Getting Around, Zadar Travel, Transport and Car Rental
(Zadar, Northern Dalmatia, Croatia)
Travel to Zadar is straightforward, since it has its own airport and is well connected by bus transport, rail and highway. The airport itself (Zadar-Zemunik) is just out of town and receives flights year-round from Zagreb, as well as from various international destinations. Transportation to Zadar from Zagreb, by bus or train, is also easy.
The city's bus and railway stations are to be found right in the Old Town. However there is no real need to use public transport for getting about, since you can simply walk between the central places of interest. Local buses travel between the outer suburbs and beaches, although hiring a car is the best way for getting about at large, particularly if you'd rather not be restricted by bus routes and timetables.
Zadar Airport (ZAD) / Arriving by Air
Address: Zemunik Donji, 23000, Zadar, Croatia, HR
Tel: +385 023 313 311
Zadar Airport is just 12 km / 8 miles to the east of the city, within the suburb of Zemunik Donji and next to Babindub. The airport mostly receives domestic flights from
Zagreb, yet also has connections with cities around Europe during the summer (holiday) season. Ryanair flies from Stansted Airport in
London, and from
Edinburgh and
Dublin, while flights also come in from
Brussels,
Dusseldorf,
Oslo and
Frankfurt. Bus and taxi transport is on hand, serving the city, the beaches and the main hotels.
Car Rental
Zadar is well connected by road from Zagreb and
Split in
Croatia, as well as from
Venice,
Italy, by motorway. It is a long drive from anywhere in Western and Northern Europe, however. If you decide that you will need a rental car, it is always best to pre-book your vehicle ahead, collecting it when you fly into the airport. The drive to the city centre from the airport is straightforward, via Route 502.
Buses and Coaches
Tel: +385 023 211 035 (bus station)
Tel: +385 023 250 502 (Croatia Express)
Long-distance coaches serve Zadar from many European cities and there are several services per day from Zagreb,
Dubrovnik (via Split), and numerous other local cities. The trip time from Zagreb is upwards of four hours, while Dubrovnik can be reached in eight hours, Rijeka in five hours and Split in just three hours. There are a couple of bus terminals in the Old Town, about 15 minutes walk from the city centre. A semi-useful local bus service provides transport around town, which can be handy if you want to quickly travel between attractions, to the harbour, to the seaside suburb of Borik (buses signed 'Puntamika'), or simply back to your hotel.
Trains
Tel: +385 023 212 555
Frequent trains (roughly five a day) travel in from Zagreb (a journey time of between seven and nine hours) and also from north-eastern Italy, although most people choose to fly in or simply bus it. Trains serve many other cities in the region, such as Split, but can be slow and uncomfortable. The walk to the city centre from the train station in Zadar Old Town is about 15 minutes or thereabouts.
Taxis
Zadar taxis are expensive, since this is a major Croatian tourist destination. However, you will find ranks of taxis at the airport and bus and train stations, and they are always metered. Tariffs are quite steep and long-distance taxi travel (to the next town) is very pricey. Dial 970 (023 970, mobile) to book a local taxi while in the city.
Boats and Ferries
Ferry transport runs between Rijeka in northern Dalmatia, as well as from Bari and Ancona (by hydrofoil) in Italy during the sunny summer months. There are also daily services to and from all major Dalmatian coastal towns further south, including Sibenik, Split and Dubrovnik.
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