Are Zadar's surroundings its crown jewel, or is Zadar the crown jewel of its surroundings?

We don't know the answer to that question, neither do we think it's necessary. Zadar's magic not only lies in its streets and atmosphere, but also in its connection with surrounding towns, villages, islands, national and nature parks.

Make sure to visit the towns of Nin and Benkovac.

Nin is located on a small island in the middle of a shallow lagoon. It is the oldest Croatian royal town. The smallest cathedral in the world and the coronation Church of St. Nicholas can be found there. Nin has a rich cultural history and remarkably beautiful surroundings.

The town of Benkovac has a rich cultural and historical heritage, and is situated beneath a medieval fort. The Nature park Vransko jezero, which is also the largest lake in Croatia, is located nearby.

As there are many beautiful islands near Zadar, we'll only focus on a few of them.

Dugi otok is the largest island among the North Dalmatian islands. It is an island of great diversity and contrast. The part of the island located in the Nature Park Telaščica is mostly steep and dominated by beautiful cliffs, while on the southeast side one can find quiet coves and the sandy beach Sakarun.

Don’t miss the island of Ugljan and its small towns Preko, Ugljan, Kali and Kukljica. The island has always been tied to the sea, sailing and fishing, and has a 2000 year old tradition of olive growing and olive oil production.

The island of Pašman abounds with medicinal and aromatic herbs, vineyards, fields, olive groves and numerous sand and pebble beaches. A great place to explore, both on foot or by bike. The Island of Pašman is connected to the island of Ugljan by bridge.

The moon-like island of Pag is one of the most indented islands in Croatia. The island is world famous for its salt, sheep milk cheese, lamb meat and lace. Zrće beach, one of the most popular summer festival and party destinations, is also located on the island of Pag.

National parks are every country’s most valuable treasure. Nearby Zadar you can find five of them.

Plitvice Lakes is Croatia’s most beautiful and most popular national park. Due to its beauty and level of preservation, it was one of the first sites to be listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Its unique system of sixteen lakes interlinked by numerous waterfalls is truly stunning. A perfect place to experience untouched natural beauty.

Krka Waterfalls is a series of seven waterfalls that run through the canyon of river Krka. Its prize possession is the tiny island of Visovac with its charming Franciscan monastery. A little known fact is that the oldest European hydroelectric power plant was built on the river Krka. Jaruga is the second oldest hydroelectric power plant in the world, built just three days after the one in Niagara Falls.

The Velebit massif is home to two national parks. Surrounded by a dense forest of black pine and beech, NP Paklenica is located on the southern side of Velebit, the largest mountain massif in Croatia. With its tall and challenging gorges, Paklenica is a rock climbers’ Mecca.

On the other hand, national park North Velebit is filled with numerous hiking trails and offers breath-taking views of the sea and the islands. The famous Premužić Trail leads through to the Rožanski kukovi and Hajdučki kukovi reserves, both of which are under a strict preservation regime.

The national park Kornati consists of 89 separate islands, islets and cliffs. Despite this large number of islands, the continental part of the park forms only 1/4 of the total area, while everything else belongs to the marine ecosystem. Crystal clear waters and a diverse coastline make Kornati a very popular sailing destination.