The Riviera of Zadar - A String of Pearls surrounding Zadar

The Riviera of Zadar is an area of unique natural beauty, long history and rich heritage, diverse tourist services and amazing gastronomy. Stretched across the 1200 km of well-indented shore with a wide and fertile hinterland, it is the area of beauty and diversity gravitating towards Zadar as the biggest city of the region.

Surrounded by five national parks (Paklenica, Northern Velebit, Krka, Plitvice and Kornati) from one side and the unique archipelago of 365 islands from the other, the Riviera of Zadar can be your refuge from tiresome city crowds, at the same time providing all the services a modern tourist can require for comfortable and pleasant vacation.

Numerous settlements are extended along the indented coastline; every bay hiding its own little gem of unique natural beauties and excellent tourist services. It is a rare opportunity to enjoy so many various sights and activities in such small area; whether you wish to cruise the Kornati Archipelago, hike on Velebit, try Zrmanja rafting, admire the Krka Waterfalls or go fishing on the shores of Vrana Lake.

Nin is among the oldest Dalmatian cities. Over 3000 years of history ensured diversity of unique historical monuments. Once capital of Croatian rulers, Nin is today a modern tourist resort. It is the oasis of sandy beaches and the biggest deposit of healing mud in Croatia. Be sure to visit the world’s smallest cathedral, the Church of The Holy Cross; touch the big toe of the Grgur Ninski statue for good luck and try the local dried meat delicacy, Sokol.

Starigrad Paklenica is a small harbor north of Zadar. This place of rich history and numerous sights is shielded by the powerful heights of Velebit, the biggest Croatian mountain. Starigrad is a starting point for Paklenica National Park; its magnificent canyons where the mountain opens itself to the sea in beautiful beaches. It is a great place to enjoy water sports, as well as hiking, freeclimbing, mountain biking and caving.

Sv. Filip i Jakov is a small tourist settlement halfway between Zadar and Sibenik. Once full of summerhouses and noblemen palaces, the tradition of beloved summer destination has been nurtured until the present day. Sv. Filip i Jakov is attractive due to its nearness to Kornati National Park, numerous sports activities and the popular semi-submarine allowing its visitors to explore the underwater world.

Sukosan is a nautical center of the region, with one of the biggest and best equipped marinas on the Adriatic. It is situated in the Zlatna Luka Bay south of Zadar. If you don’t enjoy sailing so much, Sukosan has a lot more to offer: beautiful sandy beaches, quality accommodation and various sports activities such as windsurfing.

The popularity of Petrcane rises every year as it hosts international music festivals such as Garden Festival, Soundwave and Love System Festival. Apart from private apartments and camps, you can enjoy luxurious accommodation in Falkensteiner, a five-star resort, or a four-star hotel Pinija.

If you prefer a peaceful vacation far from noises of the city, Drage is an ideal resort for you. Sailing lovers will find their perfect harbor in Bibinje, equipped with one of the biggest marinas on the Adriatic with over 1000 berths. Revive yourself in the healing mud of Karin or enjoy scenic cycling trails of Maslenica leading you through picturesque settlements at the foot of Velebit.

To find the best hotels in Zadar and around the world, we’ve built Travelmyth, the unique hotel search engine with the widest selection of category filters. From hotels with parking in San Francisco to hotels with swimming pool in Edinburgh, Travelmyth will help you find the best hotels that match your interests and preferences.