Related guides Before you look for parking in Zadar Old Town, note the core access rule: the entire peninsula is a pedestrian zone, so you cannot drive a rental car past the historic gates. Zadar’s practical parking choices are the 24/7 Garaža Centar at Ulica I 2A near the 112. Zadar’s street parking is managed by Obala i lučice d.o.o. (oil.hr), the city utility company responsible for coastal and curbside parking controls. The system uses numbered zones with different hourly rates, time limits, and enforcement windows, and the closer the space is to the Old Town peninsula, the stricter the rules become. This matters on a rental because unpaid tickets are usually tied to the license plate, not the driver. Rates are seasonal and change between summer and winter, so the posted street sign is the legal reference at the exact bay where you park. According to the current published structure, Zone 0 is the most expensive, Zone 1 is mid-priced, and Zone 2 is the cheapest controlled option. Zadar parking payment is available by SMS, the official app, or machines. For SMS, send the plate number without spaces to the zone-specific code; an operator fee is usually added on top of the parking tariff. For example, Zone 0 uses 708239, Zone 1 uses 708231, and Zone 2 uses 708232. The app can be useful if you want card payment and a digital receipt, while the machines remain the safest choice if you want a printed ticket on the dashboard. If you rent a car, check whether your rental company has a preauthorisation policy for fines and administrative fees, because the final card charge can include the parking penalty plus a service fee even when the original ticket is only €15. Compare Car Rental Deals Garaža Centar Zadar: This covered garage on Ulica 112. brigade, near the city center, offers 630 spaces, 24/7 access, and video surveillance, making it the most predictable parking choice for overnight stays or multi-day visits. The walk to the Land Gate is usually 5 to 7 minutes, so it works well if you want Old Town access without depending on a curbside meter. The garage tariff structure is often cheaper than repeated hourly curbside parking if you are staying more than one day, and it is easier to use if you are arriving after dark. The payment machines are inside the facility, so you can settle before returning to the car. Published rate references can change, so it is worth checking the on-site notice before committing to a weekly or monthly ticket. Liburnska obala and Istarska obala: These waterfront stretches on the north side of the Old Town are the closest open-air parking areas to the Sea Organ, Greeting to the Sun, and the peninsula promenade. They are a practical choice if you want to park once, walk into the center, and avoid repeated re-parking during a short city visit. In peak summer, these bays can fill by around 09:30 on busy days in July and August, so arrival time matters more here than in the garage. The area mixes Zone 1 and Zone 2 spaces, and the rate depends on the exact sign next to the bay rather than the street name alone. This location is also useful if you plan a northbound day trip to Pag via the Pag bridge (Paški most), because you can leave the Old Town on foot and return to the car without detouring inland first. If you want a scenic parking-and-walk plan, park on the waterfront side early, visit the Sea Organ and Greeting to the Sun first, then continue through the Land Gate into Zadar Old Town before lunch. A Zadar parking ticket can become expensive on a rental because the violation is usually recorded by plate number and forwarded to the rental company after the trip. If the car receives a “dnevna parkirna karta” for non-payment, the rental agency may pay the city authority first and then rebill the original amount plus an administration charge to the card used for the booking. A common pattern is a €15 parking fine turning into a €50 to €60 card charge once the rental company adds its fee. Entity → Attribute → Value: Obala i lučice d.o.o. issues the parking notice, the rental company processes the rebill, and the traveler pays the fine plus the admin fee through the original payment method. Croatian parking disputes are easier to contest when you can show the sign, the zone, the time stamp, and the payment confirmation. Pay by app: Save the confirmation screenshot. Pay by SMS: Keep the text receipt. Photograph the sign: Capture the zone code, the clock, and the car position.