Where to Stay in Zadar? The 6 Best Areas & Places to Stay

Zadar has an Old Town on a peninsula, a Sea Organ that plays when the waves hit the steps, and some of the few shallow beaches in Croatia. The city sits in the middle of the Dalmatian coast, about one and a half to two hours’ drive north of Split.

Deciding where to stay in Zadar mostly comes down to whether you want to walk everywhere or stay by the beach. That’s because Old Town and the best beach areas are several kilometres apart.

Here are my six picks and three hotels in each area, from luxury to budget.

Where to Stay in Zadar: The Best Areas

• Old Town - best area for first-time visitors and travellers without a car
• Kolovare - best area for a city beach close to Old Town
• Borik and Puntamika - best area for beach hotels with a pool
• Diklo and Kožino - best area for peace and quiet and waterfront apartments
• Petrčane and Punta Skala - best area for luxury resorts and spas
• Nin - best area for sandy beaches and families with children

I start in Old Town and at Kolovare near the centre, then follow the coast north to Borik, Diklo, Petrčane and finally Nin. For each area you get a map, transport, price level and three places to stay. The prices come from a search for a weekend in July for two people and are in euros. In July and August Zadar is packed, so book as soon as you know your dates.

1. Old Town - best area for first-time visitors and travellers without a car 🏛️

• 📍 Distance to the centre: You’re right in the centre on the peninsula. From the Land Gate to the Sea Organ out on the tip is about a 15-minute walk.
• 🚌 Transport: Most of Old Town is pedestrianised, so you walk here. The airport bus and several of Liburnija’s city buses stop by Old Town.
• ✈️ Time from the airport: According to Zadar Airport, the airport (ZAD) is 8 km from the city, and the airport bus reaches Old Town in about 20 minutes for 5 euros.
• 💰 Price level: High in summer. The three places below cost about 90 to 310 euros per night when I searched for a weekend in July.
• 👮 Safety: Very safe, in the evening too. Keep an eye on your belongings in the crowds on the waterfront at sunset, as you would in any tourist town.

Old Town sits on a narrow peninsula with the harbour on one side and open sea towards the islands on the other. Inside the city walls you’ll find the Roman Forum, the round Church of St Donatus and the cathedral bell tower, and the main street, Kalelarga, runs right through the district. The peninsula is so small that you can walk around it in an afternoon, and from the cathedral bell tower you can look out over the rooftops, the harbour and the islands. The city walls are part of UNESCO World Heritage together with other Venetian fortifications.

Out on the tip of the peninsula are the city’s two famous installations. According to the tourist board, the Sea Organ in Zadar stretches along about 70 metres of the shore with 35 pipes beneath the steps, and right next to it is the Greeting to the Sun, where the lights change in time with the sea as the sun goes down. It’s the city’s big evening ritual, and from the hotels in Old Town you can walk there in a few minutes.

See hotels in Old Town here.

I’d stay in Old Town if it’s your first trip to Zadar or if you only have two or three nights. You can walk to restaurants, museums and the Sea Organ, and the airport bus stops right by the peninsula. If you want a swim, you can jump in from the steps on the waterfront like the local youngsters do, or walk 15 to 20 minutes to the beach at Kolovare.

The downsides are the car and the price. According to the tourist board, parking around Old Town is split into two paid zones with different rates and time limits, and illegally parked cars can be towed away. If you have a hire car, ask the hotel about parking before you book. In summer the streets are also busy until late, and the rooms in the old houses are often small.

Hotels in Old Town

Bastion Heritage Hotel - boutique hotel with a spa by the old city wall

Bastion Heritage Hotel is on Bedemi zadarskih pobuna, the street along the ramparts in the northern part of Old Town. There’s a spa with a sauna, steam room and hot tub as well as a restaurant, and the standard rooms are about 22 square metres. It scores 9.5 from just over 700 reviews. Breakfast is included, parking costs 15 euros a day, and one guest felt the breakfast could be better.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “The best thing about the hotel is the friendly staff.”

See photos and book Bastion Heritage Hotel here.

Palazzo Venezia - adults-only bed and breakfast in the heart of Old Town

Palazzo Venezia is on Poljana pape Aleksandra III in the northern part of Old Town, about a ten-minute walk from the Sea Organ. It’s adults only, there’s a lift, and the double rooms are about 22 square metres. It scores 8.9 from just over 100 reviews. Breakfast costs extra, there’s public parking about 30 metres away, and one guest missed having a wardrobe and hangers.

From one review: “Clean and centrally located.”

See photos and book Palazzo Venezia here.

Boutique Hostel Forum - hostel with private rooms on the main street

Boutique Hostel Forum is on Široka ulica, the official name of the main street Kalelarga, close to the Forum and about 400 metres from the Sea Organ. You can choose between dorms and private rooms, where a twin room is about 15 square metres, and there’s a shared kitchen and luggage lockers. Breakfast is included with the private rooms, it scores 8.4 from just over 3,100 reviews, and one guest complained about a carpet that smelled.

One guest writes: “Perfect location, and our private room was lovely with a great view.”

See photos and book Boutique Hostel Forum here.

2. Kolovare - best area for a town beach close to the Old Town 🏖️

• 📍 Distance to the centre: Kolovare lies just south-east of the peninsula. It’s roughly a 15 to 20-minute walk along the water to the Land Gate and the Old Town.
• 🚌 Transport: The city’s bus station is a few minutes’ walk from the beach, and from here you’ll find city buses, the airport bus and buses onwards around Croatia.
• ✈️ Time from the airport: The airport bus stops at the bus station on its way into the Old Town, so you’ll be here in under 20 minutes.
• 💰 Price level: Mid-range to high. The three places below came in at around 130 to 290 euros per night when I searched for a weekend in July.
• 👮 Safety: Safe. It’s an ordinary residential area with hotels, cafés and lots of local families on the beach.

Kolovare is the city’s own beach. According to the tourist office, it’s just a few steps from the centre and is made up of small pebbly coves and a public seawater pool. A promenade runs along the water past the rocky beach at Punta Bajlo and on towards the Old Town, so you can swim in the morning and eat in town in the evening without getting into a car.

Behind the beach lie the neighbourhoods of Kolovare and Bili Brig, with ordinary homes, supermarkets and some of the cheapest apartments close to the centre. Further east is Arbanasi, a quiet residential area with its own bus line to the Old Town.

The walk into town ends at the Land Gate from 1543, the old main entrance to the Old Town. Just outside the city walls is the small harbour of Foša with waterside restaurants, and from there it’s only a few minutes to the Forum and Kalelarga.

See hotels near Kolovare here.

I’d stay here if you want both a beach and a short walk to the Old Town, or if you’re travelling on by bus. Buses leave the bus station for the rest of the country, and if you’re heading south, you can read my guide to Split. If you have a car, it’s also easier to park here than on the peninsula, and all three places below have free parking.

The downside is that Kolovare is the town beach for all of Zadar. In July and August it fills up from early morning, and the pebbles make water shoes a good idea. The hotels here aren’t the newest either, and some of them face the busy roads by the bus station.

Hotels near Kolovare

Hotel Kolovare - large hotel with a pool right across from the beach

Hotel Kolovare is on Bože Peričića right across from Kolovare Beach, about a 15-minute walk from the Old Town. There’s an outdoor saltwater pool with a children’s pool, a restaurant and a tennis court, and the rooms are around 18 to 38 square metres. It scores 8.3 from around 1,700 reviews. Breakfast and parking are included in the price, but some guests feel the rooms are in need of maintenance.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “Fantastic location by the beach.”

See photos and book Hotel Kolovare here.

Apartments & Rooms Lavandula Exclusive - four-star guesthouse 200 metres from the beach

Lavandula Exclusive is on Ante Starčevića by the bus station, about 200 metres from Kolovare Beach and 1.5 km from the Old Town. The rooms and apartments are around 24 to 35 square metres, and parking is free. It scores 8.8 from just under 400 reviews. Breakfast costs extra, and some rooms face a busy road where there can be noise.

From one review: “The hotel was spotlessly clean and exceptionally comfortable.”

See photos and book Lavandula Exclusive here.

Guverna New City Accommodation - affordable rooms with free parking

Guverna is on Vlatka Mačeka a little further into the neighbourhood, under a kilometre from Kolovare Beach and about a 20-minute walk from the Old Town. The rooms are around 22 to 35 square metres, and parking is free, which is handy if you have a hire car. It scores 8.3 from just over 900 reviews. Breakfast costs extra, and some guests feel the place is a little out of the way.

One of the guests writes: “Lovely, slightly quirky rooms that are clean and spacious.”

See photos and book Guverna here.

3. Borik and Puntamika - best area for beach hotels with a pool 🌲

• 📍 Distance to the centre: Borik is about 3.5 km north-west of the Old Town. That’s a good ten minutes by car or a long walk.
• 🚌 Transport: Liburnija’s city bus line 5A runs to Puntamika and Borik, and line 8A continues on to Diklo.
• ✈️ Time from the airport: About 20 to 25 minutes by taxi or hire car. The airport bus only goes to the Old Town, but the ticket is valid for 90 minutes, including on the city buses.
• 💰 Price level: Mid-range to high. The three places below cost around 110 to 460 euros per night when I searched for a weekend in July.
• 👮 Safety: Very safe. In summer, parking by the beach is the biggest problem.

Borik is Zadar’s original hotel area, with pine woods, large resort hotels and a long beach. The tourist office describes the beach as a mix of pebbles and sand, with a water park and beach bars. Just to the south is the Puntamika peninsula, with its marina and small rocky beaches where locals gather to watch the sun set behind the islands of Ugljan and Pašman.

Behind the beach is a residential neighbourhood of villas, small guesthouses and apartments, which are often cheaper than the resort hotels and still only a few minutes’ walk from the water. The beach is free, but sunloungers and parasols cost extra, and in high season you need to get there early to find a spot in the shade under the pine trees.

The biggest hotels on the beach belong to Falkensteiner. Club Funimation Borik is a family hotel with a kids’ club, while Hotel Adriana next door is adults only. The beach and the hotels are a big part of why Zadar is my pick for families with children in my guide to Croatia.

See hotels in Borik here.

I would stay in Borik if the beach and the pool matter most, and if you’d like a hotel where you have everything in one place. It also works well for a week with children, because there’s both a pool and a beach right by the hotel. To get to the Old Town, take bus 5A or a taxi, and in the evening you can walk there in about 45 minutes. If you have a hire car, all three places below have free parking.

The downside is that you’re staying in a holiday area rather than a town. In summer, the beach around the hotels is packed, parking at Puntamika is hard to find after mid-morning, and most of the restaurants are in the hotels and along the beach.

Hotels in Borik and Puntamika

Falkensteiner Hotel Adriana - adults-only hotel right on the beach

Falkensteiner Hotel Adriana is on Majstora Radovana by Borik beach, about 3.5 km from the Old Town, and it’s adults only. There’s an outdoor pool, a spa with a sauna and a tennis court, and the rooms are about 28 square metres. It scores 8.6 from just over 800 reviews. Breakfast and parking are included in the price, but one guest found the rooms small and basic.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “The hotel was very clean and the staff were helpful.”

See photos and book Falkensteiner Hotel Adriana here.

Apartments Puntamika - large apartments close to the water

Apartments Puntamika is on Vlahe Bukovca on the Puntamika peninsula, about 50 metres from the beach. The apartments are about 35 to 60 square metres with a kitchen, and parking is free. It scores 9.3 from just over 600 reviews. Breakfast costs extra and there’s no lift, so bear that in mind if you have heavy luggage.

From one review: “Excellent apartment, very clean, a big TV and a lovely bathroom!”

See photos and book Apartments Puntamika here.

Villa Valentina - budget rooms and studios close to Borik

Villa Valentina is on Otona Ivekovića in the residential area behind Borik, about 500 metres from the beach and 3 km from the Old Town. The rooms are about 25 to 60 square metres, and some have a kitchenette. It scores 8.9 from just over 900 reviews. Parking is free, breakfast costs extra, and one guest found the house a bit of a maze.

One guest puts it simply: “The room was spotlessly clean.”

See photos and book Villa Valentina here.

4. Diklo and Kožino - best area for peace and quiet and waterfront apartments 🌅

• 📍 Distance to the centre: Diklo is about 5 km north-west of the Old Town, and according to the tourist office Kožino is about 10 km from Zadar.
• 🚌 Transport: City bus 8A runs between Diklo and Puntamika. For Kožino, a car is by far the easiest option.
• ✈️ Time from the airport: About 25 to 30 minutes by taxi or hire car.
• 💰 Price level: Mid-range. The three places below cost about 105 to 225 euros per night when I searched for a weekend in July.
• 👮 Safety: Very safe. These are quiet residential areas with villas and holiday apartments.

If you carry on along the coastal road Krešimirova obala past Borik, you reach Diklo, which today is a quiet suburb of Zadar. Here you stay in villas, apartments and small family-run hotels by the water, and along the coast there are small beaches and swimming spots with more space than at Borik and Kolovare. The coastal road from Borik is also a lovely stretch to walk or cycle in the evening, with views across the channel to the island of Ugljan, and many of the apartments have a balcony with sea views and a barbecue.

Even further north lies Kožino. The tourist office describes the village as a quiet place with around 800 permanent residents, a 16th-century church and sand and pebble beaches that are safe for children. There are hardly any hotels here, but there are plenty of new villas and apartments to rent instead.

See hotels in Diklo here.

I would stay here if you have a car and want peace and quiet, or if you are a family looking for an apartment with a kitchen close to the water. Compare prices on car hire at Booking.com, and pick up the car at the airport, where the big rental companies have desks. Diklo is also a good compromise, because you can still take the bus into town when you don’t feel like driving. Kožino is best suited to a longer holiday, where an apartment with a kitchen makes it cheaper for a larger group.

The downside is that not much happens in the evening. There are few restaurants, and from Kožino you have to drive to go shopping or eat out. Many places are apartments in private houses, so check whether there is parking and air conditioning before you book.

Hotels in Diklo

Hotel Delfin - small hotel with a sauna right by the water

Hotel Delfin is on Krešimirova obala in Diklo, about 10 metres from the water, and it is the most expensive of my three suggestions here. There is a sauna, a hot tub and a gym, and the double rooms with a balcony are about 15 square metres. It has a score of 9.0 from just over 1,100 reviews. Breakfast is included and there is free public parking, but several guests mention that the rooms are small.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “A beautiful little hotel. Every nook and cranny was beautifully decorated.”

See photos and book Hotel Delfin here.

Villa Triana - sea-view suites and a heated pool, adults only

Villa Triana is on Krešimirova obala right by the water between Borik and Diklo, about 3 km from the Old Town, and it is adults only. There is a heated outdoor pool, and the suites with a balcony and sea views are about 40 square metres. It has a score of 8.9 from just over 350 reviews. Breakfast costs extra, there is free public parking nearby, and one guest missed having more places to eat breakfast in the area.

From a review: “We loved our stay here. The hotel is so relaxing and the location is perfect.”

See photos and book Villa Triana here.

Apartments Anna - apartments with a kitchen by the beach

Apartments Anna is also on Krešimirova obala, with direct access to the beach. A two-bedroom apartment is about 55 square metres with a full kitchen, there is a barbecue, and parking is free. It has a score of 9.0 from just over 70 reviews. Breakfast is not included, and one guest mentions noise from the neighbours upstairs and next door.

One guest writes: “Everything was perfect, a lovely place with a view of the sea, the beach is close, everything was clean and the beds were good.”

See photos and book Apartments Anna here.

5. Petrčane and Punta Skala - best area for a luxury resort and spa 🧖

• 📍 Distance to the centre: Petrčane is about 12 km northwest of the Old Town, or about 20 minutes by car.
• 🚗 Transport: The city buses don’t run out here, so plan on a car or taxi.
• ✈️ Time from the airport: About 30 minutes by car or taxi.
• 💰 Price level: High at the resort and lower in the village. The three places below cost about 90 to 510 euros per night when I searched for a weekend in July.
• 👮 Safety: Very safe.

Petrčane is a small village between Zadar and Nin, surrounded by olive trees, pine forest and vineyards. The tourist office calls it the perfect seaside spot in the Zadar area and says there are almost five kilometres of coastline with shallow water that suits children.

The village isn’t just hotels. There are several old churches here, including the fortified Church of St Bartholomew from the 12th or 13th century, and olive growing and wine production are still part of everyday life. The Royal Vineyards winery has a tasting room with views over the area and the islands.

Out on the Punta Skala peninsula is Falkensteiner’s large resort with the five-star Hotel & Spa Iadera, the family hotel Diadora and the Residences Senia apartments. In the village itself there are beach bars in the pine forest, a few restaurants and sunsets over the islands that locals drive out here to watch.

See hotels in Petrčane here.

I would stay here if you want a resort with a spa and pool and don’t need the city every day, or if you’re a family who wants shallow water right outside the door. The big hotels have both pools and beach access, so you don’t need to drive to go swimming. Nin is only a quarter of an hour further north, so you can easily head up to the sandy beaches one afternoon.

The downside is the distance. The Old Town is about 20 minutes away by car each way, and a return taxi in the evening can quickly get expensive. The village is small, and quite a few places close outside the season. On the other hand, it’s very quiet in June and September, when you can often get the resort for a lower price than in midsummer.

Hotels in Petrčane

Falkensteiner Hotel & Spa Iadera - five-star resort with a large spa on Punta Skala

Hotel & Spa Iadera sits at the very tip of the Punta Skala peninsula, right by the water. There are indoor and outdoor pools, including an infinity pool, a large spa and several restaurants, and the deluxe rooms are about 32 square metres. It scores 9.1 from just over 1,600 reviews. Breakfast is included, parking costs 9.50 euros per day, and one guest feels the hotel could do with an update.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “The staff treat guests like old friends, and the food and accommodation are excellent.”

See photos and book Hotel & Spa Iadera here.

Hotel Pinija - family hotel with a kids’ club by the water

Hotel Pinija is on the small peninsula in Petrčane, and it’s a classic seaside hotel with an indoor and outdoor pool, a children’s pool, a kids’ club, a spa and mini golf. The classic double rooms are about 19 square metres. It scores 8.8 from just under 1,900 reviews. Breakfast and parking are included in the price, but one guest wanted more variety at dinner, especially the desserts.

From a review: “The meals were of good quality, and you could sit both indoors and outdoors.”

See photos and book Hotel Pinija here.

Pansion Pirat - simple guesthouse with breakfast close to the beach

Pansion Pirat is at Punta Radman in the southern part of Petrčane, about a two-minute walk from the beach, and it’s the cheapest of my three suggestions here. The twin rooms are about 15 square metres, breakfast is included, and there’s a garden, a barbecue and free parking. It scores 8.1 from about 200 reviews, and you only get a hairdryer if you ask for one.

One guest writes: “Good atmosphere and a very friendly and helpful hostess.”

See photos and book Pansion Pirat here.

6. Nin - best area for sandy beaches and families with children 🏝️

• 📍 Distance to the centre: Nin lies about 15 km north of Zadar, or 20 to 25 minutes by car.
• 🚗 Transport: You can walk around Nin itself, but a car is the easiest way to get to Zadar and the beaches outside town.
• ✈️ Time from the airport: About 30 to 35 minutes by car.
• 💰 Price level: Mid-range. The three places below cost around 120 to 225 euros per night when I searched for a weekend in July.
• 👮 Safety: Very safe and quiet, in the evening too.

Nin is a small town on an island in a shallow lagoon, and you enter it over stone bridges and through the town gate. According to Nin’s tourist office, it is Croatia’s oldest royal town, and the bay has sandy beaches, healing mud, salt pans and rich birdlife. In the town itself you’ll find the little Church of the Holy Cross from the 9th century, and the town is so small that you can walk around it in half an hour.

Just outside town are the salt pans, where sea salt is still made the traditional way, and in the shallow lagoon you can watch people smear themselves in mud, let it dry in the sun and rinse it off in the sea.

The beaches are the reason many families choose Nin. The best known is Kraljičina plaža, the Queen’s Beach, and just south of town lies Zaton, with one of the area’s largest holiday resorts, complete with pools and a water slide. Sandy beaches are rare in Croatia, so the shallow water of the lagoon is perfect for small children.

See hotels in Nin here.

I would stay in Nin if you have small children and dream of a sandy beach, or if you want to combine the beach with a small town where you can go out for dinner in the evening. From Nin you can drive to Zadar in about 20 minutes when you want to see the Sea Organ at sunset. The lagoon is also a good place to swim if you don’t like stones under your feet.

The downside is that Nin is small, and most places to stay are apartments and holiday resorts rather than hotels. In summer it can be hard to park at the beaches, and without a car you’re fairly tied to the town.

Hotels in Nin

Zaton Holiday Resort Apartments - large holiday resort with pools and a kids’ club south of Nin

Zaton Holiday Resort is on Dražnikova in Zaton, about 3 km from Nin, and the beaches are 100 to 350 metres from the apartments. There are several pools, a water slide, a kids’ club and a playground, and a studio measures about 20 square metres with a kitchen. It scores 8.3 from just over 3,700 reviews. Parking is free, you can book half board, and several guests mention that the sunloungers cost extra.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “A really nice hotel with lots to do, a beautiful area, lovely pools and good food everywhere we went.”

See photos and book Zaton Holiday Resort here.

Apartman Aenona - apartment with a kitchen close to the Old Town in Nin

Apartman Aenona is on Zadarska ulica, about 400 metres from the Old Town in Nin and 1.4 km from Ždrijac sandy beach. The apartment is about 40 square metres with a kitchen, and parking is free. It scores 9.2 from just over 40 reviews. Breakfast isn’t included, and a couple of guests have had remarks about the cleaning.

From one review: “Perfect, central location, we could check in early, and both beds were really good.”

See photos and book Apartman Aenona here.

Apartments Gabriel - quiet apartments with a barbecue and free parking

Apartments Gabriel is on Riječka on the edge of Nin, less than a kilometre from both the Old Town and Ždrijac sandy beach. The apartments have a full kitchen, the largest measure about 60 square metres, and there’s a barbecue and free parking. It scores 9.0 from just under 30 reviews, and one guest mentions that the place is quiet and a little away from the tourists, which is an advantage or a disadvantage depending on what you’re looking for.

One guest writes simply: “Lovely people and a clean, comfortable apartment.”

See photos and book Apartments Gabriel here.

Where not to stay in Zadar?

I wouldn’t stay at Gaženica south of the city. This is where the ferry port and an industrial area are, and even though the apartments can be cheap, it’s a long way to both the Old Town and the beaches. The same goes for the new residential neighbourhoods inland, where the listing says Zadar but you can walk neither to the city nor to the water.

Nor would I stay in the Old Town with a car if the hotel has no parking, because then part of your holiday goes on hunting for a space. And if you want both the beach and the city, choose Kolovare rather than a resort far out, where every trip to the Sea Organ means a taxi.

If it’s your first trip, I would stay in the Old Town or at Kolovare, where you can walk to everything. If you have children and want a beach, choose Borik or Nin, and if you dream of a spa and a pool, Petrčane is the obvious choice. If you have a car and want peace and quiet, Diklo and Kožino are a good compromise.

Zadar is also a good base for day trips. Krka National Park with its waterfalls is about an hour’s drive south, and Plitvice Lakes National Park is about two hours inland. Without a car, you can go on a day trip to Krka or a guided tour to Plitvice from Zadar. You can reach Paklenica and the island of Pag in around an hour, and for Kornati you take a boat trip from Zadar. For day trips, you get the most freedom with a hire car from Booking.com.

July and August are high season, when hotels, beaches and car parks are all full. If you come in June or September, the water is still warm and prices are lower. If you’re carrying on down the coast, you can read my guide to Dubrovnik and about the best areas on Hvar.

Travel ressources & websites I use all the time 👇

• Booking.com has the best offers on hotels and unique places to stay
• GetYourGuide is the best place to book tours & activities with free cancellation
• Welcome Pickups is the best & safest place to pre-book airport transfers

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