Travel tips for Zadar
Everything you need to know before visiting Zadar and North Dalmatia — money, transport, getting in and when to go.
Planning essentials
Visas, budgets, packing, eSIMs and the cultural etiquette worth knowing before you land.
Getting around
Taking the Jadrolinija ferries from Gaženica to Ugljan, Pašman and Dugi Otok, and why a rental car still helps for reaching Paklenica or Plitvice at your own pace.
When to go
A drier, warmer season from roughly May to October for the coast and islands, a milder but wetter and windier stretch the rest of the year, and the bora wind that can pick up especially in winter. Month-by-month guides to what to expect.
Good to know about travel tips for Zadar
Croatia is in the European Union, the Schengen area and the eurozone since 1 January 2023 — the currency here is the euro (€), and displayed prices already include VAT, so what's on the menu or the ticket window is what you pay; a tip of about 10 % covers a restaurant, rounding up elsewhere. Zadar is a coastal city, not a mountain resort, and keeps Central European Time along with the rest of Croatia. Driving is on the right, and the roads out to Nin and along the coast toward Pag can be narrow and slow, with weekend and holiday traffic that sometimes doubles the drive.
Zadar has its own airport at Zemunik (ZAD), about 15 km from the Old Town, and Jadrolinija ferries from Gaženica port run the archipelago network at all hours rather than on sightseeing timetables. Sockets are type C and F, 230 V 50 Hz, and the emergency number across Croatia is 112. The weather changes from town to islands: it can be clear in Zadar while a Kornati boat trip is cancelled for bora wind, which is worth knowing before booking rather than discovering on arrival. None of this changes at Krka or Plitvice specifically: both are subject to closure for weather or season, while ferry cancellations and park queues are safety and access facts, not currency or visa ones.
Frequently asked questions about travel tips for Zadar
What currency is used in Zadar?
The euro (€), Croatia's currency since 1 January 2023. Card payment is accepted almost everywhere, including most cafés, though a tip of about 10 % in restaurants is usual, rounding up elsewhere.
How far is Zadar from Šibenik?
Zadar is reached from Šibenik by road, roughly an hour by bus or car, with several services a day — a genuine city in its own right, not a suburb of Šibenik.
How far is Zadar's airport from the centre?
About 15 km; a shuttle bus and taxis run into the city.
Is Zadar expensive to visit?
Yes, notably so for food, drink and organised tours in summer — worth budgeting for in advance.
Do I need a visa for Zadar?
Croatia is part of the Schengen area, so most European visitors need no visa at all; visitors from further afield should check Schengen entry requirements before flying in.
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