Zadar sits at the edge of an archipelago with over 300 islands, which means the hardest part of your trip isn't finding a boat tour — it's picking one. Here's how to decide, based on time, budget and how much company you want.
Private or shared — the real question is space, not price
A 4 Hour Private Boat Tour or 8 Hour Private Boat Tour (both 10% off with the City Card) means the boat, the route and the swimming stops are yours to decide. Good for families, couples, or anyone who doesn't want to share a sundeck with strangers.
The 4 Hour and 8 Hour Shared Boat Tours (also 10% off) run on a fixed route with other travellers. They cost less per person and still hit the same swimming coves — the trade-off is a schedule you don't control.
Half-day or full-day?
- 4 hours — enough for two or three swimming stops close to Zadar, back in time for a normal dinner.
- 8 hours — reaches further islands and usually includes a lunch stop, but it's a full day commitment.
If you'd rather see a National Park
For something more structured than open-water swimming, the City Card also covers three excursion routes:
- Kornati National Park — €20 off, the wildest and least developed of the three, best for scenery over swimming.
- Telašćica Nature Park — €15 off, calmer bays and a saltwater lake, good for a relaxed day.
- NP Krka — €15 off, waterfalls and freshwater swimming rather than open sea.
Rule of thumb: short on time or budget → shared 4-hour tour. Want the day to yourself → private tour. Want scenery over swimming → Kornati or Telašćica. Want waterfalls instead of the sea → Krka.
Prefer to stay dry-ish?
If open water isn't your thing, the Cabrio Bus Tour and E-Limo Tuk Tuk (both 20% off) cover Zadar's coastline from land, at a fraction of the time commitment.
All tour and excursion discounts are listed with contact details on the City & Boat Tours page →