ZADAR CITY TOUR & NIN | Discover Zadar Region

Overview

ZADAR CITY TOUR 120 & NIN | Walking tours with transfer

Welcome to our tour which introduces you to the pearls of the Adriatic called the city of Zadar and Nin. The two hidden gems are situated at the northern part of the very popular Croatian region Dalmatia.

Zadar and Nin are ancient Croatian cities. Both cities were founded by an ancient Iliric tribe named Liburni that resided here in the Neolithic. The heritage is enormous and ranges from Liburni to Roman Empire and later Kingdom Croatia time but even beyond that. These coastal cities will surprise you and astonish you at the same time.

No wonder that all these civilizations picked precisely these spots for their 1st cities. The geographical position and landscape around and within the two is perfect and matches the desire and need of all ancient and medieval rulers to possess a city exactly here.

Surrounded with protected sea ports and plain valleys easy to defend. Together with the source of life and prosperity which are freshwater and salt, Zadar and Nin are the crucial ‘must have’ for the ancient and medieval governments. Today a ‘must see’ when in the aerea.

Itinerary | Zadar City Tour & Nin

The estimated duration of the tour is for 1 pick-up/drop-off. We can pick up travelers or meet them at a meeting point.

The Greeting to the Sun

Sea Organ (Morske Orgulje)

The Roman Forum

Church of St. Donatus (no entrance)

Benedictine Monastery of St. Mary (no entrance)

Cathedral of St. Anastasia (no entrance)

Sea Gate (Morska vrata) (pass by without stopping)

People’s Square

Church of St. Simon (pass by without stopping)

Rector’s Palace (pass by without stopping)

Captain’s tower (pass by without stopping)

Five Wells Square

Queen Jelena’s Garden (Botanical)

Land Gate (Kopnena vrata)

DRIVE TO NIN – approximately 30 min (17km)

Prince Branimir statue in Nin

Lower city gate of Nin

The church of st.Anselmo in Nin (no entrance)

The statue of Gregory of Nin

The Church of the Holy Cross, Nin (free entrance)

Museum of Nin Antiquities  (pass by without stopping)

The Roman Temple, Nin

Salt Museum (pass by without stopping)

FREE TIME AND DRIVE BACK TO ZADAR

Free time in Nin is possible in case there are no delays. The drive back to Zadar usually lasts 30 min but can last shorter or longer depending on the traffic that day.

GREETING TO THE SUN

We start at 11 AM at the famous installation called Greeting to the Sun. A solar panel placed on the floor in the form of a solar system. Next to it there is another popular installation, Sea Organ. Both installations are the work of the popular Croatian architect Nikola Bašić.

ROMAN FORUM

We will discover Zadar starting from the famous installation Greeting to the Sun and Sea Organ all the way to the Venice Republic master piece of defense. Between the two you will see a famous 1st century B.C. Roman Forum and the biggest Romanesque Cathedral in Dalmatia and much more.

KALELARGA, KALELARGA…

The most famous street of Zadar, Kalelarga, won’t leave you indifferent or wondering why Tomislav Ivčić, one of the most famous Croatian singers born and raised in Zadar, sang about this particular street in his song ‘Kalelarga’.

PEOPLE’S SQUARE

Our walking tour will take you to the People’s Square (Narodni trg) where a lot of people like to meet or drink coffee and listen to street artists that perform in front of a lovely medieval City Hall. Also known as a Loggia(Loža). Both, City Guard and Loža, are projects of a famous architect Gian Girolamo Sanmicheli from Venice.

LAND GATE

Zadar City Tour introduces you to Zadar old town, the Peninsula approx. 1km x 400m, from Sea Organ to the port of Foša where the huge 16th century Land Gate Triumphal arch closes the old core. Masterpiece of Venice Republic.

PRINCE BRANIMIR STATUE IN NIN

We start our tour in Nin with the statue of prince Branimir who ruled Croatia from 879 to 892. He helped Croatia in retaining its sovereignty from both Carolingian and Byzantine rule. Croatia became independent. His period marked the first real peak of early medieval Croatia.

LOWER CITY GATE OF NIN

After Branimir the tour will take you across the 16th century bridge to the Lower City Gate. The Gate is connected with the main street of Nin, once one of the two Roman main streets called Decumanus and Cardo. Main streets always led to the Forum and the Temple and so it does even here.

THE CHURCH OF ST.ANSELMO

On our way we will see the parish church of St.Anselm which was the Nin cathedral during the rule of Croatian Kings and later. It was built in the 6th century and restored during the reign of King Zvonimir in 1070.

THE STATUE OF GREGORY OF NIN

Nin is one of the 3 cities in Croatia where a statue of Bishop Grgur Ninski was placed. All 3 statues are the work of one of the biggest Croatian contemporary artists Ivan Meštrović. His legacy is huge and measured in national and international achievements worldwide. Bishop Grgur though was supporting  the Old Slavonic language, the national glagolitic script and the church service in glagolitic. Bishop Grgur Ninski was the head of Nin Church from 900-929. In 925, when Tomislav was proclaimed King, that meant being the head of the whole Croatian Church.

THE CHURCH OF THE HOLY CROSS

The 9th century church is the symbol of Nin and the only religious object in Nin untouched since its construction to date. The church surprises us with its dimensions 7,80 m long, 7,60 m wide, and 8,20 m heigh (inside measures)  with 57cms thick walls.

FREE TIME AND DRIVE BACK TO ZADAR

Free time in Nin is possible in case there are no delays. The drive back to Zadar usually lasts 30 min but can last shorter or longer depending on the traffic that day.

Interesting features

Two cities, one peninsula, the other small island, two urban settlements inhabited continuously from the Neolithic until today for 3000 years, rich in the legacy of Roman, early Christian, early Croatian and medieval culture. Heritage included in UNESCO. Ivan Meštrović statue of Bishop Gregory. Old Croatian boats in the port of Nin and near the salt industry, where salt has been produced for centuries. A rare bird habitat where you can observe endangered species such as the black-winged stilt or treat yourself with medicinal mud. Nin “spa” dates back to prehistoric and Roman times.

What’s included:

Zadar City Tour 120 min (part of our regular everyday shared tour with up to 15 persons)

Possible Free Entrance to a medieval church or a Maraschino/Cheese tastings which are on our way.

Transfer (Zadar-Nin-Zadar) with Air-Con (total 1h more or less)

Tour of Nin (30-45 min)

English speaking Guide

Free time in Nin if no delay

Flexible pick-up/drop-off points but within the city of Zadar

Number of travelers going to Nin is always up to 7; walking tour in Zadar can have up to 15 people

Toilet breaks after each tour not during

What’s excluded:

Entrances to institutions that charge tickets

Accessibility

Not wheelchair accessible

Not stroller accessible

Near public transportation

Animals not allowed

Health restrictions

Not recommended for pregnant travelers.

Not recommended for travelers with heart problems or other serious medical conditions.

Not recommended for travelers with mobility issues.

Pickup

We can pick up travelers or meet them at a meeting point.

11:00h Greeting to the Sun (Pozdrav Suncu) – Click here for location and instructions.

Look for a guide with a ZADAR CITY TOUR badge/umbrella/T-shirt. For more information on availability, please contact us in advance. Text us through the WhatsApp button or by email at  info@zadarcitytour.com.

Customers who are in accommodation outside the center but in the city of Zadar or coming with the cruise ship, they are required to send their pick up address at  info@zadarcitytour.com.

Discounts

Special discounts for groups, children and youth upon previous request.

Please note | Zadar City Tour & Nin

The minimum number of persons for this tour is 2. We walk at least 3 hours rain or shine no matter what. Dress accordingly, bring an umbrella or a raincoat if needed. Please present yourself at the location at least 10 min before the tour starts. For more information on availability please contact us at least 24 hours before the tour starts (48  hours bigger groups). Text us through the WhatsApp button or by email at info@zadarcitytour.com. Your use of the Site constitutes your agreement to follow and be bound  by our General Terms and Conditions.

Cheese & Liquor tasting

The tastings are possible almost every day in high season except on national holidays or Sunday afternoons. During low season tastings are not possible in the afternoon nor on Sundays and national holidays.

Cancellation | Zadar City Tour & Nin

Can’t make it? Please notify us at least 24 hours (48 hours bigger groups) before your tour starts, we would appreciate it. Thank you!

Follow us on Facebook & Instagram.

AMAZING LIBURNI STATE

Liburni’s state was quite big and encompassed a territory from river Raša in Istria to river Krka where the famous National Park stands today. From 9th – 1st century B.C. this was a very developed state governed by Liburni. Rich archeological findings from that period and later Roman times are the reason why Zadar and Nin belong to the oldest cities in the world.