Things to Do in Five Wells Square

The Five Wells themselves

The wellheads are deceptively simple. Five identical stone cylinders, capped with iron grilles, sit in a straight line. They were built when Zadar was bracing for Ottoman siege and needed water inside the walls. Run your hand along the limestone. You'll feel the grooves worn by centuries of rope friction, where buckets once descended.

Captain's Tower climb

The stocky stone tower at the square's edge dates to the 13th century and now houses small rotating exhibitions. The climb up the narrow internal staircase rewards you with views across the red-tiled roofs of the old town toward the Adriatic. The steps are uneven and worn shiny. Mind your footing on the descent.

Queen Jelena Madijevka Park

Behind the square, up a short flight of steps, this small elevated park is where locals come to escape the tourist flow. Stone benches sit under mature pines. The slightly raised position gives you a different angle on the wellheads below. In summer you'll hear cicadas and smell pine resin warming in the sun.

Land Gate viewing

A two-minute walk south of the square brings you to the Venetian Land Gate, carved with the lion of St. Mark in 1543. View it from the harbor side. From there you can see the full scale of the relief. Late afternoon light brings out the texture of the weathered stone.

Konoba hopping in the surrounding lanes

The narrow streets fanning out from Five Wells Square hide some of the better small konobas in the old town. Expect chalkboard menus and paper tablecloths. The smell of grilled fish and rosemary drifts from open kitchens. The wine is usually Pošip or Plavac Mali by the carafe.

Inside the old town walls. Atmospheric stone-built guesthouses, only steps from the square. Pricier on summer weekends, and noisier too.

Voštarnica: the residential quarter just east of the old town. Quieter and better value. A ten-minute walk to Five Wells.

Borik: beach district about 4km north. Good for families wanting sand and a pool. Regular buses run into the center.

Arbanasi: historic neighborhood across the bridge. It has a distinctive Albanian-Dalmatian character and decent apartment rentals.

Puntamika: peninsula north of Borik with seaside hotels. More resort-style than urban.

Diklo: quieter coastal suburb further out. Suits travelers with a car looking for calm evenings.