We missed swimming in the sea on our birthday trip in the spring, so we tried again, this time in August and in Zadar. No complaints about the weather and the sunsets are supposed to be beautiful here. So let's see what Croatia has to offer this time.

DAY ONE


first sunset


We arrived at a tiny airport where you could only see private jets, it was probably the smallest airport I've ever been to. We looked for the bus that would take us to the old town and tried to get off at the nearest bus stop to our accommodation.


Old polished stones everywhere, we must be in the right place, this is the old town. We dropped our suitcases at the accommodation and were off to explore the surrounding streets. Orsi might be more interested in exploring as this is not her first time here. She used to spend summers in Zadar as a child because her father had a sailing boat here. Unfortunately, I couldn't see it because it had been sold by time I met her. However, we did not miss the sailing as we paid for an excursion and it was probably the best experience of our stay.

Aerial view of winding dirt roads cutting through rugged mountain terrain.
Aircraft wing view over desert landscape against bright blue sky.
Small passenger aircraft parked on tarmac with mountains visible in the background.

When the trip is over we could go home with one of these

The old town is on the Adriatic Sea, on a promontory protected by ramparts and bastions. And our accommodation was right here, so all the sights and beaches were within a 10-15 minute walk. We had a longer nostalgia walk when we visited the harbour, where their boat was docked.

Silhouette of person jumping into ocean at sunset with city skyline in background.
People gathered on coastal breakwater at dusk with lighthouse in distance.

Everyone was getting ready for the sunset

 

Sailboat silhouetted against dramatic golden sunset over rippling ocean waters.
Outdoor beachfront scene at golden sunset with silhouettes of visitors and structures.

Cooked corn vendor on the beach

Two silhouettes watching a golden sunset over rippling ocean waves at dusk.
Gentle ocean waves reflecting golden sunlight on dark blue waters at sunset.
Silhouettes of people watching sunset by a lighthouse with crowd gathered along the shore.
"The most beautiful sunset in the world is here," said Albert Hitchcock,
looking out of his hotel room in May 1964.
Ancient stone bell tower against deep blue sky with textured clouds.

St Donat's Church is the city's best-known symbol

DAY two


first beach


After waking up in the morning, we had breakfast and went to the nearest shopping centre. We bought sandwiches and soft drinks and then headed for the beach. The GPS said it was 15 minutes away and it was. We found a suitable spot for sunbathing and went into the water. The sea was a beautiful blue and the temperature was just right. 

Basketball court by the sea with empty hoop and ocean view in the background.
Mediterranean coastal scene with boats anchored near historic stone fortification.
Blue sports motorcycle parked in shaded parking area with sunlight streaming through.

Pro tip: in Croatia in general, cash is very popular, and you can't really do much with a bank card on the beach. I'm only saying this because I spent an hour trying to buy 2 soft drinks without cash. Cash is king.

People relaxing on a sunny concrete pier overlooking turquoise Mediterranean waters.

Meeting of religions and cultures

People playing basketball on an outdoor court with mountains visible in the background during sunset.
Swimmers enjoying crystal clear turquoise waters near coastal buildings on a sunny Mediterranean day.
Scenic coastal path with boats and mountains visible through tree branches.
Beachgoers relaxing on a rocky shoreline with blue waters and mountains in the distance.
Blue diving platform structure on the coast with pine trees framing the ocean view.
Silhouetted figures jumping from a multi-level diving platform against a sparkling ocean backdrop.

After a few hours we had had enough of the sun and the sea. A beer and an ice-cream, or in reverse order, was what we craved. So we headed back to the old town. One of my friends recommended an ice cream shop, as I had complained to him that we hadn't had a good ice cream the night before. The one he recommended was delicious, but at what a price. In general, Croatia has become expensive. I also spoke to locals and they told me that there had been a huge price increase in the last two years and you can see this everywhere you go.

Ancient stone architectural detail showing decorative carved figure on historic building facade.

It was under Roman rule that Zadar acquired its current urban layout and there is evidence of this

Church bell tower with terracotta roof and ancient Roman column against bright blue sky.
Hand holding artisanal ice cream cone with wafer cookie in a polka dot cup on cobblestone street.

The most expensive ice cream I've ever had, and I'm afraid to tell you how much I paid for this.

 

We went back to the hotel, had a shower and got ready for the second sunset. The seaside promenade has a special feature, the Sea organ and the Sun Monument. The Sea Organ (Morske orgulje) was built in 2005 by the architect Nikola Basic. Under the 70-metre-long marble staircase are 35 pipes of different lengths that "compose" different music according to the waves of the sea.


The other exciting monument consists of 300 solar panels made of multi-layered glass, which absorb the sun's energy during the day and create a spectacular light show after sunset.

Silhouettes of people gathered at dusk on an illuminated surface with a blue sky backdrop.
Crowd silhouettes stand on a glowing grid floor against a vibrant sunset sky.

DAY two


nostalgia walk


The next day was unbelievably hot. I'm not a big fan of swimming, but I was really looking forward to getting back into the water. The plan for today was really easy, just a long walk and a swim. It was about an hour and a half of nostalgia walking. Orsi hadn't been on this route for over 15 years and for me it was completely new. We went to see the old harbour where once their boat was docked.

Close-up of green olives growing on branches in natural sunlight.

Olives, what a delicious snack with an ice-cold beer

Red and white striped lighthouse tower against clear blue sky.

I am sure it has been repainted recently, the red colour is almost glowing

Blurred motion shot of a white golf cart driving on a street.
Scenic waterfront view of coastal buildings and trees along calm blue waters.

On the way to the old harbour

Stone archway passage with vines growing on walls in Mediterranean architecture.

One of the entrance of the old town

Colorful striped beach umbrella by blue Mediterranean waters.
A lighthouse with spiral staircase and white canopy lounge area by the Mediterranean Sea on a sunny day.

DAY three


Boat trip to the national park


It's going to be an exciting day as we're going on a full day boat trip. The boat left early in the morning, so we got up really early on the third day. Rain clouds gathered for the first hour or so, but luckily the weather cleared up later. We visited the national park with several stops to swim in the sea. The price included breakfast and lunch, which was well worth it. A boat trip is fun, next holiday if we go to the sea we will definitely look into a boat trip again.

View from the bow of a boat sailing through blue waters with distant islands.

All day cruise, the cool breeze was nice in the heat

Rear view of passengers enjoying scenic views from a boat deck in Mediterranean waters.

Listening music and dancing while enjoying the view

Sailboat anchored near an island viewed between two white boat posts.
Scenic beach cove with crystal clear turquoise waters and concrete pillars.

Serious fisherman

Fisher standing on rocky shoreline casting into crystal clear Mediterranean waters.

What kind of fish do you want to catch with that gun?

Traditional wooden cruise ship anchored in turquoise Mediterranean waters near rocky coastline.
View of a Mediterranean coastline through a ship window showing blue water and rugged terrain.
Ship's mast with Croatian flag against blue sky with white clouds.
Narrow walkway along the side of a boat showing maritime equipment and deck details.

Several boats have joined forces to drop tourists off on the island at the same time

Coastal villa perched on rocky terrain viewed from boat deck with ropes in foreground.

Kornati island, we only had two hours here

White arched bridge spanning across blue water connecting two green shorelines.
Cargo ships docked near a green island coastline in bright blue waters.
Red life preserver and passengers relaxing on boat deck during Mediterranean cruise.

On the way back to the harbour every one was enjoying the sunshine

Grand white historic buildings along the Mediterranean coastline with red-tiled roofs.

The famous coastal promenade from the ship

Seagull flying over a boat with the Croatian coastline visible in the background.

Hi guys, drop me some food

Coastal town skyline with church towers and buildings along a sunny Mediterranean waterfront.

St Donat's Church in the background

Stunning sunset over ocean waters creating golden reflections on waves.
Small red and white lighthouse on a rocky pier with a boat carrying passengers in the foreground.
Hand holding Ozujsko beer can against sunset ocean backdrop.

Let's enjoy the third sunset

Sunset silhouette of person sitting on seaside promenade watching the horizon.
People relaxing on a stone pier by the ocean at sunset.
Scenic sunset over mountain silhouettes with calm ocean waters.

The last sunset came and we said goodbye to Zadar. It was a lovely holiday and the best part was that it was only a 55 minute flight from home. I hope Orsi had some nice memories from the old days here. We might end up here again sometime. Bye-bye Zadar Doviđenja!

Vintage military aircraft parked on dry grass field with blurred foliage in foreground.

They are refuelling our plane, so it's time to head home. See you!

Wake patterns in turquoise Mediterranean waters with islands and blue sky in the background.





Doviđenja zadar