In Zadar county the white stone mountains meet the blue Adriatic sea. This is the Zadar archipelago coastal drive. Cross the bridge to the island of Pag. The island looks like the surface of the moon because it is covered in white salt and bare rock. You can find olive groves in Lun with trees that are over 2000 years old. These trees still produce oil today. The island is also famous for its salt pans and its very hard sheep cheese. The cheese gets its flavor from the salty herbs the sheep eat on the hills.
Inland you will find the deep red earth of the Ravni Kotari plains. This soil grows some of the best cherries and figs in the country. You can visit the Paklenica canyon which has huge vertical stone walls that climbers love. Visit Tulove Grede to see the jagged rocky peaks where famous movies were filmed long ago. The contrast between the salt-white stone of the coast and the green forest of the mountains is very dramatic. You can also find old bunkers hidden in the mountains from the Cold War days. It is a land of hidden secrets and open views.
Visit the Museum of Ancient Glass in Zadar to see glass-blowing demonstrations and artifacts found in Roman graves. For a unique experience drive to Nin to walk on the long sandy Queen’s Beach and visit the Church of the Holy Cross which is the smallest cathedral in the world. Drink a glass of Maraschino liqueur which is a Zadar specialty made from Marasca cherries. If you want to escape the crowds take a boat from the Zadar waterfront to the Kornati Islands National Park. The best spot for a photo is the Zrmanja River Canyon near Obrovac where the river cuts through the yellow karst.
Zadar (county) highlights
- Pag Island Salt Pans Drive across the white rocky island to see where salt is made from the sea sun. The landscape looks like the moon and has many hidden stone walls and sheep. You can buy the famous local cheese from small stands on the road.
- Paklenica Canyon Visit the giant stone walls where climbers from all over the world come to test their strength. The trails lead you deep into the mountain through cold water streams. You can see eagles flying high above the jagged stone peaks.
- Zrmanja River Canyon See the bright green river that cuts through a deep canyon of yellow stone. It is a famous spot for movies and looks like a wild west landscape. You can take a boat or a kayak to see the waterfalls.
- Nin Sand Beaches Walk on the long sandy shores and visit the smallest cathedral in the whole world. The town sits on a tiny island and has a very long history. The mud on the beach is famous for helping with health and skin.
- Tulove Grede Peaks Drive the mountain road to see the jagged stone towers that reach for the clouds. It is a magical place with a view of the sea and the islands. The white rocks look very dramatic against the blue sky and water.
- Vrana Lake Bird Path Visit the largest natural lake in the country to see rare birds from a wooden tower. The park has a path that goes right over the water and reeds. You can see the sea and the lake at the same time.
- Maškovića Han Stop at this old stone inn built hundreds of years ago in the style of the east. It is the westernmost building of its kind and has a beautiful courtyard. You can eat traditional food in the stone dining hall of the inn.
- Bibinje Coastal Path Walk the long trail by the sea to see the sunset over the many small islands. The water is very clear and you can see the fish and the rocks. It is a perfect spot for a quiet walk in the evening air.
- Karin Sea Bay See the smallest sea in the world which is a quiet bay with very salty water. It is surrounded by green trees and has a small monastery on the shore. The water is very calm and warm and perfect for a swim.
- Dugi Otok Cliffs Take a ferry to see the massive white cliffs that fall straight into the deep blue sea. The island has a giant lighthouse and a beautiful salt lake inside. The views from the top of the cliffs are some of the best in the country.
The local Four
History of Zadar (county)
Zadar is where the Roman Empire meets the modern sea. The city forum was the center of the world in this region 2,000 years ago, and you can still walk on the original stones. During the Middle Ages, the city was a fiercely independent maritime republic that rivaled Venice for control of the Adriatic trade routes. The county’s history is a story of survival, having been bombarded in world wars and besieged in the 90s, yet its spirit remains indestructible.
The island of Pag is a white-rock desert where the wind is so salty that only a few herbs can grow. This moon landscape produces the world’s most famous sheep cheese, aged by the salt-spray and the mountain air. The local sheep eat wild sage and thyme, which infuses the milk with a flavor profile that cannot be replicated anywhere else on earth. The island is also home to the Nin Mud, a natural health spa used by kings to heal their battle wounds.
In the backcountry, the Zrmanja River Canyon was the filming location for Winnetou because it looks exactly like the American Old West. The canyon’s walls are striped with layers of colored sediment that glow bright orange and red during the golden hour. It is a land of dramatic limestone peaks and hidden sea bays like Zavratnica, where a WWII ship sits just below the water. It is the ultimate driving destination for those who want both mountains and islands.