Zadar City Walking Tour: Roman Streets & Venetian Walls

The winged lion of Venice still guards the gates where the old city ends.

A 90-minute walking tour of Zadar's old town follows the Roman street grid through Venetian walls and bastions, with departures at 11 AM (starting at the Greeting to the Sun), 6:30 PM (from the Land Gate), or afternoon timing. The guide speaks English, Italian or French, and you'll pass the Cathedral of St. Anastasia, the Roman Forum, and the Sea Organ installation: no paid museum or church entries required. Minimum age is 13.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Sea Organ10m
2. Zadar Roman Forum10m
3. Zadar City Gates10m

Zadar 90-minute city walking tour

• Start at Greeting to the Sun
• Visit Sea Organ installation
• See Cathedral of St. Anastasia exterior
• Explore ancient Roman Forum
• View two large Roman Columns
• Visit 9th century desacralized church exterior
• Pass Benedictine Convent of St. Mary
• Walk through People's Square
• See 16th century City Guard building
• See 16th century City Hall building
• Walk along Kalelarga street
• Pass New Gate
• End at Venetian walls with winged lion

The experience

The morning tour begins at the Greeting to the Sun, the solar panel installation on the waterfront, and moves through the city on foot for the full 90 minutes rain or shine. You'll walk the same Roman street network that has threaded through Zadar since the 1st century BC, passing the Roman Forum and the Pillar of Shame before reaching the Venetian defenses: the walls, bastions and gates built when the Republic governed the coast. The evening tour starts instead from the Land Gate, a 16th-century triumphal arch, and covers the same core but skips the waterfront installations. Both routes end with the winged lion of Venice, the symbol of St. Mark, marking your exit from the old peninsula.

You'll see the Cathedral of St. Anastasia, the city's largest Romanesque church, and a 9th-century rotunda built in pre-Romanesque style: both visible from outside, no entrance fees. The People's Square sits ringed by the medieval City Loggia and Guard, and Kalelarga, the peninsula's main street, follows what was once the Roman Decumanus. The guide will explain why Alfred Hitchcock and other famous visitors called Zadar's sunset the most beautiful in the world, and if you choose the afternoon departure, you'll be there to see it. Bring an umbrella or raincoat. The walk happens regardless of weather.

Possible free tastings of Maraschino liqueur or local cheese may happen along the route, depending on the day. Public transport stops are nearby if you need one before or after. The tour is suitable for all fitness levels but not recommended for pregnant travelers, those with poor cardiovascular health, or anyone with mobility issues.

What’s included

• Live guide in English, Italian or French.
• 90-minute walk through the Roman Forum, Venetian walls and city gates.
• views of the Cathedral of St. Anastasia and the 9th-century rotunda from outside.
• possible free tastings of Maraschino liqueur or local cheese along the route.

Options for this experience

4 options

Early bird private tourUp to 20 people · Guide in English, French or Italian · 08:30Zadar walking tour for private groups, available in English, French or Italian. Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes. Starting point: Foša - The Land Gate, Ul. Među bedemima, 23000, Zadar, Croatia

Private afternoon tourUp to 20 people · Guide in English, French or Italian · 16:00Zadar walking tour for private groups, available in English, French or Italian. Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes. Starting point: The Greeting to the Sun, Istarska obala, 23000, Zadar, Croatia

English 11 AMUp to 10 people · 11:00Zadar walking tour in a group setting. Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes. Starting point: The Greeting to the Sun, Istarska obala, 23000, Zadar, Croatia

English 6:30 PMUp to 10 people · Available from 15 May 2027

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:30, 11:00 and 16:00

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (13 to 80 years) · Under 13: can't be booked

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish, French and Italian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 10 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by ZADAR CITY TOUR

Is this one for you?Choose the 11 AM departure if you're arriving in Zadar in the morning and want to orient yourself to the old town before lunch. Pick the 6:30 PM tour if you have a free afternoon and want to end the day watching the sunset from the Venetian gates. Private tours work if you're traveling with family or prefer a guide's full attention without waiting for a group to assemble.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

In English, at 08:30, 11:00 and 16:00. In French and Italian, at 08:30 and 16:00.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's the difference between the 11 AM and 6:30 PM Zadar walking tours?

The 11 AM tour starts at the Greeting to the Sun and includes both the Sea Organ and the solar panel installation on the waterfront. The 6:30 PM tour begins at the Land Gate and skips those two installations, focusing instead on the Roman streets and Venetian defenses as the sun sets. Both cover the same 90 minutes and end at the same winged lion symbol.

Do we actually go inside the churches and museums in Zadar's old town?

No. The tour passes the Cathedral of St. Anastasia, the 9th-century rotunda, and the Benedictine Convent of St. Mary from outside only: no paid entries or interior visits. You'll see them and hear their history, but the walk stays on the streets and public squares.

What is the Sea Organ and why isn't it on the evening tour?

The Sea Organ is a 2005 installation on the waterfront promenade shaped like a piano keyboard. It produces sound from the movement of the sea beneath it. It's one of the world's most popular public art pieces, but it's only included on the morning and afternoon tours, not the 6:30 PM departure.

Is this walking tour suitable if I'm not very fit or have joint problems?

The tour is suitable for all fitness levels and covers 90 minutes of walking on city streets and Roman pavements. However, it's not recommended for travelers with mobility issues or poor cardiovascular health: the guide and operator advise checking your fitness level before booking.

Can I get a private tour instead of joining a group?

Yes. Private early bird and private afternoon tours are available as separate booking options, giving you the same 90-minute walk with a dedicated guide instead of a shared group departure.