Cycling routes in Zadar - enjoy the ride through natural beauties of Dalmatia

Cycling is one of the most beautiful ways to discover Dalmatia. Istria is maybe more famous for cycling routes, but Dalmatia definitely has something to offer, especially considering a rising number of cycling routes in the last years. While spending your holiday in one of our villas in Dalmatia, find the ideal bike route for you and discover the beauties that only a bike ride can offer. To make it easier, this article will focus on the region of Zadar.

Except the city of Zadar only, the Zadar area covers a large surrounding zone that includes different geographical features, mountains, islands, plain fields and karst. There are more than 20 main cycling road routes here, and even more shorter trekking variations around main routes, suitable for families. Which one to choose depends on your preferences and the location of your holiday villa. Of course, options are endless and all kinds of cyclists will find something for themselves, from demanding ones to easier routes for recreational cyclists and families. A moblile application for bike routes in the Zadar area is also a useful and recommendable tool. Here are a few route suggestions:

Undemanding routes for culture lovers

The city of Zadar is well connected with Nin, a small ancient town, famous as the former capital of Croatian rulers, having the smallest cathedral in the world and the saltworks that are very well known in Croatia. The cycling route is leading from Zadar to Nin and is not that demanding. You can also continue further to Vrsi and get back to Zadar with a different route, trough fields in the Zadar hinterland.
If this, approx. 45 km long path, is not enough for you, you can extend it by visiting the island of Vir, just keep in mind that the road to Vir is open to traffic. Once you are there, you can enjoy the sights of beaches and pine trees for some additional approx. 15 kilometres.

Posedarje area- two deep bays, one river, bridges, and rural area combined

Starting in Maslenica, this route is leading you along the Novigrad and Karin bay, also known as the Novigrad Sea and the Karin Sea, and partiallyalong the beautiful Zrmanja river. You will pass the Maslenica bridge with amazing sights from it. It is a circular route and will lead you through the towns Obrovac, Novigrad, and Posedarje. Such a circle is about 60 km long, but you can adjust the length of the route to your preferences. Another route is leading from Starigrad, a coastal town on the foot of the Velebit mountain and is leading to Gracac in the hinterland. This route is passing near Maslenica and also near Obrovac. The area, partially including the coast of the Karin bay, and heading to the south towards Benkovac is also suitable for cyclists and is a great and diverse path.



The rural side of Zadar + coastal tourist destination

A bit more to the south from Zadar, a circular bike route, about 50 km long, takes you trough the rural hinterland. It connects the coastal tourist town Biograd na moru on the southernmost spot of the route, with Skabrnja on the northern part. You will pass fields, vineyards and some excellent places to stop by and have a traditional meal.
Vrana Lake, a beautiful natural and ornithological reserve, offers a great relaxed bike ride, very suitable for families. The route will take you up to Kamenjak as well, probably the best panoramic spot of this area.

Island bike ferry

Pag, Pasman, Ugljan, and Dugi Otok offer magnificent routes with little traffic, and various levels of routes for all kinds of cyclists. If you want to add an island to your cycling route, just hop on a ferry in Zadar and reach the island of Ugljan. Over Ugljan, you can reach the island of Pasman and come back to the mainland with the ferry froi Tkon (on Pasman) for example.

You can do the same with the island of Pag- reaching Pag from the eastern side over the Pag bridge, pedalling towards the northern part of the island and getting back by ferry in the direction of Karlobag. If you find yourself on Pag, make sure to try out the Novalja-Lun trail- a great way to discover Pag from a different perspective. Generally, bike routes on Pag offer great panoramic views.
Dugi Otok is an island in the Zadar archipelago with more than 70 km of bike routes, passing stunning beaches, the highest lighthouse in the region and even the Natural reserve Telascica.

For real bike enthusiasts and challengers, a highly recommendable, demanding route would be one combining the best of the sea and mountains. The route is connecting Karlobag and Gracac with its coastal part, moving on towards the hilly area of Gospic and ending back in Karlobag, rounding up the National Park Paklenica.

Choose your perfectly suitable villa in Zadar and challenge yourself with a bike route of your choice. The options are really diverse and you will surely not regret it!


Mateja Barisic

03.05.2019