Sightseeing & activities in Zadar and the surrounding areas
Things to see
Only 15 minutes drive from the villa there is Zadar, a vibrant and historic old town of Roman ruins, medieval churches, great cafes, quality museums and the famous Sea Organs. Numerous offshore islands are a just a short ferry trip away from Zadar, or you may want to opt for a whole day excursion to the beautiful Kornati Archipelago National Park.
Two other stunning Croatian national parks, Krka Waterfalls and Paklenica Gorge, can both be reached by car in an hour. The famous Plitvice Lakes is just under two hours’ drive away. Historic towns of Šibenik and Trogir are both within easy reach and suitable for day trips.
If visiting Croatia with children consider a day trip to Kuterevo bear sanctuary, which looks after bears that have been separated from their mothers and are unable to survive in the wild on their own. On your way to Kuterevo you may also want to visit the village of Smiljan, the birthplace of Nikola Tesla.
If you prefer just a short drive, or bus ride, from Kozino then visiting a small and romantic town of Nin is a must, with its magnificent views of the Velebit mountain, medicinal mud baths, ancient saltworks and its museum of salt, mile long sandy beaches (bring some shade if visiting in summer!) and the smallest cathedral in the world!
“Zadar has the most beautiful sunset in the world”
Alfred Hitchcock
Things to do
Villa Emila is located in a peaceful ‘away-from-it-all’ setting, with the most strenous activities on offer being snorkelling or sipping drinks in a nearby beach cafe. The neighbouring villages of Petrcane (5min drive or 30min on foot) and Zaton (10min drive to Zaton holiday resort) offer a large variety of water sports, from simple canoeing and paddle boarding to jet skiing and para sailing. Alternatively you may want to hire a bike and ride it on dedicated cycle lanes linking Kozino and Nin, spend a day hiking on nearby Velebit mountain, rock climbing in Paklenica Gorge, rafting on river Zrmanja, or you could take a ferry from Zadar to Dugi Otok island, suitable for hiking and cycling.
