Zadar is like the first guy you date in high school because you’re young and you don’t know any better. It’s not very exciting, but there’s nothing that wrong with him, and you can easily talk yourself into thinking the whole thing is more fun than it really is.
NO. I WILL NOT ALLOW THIS.
Don’t waste your time with Zadar. As your relationship coach/travel guide, I’m telling you… there are so many better options.
Want excitement? Go to Split.
Want culture? Go to Zagreb.
Want romance? Go to Rovinj.
You should go to Zadar if:
- If you make your living as a photographer/Instagrammer.
- You won a free trip there, because HELL YEAH – free trip!
- You want to receive lots of ridiculous hate mail 😂 (wait, what? yep, keep reading…)
It pains me to say this, because I was reallyyyyy excited about visiting Zadar! But if I’m being honest… it was my least favorite city in Croatia. (And FYI, we traveled around Croatia for 2.5 months, and saw 9 different cities there.)
Sadly, Zadar just wasn’t that great. It’s overrated and over-commercialized, and it’s one place I wouldn’t go back to. (Unless I won a free trip there, in which case, HELL YEAH.)
I will say, however, that it does have a lot of good photo ops.
It would actually be really easy to make Zadar look like an incredible destination. (That’s probably why I was so hyped about it in the first place.) I mean, other travel bloggers dated Zadar, and made him look so cool.
But anyone who tells you that Zadar is ABSOLUTELY AMAZINGGGGG is lying. Or trying to make you jealous with #FOMO Facebook posts and Snapchat stories. Or has never been literally anywhere else in Croatia.
Yes, Zadar has the Sea Organ.
If you haven’t heard of it, it’s an experimental instrument that plays “music” with the sea’s waves going in and out of various tubes.
Which – I know – sounds like a pretty neat idea. But do yourself a favor and just watch it on YouTube. I promise, you’re not really missing out on anything.
(Yes, this is a vertical video. Sorry. It was an attempt to crop out the hordes of other people – and their nose hairs.)
It was crowded at the water’s edge. And to be perfectly honest, the Sea Organ sounds like a humpback whale giving birth.
But I couldn’t even pretend to enjoy it, because moments after I took this video, a beat boxing/b-boy team got there and played obscenely loud rap music right next to the Sea Organ.
So the musical birthing of a calf was obliterated by a throbbing baseline and white boys jumping around like roosters on the prowl. Meanwhile, the seating was so crowded I was practically sitting in a stranger’s armpit.
(But wait. This is probably the picture you should post to Facebook.)
“But wait,” a well-researched person might interject.
“Zadar also has the Greeting of the Sun!”
The Greeting of the Sun is an art installation consists of 300 glass plates in the shape of a giant circle.
The panels are charged by solar energy during the day, and then produce a light show at night. (It’s also on the ground, so you can stomp all over it and show the sun who’s the real boss.)
If you’re counting on this to be your big entertainment, think again. After you walk around for a few minutes, you realize that the lights change reallllyyyy slowly, some of them are broken, and once you’ve watched the lights lazily flash for a few minutes, there’s really nothing else to do here.
You could try taking a sweet Instagram photo though. #socialmedia #selfie #fomo #thetimeofmyliiiiiife!
Or you could take a time lapse. That’s what I did. (And then shared it with exactly nobody. Until now. And only so I could warn you.)
(This gif is at like 50x real speed, and makes it look cooler than it is. Don’t be tricked!)
There’s also a church tower, a narrow staircase you can climb, and a viewpoint of Zadar’s Old Town.
You might get some good pictures, depending on your level of artsy-ness and the quality of your camera.
But here’s the thing. While Rovinj‘s Old Town has local artists selling hand-made crafts and family-run restaurants serving up delicious Istrian food… Zadar’s Old Town is filled with chain stores like Mango, Calzedonia, and MAX&Co.
Idk. Maybe I’m being a little harsh, but it was a bit over-commercialized for my taste. It didn’t have that quaint atmosphere or old-world charm that makes you feel like you’re somewhere truly special.
Even the gelato was… kind of disappointing.
But it was just kind of bland and… only okay.
If we’re trying to find something good about it…
Well, I did think this sign was kind of funny.
I mean, I don’t know.
Everybody has a different travel style. And that’s totally fine. Go to Zadar if you want.
Sometimes you have to date the kind-of-boring, nothing-too-special guy in order to really appreciate the amazing guy that comes after him.
But if you’re going to go… make it a summer fling. Maybe a one-night stand.
Nothing too serious.
Because there are some truly fantastic Croatian cities out there waiting for you. And you can do way better than Zadar.
*** UPDATE: Zadarians do not like when you say that their city is over-hyped and “just okay.” This post caused quite the scene! Read about my ugly toes and horseface here, lolol >> ***
Comments
Jo
April 15, 2017Im curious to know if you’ve been to Prince palace or visited Gold and Silver of Zadar? Also, have you been on barcatores or tried Maraschino liqueur? Or maybe talked to anyone who is orriginaly from Zadar to show you the other side of it all?
From all that I read I guess you would like Zadar more when it’s not summer, cuse neither prople from Zadar like crowds and all the stores that open only in summer. You’ve seen and felt 5% of it.
Nina
April 25, 2017Draga Bri,
Svi imaju drugacije misljenje o svakom gradu. Netko se nađe negdje, netko ne. Ti si napisala cijelu štoriju o gađenju tamo nekog malog Zadra, koji je btw jako sličan svim ostalim dalmatinskim gradovima. Uzbuđenje je u Splitu? A di to? Na Ultra festivalu možda? Daj mi primjer zašto je tebi Split bolji od Zadra. Ili možda Rovinj. A ne samo napises ummm dont know..just because. E pa vidis, ako ti Zadar ne svida, bolje pisati post o gradu koji ti se zapravo svidio, a ne gaditi nesto za sto su ljudi radili i trudili se. Inace guzva koju spominjes ti je u SVAKOM gradu na obali ljeti. Ne samo Zadar! Bilo bi makar uljudno da si se zahvalila ljudima koji su te primili, ali da ti se grad kao grad osobno nije nesto dopao i nastavila pisati o Splitu npr. You can skip Zadar?? A sto ako netko ne zeli, ili mu se svida? Vidis, svi imaju SVOJE misljenje.
Here is a little something you can put into google translate.
Pozdrav!
pik
April 15, 2017Dear Bri, part of your text is correct, but big part is not true. Zadar is totally different than Split and Rovinj, where in world you can walk on acient monuments? Geo location of Zadar is excellent, near Kornati, Plitvice and Krka, if you want to see untouched nature. 30 minutes from Zrce, if you want to party. 30 minutes from Park Mirnovec, if you want adrenaline. Your problem is that you didn’t talk to anyone orriginaly from Zadar, to give you directon what to see, where to eat. In Zadar you have a museum of silver and gold, museum of glass, you didn’t even mention in your text. I know you travel with strict budget, and you cannot go to restoraunts that is worth something. If you want to try fresh fish, there are restourans Fosa or Kornati, one of the best restoraunts in Croatia. Sea organs and greeting to sun, is new modern art, that you cannot find anywhere in world. Obviusly you didn’t watch Nat Geo to hear to whales having sex. But when you travel, talk with someone orriginaly from that place, so you can fully expirience that place. Guys and girls, VISIT Zadar, you’ll have wonderful expirience, enyoj our food and wine, don’t eat pizza cut in that commercialized shops.
Antonio
April 16, 2017You dont see nothing,maybe 5%…
Barbara
April 16, 2017Sorry, but the commentary of Zadar can say only self- conscious person.
Zadar is not Hollywood, God, but has its own a charm.
Did not you see not half of what Zadar offers.
His rural upbringing left for their city, their parents and friends, anyone …
But spit Zadar, this is not needed.
Give a little brain, Woman !!!
David
April 16, 2017Zadar was chosen for the best European destination, not because it really is like that, but because people from Zadar went out of their way to vote, while people from other cities just didn’t really care. I guess it’s a result of local patriotism mixed with inferiority complex and wishful thinking. I live here and I can confirm that people here are one of the most hardcore local patriots ever, they would like to think their town is something special or extraordinary, when in reality it’s almost below average when compared to some other European tourist destinations. Many of the things you mentioned here are harsh truths some people can’t deal with, that’s why many of then got all bent out of the shape. I’m not saying Zadar sucks, it’s just overhyped too much.
Adriano
April 16, 2017Excellent comment ! Im from Croatia too and i can confirm that.
Ajvi
April 20, 2017True, true and all of it you wrote is completely true. As if I wrote it, but with less hatred towards Zadar (because mine would be much more harsh) 🙂
Zadar is just … kind of pretty, but so boring, even in winter – nothing happens.
And it’s really not worth it.
I wouldn’t be more happy than to see this changes soon, but not in my lifetime, I suppose.
People from Zadar – wake the f* up and stop being such assholes. Fucking please.
pashko
April 16, 2017Different view
http://wearelifetravel.com/zadar-croatia/
Marija
April 16, 2017Having lived in Zadar for most of my life, it does have its faults. But, idk, complaining that it’s not quaint enough and that there are too many stores is kind of pointless. It’s a town of 70k people (100k with the surrounding villages) and the peninsula is the town centre.
Izabella
April 16, 2017There is something seriously wrong with people like you. These evil comments say a lot about you and nothing about Zadar.
Kind regards
April 16, 2017A frustrated litter bitch
Trevor
April 19, 2017This is my favorite comment.
“litter bitch” Muahahaha
Marko
April 16, 2017Wow such a bad review tho girl . Im sorry for my writing but I’m from the city she is talking about , and the places that she had visted were the types of places that a child aged from 10 to 16 yrs would be taken to . JUST FOR A QUICK TOUR . You’re a blogger ? U’re famous ? Dam’n girl that’s not how you do this. You just got criticized from like 15 different countries saying you haven’t visited 5% of the city and its surroundings ,great places to go to ,eat, swim,(last i heard swiming since 2. Month this year ), drink , n dance. But for all those things to be achieved ,what does the true traveler have to do to make that happen and to make his traveling exciting and not normal like a 10 to 16 year old ? Communication girl , the only thing you left out from this so called “review” or whatever the hell it is . THE GOD DAMN Ability to trash some1’s city just like that and to talk about it like tht ,but haven’t met the people and the ways and culture .. What are u actually ? Are u a calculator or a toaster traveler ? You don’t deserve to be writing stuff like these girl. This is wrong and when you grow up someday and realize that your home city was truly “the one that sucked” you will maybe start thinking how to make your home prettier for yourself and everyone else ofc we’re talking about the city ,not my backyard cause its even probably prettier than your whole town 😉 You suck girl . Go drunk you’re home
tecvi
April 16, 2017u went in zadar on ur period days?
Dario Finderle
April 16, 2017Another useless young person affraid to show her name, never having own results. This is an example how the Net can be a dangerous place where no name people can do harm while being a zero in their own life. Once you make a difference at least a bit in your own city, then you will have the right to spit on others. Go and grow up and do some homework about Croatia.
Ela
April 16, 2017Talking about overrated, feel free to return to your goddamn America or wherever you’re from. It’s a shame how you call yourself a travel blogger yet don’t know how to appreciate culture and old monuments. And one of your complaints about the city is that it was crowded around the sea organ? Well maybe it’s because a lot of people come there to admire the beauty of the sunset,our Adriatic sea and to listen to the sea organ. I’m sure it’s never crowded where you live… And yeah sure Zadar has it’s flaws but you obviously missed all the beauty by focusing only on those little flaws. But in the end I don’t really care about your opinion bc I love my hometown and I wouldn’t change it for anything.
Fuck
April 16, 2017Fuck off and die you fucking piece of ugly american shit
Hrvoje Sarun
April 16, 2017A very shallow review from a very shallow writer and wannabe traveler. The fact of the matter is that you are a tourist and you will need to do a lot of soul searching in order to ascend to the level of traveler. I don’t feel like you should be giving anyone advice on where to go and what to do. Sure, Zadar has its faults and could be improved and it is definitely not the best destination in Europe, but this report shows your own shortcomings rather than Zadar’s mediocrity.
Angie
April 16, 2017Question for Bri, what were you on while you were visiting Zadar? I’ve traveled around the world and CHOSE to live in Zadar because the city is just magical for anyone that knows WHAT culture is and how to appreciate it. Also, if you are the type of girl that let her first highschool boyfriend be “nothing special” then you’ve just had a very sad life….i’m just figuring that you’re not in a happy relationship now either…am i wrong?? And, last but not least, what was your mother doing while she was supposed to be teaching you that if you don’t have anything nice to say you shouldn’t say anything at all??
Lele
April 16, 2017Kys
Ela
April 16, 2017And saying that the ice cream is just okay? What were you on while trying it… I mean is it because it didn’t have the flavor of Trump’s ass y’all like to lick over there
I’m sorry for the hate but you should’ve known better than to hate on our city
Alen Galac
April 16, 2017Bri is your name ? So booring .
Suzanja
April 16, 2017Hahahahaha. Best answer ever
IvanaMM
April 16, 2017When you go somewhere and you really are a passionate traveller, you explore the place and go beyond all commercial and tourist proclaimed interesting sights. Furthermore, you socialize and find somebody who can show you the hearth and soul of the city, all hidden narrow streets, special building features, small and seemingly unimportant details. You have chosen just to go and see a few ‘the most important’ places and by doing that you neglected everything else. Your blog has hurt a lot of people who really love and respect Zadar and who know its true value and splendor. Awards have no meaning, you’re right, but neither does your blog when you read the words of Alfred Hitchcock from 1964 when he was trully impressed by the most beautiful sunset in the world from Zadar riva, as he stated. No tourism there, just a moment of true beauty. If you are a real traveller never pinpoint just the obvious. Tourists, faulty solar panels, commercial stores (although you managed to miss the original hand made souvenir shop in the main street), all of that is irrelevant if you find only one thing that will take your breath away. It may not be love at first sight, however, if you are indeed a passionate person, you will be able to find it. In a nutshell, 100 people-100 critics-but Zadar is unique, one and the only. ..
Meteoadriatic
April 16, 2017You just become famous in Zadar these days 🙂 Many of commenters here are angry because of local patriotism, but I also live in Zadar and though I love it with my whole body and soul, I agree with your blog in every single word. Sorry haters, I’m just objective.
For all haters – take a look just Zadar restourants. Name ONE extraordinary? You can’t. Go anywhere in Istria, go in Opatia, Rijeka, go in Split, Dubrovnik… you will find restourants with amazing food and service quality you can’t even smell in Zadar. Name ONE place where you can go partying in Zadar like you can in Istria, in Split, on Hvar, on Pag, …. ? You can’t. Don’t count ‘narodnjake’ there please. I can go on and on with this. But I’ll stop here.
Keep good work,
bye
IvanaMM
April 16, 2017Actually you have great restaurants but only need to make some inquiry first! Not all are good, of course. In my opinion, Rafaelo, Niko and Bruschetta are the best! Rafaelo is my favourite so my husband and I took our friends who live in Paris to Rafaelo. They were amazed by big size portions and great food! Prices are affordable! …..What haters?! People just cannot believe this review. I cannot believe it and I don’t even live in Zadar. Btw, ice cream in Donat is perfect. Hey, if you won’t believe me or my husband who has been going there since he was a child, Trip Advisor confirms that, as well.
Luka
April 16, 2017I’ve took some time to go through few other articles, posts, photos. I can say your literal expression and quality in at an unenviable level, just wandering how many people even care about your opinion, how many of them came back to your blog, how many are your followers on instagram that aren’t your friends or relatives?
Best of luck with wanna be bloger/traveler
Alen Kero
April 16, 2017As i was born in Zadar i have a bais , having also been around the world and visited many many places and bring a ignorent “blogger ” u know to look for the beautiful and good in every place i have been especially historical sites , you are a terrible ugly typical american turist with a small soap box and you have the right to a opinion , a opinion with minimal merrit or substance ! Perhaps Vegas is more up your alley for culture and excitement 🙂 leave the old world to real people
Bri
April 16, 2017I think that you are fucking wasting your time on this blog because nobody is really reading that on Instagram you have only 500 followers and how much of them aren’t your relatives. On Youtube you have only 8 subscribers and you don’t even have proper Youtube channel so shut the fuck up.
A.a
April 16, 2017Haha ridiculous. Dear Bri you are obviously frustrated and stupid
Regards from Zadar
David
April 16, 2017It is hilarious to see my fellow citizens losing their shit over a mere review from some travel blogger, that happens to be negative. I wonder what would happen if someone more famous said similar things. She didn’t even say anything explicitly offensive or evil, nor did she underappreciate culture or old monuments. She basically just stated her opinion, which i agree with in almost everything. She simply doesn’t find Zadar interesting, it didn’t meet her expectations and so what? Why bother? Going through the comments here and on other social media related to this blog, really reminds me how much of a shithole this town really is, people prove it even more with their ignorant and primitive comments and disgusting local patriotism. You guys act like Zadar is the only town with old monuments and culture, you like to think how it’s the best place on earth. Zadar is a fairly alright town, there are many things to see and to do as a tourist, but it’s so overhyped and romanticized, one would think it’s something out of this world. Yes, sea organs in Zadar are the only ones in the world, that also goes for the ”greeting of the sun”, it’s nice, it’s interesting and it’s cool, but it’s not the best monument in the world. You call this girl frustrated and uncultured, and yet you’re the ones who are showing those characteristics in yourselves with your comments, it’s basically like ”you’ll either like it or go back to America you piece of uncultured shit”, like someone is forced to like your city and has no right to different opinions. Also, bashing her for being American just proves your inferiority complex, I bet you would have orgasms if she said something positive, there’s nothing more satisfying when a foreigner praises something yours because you’re hungry for their opinions, you love to look great in the eye of a foreigner, all because of insecurity and inferiority complex. But when the situation is reversed like in this case, then you opt for insults based on the country of origin and whatnot, for the same reasons mentioned before.
Ema
April 17, 2017Dear David, I find it hard to believe that you are a “fellow citizen”. You sound too frustrated by the town you claim to live in, and people as well. I can understand that Americans are ignorant of the world outside their continent, their culture and general knowledge is questionable (with an exception of their love and expertise in weaponry and destroying the world), however I would be ashamed to live in such a beautiful town like Zadar with incredibly rich history and to disparage it as you do.
David
April 17, 2017How can you call Americans ignorant of the world, and question their culture and general knowledge, when you’re showing your ignorance of America itself with you comment, claiming that they all love weaponry and to destroy the world? As far as i know anti-gun and non-interventionist sentiment is very high in USA, which would mean that not all Americans are as you believe them to be. I also don’t understand the general need to rely on same old arguments against Americans, how they don’t know anything about the world or other cultures, where did that even come from? What if some American was more cultured than your average Croatian? Your statement is very ignorant to the core and based on generalizations. Disparage? Hah, how so please? I would be ashamed to live in a city and fail to see it’s shortcomings, only blind myself thinking it’s perfect, and not be able to take criticism.
Ema
April 18, 2017Dear David. Got you right where I wanted. 2 things. First. You are obviously not from Zadar, you`re an American (or wannabe). Nobody would bother to write so many pro-American arguments if they were not one. Second. Do you see now firsthand, how rude it seems to you when somebody else talks badly about a place that you live in and love?! Btw,I don`t think that about Americans, at all, I just wanted to prove my point. 🙂 Can you now understand people`s comments?! This blogger never bothered to find out all the beautiful things that Zadar hides within. Her superficial and utterly ill-mannered blog was a result of superficial glimpse that she made by going to Zadar and neglecting its entire past, incredible architecture, great food and places to go. Croats can be nasty when angry, but she had it coming when she decided she would make not a negative one, but a completely wrong and superficial review, not mentioning anything really important, just a few tourist sights written in a tourist guide. Do you homework properly, or don`t do it at all! (Sorry again for the joke about weaponry. I knew it would hit the nerve. 🙂 )
David
April 18, 2017Nisam Amerikanac, a bome ni wannabe, evo jedini nacin da ti to dokazem je da pisem na hrvatskom. Vidis opet je problem u tome sto njenu ostru kritiku smatras da je ”talking badly about a place you live in and love”, a cura je zapravo samo rekla svoje misljenje, a to je da joj se Zadar nije dojmio, to sto je misljenje negativno, nema veze, nije nitko prisiljen volit Zadar, iako se po nekim komentarima tako cini. Ljudi je zbog tog napadaju jer ”Sta znaju jebeni ameri samo idu u onaj svoj mekdonalds ne znaju sta je prava spiza ka nasa dalmatinska…Zadar se boria protiv mlecana dok su u njujorku jos bili indijanci…” i tako te slicne stvari. Ovo je naravno bilo pretjerivanje, ali komentari u tom stilu se mogu vidjet cesto, i to su ljudi koji ce govorit kako su amerikanci nekulturni i kako ”ne znaju di je na karti nasa hrvatska”, a prva asocijacija na ameriku su im debeli ljudi i brza hrana, dakle s tim oni sami pokazuju svoje neznanje o americi. A cujes, cura je posjetila ono sto je izvikano i sto se najvise prikazuje, znaci pozdrav suncu, orgulje, Stosiju i Donat, to su 4 najbitnije stvari u zadru, nebi se bas slozio sa ”not mentioning anything really important”. Uostalom ne vidim kako bi joj znanje zadarske povijesti promijenilo misljenje, i kako je uopce zanemarila arhitekturu, pretpostavljam da je vidjela vecinu stvari sto se od toga moze vidjet, a buduci da je proputovala i bila na dosta svjetskih destinacija, vjerojatno je vidjela masu interesantnijih i boljih stvari nego sto se moze vidjet u Zadru. I ne znam o kojoj povrsnosti pricas, dosta stvari navedenih ovdje su istine kojih je svjestan svatko ko zivi u Zadru, jedina stvar s kojom se ne slazem je ova usporedba orgulja sa radanjem kita, to je stvarno nepotrebno, ali da, neke ploce na pozdravu suncu ne valjaju, guzve su prevelike (to dosta unisti dozivljaj), 7, pa cak i 8 kuna za kuglicu sladoleda, koja je nekad znala bit 5, je previse za ono sto dobijes, a da sladoled nije nesto, ovo nije prvi put da to cujem od nekog stranca, a i da je Zadar dosadan, pa to je, jer stvarno nema previse stvari kojima bi se neki mladi covjek mogao radovati, nema nekih prevelikih dogadanja i sve je nekako osrednje, jedini kojima je interesantan su slavonci i ostali iz unutrasnjosti. Zadar je, ponavljam, sasvim ok grad, turisti imaju nesto za vidjet, sve je u redu, ali ga neki ljudi predstavljaju tako da se moraju imat prevelika ocekivanja. A ona prica kako je Hitchcock rekao da je ovdje najbolji zalazak, je kao da je ne znam ko to rekao, doslovno kada se to govori strancima zvuci kao ”Uuu netko poznat nas je pohvalio uuu vidite nas”, gore nego kada se Hrvati i dan danas hvale kako su bili jednom davno treci na svjetskom prvenstvu, kao da su bili prvaci 15 puta u pm.
Bob
April 23, 2017A review is never “wrong” because an opinion isn’t a fact. It’s a friggin opinion. If Bri finds Zadar boring, live with it. Nobody is forcing you to read her blog. It is small minded and provincial to crave, nay, demand approval and adulation from anyone that visits “your special place on this Earth.” Fact is, Brie paid for the stay in Zadar with her hard earned cash so what the hell is it to you what she thinks of it?
Ema
April 20, 2017Ajmo ponoviti gradivo. Zadar nije savrsen i moze imati tri milijuna sto tisuca petsto trideset i cetiri mane, ali ako si covjek i posebice putnik, onda se zahvali na gostoprimstvu i nadji neku sitnicu koju ces pohvaliti da ne ispadnes totalni kreten (ko sto je ispala, mada se trudila biti urnebesna i duhovita – ne).
David
April 21, 2017A rekla je da se mogu dobre slike uslikat, a i na instagramu je pohvalila gostoprimstvo obitelji od koje je iznajmila apartman. Bar nesto hahahah
1965
April 16, 2017Dear lady Bri, sometimes in life it is better to restrain yourself from posting such stories because people will probably understand that you are actually an uncultured nobody who likes to post things on this silly little blog because you have nothing better to do with your time. Nobody cares about opinions of people like you because they dont even know who you really are. In time this “blog” will be forgotten and you along with it, and when that happens you will find that with all of your opinions that you have posted here… Nothing has changed. And than feel free to visit Zadar again so we can collectivly laugh at the silly little girl who thought she has actually acomplished something with her life.
2nice
April 17, 2017Daer Bri, hang on there and don’t bother about nasty comments, Dalmatians (especially Zadar area) are not the brightest examples of tolerance and fine manors, they just live on the heritage builded by other nations, mostly Venetians, strongly believed that it’s their own ..
Srna Zd
April 17, 2017Hm, I really don’t like this new ‘blogger’jobs, and people who think they ate all the smartness in the world. First of all, when you travel somewhere, then you get yourself a guide, live one, or written one, and then you inform yourself about place your visiting. I, for sure don’t travel because I can take a good picture from the church tower?! I wonder how old is that tower, how old is that city, what was happening here in the past etc. And then I will found out that the city, in this case Zadar, is 3000 years old., I would mention St.Donat’s church from 9.th century, St.Stosija, St.Simun and St.Krsevan, and then I would find out how their were connected through the past, with these people, with East and West Roman empire, old city watch, lion gate, city walls, 5 wells square, 3 wells square, old Maraschino factory, i’d found out how many times this city was ruined, i’d take a boat ride with ‘barkajol’, i’d found how some city sights are still reconstructing after the war, which finished 22 years ago, and it really ruined the old city, mountain Velebit doesn’t have woods from sea side, why? Because whole Venice was built from Velebit woods…there are few museums in the city (archeology, antique glass, illusion), you can eat locally for example at ‘Pet bunara’ restaurant, Groppo, Kornat…these are all in the old city… Zadar is not only good photos from sea organs, greeting to the sun and sights like this made in last 10 year, it has its history, its suffering and cross that carries. But obviously we are not all the same, as travellers, especially if we are talking about towns maturity, when Zadar was fighting with Venice, Columbo wasn’t born yet. Enough to a smart one…
P.s. Next week I am visiting Berlin, and I want do sightseeing which inclides a tv tower…
jelenatpr
April 17, 2017People of Zadar attacking her are really lame. she has a right to her own opinion. let her be.
Lucija
October 27, 2018She is totally entiteled to her opinion, but her ‘sense of humor’, or whatever she calls it, was straight up mean. She couldn’t find one nice thing to say about a city she apparently spent an aboundace of time in. I think it’s just sad that she decided to overlook all the good things and focus on the bad.
Lina
April 17, 2017Zadar was the best European tourist destination in 2016. I think that decision was a joke. I am from Croatia, been in Zadar twice. I totally agree with you. Keep having an opinion, all the best in the future!
Ema
April 20, 2017Why twice? People don`t usually visit places they don`t like. Slow learner, ha?
Lina
April 24, 2017No need to be condescending.
Lucy
June 4, 2017How do you know everything about Zadar if you only visited it twice?
Paul
April 17, 2017Maybe the author was looking for Disneyland?
Zeljko Serdar
April 23, 2017Zadar is an ancient city, built in the center of the Croatian Adriatic, full of historical and cultural monuments. It is three thousand years old, a city of old, tumultuous and dynamic history, often destructed, looted, devastated, every time emerging from the ruins stronger, richer and more beautiful. Zadar appeared for the first time in history in the 4th century B.C. as a settlement of the Illyrian tribe of Liburnians – the name Jader was mentioned, and through history it changed into Idassa (Greek source), Jadera (Roman source), Diadora, Zara (during Venetian rule and later Italian) up to today’s name of Zadar.
After the year 59 B.C. Zadar became a Roman municipium, and in 48 B.C. a colony of Roman citizens. During Roman rule Zadar acquired the characteristics of a city with a regular road network, a main square – forum, and next to it an elevated capitolium with a temple. In the 7th century Zadar became the center (capital) of the Byzantine theme (province) of Dalmatia. At the beginning of the 9th century Zadar was mentioned as seat of bishop Donatus and the Byzantine leader Paulus. At the time a church was erected on the Roman forum, the church of the Holy Trinity, today St. Donat, for which it can be said to be the symbol of the city. Larger settling of Croats in Zadar was marked in the 10th century. The foundations of the Romanesque church of St. Mary, the church of St. Grisogone and the cathedral of St Anastasia have been preserved from that period. In 1202 the city was conquered and burned by the Crusaders and Venetians. The first Gothic churches in Dalmatia, St. Francis and St. Dominic, were built after that time, and the gold-plated silver sarcophagus of St. Simeon must be distinguished among the treasures of the period. The 15th and 16th centuries are characterized by significant activities of Croatian writers who wrote in the national Croatian language (Petar Zoranić, Brne Krnarutić, Šime Budinić, Jerolim Vidulić …).
The Austrians (1797) took over the government of Zadar after the Venetians, to be followed by the French (from 1806 to 1813). After a short time of French rule, Zadar remained under Austrian rule until 1918. With the Treaty of Rapallo, Zadar fell under Italian rule, and after the II World War it was annexed to Croatia (within the framework of the Federation of Yugoslavia). Following the Republic of Croatia’s declaration of independence and subsequent Serbian aggression on Croatian territory, Zadar and its surroundings were attacked in October 1991. The Serbian rebels aimed to conquer and destroy the city and its region, attacking with a destructive force that had never been seen so far. Zadar´s hinterland was controlled by rebels and significantly devastated. The city itself was repeatedly targeted and cultural heritage of Zadar was heavily damaged.
Today Zadar is a preserved monument of various historical times and cultures that have placed their boundaries and visible outlines of their urban appearance. During its existence it was for many centuries the home of the Ilyrian Liburni and for 1000 years the capital city of Dalmatia. Rich in history, it is curently a focal point in civilisation, and most of all city with an unquestionable future: its accepted concept of development into an international, Mediterranean and Adriatic metropolis is being realised. It is a city with a rich Croatian national identity created in the present, wich successfully adheres to the newest trends in globalisation and informatisation.
Zadar is a city rich in spirutual and material culture, as well as in a touristic identity created in the present. It was created around the Roman forum, a city inside well-kept walls, a city of old Croatian monuments. Full of archieves, museums and libraries, it is the keeper of literary and musical treasure, it is the city inside with the oldest University among Croatians (1396). It was long ago the place where the first Croatian novel and the first newspapers in the Croatian language were created. It is protected by four guardian saints: Zoilo, Simeon, Grisogone and Anastasia.
Wyatt
April 23, 2017For what it’s worth Bri, you’ve proven that the 3000 years of culture do not seem to have had any effect on a very vocal minority of keyboard warriors who will spew hatred and bile on anyone that disagrees with them. You already know they’ve branded Americans in general as gun wielding rednecks, but you should have also asked for their opinion on Serbs, Bosnian, Slovenians, atheists, gays, socialists, blacks and Muslims, just to get a taste of their general spirit of welcome and tolerance. I’m referring to the keyboard warriors that have been targeting you, of course, not the people of Zadar in general.
Marie
April 23, 2017Hi! I am from Zadar and I agree with a lot of what you have said (except the ice cream! I love Donat ice cream). Just ignore the hate comments and trolling. Croats are not very tolerant, sadly. They cannot comprehend that other people might not like or enjoy what they do. Huge frustrations there.
‘UMRI, MALA DRO**ICE’: Neodgojeni Hrvati napali Amerikanku jer nije oduševljena Zadrom, a ona ih odlično spustila – Net.hr
April 23, 2017[…] ni jako loš pa se uvjeriš da ti je zabavno puno više no što jest” napisala je u postu Slobodno preskočite Zadar. Dodala je da je nevjerojatno fotogeničan, ali sve u svemu, puno više razvikan nego što […]
nemonihilque
April 25, 2017Hahahaahahahahahaha…these comments are hillarious!
Bri. Let me explain you the situation.
Croatia is a tiny country in the mediterranean which had not been industrialized simply because it was agrarian for the most of history, for we were always under someone elses rule, and it was only lightly industrialized while under Socialist Yugoslavia
When the war ended, these bits of industry went completely broke, under guidance of a chain of irresponsible and ineffective governments. So with the dead industry, there was nothing left to endanger our ecology.
This resulted in lots of beautiful untouched nature.
And lots of passive citizens who will never do anything without being forced to do it.
Do you see where I’m going here?
This results in massive tourism, for that is easy money.
This massive tourism is the basis of our poor Croatian economy.
And the people still love the notion of our country, which in reality falls apart in every aspect.
So you have to understand them.
There. I believe this explains a lot.
nemonihilque
April 25, 2017This does not mean that there is no beauty to Zadar, too. But it is visible when you substract the massive tourism from the equation, when you live there for a couple of weeks, and spend some time with the locals. Only they do know its true beauty.
And they get angry when someone points out the painful truth.
This is true for most other cities of the Croatian coast.
There.
Yeop Azman
April 26, 2017It’s true. Zadar is nothing special and basically is very negative. It was only special when I was with my ex from Sveti Filip i Jakov, and she told me her “magical” childhood stories. I thought it was wonderful and friendly, but when I worked there and lived there, I was rejected very quickly. People are xenophobic and it’s not very welcoming. It was better in 2004 before the popup of the icky industrial zones. It was better before when there were less vacation homes between the towns. At least it has a McDonald’s. Bus station could use a little work. The hospital is cool, but needs a dock. I love the poluotok, but it got super expensive. I don’t like the fact that nothing works off season. I don’t like where the ferry lands, they should make a port away from the old town. Other than the xenophobia, the town is just like any other town, but on the coast. Meh.
Pp
June 7, 2017Your name is so generic. Your hair is gay. Meh!
Lucy
June 4, 2017Dear Bri, I know I’m just another Croatian answering to your post and that you’re probably going to ignore this comment too. I did not come here to spread hate around because we’re not all bad, and that’s not one of my aspirations in life. You must understand one thing and that is that these people don’t mean the things they said, but they are quite furious. As you imagine, they are quite pissed because they just read an article that literally threw shade of everything they are proud of in their city. Just imagine how would you feel if you read something like this about your hometown. I have to tell you, I am not form Zadar myself, I’m actually from Karlovac, which is a pleace near Zagreb. I read you talking so highly of Zagreb and how it’s so much better than Zadar. I don’t really get it to be honest. I guess it’s just a matter of taste, but I’m a 16 years old teenager and I simply love spending time in Zadar. I am usually on Vir (and not just on summer vacation but whole the year around, when I get the chance), it’s an island near Zadar so I go there often. Every time I visit it I am in such awe. I don’t know if you did your research, or if you know, or care, but you are one of the thousands people who have been to Zadar not even realising that it’s a cultural gem. You see, Zadar was built in the ages of ancient Rome, it was a colony back then. If you look up the maps and see the city from above, you will see that specific geometrical street schedule that Romans are so famous for. And if you noticed that “pile of rocks” on that big town square, those were actually the remains of an old Roman Forum. And there’s so much more, like the wide street, as we call it “kalelarga”, that street was there even in the ages of Romans, all the churches and the museums… Even the city walls are so interesting to me. Did you try to get tickets to museums and gallerys? Did you try arranging a local guide? If you had a local guide, he would’ve taken you to the best gelato shop in town and he would’ve known how to get away from the crowds and stuff.. Trust me, you have seen alot less than what Zadar can offer. There is so much more. I do have to ask one thing. You are a travelling blogger right? Shouldn’t have you tried other specialties than just gelato? Or shouldn’t have you admired all the amazing and precious architecture? Do you know how amazing those bildings and monuments are? You need to learn to appriciate culture more (I am sorry to say that, but it’s the truth). Zadar is truly an extrordinary city. It just obviously takes the right eye to see that. I guess you are more of a modern city type so you prefer Zagreb. I’m just sorry for you because you don’t see how historically meaningful Zadar really is, and it’s architecture (if you know anything about it), is quite mesmerizing. Compared to Zagreb, Zadar is a much less crowded city so I don’t get all the crowd you’re complaining about. Croatia is a small country and so are our cities. I wish you could understand that. It’s okay, you obviously don’t like the whole mediteran vibes that Zadar brings in it’s own special way, but I really think you should give it another chance. It really deserves it. Don’t judge it just because you’ve seen like 5% of it. Trust me, there is so much more to it. If you were in a group, you could’ve gone to the adventure park, or to the beaches, or the nearest cities who have great historical meaning too, like perhaps Nin. You can’t read about Zadar on social media and visit it once and think you know everything. Hell, I’ve visited it more times than I can count and I still don’t know everything about it. But I do know more than you do. And I know that there is more than just what is on the surface. I know that Zadar is probably nothing compared to Rome, or London, or Moscow and all the other amazing cities all over the world. I know that you can’t even compare it’s forum with the one in Rome itself, but you need to appriciate it too. We can’t have everything in life and our country is small with sometimes cranky people. (Fyi, they tend to be like that sometimes because they are preparing for the big season wich is going to last for the next 6 months, wich means 6 months of so many tourists and noise and everything, and they do live off what they make during the season.) But we are extremely under estimated, and you do not know what is happening in our country because you are a carefree tourist. So, from now on, do take that in mind when you decide going to forgein countries. Any country you go to, it doesn’t have to be Croatia, but please remember that. It is so easy for you to judge us and look down on us but we are truly nice people. Just because there were a couple of people looking at you the wrong way, doesn’t make us all like that. Please keep that in mind and if you have the money, time and patience, give Zadar another chance. I hope this persuaded you a little bit more to think abput the meaning of cities when you visit them, because they are all truly special and amazing in their own way. I just wish you had that point of view. I do hope there were more good things on the trip that didn’t came up in the article, because you literally described Zadar like it’s hell and like there is absolutely nothing interesting about it. All you did throughout the article is complain. Sorry but you a little bit overdid it. I just wish this somehow opened your eyes. Trust me, Zadar has so much to give you, if only you give it a chance. I hope you’ll at least listen to me because I am not from Zadar and I am a teenager and teenagers think everything is meh. I hope this knocked some sense in you. Good luck on you next trip, and I hope you’ll try to keep all the things I said in mind for the future!
Karlo Morosin
June 6, 2017Dear Bri,
I just heard about your problems with the blog you wrote about Zadar and I decided to read it, to see what’s the issue.
And I red a blog and surprisingly I agree with you. Zadar is one beautiful town on the Adriatic coast, old more than 3000 years. I went there to high school, and I know how Zadar can be beautiful and bored at the same time. But Zadar is not bored if you know its history. But, according to your blog, I think you’re not willing to know 3000 years history of Zadar. You’re probably searching for fun, parties, excitement… and… sex maybe…
In other hand, generations of tourists who visited Zadar before you have nothing but words of praise. They have fun, parties and excitements too, knowing history and culture of that bored and beautiful town. They wanted to know why Kingdom of Dalmatia do not exist any more (shame – Dalmatia needs to have political autonomy). They wanted to know where was a building of Dalmatian Parliament (colloquially called ‘Yellow House’) and what happen with that building (destroyed in American bombarding Zadar 1944., — pity, it was such a great building). They wanted to know how Croatian national party stolen parliamentary elections 1870. They wanted to know why one of deputies run out of Parliament bleeding from the nose. They also wanted to know what happen after crusades destroyed Zadar 1202.
I know, time goes by so fast. The world has changed and do not appreciate history, cultural heritage, other people, specially other nations, other languages… like used to. Zadar, Dalmatia and whole Croatia (except Zagreb) is in the black hole, economically, emotionally and mentally. So, maybe that’s the reason why people form Zadar replied to your blog as they did. Their emotional and mental circuit changed last 30 years (to worse), thx to nationalistic bastards who destroy everything in front of them. Those people, good people, the best I’ve ever met (not just coz I’m Dalmatian, and I know Zadar well), forgot to be better people, no matter they are trying to make their guests feel as kings. Unfortunately, Zadar, and rest of Dalmatia, thx to political situation in this area, is not ready to take a punch, no matter how right you are. (They’re still thinking homosexuality is a mental disease, instead genetically innate relation.)
So, why I wrote all these lines? To tell you that you’re right, but at the same time not. I lived in the USA 25 years and I know how cruel Americans can be and I know how much they judge by cover not by content. So, please, next time, no matter where you go don’t use guidebook, use common sense and talk to people, ask explanations and learn history. Don’t search only fun and excitements.
Pp
June 7, 2017She fired at them, they fired back. I see no problem, it is called self defense 🙂 Be respectful and kind to people anywhere and they will be kind and respectful back. It is a no-brainer really and works just about anywhere in the world. Duh!
Smo boduli
August 6, 2017A little late, but I agree with you 100%! I spend summers on a small island near Zadar where my parents were born and raised. There is no charm, beauty or true culture here. Go outside of old town(Poluotok) and Zadar is an unkempt, forlorn sea of Soviet-style concrete apartment buildings. We take the ferry to Zadar for grocery shopping weekly and go on the day where we can spend the fewest hours. Give me Zagreb any day. BTW, you should have visited Zadar in the 80s before they corrected the sewage problem. The water in the old port was an opaque green and old town smelled putrid.
Theodora
August 7, 2017I’ve visited Croatia last year, and when I say visited I visited Croatia I’m talking about getting to know almost whole the country (I visited Zagreb, Plitvice Park, Zadar, Sibenik, Trogir, Split, Omis, Makarska, Dubrovnik, Rijeka, Pula, but I must confess I did not visit Rovinj).
Pula and Rijeka were the least of my favorite cities of Croatia. I found them kind of dirty and industrialized. The Roman influence and style of the italians are really present. Instead, the other cities of Croatia were really nice and cozy, full of authentic history.
matko
September 1, 2017I am not from Zadar, but Croatia. Zadar is the most beautifuk city in Croatia. Even Hitchock confirmed that. There is bilbord about Hitchock experience with Zadar, It is not perfect town like anyone else, but it’s very beautiful. Things and places that you describe just telling that you were not been at right places to see. Putting icecream and giving comment on that, just telling me that probably lot’s of guys didn’t even talk to you from the way you look. Dalmatia is famous for very handsome people…So, no wondering that you wrote this comments. Go to Hawaii, they probably have better icecream and more people who would go out with you and have a drink or whatever…Sorry for this comments, but if majority say and agree Zadar is the most beautiful town, you really think that people will bealive to one who says it’s not…Go to Ibiza next time and put picture of icream on faceboook. Maybe it’s better there for you. Noone will recognize how you look and you might find some drunk man to sleep with you. Than would probably be the better comments…
Walter
September 6, 2017As an outsider this is hilarious.
I have nothing to do with Bri (just came across this blog today) but I have to say, the comments here are exactly what I expected.
Yes, I’m an outsider (I’m Dutch) but I’ve been visiting Croatia from before it was even a country (yes, I’m that old 🙂 ) and I have to say, I always got the impression that (and I’m going to be generalizing now, I also know there are also awesome, open minded Dalmatian people so if you belong to that group ignore this, this is not about you) Dalmatian people tend to have a very insulated worldview. I.e. anything outside of Dalmatia sucks and is crap but Dalmatia is heaven on earth. And this feeling has just been reaffirmed reading the comments here.
Let’s be honest for a second, she didn’t really say anything bad about Zadar. She said it was OK but that she didn’t like it as much as other places in Croatia. And yes, as visitors (although I’ve lived in Zagreb and am now moving to Pula after also considering Rijeka, Zadar and Split) we have the luxury of cherry picking what we like. So what? That’s the beauty of being a visitor. But then, as visitors it’s also very likely that we’ve seen more places than the average person who commented on this post and that we visited them with a more open mind.
I was born and raised in Amsterdam and although I love the place with all my heart, there’s enough that could be improved (stoner international visitors, including Dalmatians, for one). And if somebody points that out then I’ll be the first to tell them they’re right. Criticism is a funny thing, it’s only another person’s opinion. We can agree with it or disagree with it. But we don’t have to turn into offensive keyboard warriors because of it.
And let’s face it, if this was a super positive post about Zadar that you had written yourself, you would have deleted the negative comments by now. She keeps it open and allows all the comments to go through. Respect to Bri for that.
PS, if you’re curious as to why I chose not to move to Zadar for now, although I actually like the town, just go back and read the comments that it’s inhabitants posted.
Aussie Dan
October 10, 2017I have visited Zadar a few times and I like it, but I know where the blogger is coming from. Due to the poor post world war two reconstruction of the city it’s not as charming as other cities due to the socialist construction in the old town quarter. It has very charming sections but is a mismash of old Roman, Venetian and Communism. It however has huge potential. The Riva is underutilised and should be reconstructed, and some parts of the city should remove socialist structures and reconstruct the buildings that once existed. A local showed me pictures of Zadar before WW2 and it rivalled Dubrovnik but unfortunately it was badly bombed by the allies. I say rebuild like Warsaw and Dresden.
Elisabeth
July 10, 2019Just look at those ugly comments from aggressive people of Zadar. Yes that is a picture of towns mentality. I am really satisfied with an article because she is writing honestly, from her perspective and actually quite polite. She didn`t even mention that Zadar doesn`t have nice beaches and doesn`t even invest in them. And if you want to go to the beach then you have to choose dirty hotel beach. Yuck, nope