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Travel InformationZadar Cruises, Croatia
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Zadar doesn’t put age before beauty, it offers them both at the same time. This Dalmatian city on the Adriatic Coast is one of the oldest in Europe, and its timeline can be traced back more than 3,000 years. Having said that, it’s more than a little easy on the eye. The traffic-free streets are paved in pearly marble, its town houses are topped with red roofs, and the city is dotted with ancient Roman ruins and historical churches.
• Explore St Donata’s Church. This 9th-century building is the largest pre-Romanesque building in Croatia.
• Café culture is alive and kicking in Zadar. Just pick between the places in the old town and the harbour. When you’re peckish, try a plate of Dalmatian ham.
• The Krka National Park is a must. Clasped around the River Krka, it’s a canvas of gorges, lakes and waterfalls spread over forested landscapes. One highlight is the Skradinski Buk waterfalls, where rushing water cascades over 17 tiers of rocks. You can also take a boat ride through the Krka canyon.
SHORE EXCURSIONS View all excursions
Panoramic tuk-tuk tour of Zadar
This trip offers up a speedy way to see Zadar’s most-snapped sights. You’ll be picked up from the port in an eco-friendly tuk-tuk, and take a drive towards pebble-fronted Kolovare Beach. From there, you’ll follow the coast past the swanky Marina Borik before stopping for a snap of the Sphinx of Zadar – a concrete-and-stone structure that’s wrapped in a romantic history. From there, it’s on to the waterfront Sea Organ and Greeting to the Sun – the latter’s fitted with 300 solar panels which represent the solar system, while the organ is made up of 35 pipes which play out sounds powered by the waves. Then you’ll head back to your tuk-tuk, for a drive past the Roman Forum before a short walking tour of Zadar’s cobblestone streets. Once you’re done, your tuk-tuk will pick you back up and take you to the port.
Plitvice National Park
The Plitvice Lakes National Park lives up to its UNESCO World Heritage Site status. Over thousands of years, the bright turquoise waters skimming over the limestone and chalk riverbeds have created a series of natural dams. The result is a collection of waterfalls, caves and lakes embedded among thick forests. You’ll get almost 3 hours at leisure here, so you can explore the park at your own pace – and since it’s the largest national park in Croatia, there’s plenty to see. Aside from the much-photographed falls, you’ll find clusters of lakes, wide river canyons and forest-blanketed mountain slopes. Wildlife-wise, everything from butterflies to brown bears roam the forests, plus it’s home to over 1,000 different species of plants.
Zadar by Foot
Zadar is one of the oldest towns on the Dalmatian Coast, having passed through the hands of the Romans, Crusaders, Croatians and Venetians. As you’ll see on this walking tour, it’s the last two who visibly made their mark – a mix of Croatian and Venetian architecture makes for a scene of pastel-pale buildings with terracotta roofs. The Old City is separated from its modern counterpart thanks to its spot on a protruding tongue of land. Your guide will lead you around this ancient part of town, which is still clutched by well-preserved walls. A jumble of Croatian monuments, archives, museums and libraries can be found here. Unsurprisingly, it’s also home to Croatia’s first university. A few more firsts were conjured up within its walls – the first Croatian novel and the first Croatian-language newspapers. Other highlights include the imposing Church of St. Donatus and the artefact-filled Museum of Antique Glass. After the tour, you’ll have the chance to explore the city in your own time before heading back to the ship.