The closest beach to Zadar's old town is Kolovare – about 1 km from the peninsula, pebbles and concrete slabs, Blue Flag since 2014. With small children head to Borik (sandy entry, 4 km from the centre); for quiet and easier parking go to Diklo or Uskok. All city beaches are public and free; only part of Borik sits inside a hotel concession.
| Beach | Surface | From the centre | Best for | Parking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kolovare | pebbles + concrete slabs | 1 km, 15 min walk | everyone, snorkelling by the rocks | Kolovare street, paid zone |
| Karma / Punta Bajlo | rocks, concrete | 1.5–3 km | young crowd, swimmers, evening walk | Arbanasi side streets |
| Borik | sand + fine gravel | 4 km | toddlers, families | paid car park by the hotels |
| Puntamika | pebbles, shallow | 4 km | kids, sunset | few spaces by the lighthouse |
| Uskok | pebbles | 5 km | families, wheelchair users | Diklo side streets |
| Diklo | pebbles + concrete | 5–6 km | quiet, longer stays | streets, mostly free |
Bili brig is a residential district between Borik and Diklo with no beach of its own – if you stay there, the sea is a 10–15 minute walk at Uskok or Diklo. Most of these are municipal bathing spots with free entry, showers and changing cabins; sunbeds are rented only at Kolovare, Borik and Puntamika.
Kolovare is where locals swim. It runs for over a kilometre along the street of the same name just south of the old town; you enter the water from pebbles or from the concrete slabs the city rebuilt in 2020–2021 together with the sea wall and lighting. It was the first Zadar beach to fly the Blue Flag, awarded in 2014. There are bars, a beach volleyball court, a diving platform, pedal boat and kayak rental and pine shade at the top. Snorkelling is better on the rocky stretch towards Karma. Parking is on Kolovare street in the paid zone (expect €1–1.50 per hour in season, 2026) – usually full after 9 am, so walking from the centre along the walls is simpler. Zones and prices are in Parkovanie Zadar.
Karma next door is rocky with clubs and a younger crowd; Punta Bajlo in Arbanasi is more a promenade with shallow concrete steps than a beach – good for an evening stroll and a swim without crowds.
Borik is the only beach in Zadar with a sandy entry into the sea. Part of it belongs to the hotel complex concession (Falkensteiner), the rest is public; an entrance fee used to be charged and the concession has since moved towards free access, but check the current arrangement before you go. The water stays shallow for tens of metres, which is why families with toddlers pick it first. There are showers, toilets, restaurants, sunbeds and a lifeguard in season; dogs are not allowed. Park in the paid car park by the hotels or in nearby streets, or take city bus 5 or 8 from the centre (about 15 minutes).
Puntamika by the lighthouse a few hundred metres on is pebbly with shallow, calm water, showers and cabins; locals come here in the evening to watch the sun set behind Ugljan. Parking by the lighthouse is scarce – better to cycle along the coastal road.
Uskok is a pebble cove at the start of Diklo with sunbeds, showers and an adapted entry for wheelchair users – a calmer alternative to Borik for families. Diklo continues north: pebble stretches alternate with concrete slabs, restaurants line the road and most apartments are within 200 m of the water. Street parking is mostly free but tight in July.
The mistakes we see most often: (1) driving to Kolovare at 10 am – you circle for half an hour; (2) taking children onto concrete slabs and rocky patches without water shoes (sea urchins); (3) looking for an official dog beach in town – Zadar currently has none (the city closed two zones between 2019 and 2023); dog owners use the tip of Punta Bajlo, where dogs are tolerated, or go outside the city – see Croatia with a Dog: Pet Passport, Dog Friendly Beaches, Ferries.
If you want to stay by a particular beach, filter apartments in Zadar on Adrysa by district – Diklo and Borik are the ones with the sea below the window. For quieter beaches outside town read Beaches in Sukošan: Dječji raj, Makarska, Zlatna luka and nearby, or rent a boat and hop over to Ugljan; the full city overview is in Zadar Travel Guide: Old Town, Beaches, Ferries, Day Trips (2027).