Camping in Zadar

With its rich Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance architecture, Zadar is one of the most beautiful harbour towns on the Croatian Adriatic. Around the town, holidaymakers can relax on picturesque beaches. Many of Zadar's campsites are located right by the water. Excursion and nature fans will get their money's worth on a tour to the nearby Krka, Paklenica and Kornati national parks.

Camping in Zadar

Do you prefer to relax on the beach or are you tempted by city trips with lots of culture? In the colourful Croatian port city of Zadar, you can have both at once. PiNCAMP, the ADAC camping portal, provides you with all the important information for your next camping holiday and reveals where you can find the best campsites in Zadar.

Croatia is world-famous for its unique nature, magnificent bays with crystal-clear water and picturesque towns. One of the most beautiful of these is Zadar. The harbour town on the Dalmatian coast may not be as well-known as Zagreb or Dubrovik, but it has a lot to offer campers in particular. Stroll through the old town in the morning, relax on the beach at lunchtime and end the evening cosily in front of your camper van while gazing out to sea and listening to the sound of the waves.

Campsites in Zadar

A wonderful pitch with electricity under the pine trees and the beach firmly in view - that's camping in the Zadar region. Most family campsites have extensive grounds with a pool area, an aqua park and numerous leisure activities to keep boredom at bay.

Campers have the opportunity to empty their toilet cassette and maintain their fresh water supply at the nearby waste disposal station. The sanitary area with shower units is usually within easy walking distance and thus ensures a regular daily routine.

If you are travelling without your own vehicle and can do without motorhome pitches, you can usually opt for a comfortable mobile home. Most of the campsites in the region offer a wide range of options in this respect.

Camping with a dog in Zadar

Dogs are welcome at many, but not all, campsites in Zadar. Before travelling, find out what the campsite is like and whether there are special rules for rental accommodation, mobile homes or pitches.

Also remember that an EU pet passport and an electronic chip are mandatory in Croatia. If you are taking food with you, it must be dry food only. The import of wet food is prohibited. Your dog must always be kept on a lead in public. You may be allowed to take dogs into some national parks, but they must be kept on a lead. Dogs are not allowed on Croatian beaches in summer. However, there are special dog beaches where dogs are allowed in the water.

Tips for travelling to Zadar

Your camping adventure in Zadar starts in Germany - you start by travelling south. Travellers from Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria and western Germany usually choose the route via Austria. Travelling through Tyrol or Salzburger Land, you will reach Carinthia. A stopover at Lake Wörthersee is worthwhile there.

After travelling through Austria, Slovenia is the next destination. Please note: in both countries you have to pay tolls to use the motorways. In the Alpine country, it is best to buy a vignette when you enter the country. In Slovenia, you can alternatively use smaller long-distance roads. You will then reach Croatia near Istria and the famous Kvarner Bay.

If you have time, make a short stopover here in the harbour town of Rijeka and immerse yourself in its rich past and culture. You can also cross over to the beautiful islands of Krk and Cres. It is about 300 kilometres from Rijeka to Zadar.

Motorways, bridges to the islands and tunnels are generally subject to tolls in Croatia. The amount of the toll depends on vehicle size, weight, time of year and the type of route. You can pay by EC card, credit card or cash. Alternatively, you can use country roads, which are generally quite well developed in Croatia. If you are travelling without your own vehicle, many campsites offer airport transfers.

Top destinations for campers in the Zadar region

The campsites are spread over a fairly wide area. Many good campsites can be found on the edge of the historic old town of Zadar. From here it is not far to the historic buildings in the centre. It is also worth visiting the islands off the coast of Zadar.

Centre of Zadar

The centre of Zadar impresses with its medieval architecture. Natural stone façades and ancient churches, spacious squares and historic fountains create a unique ambience, while Zadar's Roman heritage is also worth seeing. The town's campsites are located on the outskirts, especially around the Borik marina.

Ugljan Island

It is only a short ferry crossing to Ugljan, which can be easily travelled by motorhome. On the island, the mighty limestone cliffs are particularly worth seeing, and you can go on extensive hikes across them. For bathing fans, bays such as Muline and Lamjana are ideal destinations near Zadar. If you stop off in Ugljan town, you can visit late antique cultural monuments such as the old basilica.

Bibinje and Sukošan

South of Zadar are the two municipalities of Bibinje and Sukošan, both of which offer the perfect environment for camping holidaymakers seeking relaxation with their beaches and marinas. The villages are characterised by a peaceful atmosphere and a good infrastructure for holidaymakers.

The top 5 sights in Zadar

Don't miss these highlights during your camping holiday in Zadar:

• Cathedral Church of St Anastasia: The Romanesque basilica was built in the 13th century and impresses with its marble altars.
• Sea organ: Inaugurated in 2005, the installation uses the air pressure created by the waves to produce music on the coast of Zadar.
• Roman Forum: Zadar's main square, once laid out by the Romans, is located in front of the Church of St Donatus.
• Archaeological Museum: The exhibition shows exhibits from early history as well as from Roman antiquity and the Middle Ages.
• Franciscan monastery: With its magnificent arcades, the monastery complex gives an impression of the life of the monks in Dalmatia.

Top 2 insider tips

• Novigrad: It only takes a short trip inland to reach Novigrad and the bay of the same name. The small body of water is ideal for swimming and for first attempts at sailing and surfing. The Novigrad Sea is fed by the Zrmanja River, whose emerald green waters can be followed on a rafting tour.
• "Greeting to the sun": The circular area on the shore of Zadar consists of 300 glass panels that reflect the light in a variety of colours at sunset. The place is a popular meeting point for couples and holidaymakers in the evening.

Activities and excursions in Zadar

As Zadar is located on the Adriatic Sea, you have the perfect environment to enjoy sports activities - especially water sports - or go on a boat trip. Of course, if you prefer, you can also simply relax by the sea, make yourself comfortable in a camping chair on the sandy beach and enjoy the good weather.

Explore the Croatian islands by sail

There are several marinas on the coast of Zadar, where water sports schools offer sailing courses, among other things. If you already have a licence, you can hire boats. Boat trips and excursions can be organised from Marina Dalmacija and Borik, among others. The top ADAC campsites such as Falkensteiner Premium Camping or Zaton Holiday Camping have their own boat hire facilities.

Wellness with a view of the sea

As if a holiday in a motorhome wasn't relaxing enough, Zadar offers numerous spas and wellness facilities to make you feel even better. After an extensive sauna with a view of the Adriatic Sea, you will feel reborn during your stay. If you want even more, do water aerobics, visit a Turkish hammam or treat yourself to a soothing massage.

Exciting climbing and hiking tours in Paklenica

Outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers should make a note of Paklenica National Park, just 50 kilometres away. The area fascinates with its spectacular gorge and incredible natural beauty. Over 150 kilometres of marked hiking trails lead through this rugged region. Paklenica is also a popular excursion area for climbing enthusiasts. In total, there are up to 400 routes of varying degrees of difficulty on the rocks.

Events

Exciting folk festivals and concerts await holidaymakers in Zadar, especially in summer.

April

• Flower Days: For a whole three days at the end of April, Zadar is all about flowers. The streets of the old town centre are richly decorated. Well-known florists explain in workshops how to grow plants in your own garden.

July - August

• Sv. Donat Music Festival: The festival of sacred music takes place in the Church of St Donatus from July to mid-August. Visitors can listen to music from the Middle Ages, Renaissance and Baroque periods.
• Madona od snijega: The feast of Our Lady of the Snows takes place every year on 5 August on the island of Ugljan. You can look forward to a colourful boat procession off the coast of the municipality of Kukljica.

September

• Pirate Festival: September is a colourful month in Zadar. At the Pirate Festival, the locals dress up and parade through the town as part of a carnivalesque parade.

October

• Marine festival: Boats can be viewed in Zadar harbour at the beginning of October. Local chefs also sell their exquisite seafood creations.

Catering tips for camping gourmets

Even if you are a hardened self-caterer among campers: You should at least venture on a culinary discovery trip once - Croatian cuisine is definitely worth it. This is especially true if you like fish and seafood cuisine. They are right at the top of the menu in Zadar.

It's best to stop off at one of the traditional konoba restaurants. Here you can enjoy delicious platters of grilled shrimps, squid, lobster and tuna. The delicacies are traditionally fried in cold-pressed olive oil. It tastes particularly good with the slightly sweet wines and traditional Croatian house spirits, such as rakija or slivovic. On the beach in Zadar, you can buy minced meat rolls Ćevapčići and Pljeskavica meatballs at many stalls. In general, meat plays an important role in Croatian cuisine. Austrian-style coffee houses are also typical of the Croatian coast. Here you can enjoy Ottoman-style mocha creations if you don't feel like firing up the coffee machine in your motorhome.

Best time to travel for a camping holiday in Zadar

The bathing season in Croatia starts at the beginning of June and lasts well into September. The maximum temperatures during the day are between 25 and 30 degrees Celsius. The water warms up to 23 degrees Celsius in July and August. In June and September, the Adriatic Sea is around 20 degrees Celsius.

In the early and late season in spring and autumn, you can take advantage of the good winds for sports such as surfing, kitesurfing and sailing. May and October are particularly suitable for these sports activities on the beautiful sandy beach or at sea. During the day, you can still expect temperatures of around 20 degrees Celsius.