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Next thing you need to consider when trying to decide between visiting Zadar vs Split is the affordability of the cities, especially if you’re travelling on a budget.
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Plitvice Lakes is a day trip option from Zadar Affordability If you plan to hire a car, we suggest using in order to find deals from many major companies. This will give you a lot more flexibility than just relying on the bus and will give you the freedom to visit where you want when you want it. However, if you plan to use Zadar as a base, it can be worth renting a car. The old town is quite small and very walkable, no need to use public transit or your own vehicle.
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When you are in Zadar, you will find that the city is incredibly easy to get around. In fact, basing yourself in Zadar is ideal if you want to visit Plitvice Lakes National Park as a day trip as it is located much closer than Split, meaning that you can have more time to enjoy the park itself. There are countless day trips from Zadar that you can take including to some islands, historic cities and natural sites like Krka or Plitvice Lakes. Zadar is also home to its own international airport that serves a handful of budget airlines like Ryanair, meaning that, if you’re coming from around Europe, it is possible to visit Zadar simply as a stand-alone destination or as a city break – browse on Skyscanner for possible routes.ĭue to its central location in the north of the Dalmatia region, Zadar also makes for an excellent base to explore a lot of what the region has to offer. Walking along Zadar’s harbour on a cloudy day If you’re trying to get to Zadar from the capital, expect to bus to take about three hours. If you’re relying on public transit to get around while visiting Croatia, then you will be happy to know that there are frequent connections to Zadar from cities like Zagreb, Split or Dubrovnik. Well, luckily for those looking at Zadar, it is a major metropolitan area in Croatia and there are numerous connections to and from the city each day. One of the key determining factors when it comes to deciding between Zadar vs Split is how accessible the city is and how easy it is to reach from elsewhere in the country and abroad. Packed with history and bursting with an undeniable charm, Zadar is an excellent place to visit in this Adriatic nation. Located in the northern Dalmatian region in the centre of the country, Zadar is believed to be the oldest continuously-inhabited city in Croatia. However, there is a lot more to it when choosing between Split or Zadar so read on to understand which is the best choice for you! Alternatively, I would choose Split if you want to stay in a busier city and explore the highlights on the coast. In general, I would choose Zadar if you’re looking for a quieter place to stay and a base to get more off the beaten path in Croatia. Having visited both cities and spent a significant amount of time in Croatia over the years, we know what unique things each city has to offer and are dedicated to ensuring that your trip to the Croatian coast is a perfect as possible!
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Whether you’re looking for a great destination to explore on its own or are hunting for the perfect base on the Dalmatian coast, we’re here to help you choose between Zadar or Split to ensure that you make the best decisions for your Croatia trip! If you don’t have the time to include them both on your Croatia itinerary (and you really should try, they are both amazing!), you will need to make the choice between them. So if you’re trying to determine whether Split vs Zadar is the right Croatian city for you, then look no further. They are both historic and beautiful cities worth explore but can offer different things to travellers depending on what you’re after. However, once you dig a bit deeper, you will find that both Split and Zadar are diverse and dynamic cities that can easily stand up on their own. On the surface, these cities seem to be fairly similar and can seem to offer more or less the same things to see and do. Choosing between staying in or visiting the cities of Zadar or Split on a trip down Croatia’s coast can seem like an impossible task.
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