Zadar is a small but mighty city. It can be explored in a day, but its undeniable charm will make you want to stay longer. Zadar is the perfect blend of old and new. The old town’s charm coupled with a coastline that boasts some impressive modern art installations make Zadar one of the most unique cities to discover in all of Croatia. Another fun fact about Zadar is that it is the oldest continually inhabited city in all of Croatia! Pretty impressive, right? One of the best things about Zadar is how accommodating it is for campervans, particularly for campers who prefer wild camping rather than paying for campsites.
To find out more about what to do and see in Zadar, make sure you check out the post below.
Below we discuss three wild camping spots in (and around) Zadar, that we have tried and tested. So whether you are looking to jump straight into the hustle and bustle of city life, or relax and unwind, we have something for you.
Wild camping in Zadar city centre
Finding a suitable spot to wild camp in a city is usually next to impossible. However, this is not the case in Zadar. This spot is located just outside the city walls of the old town. It is a gentle 10-minute walk from this wild camping spot into the heart of Zadar.
Furthermore, this spot is ideal if you are in Zadar in summer as it is a 2-minute walk from the impressive free outdoor swimming facility. This includes a sheltered swimming pool and a tower of diving platforms into the Adriatic Sea. So, if you are feeling brave, why not try jumping off the 10m diving platform?
This spot is great, however can be extremely busy during peak times, especially at the weekend as it is used by tourists and locals alike. There are plenty of spaces here, so you should find a spot to accommodate you. Most spaces are big enough for a 6m van, but there are also spaces and areas within the car park that could accommodate a larger rig.
By choosing to stay here, you are choosing convenience. Therefore you do sacrifice some things. This spot is not scenic by any stretch of the imagination. It purely serves a purpose. This wild camping spot in Zadar is reasonably flat. It even has a water point that can be found in the back left-hand corner of the car park. There is also an outdoor shower located within the carpark. However, when we visited in May 2022 it was not operational. This may change in the height of summer. There are also bins nearby.
Location
Ul. Marka Marulića 4, 23000, Zadar, Croatia
44.108601, 15.232200
Price
Free
toilets
No
Water
Yes
Bins
Yes
signal / 4G
Good 4G and signal.
Wild Camping spots on an Old Military Airbase in Zadar
This spot truly is one of a kind. Situated 12km from the centre of Zadar, it is the perfect place to stay if you want a peaceful night’s sleep. It is definitely the most unique place we have slept. This old military airbase has two key spots worth spending a night at – on the runway and on the beach.
Although we think this is one of the best places to stay in not only Zadar but the whole of Croatia, it is tricky to access. There is only one entry point and then you have to navigate your way through some dirt tracks in order to find the parking spot. We recommend picking the spot you like prior to arriving and then putting Google maps into satellite images mode and following the tracks from the aerial view.
Both these spots have enough space for at least 10 vehicles, maybe even 100 vehicles on the runway. Although there is room for large vehicles, it is not the most accessible wild camping spot. So, we don’t necessarily recommend anything larger that a van (6m) – unless your vehicle has 4×4 capabilities. We also don’t recommend any vehicle visit this spot if it has been raining, due to the rugged nature of the terrain.
Although this wild camping spot near Zadar is tricky to find, once you get there it really is one of the most memorable places to park for the night!
Location
Zračna luka Zadar-Zaton, 23232, Zaton, Croatia
Runway: 44.21297, 15.16463
Beach: 44.211537, 15.159384
Price
Free
toilets
No
Water
No
Bins
No
signal / 4G
Good 4G and signal.
Runway
Unfortunately, this spot is transforming into a wasteland for debris from nearby construction sites. It isn’t the picture-perfect runway you may imagine. There are piles of dirt and debris on the tarmac, and a portion of the runway isn’t accessible due to it being blocked with debris. Nevertheless, it is still an unforgettable parking spot to spend the night.
There are no facilities at this spot, so your vehicle must be fully self-contained. We also recommend stocking up your food supply as you may fall in love with this unique spot and want to stay for a while, like us! There are no bins here so please do not leave litter behind. This place is pretty special, and by trying our best to keep it clean, ensures many more travellers get to enjoy it too.
Beach Front
This spot is located within the old airfield compound. Located right on the beach, it truly is an idyllic and peaceful place to spend the night – and day (of course)! There is even a place you can park that is on a slight peninsula jutting out into the sea. Spend the night looking at uninterrupted panoramic views.
This spot is level, however, much like the last spot, lacks any sort of amenities. Unfortunately, we also noticed there was a fair bit of litter. This slightly detracted from this wild camping spot’s stunning natural beauty.
Whether you are looking to stay near the heart of the action in Zadar, or go to a more memorable wild camping spot, we have you covered. These spots have both been tried and tested by us.
Although both serve their purpose well, we cannot recommend the old runway highly enough. It really left a lasting effect on us, and hope to return there in the future… if it is still accessible!
If you have any questions regarding where to park overnight in Zadar… or Croatia in general don’t hesitate to comment down below.
Or why not check out all the great overnight parking places we have been to so far here?
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Hey! These are some awesome locations, is there on these locations also a possibility for a large group in tents (15 people)? Or is this a little too risky maybe?