If you’re staying in lovely Zadar for a while, you’ll no doubt be making your way around the town to explore! Here are the various options for public transport in Zadar for you to use during your stay.
The best public transport in Zadar? Bus!
The main method of public transport in Zadar is the bus, with eleven lines in existence. (Some of these lines are split into ‘A’ and ‘B’ routes.) Buses run daily, with a slightly different schedule on weekends and public holidays. The most frequent routes – for example, bus lines 2 and 7 – run roughly every half an hour, whilst other routes perhaps run only once an hour.
All bus lines run on a circular route from and back to the main bus station – Autobusni kolodvor – in Zadar. You can get an idea of routes on the Zadar Bus Lines Map.
The most useful routes for visitors are:
- 1A – connects Ravnice (next to Vladimir Nazor Park, just south of the Old Town) and the main bus station
- 2 – runs from the main bus station to outside the Old Town and back to the main bus station
- 3 – connects Ravnice and the main bus station
- 4 – runs from the main bus station to the Old Town port/the Old Town and back to the main bus station
- 5 – connects the hotels in Borik to Ravnice (next to Vladimir Nazor Park, just south of the Old Town) and the main bus station
- 8 – runs from the main bus station to the hotels in Borik, to Ravnice and back to the main bus station
- 9A – runs from the main bus station to Gazenica ferry port (although as it’s a car ferry port, you’ll likely be driving yourself there!)
You can find details of all local bus routes in Zadar on the Liburnija Zadar website.
Tickets
You can buy a bus ticket from the driver when boarding any bus. A one-way ticket costs €1.59. Children under the age of 5 travel free.
Zadar Bus Station
The main bus station in Zadar is located at Ante Starcevica 2, about a 20-minute walk from the Old Town. The bus station serves both local buses (mentioned above) and long-distance buses to other towns and cities in Croatia.
Autobusni kolodvor Zadar (Bus Terminal Zadar) is a typical Croatian bus station – functional and does its job with just enough amenities to keep travellers happy. (More or less.) You’ll find some small snack bars here, a newspaper kiosk, a money exchange office and a left luggage facility.
Suburban Buses
Liburnija Zadar also operates suburban bus routes to locations close to Zadar, and on some of the local islands too. These include buses connecting Zadar and Biograd na moru, Sukosan, Petrcane, Nin, Zaton, Pakostane and Vir. Island bus lines include those on Ugljan, Pasman and Dugi Otok.
Take a look at the Liburnija Zadar pages on Suburban Lines and Island lines to look up timetables.
Taxi
Taxis of course exist in Zadar, with major taxi ranks at the bus station, just outside the Old Town (next to the port there) and across the city bridge from here.
Frequent users of Uber and Bolt apps will appreciate using these in Zadar as well. Uber and Bolt cars are readily available and offer a cheap way of getting around – particularly if there’s a small group of you travelling together.
Train
At present, there are no train services running from or to Zadar.
Water Taxi
If you’re planning on catching a ferry or catamaran to one of the local islands
Zadar Water Taxi runs a service from Drazanica Bay in the northern part of Zadar (close to many hotels) to the Riva in the Old Town and back. The smart, modern speedboat runs multiple times a day from the morning into the evening, with the journey only taking 10 minutes. It’s a very fun, quick option for travelling within Zadar!
Ferry/Catamaran
There are no ferry/catamaran service operating routes within the town itself (Zadar is pretty small, after all). There are, of course, ferry and catamaran services to the local islands of Ugljan, Dugi Otok, Osljak, Iz, Rava, Rivanj, Sestrunj, Zevrinac, Molat and Ist. There are also routes up to Losinj island, and a catamaran service all the way to Pula.
Be aware that foot passenger services generally depart from the smaller port just outside of the Old Town. Larger (car) ferry services depart from Gazenica port, which is roughly 4 kilometres south of the Old Town.
Take a look at our Getting to North Dalmatia page for full details of all of the ferry and catamaran services to and from Zadar.
Parking in Zadar
Parking in and by the Old Town is charged from 8am to 4pm on weekdays, 8am to 2pm on Saturdays and is free on Sundays and public holidays. Parking is more expensive during the peak mid-June to the end of August period than outside of this time – for example, €1.60 a hour in peak, €0.80 a hour in off peak. (This is for the most expenive parking zone 1.) You can pay for parking by texting your license plate to the number shown on nearby signs.
There is also a large Zadar parking garage on 112 Brigrade Street, which is about 10 mintues walk from the entrance to the Old Town.
To and From Zadar Airport
Zadar Airport is located around 12 kilometres southeast of the Old Town of Zadar. It is a 20-30 minute drive between the airport and the Old Town or some of the popular hotels located in the Borik part of the town.
Take a look at our special Zadar Airport page for all of the options for travelling to and from the airport.