Best Day Trips
from Zadar

Croatia's most famous national park. It earns that reputation. Sixteen turquoise lakes connected by waterfalls and wooden boardwalks through dense forest. The colours of the water (an impossible shade of blue-green from the minerals) are even more striking in person than in photos. Book your entrance ticket online in advance, especially June–September, as the park has a daily visitor limit and often sells out. The Upper Lakes circuit takes 3–4 hours; a full day covers both.

Often compared to Plitvice but different in character: Krka is about the waterfalls themselves, particularly the spectacular Skradinski Buk cascade. The park is more relaxed to visit than Plitvice (easier to book, shorter queues) and pairs well with a stop in Šibenik's medieval old town on the way back. Check current swimming rules before you go. The rules have changed in recent years.

Zadar's closest day trip and one of its most underrated. Nin is a tiny island town surrounded by a shallow lagoon, connected to the mainland by a stone bridge. The healing mud beach (Kraljičina Plaža) draws visitors who smear themselves in natural grey mud — it sounds odd, but it's genuinely fun and the mud is said to have therapeutic properties. The town itself has the world's smallest cathedral (Church of the Holy Cross, 9th century). Half a day is enough; combine with the beaches north of Nin for a full day. See Nin accommodation →

The most accessible of Zadar's islands — a 25-minute ferry from the city harbour costs around €3–4 each way. Ugljan is where Zadar locals go on weekends: quiet fishing villages, pine forests, olive groves, and clean sea without the tourist infrastructure (or prices) of more famous islands. Rent a bike in the village of Ugljan for the best way to explore. The views back to Zadar's Old Town from Ugljan's hillside are excellent. No booking needed. Just show up for the next ferry.

Often overlooked in favour of Split, Šibenik is one of Croatia's finest medieval cities, and it's not yet saturated with cruise ship tourists. The Cathedral of St. James (UNESCO World Heritage) is extraordinary; the St. Michael's Fortress has panoramic views over the Adriatic. The old town is genuinely beautiful to walk. Combine with Krka National Park (it's in the same direction) for a full day. The bus from Zadar is convenient and affordable.

If you've ever seen a photo of an impossibly turquoise Adriatic beach with white sand, it was probably Sakarun. Located on Dugi Otok (the "Long Island"), it's the kind of beach that makes people abandon their plans and stay longer than intended. The ferry from Zadar to Brbinj takes about 1.5–2 hours, then it's a 20-minute drive to Sakarun. You'll need either a rental car on the island or to join a boat tour from Zadar. Worth the effort for a full-day trip if you have good weather.