Zadar at 6 pm feels like the city’s secret page comes alive. This guided food-and-history stroll is a smart way to taste real local flavors while learning why Zadar looks the way it does. You’ll move through Roman-era street lines and medieval squares, then hit tastings that pair food and wine in a simple, no-pressure rhythm.

I love how efficient it is—about 2 hours with multiple stops that actually matter. I also love the small group size (max 14) because you get a lively conversation pace without feeling rushed. One thing to consider: this tour is not designed for vegetarians or people with lactose/gluten needs, since the tastings are meat-and-dairy heavy.

Key highlights you’ll feel on this Zadar stroll

• A tight 2-hour route that blends Roman landmarks with classic Old Town streets
• Food + drink pairings across the evening: white wine, red wine, craft beer, and local spirits
• Small group (max 14), which makes it easy to ask questions and keep the walk relaxed
• Real local settings like the market and a wine-garden-style stop near old church remains
• Guides with real personality seen across multiple hosts, including Dina, Ivana, Tamara, and Ante

Meeting at Novi caffe: the easiest way to start Zadar right

This is one of those tours that sets you up for the rest of your trip. You meet at Novi caffe (Ul. Ilije Smiljanića, 23000) and head out at 6:00 pm, then return to the same place to end. That round-trip setup is handy on a travel day when you’d rather not play map roulette.

Another practical win: the tour is offered in English, and it uses a mobile ticket. The meeting point is also described as near public transportation, so you’re not stuck with a long walk just to get started. With a maximum of 14 people, the pace stays human—fast enough to see a lot, slow enough to taste and talk.

Trg Petra Zoranića: right at the Roman marker

Your first stop is Trg Petra Zoranića, a natural starting place by an ancient city gate and a Roman column that marks the beginning of the main street. This matters because the tour doesn’t treat history like a museum lecture. It uses real street orientation. You start where the old town’s “spine” makes sense.

From here, the guide sets the tone: short, story-first context, then straight into food. It also keeps the early part easy—about 15 minutes here, with an admission ticket listed as free.

Church of St. Simon: fish and white wine near a major treasure

Next up is the Church of St. Simon. The vibe at this stop is quietly important: it’s described as hiding one of Croatia’s most revered religious treasures. Even if you’re not a big church person, this is a good way to understand how much Zadar’s identity is tied to faith and place.

Then the tour turns food-forward. Just steps away, you’ll taste a local fish dish paired with regional white wine. That pairing is exactly the kind of simple logic you want on a food tour: seafood calls for something crisp, and the guide uses that idea instead of turning the meal into a quiz.

The main square and medieval life: history you can feel in your feet

As you pass through the main square, you’re walking through the center of urban life in Zadar since medieval times. The tour highlights how the city’s urban identity formed there, including the note that the first bars opened as early as the early 18th century.

This is one of the best bits for first-time visitors. You stop long enough to orient yourself, then you move on before it turns into a slow, sit-and-lecture moment. If you like the idea of learning while doing, this segment works well.

Zadar Market and the wine garden: prosciutto, cheese, and red wine

One of the most practical stops is the Zadar Market. This is where locals sell daily caught fish and locally grown vegetables—so it’s not just a photo spot. It’s the everyday food system of the city.

Right next to it, you’ll see the remains of an old church that’s now transformed into a cool, unique wine garden. That change in use is part of what makes Zadar feel alive: old structures don’t get frozen in time. They get repurposed.

Here, you’ll taste prosciutto and cheese paired with a rich red wine. This is also one of the clearest “value” moments on the tour, because red wine + cured meats is a tasting combo that’s both classic and easy to understand.

The market-and-wine-garden area is listed for about 20 minutes here, with admissions included.

Kalelarga and Roman footsteps: why the streets matter

You’ll walk along Kalelarga, described as a main street walked upon since Roman times. This isn’t just trivia. It’s a way of seeing your route differently. When you realize you’re following Roman-era walking lines, the whole Old Town suddenly becomes more than scenery—it becomes evidence.

You get context that the walk connects major layers of time. That Roman-to-medieval continuity is what makes Zadar feel compact but deep, even when you’re only here for a short stay.

The Forum: the largest Roman anchor on the eastern Adriatic

Next comes The Forum, described as the largest Roman forum on the eastern Adriatic. This is the stop where the tour shifts from “street stories” to “big-city history.” You’ll hear how urban life worked in ancient times, along with the dynamic history of Zadar.

It’s also one of the quickest stops—about 10 minutes—with admission included. That short duration is smart. It gives you the wow without dragging the evening into museum mode. You’ll appreciate it even more because you’ve already learned how to read the street layout.

Varoška ulica: ćevapi and craft beer, with a local twist

In the Varoš neighborhood, you’ll wander through narrow streets tied to hardworking families and established in the 16th century. The focus here is on how the area stayed a lived-in part of Zadar’s urban culture, not a themed district.

Then the food hits: ćevapi and locally brewed craft beer made by women. That “made by women” detail is the kind of real local specificity you can’t fake with generic food-tour scripts. It turns the tasting into a story about people, not just products.

This stop runs about 25 minutes with admission ticket listed as free, which means you’re paying attention to the experience, not an entry fee.

Novi caffe toast: local liquors and a proper wrap-up

The last stop is back at Novi caffe for the toast. You’ll sample local liquors and raise a glass to the memories you made and the friendships you formed. Živjeli (cheers) is the moment that signals the tour is done, but the night is just starting.

This ending matters because the tour doesn’t just dump information and send you away. It gives you a clean finish where you can ask questions, compare notes, and decide where to go next. The final tasting time is about 15 minutes, with admission included.

Price and value: what you get for $60.47

At $60.47 per person for roughly 2 hours, you’re paying for three things: time, guidance, and tastings. The tastings aren’t tiny “nibble-and-leave” samples. Across the stops, you’re getting a fish dish + white wine, prosciutto + cheese + red wine, ćevapi + craft beer, and then local liquors at the end.

That’s why this often feels like good value compared to piecing together food and wine on your own—especially on your first evening when you’re still learning the city. You also get a guided thread tying each bite to a place: market to wine garden, Roman forum to street lines, Varoš to beer culture.

One more thing: it’s a tasting sampler, not a full meal. A review note called out that it’s more of a sampler and that a written list of dishes would help. My practical take: plan to eat dinner after. You’ll likely leave satisfied, but not “I can skip food now” satisfied.

What the tastings are really like (and who should join)

This tour is built for people who want a mix of culture and food, and who are comfortable with alcohol pairings. You’ll taste multiple drinks—white wine, red wine, craft beer, and then local liquors. If you’re not interested in wine or beer, the structure may feel off.

Dietary reality checks from the tour info:

• It’s not recommended for vegetarians or vegans.
• It’s not recommended for lactose intolerance.
• It’s not recommended for gluten intolerance.
• It’s not recommended for travelers with food allergies.
• It’s not recommended for children under 18.

So who fits best?

• You eat meat and dairy and enjoy wine/beer pairings.
• You want a guided way to see Zadar without spending hours planning.
• You’re okay with an evening walk through Old Town streets.

If you’re traveling solo, the small group size helps. You get conversation without being swallowed by a big crowd.

Timing tip: why doing this early helps your whole trip

A lot of food tours work best when you do them early, and this one has the same logic. You walk away with street orientation—starting gate area, the main street feel of Kalelarga, the Forum area, and the neighborhood streets of Varoš. That helps you pick dinner spots later that actually fit where you’ll be.

If you’re the kind of traveler who likes to return to places you understood a bit better, this is a strong first-night move.

Should you book Šušur’s Zadar Food Tasting & Old Town Walk?

If you want a short, well-paced evening in Zadar that mixes Roman and medieval sights with multiple local tastings, I’d book this. The price makes sense because you get several distinct food-and-drink stops rather than one or two samples stretched over time. The max 14-person group also keeps the feel friendly, and the guide energy stands out in the names you’ll hear mentioned, including Dina, Ivana, Tamara, and Ante.

Skip it if you need a vegetarian/vegan menu, have lactose/gluten issues, or have any food allergy concerns. And if you’re expecting a full dinner, treat this as your appetizer-and-wine sampler before you settle in for a proper meal.

FAQ

How long is the Zadar Food Tasting & Old Town Guided Walking Tour?

The tour runs for about 2 hours.

What time does the tour start, and where does it meet?

It starts at 6:00 pm and meets at Novi caffe on Ul. Ilije Smiljanića, Zadar.

What language is the tour offered in?

The tour is offered in English.

What tastings are included 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 local craft beer, and a final selection of local liquors for a toast.

Is it suitable for vegetarians or for people with lactose/gluten intolerance?

No. It is not recommended for vegetarians or vegans, and it is also not recommended for people with lactose intolerance or gluten intolerance.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel for a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience starts. If you cancel less than 24 hours before, the amount paid is not refunded.