Zadar City Tour: Sea Organ, St. Donatus & Roman Forum

Discover Zadar’s hidden squares and vibrant daily rhythms with a local guide

A two-hour guided walking tour of Zadar's main sights, led by a certified local guide in your choice of language. You visit the Sea Organ (a wave-powered monument on the waterfront), the Church of St. Donatus and its unusual acoustics, the Roman Forum, the Cathedral, the 5 Well Square, and a gold and silver church art exhibition inside a Benedictine monastery. Entrances to the Cathedral and St. Donatus are not included, though you stand in front of both.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Zadar's historic and modern sites

• Visit the Sea Organ
• See the Cathedral of Zadar
• Explore the Church of St. Donatus
• Walk through the Roman Forum
• Visit the Church holding St. Simon's body
• Tour the Zadar Gold and Silver Church Art exhibition

The Experience

The tour starts with the Sea Organ, a 21st-century monument on the waterfront that makes sound from wind and waves—you'll hear it work as the guide explains how it powers itself. From there the route moves into the old town, where the Church of St. Donatus rises with its unusual cylindrical shape and the acoustics that made it a symbol of Zadar for centuries. The guide walks you through the Roman Forum, the largest one built on the eastern side of the Adriatic, and shows you where the city's center of life sat two thousand years ago.

The Cathedral comes next—a 12th-century Romanesque building and the biggest in Dalmatia, with an interior the guide will describe even though entry is not part of this tour. You'll also see the 5 Well Square and visit the Church of St. Simon, which holds relics considered precious in the Christian world. The tour ends at the Monastery of St. Mary, where you walk through a gold and silver church art exhibition kept under the care of Benedictine nuns.

A certified local guide leads the whole route and speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese, or French—you choose your language when you book. The pace suits all fitness levels, and the route is wheelchair accessible, so families with strollers and travelers with mobility needs can join.

What’s included

• A certified local guide who speaks your choice of English, Spanish, Portuguese or French; the two-hour walking route covering the Sea Organ, Church of St.
• Donatus, Roman Forum, Cathedral exterior, 5 Well Square, Church of St.
• Simon and the gold and silver church art exhibition at the Monastery of St.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Nova Travel

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want the main sights and the stories behind them without building an itinerary yourself; the guide's knowledge of Zadar's history and daily life fills the two hours so the route holds together and you leave knowing the city instead of just the landmarks.

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Top questions

What is the Sea Organ and why is it on this tour?

The Sea Organ is a wave-powered monument built into the waterfront in the 21st century; it produces sound when wind and waves move through its pipes beneath the pavement, and it's one of Zadar's most recognizable modern landmarks.

Can I go inside the Cathedral and the Church of St. Donatus on this tour?

The tour includes standing in front of both buildings and learning about them from the guide, but entry to the Cathedral and St. Donatus is not included; you can visit them separately if you wish.

How long does the tour take and what's the pace like?

The tour runs two hours and is designed for all fitness levels; the route is walkable and wheelchair accessible, so it suits families with children and strollers as well as older travelers.

What language does the guide speak?

The guide is certified and fluent in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and French; you select your language when you book.

What is the Roman Forum and why is it significant to Zadar?

The Roman Forum is the largest one built on the eastern side of the Adriatic and was the center of public life in the Roman city of Zadar; the guide will show you its layout and explain its role in the ancient city.

Is there an art exhibition included in the tour?

Yes, the tour includes a visit to the Zadar Gold and Silver Church Art exhibition inside the Monastery of St. Mary, which is maintained by Benedictine nuns.