NORTHERN DALMATIA © Lonelyplanetpublications Opportunities That Opportunities Museums Andsomegreat Gastronomy,Andfinallysheddingitspostwarmelancholy
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© Lonely Planet Publications 184 Northern Dalmatia NORTHERN DALMATIA The Zadar and Šibenik regions make up northern Dalmatia, an area thatʼs ideal for the dis- cerning traveller, and those wanting to discover a part of the coast thatʼs less of a victim to hordes of seasonal tourists. This is also great off-the-beaten-track territory, with the islands of Pag and Dugi Otok remaining tranquil even in the busiest of summer seasons. Check out the beauty of Krka National Park where the dry karstic interior is divided by the Krka River, connecting the coastal bay with the splendid Krka waterfalls, and feel like a true explorer on the remote and unvisited Kornati Islands – aside from excellent swimming, both destina- tions have fantastic hiking opportunities. Croatiaʼs two major national parks are here, too. Paklenica National Park is the best in the country for hiking and rock climbing, while the waterfalls and lakes of Plitvice Lakes National Park are a watery, verdant heaven. On the urban side there’s the town of Zadar, a fascinating coastal city filled with museums, Roman ruins, good dining and excellent nightlife. Its relative lack of tourism means that this is a coastal town that still lives and breathes for its inhabitants. Nearby, Šibenik is up and coming with a vengeance, flaunting an extraordinary Renaissance centre, interesting new museums and some great gastronomy, and finally shedding its postwar melancholy. Northern Dalmatia is a great mix of nature, beaches, good cities and tonnes of exploring opportunities thatʼll satiate the most ravenous of hungers for new parts of Croatia. HIGHLIGHTS Plitvice Lakes Discovering Zadar ( opposite ), one of the National Park coast’s loveliest and most underrated towns Partying at the Garden ( p194 ), a fantastic venue if ever there was one Listening to Zadar’s haunting Sea Organ ( p189 ) Diving from Sali ( p202 ), on Dugi Otok Taking a wet walk through Plitvice Lakes Zadar National Park ( p195 ) or swimming in a lake Krka in Krka National Park ( p212 ) Sali National Park Visiting the village and beaches of Primošten (see boxed text, p213 ) Primošten TELEPHONE CODE: 022, 023 lonelyplanet.com ZADAR REGION •• Zadar 185 NORTHERN DALMATIA ZADAR ZADAR REGION %023 / pop 69,200 It’s hard to solve the mystery of why Zadar The Zadar region is a great place to get to (ancient Zara), the main city of northern know a different side of Croatia. There’s the Dalmatia, is an underrated tourist destination. beautiful town itself, the amazing national Is it because it has a compact, marble, traffic- parks of Plitvice and Paklenica, and the gor- free old town that follows the old Roman street geous island of Ugljan. plan and contains Roman ruins and medieval 0 30 km NORTHERN DALMATIA 0 20 miles To Rijeka To Zagreb To Zagreb (68km) A1 (105km) Korana Krk Krk Senj E71 Baška Brinje M Una Plavnik 50 a Mala Kapela To Rijeka Prvi™ Bijeli l a Sveti (1492m) P Grgur Jezerce K Otoøac K l Bosnia j Krupa Lopar E65 a v r p Plitvice Lakes Biha™ Rab D8 V š a e National Park Rab ὈὈl e a v r Korenica B O S N I A & Dolin A1 i H E R C E G O V I N A n Jablanac c Mišnjak 50 E a e Kruš™iøko Lake Cres r Šatorina Peruši™ Prizna (1623m) E71 i Liøki Osik Ozeblin Oruda ™ Æigljen L (1657m) Novalja Gospi™ Karlobag Una Straško Udbina D Lapac Lošinj Mandre 25 Šimuni E Ilovik Škrda To Mali Lošinj; Siljevaøa (1451m) Pula (Istria) Maun Pag Vaganski vrh B Silba Pag E65 (1757m) Olib D8 E71 Srb Virsko Premuda Paklenica I Sea Vir National Park Graøac Ist Ὀ Škarda A1 P Starigrad- Privlaka T o Molat Paklenica š V Crnopac Maslenica t 54 27 (1402m) a Molat Novogradsko E65 Sea k Sestrunj Diklo Obrovac Zrm Orlovac Strmica a D8 Novigrad O nja (1201m) ZADAR r Veli Rat BoÅava l E71 Ugljan j Ervenik Zemunik a 33 Ugljan Donji k Brbinj Bibinje To Ancona Preko Ὀ Benkovac (Italy) IÅ Kali Sukošan Knin E65 E71 Dugi Ædrelac Krka Otok D8 Kistanje Vrbnik Zaglav Pašman Biograd Krka A1 Monastery 33 Sali Pakoštane Telaš™ica Tkon Roški Slap Vransko Bay Krka Lake National Prolaz Æut Krka Passage Park Drniš Murter ὈὈ 33 Levrnaka Tisno Skradin Kornat Murtesko Zaton Skradinski Buk Sea Murter Vodice Lozovac Piškera Bilice Lavsa Tribunj Prvi™ Šibenik Kornati Kaprije Tijat Mandalina Kakan Zmajan Zabla™e National Zlarin Park Primorski A D R I A T I C Æirje Dolac Passage Æirje Samogradska S E A ὈὈTo Split Primošten (18km) E65 Seget Kaštela D8 Trogir To Split.