Day Trips from Zadar for Food Lovers: Krka, Pag Cheese, Nin & Plitvice
The best day trips from Zadar for food lovers: Krka with a winery, Pag island cheese and lamb, Nin's salt pans, Ravni Kotari wine, Plitvice and Kornati, with what to eat on each.
The short version: Zadar sits in the middle of some of Croatia’s best food country. In an hour you can be at Krka waterfalls with a winery tasting, on the island of Pag for its famous sheep’s cheese and lamb, or in Nin, where salt is still harvested by hand. Plitvice Lakes is about two hours inland, and back in town, Zadar’s own cherry liqueur, Maraschino, is the drink to try. Here are the best, with what to eat on each.
Day trips from Zadar at a glance
| Day trip | Time | Eat and drink | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Krka waterfalls | About 1 hour | Skradin risotto, winery tastings with cheese | Krka food guide |
| Pag island | About 1 hour | Paški sir sheep’s cheese, Pag lamb, salt | Croatian cheeses |
| Nin | 20 minutes | Hand-harvested Nin salt | – |
| Ravni Kotari wine country | 30 to 45 minutes | Local reds and whites, olive oil | – |
| Plitvice Lakes | About 2 hours | Lika lamb, trout, strudel | Plitvice food guide |
| Kornati islands | Boat day | Fish lunch on board | – |
Pag, Nin and the salt
The island of Pag, joined to the mainland by a bridge, is home to Paški sir, Croatia’s most famous cheese, made from the milk of sheep grazing on salt-sprayed herbs, and to tender Pag lamb (read Croatian cheeses). Its moon-like landscape is worth the trip alone. Closer to Zadar, the small town of Nin still harvests sea salt by hand in its salt pans, and its tiny 9th-century Church of the Holy Cross is a gem.
Krka, Plitvice and back in Zadar
From Zadar, Krka is just an hour away, and some tours end with a wine and cheese tasting (Krka food guide); Plitvice is a longer day (Plitvice food guide). Back in town, start at the market, where Pag cheese and pršut are sold, and try Maraschino, the cherry liqueur made in Zadar for centuries. For more Dalmatian dishes, see Croatian dishes explained.
Our picks: Zadar: Krka Waterfalls, Food and Wine Tasting, Explore Pag Island and the Life on Mars Trail (with an optional cheese factory tasting), and in town the Zadar Food and Culture Tour.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best food day trip from Zadar?
Pag island for its sheep’s cheese and lamb, or Krka waterfalls with a winery tasting.
How far is Krka from Zadar?
About an hour by car; many day tours run from Zadar with a boat ride to the falls.
What drink is Zadar known for?
Maraschino, a liqueur made from Marasca cherries, produced in Zadar for centuries.
Book a day trip from Zadar
Compare Zadar food tours and cooking classes, or see all Croatia food and wine experiences.
