Zadar

1. Greeting to the sun

2. Sea organ

3. Sv. Donat

4. Zadar Jadera

5. 5 Wells Square

6. Cruiseportguide Zadar

7. Book shore excursions

    7.1 Meine Landausflüge

    7.2 GetYourGuide

    7.3 Viator

Zadar boasts a history spanning thousands of years, a heritage you can feel the moment you enter the Old Town through one of its historic city gates. Surrounded by thick stone walls, you will find beautiful narrow alleys that invite you to stroll and explore. A visit to the Sea Organ is an absolute must-do when visiting this Croatian city on the Adriatic coast

In Zadar, the larger ships dock at the newly built cruise terminal, located about 5 km from the old town. Shuttle buses are available for approximately €10 per person for a round trip. We were dropped off at the city gate, not far from the Sea Organ.

From the shuttle bus terminus, we didn’t head straight into the old town, but rather towards the Sea Organ. You simply walk along the seafront on the same side where you were dropped off. Before reaching the Sea Organ, you’ll come across the Greeting to the Sun, which was designed by the architect Nikola Bašić.

The Greeting to the Sun consists of 300 glass plates arranged in a circle with a diameter of 22 meters. When the sun sets, the lights turn on and follow the movement of the waves in a fantastic display of colors. Unfortunately, we didn’t have the pleasure of seeing the Greeting to the Sun in the evening, as our ship's port time was too short.

The Sea Organ is an experimental instrument that transforms the motion of the sea into music. Hidden beneath large stone slabs, the waves push air through a system of plastic pipes and resonators. Designed by Nikola Bašić and opened in 2005, it has become a must-see for visitors. I highly recommend taking a moment to sit on the steps and simply listen to the melodies created by the Adriatic—it’s a wonderful experience.

From the Sea Organ, we continued walking along the seafront until we reached a market on our left, which we decided to explore on the spot. From there, we made our way to the church. This Roman Catholic church was built in the early 9th century and is considered the best-preserved monument from that era, as well as a symbol of the city. We highly recommend visiting the tower; the entrance fee is about €5, and in return, you get a fantastic view of the city.

By then, it was time for lunch. We had already picked out Restaurant Zadar Jadera before leaving home, as it had very good reviews. From the outside, the restaurant is quite unassuming; without having researched it beforehand, we probably would have walked right past it. We were able to sit on the terrace and were lucky to get a table, as a large tour group arrived shortly after and took up all the remaining seats. The food was excellent, as was the service. Since the tour group was quite loud, we left right after finishing our meal and headed off to explore Zadar's old town with its gorgeous alleys and charming little shops.

Five Wells Square is located next to the Land Gate (Kopnena Vrata). It was built in 1574, along with the cistern beneath it, to ensure the city's water supply during a siege. The square gets its name from the row of five wells positioned in its center. Water was channeled into the cistern from Lake Vrana via an aqueduct. These five wells provided Zadar with water until the end of the 19th century. In the first half of the 19th century, when the threat of war had passed, the area above the fortifications was transformed into a park.

Here you will find information about the location of the port, public transportation, rental cars, and options for independent excursions.

Meine Landausflüge offer you fantastic cruise trips at the most popular ports worldwide. Typically, they are available in much smaller groups and at more affordable prices than the cruise line’s own excursions. All our options are carefully selected to guarantee you an unforgettable outing experience.

• Small group sizes  
• Punctual return guarantee  
• Convenient pick-up and drop-off service from/to the port  
• Money-back guarantee for itinerary changes and port cancellations  
• Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the tour (Flex option up to 60 minutes before the tour start)

With GetYourGuide, you can book land excursions in small groups, often at better prices than those offered by cruise lines. All experiences are carefully selected and reviewed by experts. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start of the excursion.

Viator, a Tripadvisor company, is one of the world's leading online marketplaces for travel experiences. The platform provides travelers with access to more than 300,000 activities, including guided tours, day trips, attraction tickets, and exclusive experiences in thousands of destinations worldwide. A key advantage for users is the millions of authentic traveler reviews that help in making informed choices. 

Viator is known for its high flexibility:

• offering free cancellation on many bookings up to 24 hours in advance.
• Additionally, the "reserve now, pay later" option provides financial freedom during trip planning. 

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