Roman Forum of Zadar

Tickets and tours: which to book

There is no ticket for the forum and nothing sold online for it alone. The excavated area forms part of the main public square of the old town, with low walls and benches around it, and you can walk across it day or night. Information panels explain the layout in several languages.

The paid sights around it are separate. The church of St Donatus charges a small entry fee in the visiting season and is sometimes used for concerts. The Archaeological Museum on the same square, one of the oldest in Croatia, displays inscriptions, statues and finds from the forum and from Roman Iader. The cathedral bell tower nearby has a separate small charge and gives the best view down on the whole forum.

Most visitors see the forum on a walking tour of Zadar's old town, which also covers the Sea Organ, the Greeting to the Sun, the Land Gate and the cathedral. Such walks with a local guide last about one and a half to two hours and are a good introduction for a first afternoon. If you prefer to explore alone, cross the forum, visit the museum for the context and then climb the bell tower.

A short history

Zadar was the Roman town of Iader, an important centre of Roman Dalmatia that became a colony under Augustus. The forum was laid out from the 1st century BC and developed into the 3rd century AD, with a temple, colonnades and public buildings. After the end of Roman rule the town shrank, and in the early Middle Ages the church of St Donatus was built over the paving using its stones. The forum lay hidden under houses for centuries. Allied bombing in the Second World War destroyed much of the old town, and the ruins were uncovered and excavated after the war, most extensively in the 1960s.

Getting there

Zadar airport lies about 10 km east of the city; shuttle buses meet most flights and reach the bus station and the old town in about 20 minutes, and taxis take about 15. From the main bus station, local buses run to the edge of the peninsula, or you can walk to the forum in about 20 minutes, entering through the Land Gate. Ferries from the islands dock on the quay just outside the old town walls, a 5-minute walk away. The old town is closed to cars; drivers should use the paid car parks along the harbour or near the Land Gate. A small rowing-boat ferry crosses the harbour from the mainland side.

Rules and what to bring

You can walk across the forum freely, but do not climb on the column bases or the Pillar of Shame. Drones over the old town need permission. In summer, the stone square reflects heat strongly, so bring water and a hat. Cafes around the square have toilets for customers. In the evening, the area is busy with people heading to the sea front, but it is generally safe; keep the usual watch on bags.

When to go

As an open square, the forum can be seen at any time, which makes timing a matter of comfort and light. Early in the morning, before cruise passengers and day groups arrive, the square is almost empty and the stone is cool. From late morning to mid-afternoon in July and August, walking tours and crowds pass through constantly.

Late afternoon is pleasant, and the sunset over the sea, a few minutes' walk away, is the event of the evening in Zadar. After dark, the forum and St Donatus are floodlit. May, June and September have warm weather without the peak crowds; July and August are hot and busy, with music evenings in St Donatus during the summer. Winter is quiet and mild, but some museums close earlier. Allow 20 to 30 minutes for the forum, and another hour each for the museum and the church.