Car hire Zadar

Introduction

The historical city of Zadar has often been the plaything of other countries and realms. Besides being Croatian, the city has been (for shorter or longer periods of time) Byzantine, Hungarian, Venetian, French, Austrian, Italian or Yugoslavian, before it became Croatian again in 1991. The old town on a peninsula near the harbor is full of historic buildings, including remains of the Romans, the cathedral Sveta Stosija and the circular 9^th century St. Donatus Church in Romanesque style. It is a cozy town with many cafes, colorful markets and a bustling port. The islands of the archipelago off the coast are a paradise for water sports enthusiasts; you can sail and scuba dive (there are some ship wrecks).

Population

The city has a population of 85,000.

Location

Zadar is centrally located in Croatia, in the northwest of Dalmatia. The city is protected from the Adriatic Sea by the elongated islands of the Croatian Archipelago. About five kilometers off the coast of Zadar is the island Ugljan.

Economy

Tourism is a major source of income for Zadar. In addition, the trade through the port is important. Also, fishery and fish processing are major sectors of the local economy. Furthermore there are machine industry and some chemical industry.

Airports

Zadar airport is located in Zemunik Donji, nine kilometers southeast of Zadar. The airport is easily accessible by rental car. From the city take the Jadranska cesta, and after that you can choose between the highway and road 502 in order to get to the airport. The route is clearly signposted.

Public Transport

Zadar has good public bus transport, operated by the Liburnija company. It is slightly cheaper to buy a ticket from a newsagent instead of on the bus. Moreover, a ticket that you buy on the bus is only valid for that trip; a ticket purchased in advance allows you to make two trips.

Traffic and Parking

Most of the old center - within the city walls - is a pedestrian zone. The road around the city wall is one-way. There are several parking garages, but finding a parking space in the streets near the old town is virtually impossible. There is a larger car park on the opposite side from the harbor (Obala kneza Branimira), near the pedestrian bridge.

For tours around the area, a rental car is perfect. For example to the beautiful National Park Plitvice: an area of sixteen lakes with waterfalls in a densely wooded area.

Hotels

Most of the hotels are concentrated in two areas: Puntamika and Borik, both are located at about five kilometers northwest of the historic center. Furthermore, there are many campgrounds in the area. Zadar is a popular destination in summer and therefore it is recommended to book your accommodation well in advance.

External Sources

For more information about Zadar we recommend Google and the following sources:

• Wikipedia, Zadar
• Official website Zadar (Croatian, English)
• Tourist Information Zadar (multilingual)