Best of Zadar

A vibrant city in Northern Dalmatia, Zadar has been a coveted site since its founding by an Illyrian tribe in the 9th century BCE. Romans, Venetians and Slavs all left their mark on the seaside town, and a fine assortment of museums and monuments help bring this storied past to life. Most famous perhaps for its sunsets, so cinematic they impressed Hitchcock, and its exquisite seafood, the historic center is also crowned by architectural showstoppers that span the ages, like the Byzantine-style St Donatus Church and the 12th-century Romanesque cathedral, the largest in all Dalmatia.

Zadar also harbors some of the country's best modern art installations, with treasures like the haunting Sea Organ, set up so that notes are played by the sea's waves, and the light-filled installation entitled Sun Salutation, a 72-foot (22-meter) diameter circle studded with solar plates that store up the sun's energy during the day and then treat passersby to a spectacular light show intended to represent the solar system by night. Both are cherished artworks designed by local architect Nikola Bašić. The city is a key transport hub too, and makes a handy launchpad for trips both to the surrounding islands—including off-the-beaten-path gems like Silba Island—and to breathtaking national parks such as Plitvice Lakes and Krka National Park. Yet for all these merits it is free of the crowds that descend on more popular Dalmatian destinations like Dubrovnik.  

Previous kimkim travelers have immersed themselves in Zadar's history on guided walking tours through the center. You can also explore temple ruins at the Roman Forum or get your fill of prehistoric and medieval relics in the Archaeological Museum. Nor to you have to venture very far from the city to experience some stunning nature: get your fix on a guided visit to Paklenica National Park, around 31 miles (50 kilometers) to the northeast, fabled for its spectacular canyons.