Say YES! to the Zadar Region

Located on a small peninsula at the very heart of the Adriatic Coast, the town is surrounded by exceptional nature and its visitors can explore five natural parks and two nature parks in its vicinity! Biograd is a city tailored to suit everyone’s needs, providing great conditions for both active and family vacation. It is an important cultural centre of the region, it is a coastal town of excellent beaches and lovely promenades, it is a place of amazing nature and stunning views, it is a splendid spot for sailing, diving, hiking and biking, and it offers modern fun parks, eco-friendly marinas, attractive events and festivals and tasty culinary specialties to its countless loyal tourist that often come back to their favourite "white town on the sea"!

Built on the foundations of the ancient Roman city of Argyruntum, this modern-day resort is an extraordinary place of natural and cultural heritage. It is the home of the Winnetou movies, Mirila resting places, the UNESCO listed biosphere reserve with hundreds of plant and animal species, the stunning Riviera of excellent sandy and pebble beaches, as well as of the rugged karst virtually designed for adventure tourism. The small nearby municipality of Posedarje is also the home of one the most challenging Way of the Cross procession in the world and one of the best prosciuttos in the country, which thrives on centuries-old tradition, great geographical position and otherwise unfavourable natural conditions, swept and dried by the unyielding gusts of the cold bora wind that carries along the scented particles of crystal sea salt and fragrant herbs.

This fifth largest island of the Croatian coast also boasts first-rate sea salt deposits and top-notch white wine called Gegić. It has the most indented coastline in the entire Adriatic and it is sometimes referred to as the Moon Island, because of its exceptionally rugged and moonlike surface, however Pag is also home to unusual ornithological reserves like Velo Blato and Kolansko Blato. Its numerous sandy and gravel beaches will please and relax everyone, while its historic dry-stone walls, lush olive groves and rich fragrance of sage shrubs lull the mind and boost the spirit of many delighted visitors.

As you can plainly see at every step, as well as in the Museum of Nin Antiquities, the small and proud town of Nin was once an important Roman municipality (Aenona), the most prominent under the Emperors Augustus and Tiberius. Nin’s grand and ancient history is not only evident in its numerous antique mosaics and imposing architectural remains, as Nin also fosters a centuries-old tradition of exceptional salt production. However, Nin is also a modern-day tourist destination that offers all types of activities for individuals and families alike, be it around exquisite sandy beaches and intimate lovely coves or in the utterly entertaining resorts of the highest quality.

The city with such illustrious cultural heritage and so many magnificent landmarks deserves to be praised and admired without reservations. Gaining its urban structure and importance already in Roman times during the periods of Julius Caesar and Emperor Augustus, Zadar was only additionally strengthened and fortified with the construction of the impressive City Walls, as a part of the Venetian Works of Defence built between 16th and 17th centuries to prevent the Ottoman invasion. Zadar is also a UNESCO location with splendid churches and lively squares, a coastal resort of wonderful beaches, serene parks and enchanting promenades, a modern city of ingenious artistic installations, as well as a surreal setting of arguably the most beautiful sunset in the world!

Whether you favour panoramic mountain views while feasting on outstanding meat products or you relish the prospect of tasting terrific seafood while exploring distant sea horizons, you have come to the right place. The area abounds in choices and varieties, offering something for all those who prefer trying something new and dining in style. People of the region do not shy from raising free-range livestock, fishing on the open sea, planting various fruits and vegetables or cultivating vineyards and olive groves, as they know that they will be bountifully rewarded. Distinctively traditional and scrumptious dishes like brudet from Kali, skuta from Pag, šokol from Nin, prisnac from Benkovac, ćućka from Biograd, srdela from Sali and many others reveal all the love and dedication put into their preparation. Of course, no great meal is complete without a glass of invigorating wine, a few sips of aromatic aperitifs and a couple of bites of delicious dessert, so you may want to try adding Zinfandel, Maraschino and orange cake to the delight of a luscious gastronomic experience, otherwise simply known as Zadar’s cuisine!

The earliest settlements in the region have been dated as early as the Neolithic and ever since the whole area has been continuously inhabited and ruled by various nations in unceasing battles for the coveted land. Locate the ancient communities of the Liburnians, step into the grand cities of the Romans, visit the northern parts of the Byzantine Empire, explore the walls of the Venetian strongholds and see in person where Croatian Kings laid the foundations of Croatian sovereignty! You will stumble upon countless remains of splendid Roman buildings and follow the ensuing structures of medieval master builders, and whether you are an admirer of sacral monuments or a fan of defence structures, the architecture of the region will reinforce your interest in history as well as art. Come to discover incredible cultural heritage that will serve as a true inspiration and maybe even evoke your child passion for building sand forts and drawing churches while you are enjoying your vacation on some beautiful local beach!

You may be a lover of sailing and water sports, you may prefer hiking and climbing, you may give precedence to biking over trekking, you may favour rocks of caves and canyons, or you may simply yearn for the adventure of the unknown, but if you put just a bit of effort into your holiday planning, you may not come to this region and leave without a supreme active vacation experience and the utmost admiration for incredible diversity of its natural heritage! A temperate setting of this varied area is also home to many animal and plant species that live side by side amidst a harmonious coupling of mountains and the sea, so come and see why they thrive here. The friendly and inviting coast of the Zadar region, sheltered by the formidable massif at its back and surrounded by the captivating islands at its front, serves as one giant fort of protected nature that allows you to actively enjoy all its beauties by going from one amazing place to another, never losing, always gaining and forever ending up as a winner!

The region abounds with designated public swim areas and wild private beaches that provide something for everyone. Did you hear that alongside gravel and sandy beaches you can find here Caribbean-type bays and protruding dune strands located in one of the clearest and bluest seas in the world? Did you know that you will be following the trails of kings and queens that frequented the area and thoroughly explored the coast and the islands? Did you notice that the most popular travel channels and the most trusted internet portals regularly list some of the local beaches amongst the best in the world? Come with your family and afford yourself memorable vacation in friendly waters of the welcoming coast, enjoy your peace and solitude in serene coves of the charming green islets or party like there’s no tomorrow on well-known extravagant beaches that host exciting music festivals!

If you have a penchant for sailing or you simply enjoy a wanderlust of the open sea, the Zadar region is definitely your cup of tea! Its crystal-clear shores and lovely teal bays offer countless marine aromas and naval flavours to nurture your roaming spirit, as much as the popular hot beverage would nourish your waterlogged body! Among hundreds of islands and islets scattered across the region only 17 of them are permanently inhabited and cultivated by the human hand, which leaves you more than 600 square kilometres of the unoccupied coast to sail around and explore the area. Feel the breeze of the alluring Adriatic Sea, moor your vessel in welcoming harbours and eco-friendly marinas, discover the beauties of stunning nature parks and swim in turquoise waters of serene coves. While you have wonderful time sailing, boating, yachting or rowing in this amazing environment, do not forget to investigate rich cultural heritage of the region and to enjoy some solid-ground activities on panoramic coastal and insular hills, which will shift your perspective, provide a completely different vantage point of the seamless blue and deliver wondrous views that will embed deeply in your mind and enwrap your entire being!

In Zadar you can find harmony and serenity in an exquisite urban space, as well as experience contentment and excitement in an idyllic natural environment located within city walls. This Best European Destination of 2016 is an ancient Mediterranean city of the rich past, long prosperity and bright economic prospects. Zadar delights with its people, enchants with its history, dazzles with its monuments, excites with its nature and captivates with its beauty. Come and see why the Romans raised their temples and the Venetians built their forts, why fascinated noblemen from Europe made their home here and stayed for good, why inspired lovers designed gorgeous parks and pleasant gardens to honour their ladies, and why stirred architects made the most out of nature’s bountiful gifts, infusing fresh splendour to the already spectacular town! Zadar is relieving its glorious past by reshaping its outstanding present, while its renowned wondrous sunset announces the dawn of a new day!