April 29 – Part 2 – Zadar, Croatia
After a full day on the road, we rolled into Zadar ready to crash—and lucky for us, the team at Teatro Verdi Hotel had our room waiting. This boutique hotel is tucked right into Old Town, just a short walk from everything you’ll want to see, and it came with a few big wins: on-site parking (rare in Old Town) and a breakfast spread worth waking up for. You know I don’t mess around when it comes to hotel breakfasts.
Since it was already late afternoon, we didn’t go full tourist mode. Instead, we eased into Zadar with a wander through nearby alleyways and a few of the Romanesque and Venetian-era churches that dot the Old Town. This city has been continuously inhabited since the 9th century BC, and you can feel it in the stones beneath your feet.
Eventually we made our way to the Sea Organ, an ingenious art installation that plays music powered by the waves of the Adriatic. It’s subtle, but if you pause and listen, it’s downright magical. Just beside it is the Greeting to the Sun, a large circle of embedded solar panels that light up at night. Honestly? This one didn’t do it for me. Even after the sun went down and the lights came on, it felt more like a playground for kids and a photo-op for tourists. If you’re short on time, skip it.
The Riva, Zadar’s long seaside promenade, is a perfect place to unwind. We stopped for a cocktail and let the sea breeze do its thing. After all the hiking and stair climbing at Plitvice, this kind of evening felt just right.
Dinner was at a spot called Eat Me! (yes, really). The name might be bold, but so was the food—and in the best way. With full bellies, we made one last detour down to the waterfront. As the sky exploded in color, it was easy to see why Alfred Hitchcock once called Zadar’s sunset the most beautiful in the world. It really was something special.
Tired, we decided to head back to our hotel, Teatro Verdi, but Zadar had one more surprise in store for us. there was plenty of action. Completely by chance, our first night in Zadar lined up with the city’s high school graduation celebration. By sheer chance we wandered into a joyful frenzy—teens dressed to the nines, running through the streets, waving flares and launching fireworks. The whole Old Town buzzed with energy, and we couldn’t help but be momentarily swept up in it. There was something infectious about their excitement. It stirred up a wave of nostalgia in us too, a bittersweet reminder of our own graduation days and the youthful innocence we’ve left behind since.
Zadar, we’re off to a great start.
🗺️ Explore Zadar with Viator– If planning everything yourself feels a bit overwhelming, our friends at Viator have some great options to take the pressure off. They offer everything from easygoing walking tours right on site to full-day adventures that include travel to and from Riga with plenty to see along the way. We’ve booked through Viator many times and have always had a great experience. It’s a solid choice if you prefer a bit more structure in your travel days, without the hassle of sorting out every little detail on your own.