The northern part of the Dalmatian coast with its three millennium old and largest urban centre in the city of Zadar, is also called the "door to the national parks" because its unique geographical position literally opens to five national parks that can all be reached from it on a one-day trip. Paklenica, the Krka Falls, the Plitvica Lakes, North Velebit and the Kornati islands each for itself offer beauties that will leave you breathless. The canyons of the Grand and Small Paklenica, with its series of waterfalls and cliffs, ideal for free climbing, are a challenge to all nature lovers and hikers. Hidden among the flora and fauna of this area are numerous indigenous species like the griffon vulture for which this is one of two habitats in Croatia, but also a series of caves and fascinating Karst phenomenon, just as it is across most of this chain of mountain peaks, the North Velebit National Park, a mountain range that UNESCO has declared a World Biosphere Reserve.

Culture and history have, just like nature, been kind to the Zadar tourist region that has been populated now for three millennia. In the close vicinity of Zadar is the city of Nin, Croatia's oldest royal seat and the place in which the Croatian state was born. Zadar became the capital of Dalmatia as far back as the 7th century and held on to the title until 1918. The stone paved streets of the Peninsula, the centre of the city's ancient core, are graced by the 9th century stone church of St. Donat, the largest researched Roman forum on this side of the Adriatic, the church of St. Stošija (St. Anastasia) from the 13th century and the 12th century church of St. Krševan. The spirit and rhythm of this thousand year old city are best felt in walking the Kalelarga, a wide street that every visitor to this city must see. The city is now living its second youth as a place with the largest investments into municipal infrastructure and construction.

With its gentle coastline and the four rows of islands that protect the shore from strong winds, the Zadar region has an unusually rich and fertile hinterland, the Ravni kotari, that has always "fed" the population with the produce of its fields, while the depths of the sea have been a source of tasty fish, shellfish and molluscs.

Near the city of Nin there are the Medicinal Nin Muds (peloid mud) that are used to treat rheumatism and spinal deformation, several epidermal ailments and female infertility.

Zadar as the regional centre is connected by the new highway (Zagreb-Zadar, 2 hours drive) to all of Croatia and beyond, and there is an international airport in nearby Zemunik that daily connects Zadar to Zagreb and several European cities, and in the summer months with charter flights.