Heritage Hotel Bastion

Heritage Hotel Bastion is the choice for travellers who want to sleep inside the story. It sits in Zadar's old town, a car-free peninsula where nearly every sight is within a ten minute walk, and its setting among the historic fortifications gives it a character that large resort hotels cannot match. The scale is small and personal, with a limited number of rooms, a calm lobby and the kind of service that comes from a team who know their guests by name. Staying here means stepping out of the front door into a landscape of white stone streets, church bells and cafe terraces. The Roman Forum, the Cathedral of St Anastasia and the Sea Organ are all close, and the evening waterfront promenade is only a few minutes away.

The appeal of a heritage hotel in a walled old town is simple. You wake in the middle of everything, you can return to your room for a rest in the afternoon heat, and you can stay out late without worrying about transport. For visitors who want to spend a few days exploring on foot, with a long lunch and a dinner by the water, this is hard to beat.

Zadar's old town is lively but not noisy, since it is pedestrian only, so most rooms are quiet at night compared with those on busy streets.

Expect a boutique atmosphere rather than a resort. Interiors typically blend historic stone and contemporary comfort, with modern bathrooms, air conditioning and good beds. Breakfast is part of the experience in many hotels of this type, and local touches such as Dalmatian olive oil, cheese and pastries are common. Because the building belongs to the old town, some rooms are compact and some floors do not have lifts, so mention any mobility needs when you reserve.

Practical details matter in this part of town. Cars cannot enter the pedestrian zone, so plan to arrive on foot from a nearby drop-off point or car park, and ask the hotel about luggage help and parking before you arrive. The airport is roughly a twenty minute drive, and taxis and private transfers are easy to arrange.

This is also a good base for day trips. Boat tours to the islands leave from the harbour close by, and tour operators will collect you from central meeting points for Krka, Kornati, Paklenica and Pag. A morning in the Forum, an afternoon boat trip and a sunset at the Sea Organ makes a perfect Zadar day, all without a car.

Book early for summer and for the shoulder months of May, June and September, when the weather is at its best. Rates in winter are generally lower, and the old town is quiet and atmospheric, though some restaurants and boat operators run reduced schedules.