Zadar's old town, with its Roman ruins and medieval era churches, sits on a peninsula jutting out of the Dalmatian Coast about half a kilometre in length, surrounded by Venetian walls. Both beautiful and historic, Zadar is a wonderful city with just the right amount of buzz. And we hope you'll find our picks of the best places to stay in Zadar to be just as buzzy and surprising.

Narrow lanes of white limestone made smooth from the passage of time, sunset views over islands in the Adriatic, garlic and figs strung up prettily in the marketplace, ancient churches lit up against the night sky - the city of Zadar packs plenty of gorgeous images for its size.

At the moment Zadar isn't a huge tourist destination - which is a good thing! But it does mean that there isn't a huge choice when it comes to accommodation in the centre of town. There is plenty in leafy Borik though and this is one of the best places to stay in Zadar as you have good access to the city and resort-like surrounds.

The stone-paved streets and ancient squares of Zadar are mostly pedestrianised. Exploring the old town on foot is easy and you are always near a pavement cafe for coffee, beer or food, including rolls made with the famous local ham.

There are plenty of restaurants and these tend to serve freshly cooked local food, especially seafood, and are quite reasonably priced. At the end of the day it is worth being on the promenade facing west for a great view of the sun setting over the sea and the nearby islands.

Some of our Zadar Collections:

• Best Beach Hotels in Zadar

What not to Miss

• Zadar's mix of architecture - from Roman ruins to Habsburg elegance and some great modern additions, means it's no Dubrovnik. But who needs another Dubrovnik! Each phase of Zadar's history has left a mark. Churches, cathedrals and museums are all within a few minutes walk of the centre of town where there is a wide square - once the Roman forum.
• Near the quay, where fishing boats still dock, is the busy, colourful market selling fresh fish, fruit, vegetables, cheer (Zadar's famous ham) and other local produce.
• As well as the ancient buildings there are some interesting modern structures to see. The bridge connecting old and new Zadar was destroyed in the post-Yugoslavia conflict and the new one was designed with lighting so that people crossing it at night are silhouetted forming a moving art work.
• At the seaward end of town is a unique musical instrument, a sea organ. Visitors and locals sit on white marble steps by the water and listen as waves generate sounds in a series of pipes and resonating chambers, producing natural music blending with the views of sea and sky.

Our pick of the best places to stay in Zadar is ideally situated to make the most of both the culture and night life.