NEW! Zadar Food Tasting & Old Town Guided Walking Tour by Šušur

Zadar tastes better when you walk at night. This 2-hour Old Town stroll strings together Roman landmarks and medieval streets with real local food and drink, guided in English. I love the small-group size (max 14), because you actually get time to ask questions and compare bites without feeling rushed.

The stop-by-stop flow is built for an easy first evening in Zadar. You start at Novi caffe near the city gate area, then work your way through places like Kalelarga, the Forum, and Varoš, with tastings along the way. In past tours, guides including Ivana, Dina, Tamara, and Ante have been praised for mixing history with a friendly vibe.

One important consideration: this is not designed for everyone. It is not recommended for vegetarians, vegans, or for people with lactose intolerance, gluten intolerance, or food allergies, because the tastings include fish and cured meats.

Key highlights from this Zadar food and walking tour

• Max 14 people, so the tasting feels personal, not chaotic
• A true Old Town route, starting near the city gate and taking you past Kalelarga and the Forum
• Market stop plus wine garden setting, served next to the remains of an old church
• Women-brewed craft beer in Varoš, paired with classic local street food
• A final toast at Novi caffe with local liquors to end the night
• English guide with local stories, often remembered for humor and easy explanations

Why this 2-hour evening walk works in Zadar

Zadar can be a lot. You’ve got Roman traces, medieval squares, and waterfront life all layered on top of each other. This tour keeps it manageable by using a simple format: short walks, focused stops, and tastings that match what you’re looking at.

It is also timed right. A 6:00 pm start gives you that sweet spot where streets feel lively but you are not sprinting in full daylight. The pace is relaxed enough that you can enjoy the architecture, but structured enough that you do not lose the thread.

And because it is a guided route, you get context fast. You are not just looking at stones and street names. You learn why places matter, then you taste the local flavors that show up in Zadar life day to day.

Price and what is actually included in the tastings

At $60.47 per person, the value comes from two things: the guided walking time and the drinks and food that are built into the experience. The tour is about two hours long, and tastings are paired with specific stops, so you are not paying for a generic walk with snacks on the side.

Here is what you can expect to taste across the route:

• A local fish dish paired with regional white wine
• Prosciutto and cheese paired with red wine
• Ćevapi plus locally brewed craft beer made by women
• A toast at the end with a selection of local liquors

Some stops are marked as including admission tickets, and others are free. Either way, the tastings are the real anchor of the price. You are paying to learn the city while eating and drinking in places that feel tied to the route.

Starting at Novi caffe, where the city gate and Roman column set the tone

The meeting point is Novi caffe, Ul. Ilije Smiljanića, 23000 Zadar, and you finish back at the same spot. This matters more than it sounds. You can center your evening around one easy location, and you do not spend your last hour figuring out transport back.

From the first minutes, the tour is designed to get you oriented. The opening stop is Trg Petra Zoranića, positioned naturally by the ancient city gate and a Roman column that signals the start of the main street. That is a smart start because Zadar’s Old Town is compact, but layers of history can feel confusing unless you get a guide’s map in your head.

You get a short, clean preface to what you will see next. It also helps that the group size is kept small, so you can hear the guide and still move with the flow.

Trg Petra Zoranića to Church of St. Simon: fish, white wine, and quick context

After that first orientation, you head to the Church of St. Simon, a stop connected to one of the country’s important and revered religious treasures. Even if churches are not your usual thing, this is a useful hinge point in the walk. You learn how the Old Town’s identity is shaped by more than just sightseeing.

Then the tour makes the next move you will appreciate: right after the church story, you taste a local fish dish paired with regional white wine. This pairing fits Zadar. Seafood is not a random token here, it is the kind of food that shows up in daily life and menu choices in coastal Croatia.

If you like explanations that connect places to food, this section hits well. If you are sensitive to fish, though, plan carefully because this tour is built around meat and seafood tastings.

Zadar Market and the wine garden in an old church ruin

The Zadar Market stop is one of the most practical parts of the route because it shows you what locals buy, not just what tourists order. You see daily-caught fish and locally grown vegetables, which gives you a baseline for how Zadar eats beyond the Old Town bars.

Right next to the market is something visually memorable too: the remains of an old church that has been transformed into a wine garden. One reviewer favorite location was this kind of offbeat setting, because it feels cool and atmospheric, not staged.

Food here is again paired to place. You taste prosciutto and cheese along with a rich red wine. It is a classic combination and a good contrast to the earlier white-wine fish tasting, so your palate gets variety without the tour becoming scattered.

Kalelarga and the Forum: Roman Zadar gets real fast

After the market, the route moves along Kalelarga, the main street of the Old Town, known for being walked since Roman times. This is one of those street sequences where the guide’s job is not just pointing. It is connecting the dots between the Roman urban footprint and the medieval street life that came later.

Then you reach The Forum, described as Zadar’s most important cultural site and the largest Roman forum on the eastern Adriatic. This is a short stop, about 10 minutes, but it is packed with stories about ancient urban life and Zadar’s layered history.

What I like about keeping the Forum stop focused is that you do not get stuck reading every stone. You get the big idea, then you keep moving. In a 2-hour tour, that structure is the difference between feeling informed and feeling like you’re on a lecture tour.

Varoška ulica cevapi and craft beer by women

Next comes Varoška ulica, in the Varoš neighborhood. The streets are narrow, and that matters because it forces you into the real rhythm of Old Town walking. This neighborhood was established in the 16th century by hardworking families, and the feel today reflects that working-city character.

The tasting here leans street-food friendly: ćevapi plus locally brewed craft beer made by women. That last detail is a nice touch because it is not just about drinking. It highlights who is shaping modern food culture in Zadar, not only what’s old.

This stop is also a nice pacing reset. After Roman ruins and church architecture, you get something hearty and casual. If you like simple comfort food paired with a beer you can actually talk about, this is a satisfying segment.

Novi caffe finale toast of local liquors

You end where you started: Novi caffe. The final stop is a traditional bar where you toast to the memories with a selection of local liquors. This is the kind of finish that makes the whole evening feel like a single story, not just a chain of unrelated snacks.

If you are wondering what to do after, this is also a good moment to ask the guide for quick next steps. Some guides you may encounter, like Dina in particular, have been known for sticking around briefly after the official end to share where to eat next and even trade a few Croatian words.

Just remember: tastings are tastings. The liquor part can be fun, but it is not the same as a full meal. Come with a plan for dinner after, or at least be ready to graze.

Food pairing reality check: sampler portions and a smart dinner plan

This experience is built as a sampler, not a full sit-down meal. Across the route you get fish, wine, prosciutto and cheese with red wine, ćevapi and craft beer, and then liquor to close. That is a lot of variety, but portions are still meant to keep you walking.

So here is the practical play:

• Treat the tour as your food highlights.
• Plan a light dinner after, or save space for a proper main meal once you’re done.
• If you have dietary limits, know the tour is not recommended for vegetarians, vegans, lactose intolerance, gluten intolerance, or food allergies. If any of that applies, you will likely be disappointed.

One small tip that will help on your end: take a photo of the dishes or ask the guide to repeat the list if you want names for ordering later. A written list would be useful for some people, and you can get that same outcome by snapping notes on your phone.

Who this tour suits, and who should skip it

This tour is a strong fit if you:

• Want an Old Town overview that does not require planning every turn
• Like learning history in short, story-driven chunks
• Enjoy wine, beer, and the classic Croatian comfort foods that show up in Zadar
• Prefer small groups (max 14) where you can actually talk to your guide

It can also work well solo, because the small-group format makes it easy to connect while walking and tasting. It is also great for couples who want a shared experience without committing to a long dinner.

Skip it if you need vegetarian or vegan options, or if your diet restrictions are tied to lactose, gluten, or other food allergies. Since fish and cured meats show up in the tastings, this is not a flexible buffet-style tour.

Tips for an easy, enjoyable 6 pm start

A few practical things will make your evening smoother:

• Wear comfortable shoes. Old Town streets include narrow sections and uneven surfaces.
• Arrive a little early at Novi caffe so you’re not rushing.
• Bring a phone charger if you plan to use maps after the tour.
• Come with curiosity. The best part is how the guide ties what you taste to what you see.

If you are sensitive to strong flavors or alcohol, pace yourself. You are tasting multiple drinks, ending with local liquors. A relaxed mindset keeps the last stop fun instead of overwhelming.

And yes, the tour offers a mobile ticket, which is convenient. It also runs near public transportation, which can help if you are combining it with other evening plans.

Should you book the Zadar Food Tasting and Old Town Guided Walking Tour

I think you should book this if you want a high-effort, low-planning evening in Zadar. For around two hours, you get a guided Old Town route, meaningful stops like the Forum, and a structured set of tastings: fish and white wine, prosciutto and cheese with red wine, ćevapi and women-brewed craft beer, then a liquor toast.

I would not book it if you are vegetarian or vegan, or if you have lactose intolerance, gluten intolerance, or food allergies. In those cases, the tour design does not match your needs.

If you fit the profile, it is an excellent way to get your bearings fast and taste the city in a way that feels local, not staged.

FAQ

What is the duration of the Zadar Food Tasting and Old Town Guided Walking Tour by Šušur?

The tour lasts about 2 hours.

How much does the tour cost?

The price is $60.47 per person.

What time does the tour start?

The start time is 6:00 pm.

Where do I meet the guide for this tour?

The meeting point is Novi caffe, Ul. Ilije Smiljanića, 23000 Zadar, Croatia.

Is the tour in English?

Yes, it is offered in English.

How big is the group?

The maximum group size is 14 travelers.

What will I taste during the tour?

The tour includes tastings such as a local fish dish with regional white wine, prosciutto and cheese with red wine, ćevapi with locally brewed craft beer made by women, and a toast with a selection of local liquors.

Is this tour suitable for vegetarians or vegans?

No. It is not recommended for vegetarians and not recommended for vegans.

What are the cancellation rules?

You can cancel for a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours in advance. If you cancel less than 24 hours before the start time, the amount paid will not be refunded.