Zadar and Dubrovnik are two of the most popular cities to visit on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. Both cities are known for their old towns and the fortifications surrounding them. If you are trying to choose between Zadar and Dubrovnik, here is the ultimate guide to help you decide which city you should visit.
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Zadar or Dubrovnik Overview
Zadar
Zadar is the 5th largest city in Croatia with over 75,000 people. It is the oldest continuously inhabited city in the country, dating back to the 9th century BC. It has both ancient Greek and Roman influences.
Today, the city is known for its beautiful old town and its fortifications. The waterfront promenade is home to the famous Sea Organ. Zadar also has some of the oldest and most iconic buildings in all of Croatia. Zadar is also known for being one of the least expensive cities in the country.
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik is a coastal city with just under 45,000 people living there. It is one of the most visited cities in Croatia and is also one of the most iconic cities on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea.
Dubrovnik is known for its old town and its well-preserved fortifications and city walls. The Old City of Dubrovnik is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It has been the filming location for many major productions like Game of Thrones and parts of Stars Wars: The Last Jedi.
Things to See
Zadar
Church of St Donatus is one of the oldest continuously used structures in Zadar, dating back to the 9th century.
The Sea Organ is part of the sea-side promenade. It plays music based on the waves.
The Roman Forum dates back to the 3rd century and was destroyed by an earthquake in the 6th century.
The Land Gate was built is 1543 as the main entrance to the city. It was created when the city was under Venetian rule.
Cathedral of St. Anastasia is the largest church in the region of Dalmatia. Image
Dubrovnik
The City Walls are some of the best-preserved in Europe. You can walk on these old walls for a fee.
Stradun is the main street in Dubrovnik.
Fort Lovrijenac is a fortress perched on a cliff that is responsible for helping to protect the city for centuries.
Dubrovnik Cathedral is a large Baroque cathedral in the old town.
Banje Beach is a pebble beach with an incredible view of the old city.
Food
Zadar
As another city that sits on the coast of the Adriatic Sea, Zadar is another city that consumes a great amount of seafood. Along with seafood, Zadar also eats a lot of pasta, most likely because of its Italian influences. There are quite a few seaside restaurants that offer some of the best food in Zadar and have some incredible fees. Zadar used to be the capital of Dalmatia so it is also known for dishes like black risotto, brudet, and prosciutto.
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik is known for its fresh seafood, which is no surprise considering its location of the Dalmatia Coast. You really can’t go wrong ordering fresh seafood when you go out to eat here. Oysters here are especially tasty. A classic dish that isn’t seafood is pašticada which is a dish of stewed beef. One of the traditional desserts in Dubrovnik is Rožata which is a caramel flan dish.
Getting Around
Zadar
If you only want to see the old town and the waterfront, you should be able to explore the city on foot. If you want to go to Kolovare Beach or the Imperial Fountain, you might want to use public transportation. Buses are the only form of public transportation in Zadar. Renting a bike would not be a bad idea, especially if you just want to ride on the waterfront promenade or explore the eastern side of the city.
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik is not a large city and most of the attractions are within the walls of the old town so getting around the city is not difficult. Public transportation here only consists of a system of buses which makes getting around pretty simple. A single bus ride will cost you 1.59 Euros but you may want to buy the 24-hr pass for 3.97 Euros. Unlike most cities in Europe, biking around Dubrovnik is not recommended because of how pedestrian-friendly it is.
Nightlife
Zadar
Zadar is mainly known for having a great bar scene. They do have nightclubs but the majority of the nightlife revolves around bars although, many of the bars start to feel like clubs later in the night. The highest concentration of Zadar’s nightlife is within the old town. There are quite a few open-air bars here as well, like Ledana and The Garden Lounge. Some of the best club experiences are Svarog and Arsenal Zadar. Many people come to Zadar before they head to places like Pag Island for some of the craziest festivals in Europe.
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik has a pretty lively nightlife for a city of just over 40,000 people. With an abundance of tourists, the city has delivered with the options for anyone to have a great night out. The largest concentration of bars is in the old town. Outside of the old town, you can find quite a few bars and cafes with incredible views of the city and the sea. If you are interested in going to nightclubs, the best clubs in the city are Culture Club Revelin and Skybar Dubrovnik Nightclub.
Day Trips
Zadar
Plitvice Lakes National Park is just 1.5 hours to the northeast of Zadar.
Paklenica National Park is a mountainous area just 40 minutes outside of Zadar.
Pag Island and the town of Pag are just to the north of Zadar.
Dubrovnik
The Island of Lokrum is located just off of the shores of Dubrovnik and makes for an excellent day of hiking and exploring.
Cavtat is a small town just outside of Dubrovnik.
Kotor is just a 2-hour drive from Dubrovnik. It is a city known for its beautiful setting and its impressive fortifications.
In between Dubrovnik and Zadar is the city of Split with is definitely worth a visit as well.
Overall
Zadar and Dubrovnik each have stunningly beautiful old towns and waterfronts. Both cities have well-preserved fortifications around the old town although, the walls around Dubrovnik are second to none. Zadar has an older history and is the larger city but both Zadar and Dubrovnik can easily be seen in two days. Zadar has a better location for day trips because it is close to Plitvice Lakes National Park and Krka National Park as well as being a hub for getting to other islands.
If you only have two days, you’ll probably want to go to Dubrovnik. If you have more than two days, Zadar would be your best bet because of its location in regards to two of Croatia’s most famous national parks.