Our drivers are renowned for their impressive knowledge of the area they serve, so when you settle into the backseat for your shuttle transfer from Zadar you might be lucky enough to get the lowdown about the amazing places you can visit on the route from Zadar Airport to Dubrovnik. We’ve put together a list of some of the places you might want to ask your driver about.
1. Biograd na Moru
Biograd na Moru was the former capital of the medieval kingdom of Croatia. While it was ousted from its position as the nation’s premier city, it developed into a thriving tourist resort that emerged in the 1920s.
Cultural Highlights
Despite its pedigree as a former royal city, Biograd na Moru’s cultural monuments are more interesting than awe-inspiring. The city is dotted with curiosities like a baroque altarpiece in a tiny church dedicated to San Rocco (the patron saint who protects against the plague) and the Ćokovac Monastery.
Outdoor Highlights
In the south-east corner of the city you’ll find a series of beaches encircled by lush pine forests. There are promenades, water sports, sun beds, cafes and restaurants, water slides and a diving centre.
Recommended Visit Time: Half Day Trip to the city or Full Day Trip to the beach.
2. Šibenik
If you’re looking for somewhere that’s slightly off the beaten track on the route from Zadar Airport to Dubrovnik, then Šibenik will tick your boxes. With its small winding streets, charming squares, beautifully preserved historic architecture and boutique shops, it’s really a delightful city to explore.
Cultural Highlights
The top of the list in Šibenik has to be the Cathedral of St James, which has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It took 105 years to build this impressive church: construction started in the 15th century. It really is the crowning glory of Renaissance Croatian architecture and is worth a detour in and of itself.
Sensory Highlights
Šibenik has 24 churches and 6 monasteries, all with their own church bells. These toll every half an hour, providing a sensational soundtrack to your visit.
Recommended Visit Time: It’s worth a Full Day Trip to this city to give yourself time to cover the monuments and experience the city vibe.
3. Trogir
From Zadar Airport to Dubrovnik there are a handful of islands dotted along the coast and if you plan to visit just one of these then it should be Trogir. The tiny island is linked to the mainland by a single bridge. Its medieval walls contain preserved monuments from its glory days in the 13th and 15th centuries.
You can while away a morning or afternoon wandering the maze of elegant streets lined with bars and cafes. There’s a lovely seaside promenade where you can watch the expensive yachts.
Cultural Highlights
The entire pedestrianised town centre is like an outdoor museum. There are myriad carved facades, churches, palaces, gates and medieval streets to explore. The Cathedral of St Lovro is a design masterpiece boasting a phenomenal portal carved by the famous sculptor Master Radovan.
Recommended Visit Time: Trogir is a great Full Day Trip.
4. Split
Enviably positioned between mountains and sea on the way from Zadar Airport to Dubrovnik, Split – Croatia’s second largest city – is hard to miss.
Cultural Highlights
There are too many to list in one article, but the city’s most famous historical monument is Diocletian’s Palace which thrives today as the structure hosting Split’s quirky shops, restaurants, bars and cafes. There are museums and galleries aplenty, but if you want to simply soak in the atmosphere rather than take a tour, then the cobblestone streets and surviving historic architecture will more than serve to give you a taste of the city’s cultural flavour.
Nightlife Highlights
Split is considered to be a mecca for great nightlife. Both the Old Town and the Bacvice complex (2km to the east of the town) offer clubs that range in experience, from mellow and arty to pulsating and alcoholic.
Recommended Visit Time: To do justice to Split you should probably try to spend a Few Days in the city itself.
5. Makarska
It’s not just museums and churches on the route from Zadar Airport to Dubrovnik. The coast that stretches between the two points hosts some delightful beaches, and one of the most unspoiled is the resort at Makarska in the Makarska Riviera. Set against fragrant pinewoods, the sandy beach here is nearly 2km in length.
Outdoor Highlights
The geographical position of Makarska, nestled against the protective heights of the Biokovo Mountain, guarantees mild winters and warm, sunny summers. This makes it a perfect destination for water sports or just relaxing on the beach.
Recommended Visit
Time: A perfect base for a Few Days of beach time.
6. Neum
Neum is a little place with sizeable historical and political importance. It is the second shortest coast in the world and belongs to Bosnia and Herzegovina, not to Croatia. It’s Bosnia’s only seaside resort and you might need your passport to visit or pass through it on the way to Dubrovnik.
Recommended Visit Time: With lots of sunshine it makes a great base for a beach holiday, but it’s also a quirky destination for a Few Hours on the way to or from somewhere else.
From Zadar Airport to Dubrovnik
There are many cultural attractions and beaches to visit along this section of the Adriatic coast, so if you’re going to be holidaying in the area we strongly recommend talking to your airport shuttle driver for tips on the best day trips and excursions to enjoy.
About Shuttle Direct:
A Shuttle Direct airport transfer is the most cost and time efficient option for getting from the point of arrival to your final destination. We have knowledgeable and local drivers serving the majority of European and North African airports.
If you need a transfer from Zadar Airport to your hotel then make sure you pre-book one of our shuttle services to meet you on arrival and take you to your hotel.
NB. This route guide has been compiled as an aid to visiting the region. Your airport transfer service from Zadar Airport does not include stops to these destinations.
