Car Hire at Zadar Airport

This information is correct as of June 2015

Whether you want to hike to your heart’s content in the mountains, gaze at the Adriatic from a cool Croatian bar or step back in time and take in the views from an iconic bridge, you can find the best car hire at Zadar Airport with Skyscanner.

Where to hire a car at Zadar Airport

There are ten car hire companies with desks at Zadar Airport: Avia, Air, Hertz, Sixt, Alamo, Europecar, Filipovic, Oryx, Fleet and Lulic. All of the desks are inside the terminal, so you don’t need to go far to pick up your car.

Petrol stations near Zadar Airport

Depending on your car rental agreement, you may need to hand your car back with a full tank.

Luckily there is a petrol station located just 10 minutes away by car from Zadar Airport. Head north from the airport turning left onto the D502. Turn right onto Jadransaka Magistrala then turn right again and left. The petrol station will be on the left.

Driving around Zadar Airport

Zadar Airport is well connected to the region’s main roads. The 424 road runs around the south of the airport and links to the 502 that takes you into Zadar from the airport. North of the airport is the 8 highway which travels east of the airport and on to Gracac. The E71 travels south of Zadar Airport and merges with the A1 that travels south to Mostar and north all the way to Zagreb. The E65 is a beautiful coastal road that takes in views of the spectacular Adriatic and links up to major roads that connect to Trieste.

Getting to your destination

We’ve put together a quick guide on getting to the most popular destinations from Zadar Airport.

Gospic

Little known on the tourist train, Gospic is a breath-taking town surrounded by captivating countryside. Lying in the mountain region of Lika, Gospic is the gateway to Velebit Nature Park and National Park Northern Velebit. Spend days in this beautiful hideaway kayaking, swimming, canoeing, hiking, fishing and horse-riding. Explore local villages like Smiljan where Nicola Tesla was born, for their ancient Turkish architecture. Gospic is as magical as it is undiscovered.

It takes approximately an hour to reach Gospic from Zadar Airport. Head north on the D502 and take a left at the Zagreb exit. Merge onto the D424 toll road and take the exit for the A1 towards Zagreb. Take exit 12 for Gospic and follow the signs.

Mostar

Well known for its sad and turbulent past, Mostar has re-built its bridge and in doing so, its soul. This enchanting town bustles with street sellers and friendly locals. Medieval towers stand proudly by the Ottoman Quarter while ancient winding cobbled streets snake beneath them. Tiny cafes and souvenir shops are why many come to visit while the fairytale view from the now iconic Old (new) Bridge, of the river winding its way towards the sea, is almost impossible to tear yourself away from.

It takes approximately 3 hours to drive to Mostar from Zadar Airport. In Bosnia Herzegovina, the drive does take in toll roads. Head north on the D502, then take the exit for Zagreb. Merge onto the D424 toll road and exit onto the A1 for Split. Continue on the A1. Take a left onto the R425a and continue following signs for Mostar.

Zadar

Perched on the Dalmatian Coast and almost entirely surrounded by the azure Adriatic, Zadar’s dazzling white stone Old Town is filled with medieval churches, unusual museums and welcoming bustling cafes. Not on the tourist trail, Zadar, with its Habsburg elegance, has a laid-back vibe. Laze on pine-scented beaches, explore shops that line marble streets, get out into the mountains for rock climbing, hiking and swimming or simply settle down in a hip bar and soak up an extraordinary sunset.

It takes just 20 minutes to reach Zadar from the airport. Head north on the D502 and head slightly left on to the Ulice Brace Miroslava. Continue on to Ulice Franje Tudmana and left onto Josipa Jelacica.
Parking is limited in the old part of the city due to lack of space, and because within the walls most of it is pedestrianised. There are a few car parks inside the walls, alternatively there are parking spaces alongside the city walls on the way to the ferry terminal and a larger car park on the mainland by the footbridge. You can pay for parking by text message by sending the registration number of your car to 8231 in a Blue Zone or 8232 in a White Zone. Payment is confirmed by return text. Some hotels in Zadar offer free parking.