. Anthony’s promenade will take you on a scenic walk all the way to the Fort of St. Nicholas, and if you favour city adventures, you can explore the labyrinth of Sibenik’s cobblestone streets and search its nooks and crannies that hide cafes and restaurants where you can enjoy refreshments and traditional Mediterranean cuisine.

3. Nature Park Vransko jezero (Vransko Lake)

If you drive just a little past Sibenik (or Biograd, for that matter), you’ll come across a stunning park of nature flanked by the Adriatic sea and the Vransko Lake. This grass, wild flower and reed paradise is a special ornithological reserve and a habitat to over two hundred and fifty avian species. The lake itself is the largest natural lake in Croatia, a karst cryptodepression filled with mildly brackish water. Dense with a flora as diverse as water plants, oak and pine trees, grasslands and seven hundred plant species, the park is also a home to various insects, fish, amphibians and a number of big and small mammals, bats, wild cats and badgers.

Vransko Lake is not without its historical attractions. You’ll find stone beehive huts scattered around while strolling towards the 16th century Venetian watchtower, the Maskovic khan (a magnificent example of Islamic architecture in Europe, a villa complete with its own Turkish bath) and the Old town of Vrana, a 9th century Benedictine monastery.

You can explore the rich diversity of nature and history along one of the educational trails, or book one of the many guided tours. You can also bike your way through the area, and if you are even remotely apt in kayaking we recommend you take a closer look at the wondrous world of Vransko Lake with a kayak ride. For a bit of additional fun, visit the adventure area inside the Park, and whatever you do, don’t forget: this amazing nature park is an ornithological reserve, so bring your binoculars and be a birdwatcher for a day.

4. Biograd na moru

This breezy little town manages the seemingly impossible: it is made to measure for every kind of a traveller. Boaters in particular will love it here, as there are two fully equipped marinas at their disposal, and a number of charter agencies for anyone who loves to sail. Adventurers and couples alike will have a great time exploring the Biograd Riviera through a ready-made A La Carte puzzle adventure. For those who enjoy sightseeing let us say that Biograd used to be the seat of Croatian kings and has plenty of history to impress you with. The active traveller will have lots to choose from in between water sports, diving, cycling and adrenaline entertainment at the nearby adventure park. Fun for everyone, but kids in particular, can be found in the amazing thematic Fun Park Biograd, and if you’d like to explore the wonders of the sea world, book a ride on the semi-submarine.

Whatever you choose to do, Biograd is graced with an incredible lightness of being, so that even in Spring and Autumn you will feel carefree and unburdened here.

5. Starigrad

Nesing at the foot of the mountain Velebit, Starigrad is the place that unites the Adriatic seascape and the stunning scenery of the National Park Paklenica. While it makes a great base for all those who want to adventure on Velebit, Starigard holds its own when it comes to heritage and activities. 

We recommend a picnic on the beach by the Vecka Tower, a fantasy-like ruin of a fort, keeping solitary watch over the Velebit channel ever since the 16th century. A visit to the ethno house Marasovic will reveal a mystical burial rite unique to the area of Velebit, and a stroll down the center of Starigard will expose the ruins of the Roman settlement Argyruntum. Kids and film aficionados alike will have a lovely time at the Winnetou Museum filled with props and photos from the set of the 1960s Winnetou films, based on the works of Karl May and filmed in the Paklenica area. In the summer months you can complete your beach day with a visit to the nearby aquapark.

6. National Park Paklenica

The ninety five square kilometers of the National Park Paklenica are a hiking paradise. Covered with thick forests of black pine, adorned with the two of the highest Velebit’s peaks and etched with two canyons, Paklenica is hell bent on giving you the best active vacation you could possibly desire.

For an easy and relaxed stroll take one of the tourist hiking trails, but if you’re up for a challenge there are nine proposed hiking routes that will take you through the magnificent canyons, over mountain peaks, past the Manita Pec cave (visit to admire the speleothems), all the while offering a true hiking satisfaction.

If you want to take it a step further and conquer the steep cliffs of the Velebit mountain, Paklenica is a famous climbing site with just under six hundred marked climbing routes of various degrees of difficulty.

Wrap your adventure up with a warm cup of tea and a snack in one of the Park’s catering facilities. 

7. Novigrad

On the shores of an enclosed bay known as Karinsko Sea, watched over by a Roman fort perched on top of a hill, nests a small picturesque town of Novigrad with its stone houses contouring the length of the inlet that leads into the Novigrad Sea. This delightful place will wow you with its fishing village atmosphere, the Fortica fort, a 30 kilometer long biking trail that will take you on a sightseeing tour of Novigrad’s surroundings and last but hardly the least, the best mussels in the region. We suggest you take a long walk along the shoreline of Novigrad and afterwards treat yourself to a lavish mussels dinner or octopus baked under the baking bell, topped with excellent Novigrad wine. 

8. Zrmanja canyon

Less than half an hour’s drive from Novigrad the river Zrmanja meets the calm waters of the Novigrad Sea bay. Surrounded by grey cliffs two hundred meters tall and dotted with patches of green, this carst estuary is a protected geomorphological site of nature where the mix of salt and fresh water creates a safe habitat for various plants and wildlife.

This stunning landscape served as the setting for the 1960s silver screen adaptation of Karl May’s Winnetou novels, with the Parizevacka glavica plateau offering a fabulous view of the hillsides and meadows nesting in between them. A slice of pristine nature, the Zrmanja canyon is a perfect place for an afternoon picnic with the entire family and a great location for rafting. While the upper part of the river is a favourite of the rafting adventurers because of its dynamic flow with many waterfalls, the mild serpentine of Zrmanja’s lower part and its tranquil water are ideal for rafting and kayaking beginners and anyone looking for a leisurely sightseeing ride. You can join a rafting tour on site without having to worry about equipment since everything you need will be provided for you. All you need to do is abandon yourself to the crystal green river and allow it to take you into an afternoon you’ll never forget.

Closing word: while there are certainly more places to discover and enjoy in the vicinity of Zadar, we’ve based our selection with proximity in mind. Every one of the places on our list will no doubt keep you engrossed, but you can visit more than one location in a single day, as many of them are an route to each other. While we recommend setting a whole day aside for the exploration of the National park Krka, you can combine your visit to Biograd or Sibenik with an afternoon at Vransko Lake. The town of Starigrad sits at the foot of the National park Paklenica so all you need to do to rest and relax after a hiking adventure is climb down the mountain. The Zrmanja canyon is in the vicinity of both Novigrad and Starigard, and will provide for your daily adventure after a sightseeing tour of either of the two towns.

Whichever combination you choose, we hope you have a wonderful time exploring the vicinity of Zadar and all of its hidden gems. We’d love to hear all your impressions, so don’t hesitate to leave them in the comment section. We wish you safe travels and fabulous adventures!