The landscape of Zadar County encompasses Velebit and its slopes, Bukovica and Ravni Kotari, as well as the coast and islands. There is also a wide range of things to discover: in Paklenica National Park, the focus is on climbing routes and marked trails; in Telašćica Nature Park, on cliffs and diving. Cities and buildings offer a historical perspective, while Pag adds well-known regional foods. You can tailor your mix of nature and cultural experiences to your interests, rather than reducing the region to a single landscape motif.

Marked trails and climbing routes in Paklenica

Paklenica National Park has around 600 well-equipped and marked climbing routes of varying difficulty and length. In addition, the network includes 150 to 200 kilometres of marked trails and paths, including routes to the highest peaks of Velebit. The two figures describe different things: an approximate number of climbing routes and the total length of marked trails and paths. When planning your outing, you can therefore first consider whether climbing or hiking is your priority. For a climbing route, difficulty and length are important features; for hikes, the marked trails and their extent offer a different kind of guidance.

The national park may update the number of routes. Before setting out on a specific trip, check the latest park information, as trail conditions and access details may change seasonally.

Cliffs and caves as nature experiences

The cliffs of Dugi Otok in Telašćica Nature Park rise up to 161 metres above sea level and extend down to a depth of 90 metres. The two measurements describe different aspects of the cliffs: their height above the sea and their depth. Diving is possible at several attractive spots near the cliffs; local conditions may vary. This brings together a striking coastal feature and an activity explicitly available nearby.

The Cerovac Caves Interpretation Centre in Gračac offers a different focus on nature. It has a visitor reception centre, paths leading to and into the caves, and modern interpretation and educational materials. While Telašćica is associated with cliffs and diving, the Cerovac Caves also feature paths and the communication of knowledge. The region therefore offers both landscape features and experiences that explore their interpretation.

Architectural history and cuisine

In Zadar, the Church of St. Donatus is considered an outstanding example of pre-Romanesque architecture. Pag offers a different perspective on historic architectural forms: its old town dates from the 15th century, its streets follow a planned layout, and the Church of the Assumption of Mary from the same period stands at its centre. The comparison draws attention, on the one hand, to a single significant church building and, on the other, to the interplay between the street layout and central church in an old town.

The dates can also be considered side by side. Pag’s old town dates from the 15th century; Kaštel Benković in Benkovac was built in the second half of that century. Pag is also known for its cheese of the same name and its lamb. The region’s discoveries thus range from architectural history and townscape to specific aspects of food culture. When planning your trip around your interests, you can consider these cultural and culinary themes alongside nature experiences.

Getting there and planning your trip

The Zadar region can be reached by land, sea and air, and has direct connections to larger Croatian cities. As routes and timetables may change, check the latest connections for your travel dates. If you are looking for a hotel, it helps to first decide what you want to focus on during your trip: marked trails, cliffs, caves, architectural history or regional cuisine all offer different starting points for planning.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Mali Iz, Ostrovica, Municipality of Sali, Municipality of Sveti Filip i Jakov, Municipality of Zadar, Municipality of Benkovac, Municipality of Obrovac, Municipality of Polača, Municipality of Bibinje, Municipality of Biograd na Moru, Municipality of Pakoštane, Municipality of Gračac, Municipality of Ražanac, Municipality of Jasenice, Municipality of Nin, Municipality of Novigrad, Municipality of Pirovac, Municipality of Poličnik, Municipality of Posedarje, Municipality of Privlaka, Municipality of Zemunik Donji, Municipality of Stankovci, Municipality of Starigrad, Municipality of Sukošan, Municipality of Škabrnja, Municipality of Lišane Ostrovičke

To the higher-level travel overview: Croatia.