A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Pamukkale vs. Zadar for Food, Families, Couples, and Backpackers

Should you visit Pamukkale or Zadar?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Pamukkale and Zadar can help you decide which place is right for you.

Pamukkale

Pamukkale is a unique, iconic, and striking town. Pamukkale is a beautiful place to visit, too. And you can't forget about the hiking, shopping, and food. See Pamukkale travel costs.

Zadar

Zadar is a vibrant, laid back, and relaxed town. With stunning beauty, Zadar attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food. See Zadar travel costs.

Pamukkale and Zadar: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Pamukkale or Zadar?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Zadar. Although Pamukkale and Zadar are both popular with visitors, Zadar has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Zadar is more popular for its museums and attractions, food, nightlife, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, historical sights, and impressive beauty, while Pamukkale is known for its hiking. Pamukkale is more touristy than Zadar and is popular for its natural travertine terraces, thermal springs, and ancient ruins. Zadar is popular for its historical sights and waterfront setting. It is also home to the Sea Organ and the Sun Salutation.

How is Pamukkale different from Zadar?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Zadar and Pamukkale. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Pamukkale or Zadar?

Zadar is very good for its historical sights. However, Pamukkale is not known for its sights and museums.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Zadar. The old town is like a living museum, with city walls and a historic gate. The Church of St. Donatus, Zadar Cathedral, and the Zadar Archaeological Museum are all fascinating places to visit in town, but if you're looking for the most unique sight, make sure you check out The Sea Organ and The Sun Salutation.

Pamukkale offers a handful of options for museums and historical sights. The Hierapolis Archaeology Museum is located within the ancient city of Hierapolis. It's housed in a former Roman bathhouse and displays an impressive collection of artifacts, including statues, sarcophagi, and other relics from Hierapolis, Laodicea, and other nearby ancient cities.

Is the Food Better in Pamukkale or Zadar? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Zadar is a great town for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Pamukkale is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Zadar has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. The town is filled with outdoor cafes that serve up a healthy and delicious selection of recipes. The ingredients are fresh and local with olive oil and seafood making frequent appearances on the menus. Prices are also reasonable.

Pamukkale offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. The town has a number of restaurants and cafes that serve dishes like kebabs, meze platters, and pide (Turkish flatbread). Gözleme (a savory stuffed pancake) is a popular street food in the area, but there are also many of the most popular Turkish dishes available.

Is Pamukkale or Zadar Better for Nightlife?

Zadar is very good for its evening party scene. However, Pamukkale is not known for nightlife.

If you're looking for night time activities Zadar has a few options to choose from. The town comes to life at night when the bars and restaurants fill with people chatting and socializing. This is an easy place to enjoy the evening as almost all of the nightlife venues are within a five minute walk of each other.

Most people don't head to Pamukkale specifically for the nightlife scene, but you can find a few options. It's a quiet town in the evening. Some hotels host small social gatherings or cultural evenings which lets you connect with other travelers. For a more lively experience, nearby Denizli has a broader range of bars and clubs, but it requires a short trip.

Is Pamukkale or Zadar Better for Resorts?

Zadar is a great town for its luxury resorts. However, Pamukkale is not a resort destination.

Vacationers can choose from a number of terrific resorts in Zadar. If you want a beachfront resort, there are a number of nice options outside of town.

Pamukkale is not a resort destination.

Is Pamukkale or Zadar Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Zadar is very good for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Pamukkale is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

It's worth going snorkeling or scuba diving in Zadar. This is an easy place to snorkel because the water is so clear. There are also half and full day snorkeling trips that take you to some of the best spots.

Pamukkale is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Pamukkale or Zadar Better for Beaches?

Zadar is a great town for the beach. However, Pamukkale is not a beach destination.

Zadar is a very popular place to visit for its beaches. There are some nice beaches outside of town with one of the most famous being Sakarun Beach, which is part of the Zadar archipelago. There are a handful of beaches nearby that are pebbly and popular with the locals. These include Puntamika Beach and Beach Borik.

Pamukkale is not a beach destination.

Is Pamukkale or Zadar Better for its Old Town?

Zadar is a great town for its historic old town charm. However, Pamukkale does not have a historic old town.

There is a nice variety of sights in the old town of Zadar. The small old town is filled with charm and character. It's a walled medieval town that can easily be explored in a few hours.

Pamukkale does not have a historic old town.

Is Pamukkale or Zadar Better for Hiking?

Pamukkale is a popular place for the nearby hiking options. However, Zadar is not a hiking destination.

Pamukkale is a good destination for hiking. The most popular trail leads through the travertine terraces, where visitors can walk barefoot across the warm, calcium-rich pools. You can also explore the ancient ruins of Hierapolis, which has pathways winding through the theater, necropolis, and other historical sites. For something a little more challenging, the surrounding countryside has trails through the hills that lead to impressive viewpoints.

Zadar is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Pamukkale or Zadar?

If you're looking to go shopping, Pamukkale and Zadar both offer plenty of good spots.

Pamukkale has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. There are a number of souvenir shops around town where you can buy local crafts or trinkets. You'll find Turkish towels and carpets, dried spices, herbs, and teas. Many shops also sell Diorama stones and miniature travertine sculptures.

Zadar is a great destination for shopping. There are small, boutique shops around the old town that sell designer merchandise. There are also shopping malls on the outskirts of town.

Is Pamukkale or Zadar More Beautiful?

Zadar is a great town for its scenery and beauty. Also, Pamukkale is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its scenery and beauty.

With stunning beauty, Zadar attracts visitors from all around. It's a charming medieval town that is at its most beautiful during the spectacular sunsets.

Pamukkale is a gorgeous place to visit. It is considered to be one of Turkey's most unique natural wonders. The white travertine terraces, which are filled with turquoise thermal waters, create an other-worldly landscape.

Is Pamukkale or Zadar Better for Families?

Pamukkale is a well-known place for its family-friendly activities. Also, Zadar is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Pamukkale is a very kid-friendly town. Kids and adults alike will enjoy visiting the unique Travertine Terraces. Taking a dip in Cleopatra's Pool, with its sunken Roman columns, is also a highlight, and fans of the Percy Jackson series will appreciate visiting the ancient ruins at Hierapolis.

Zadar is a family-friendly town. It's fun to explore the small medieval old town, but the kids will also appreciate getting out of town and enjoying the nearby activities. It's definitely worth visiting Pag Island or any of the other natural settings that are nearby. There are also several beaches near town. In town, make sure you hear the Sea Organ and dance at the Sun Salutation.

Is Pamukkale or Zadar Better for Couples?

Both Pamukkale and Zadar are great destinations to visit as a couple.

Pamukkale is a great town if you're traveling as a couple. Couples can enjoy many romantic settings, such as wandering through the impressive white travertine terraces, swimming in Cleopatra's Pool surrounded by ancient Roman columns, and exploring the ancient city of Hierapolis.

Zadar is a very popular place to visit for couples. This charming seaside town is fun to explore as a couple. There's a walled medieval town that is small and easy to wander around. There are also nearby beaches and great restaurants to explore. A highlight of a visit is watching the stunning sunsets by the water.

Is Pamukkale or Zadar Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

For backpackers, both Pamukkale and Zadar are great places to visit.

Plenty of budget travelers and backpackers visit Pamukkale. Food and activities are convenient and accessible around town. There are also many affordable hostels and plenty of opportunities to meet other travelers.

Backpackers come from all over to visit Zadar. There's no shortage of hostels in town and you'll find backpackers, students, and budget travelers everywhere.

Is Pamukkale or Zadar Better for Students?

Zadar is a great town for its student-friendly activities. However, Pamukkale is not popular with students.

Zadar is very popular with students. The laid back lifestyle and low cost of living make this a great place to be a student. It's a relaxed environment with many nearby places to explore.

Pamukkale is not popular with students.

Is Pamukkale or Zadar Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Pamukkale and Zadar both offer good public transit to get you around.

While Pamukkale offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. Minibuses (dolmuş) are the primary mode of local transportation, connecting Pamukkale to nearby towns like Denizli, where the main bus and train stations are located. From Denizli, frequent minibuses run to Pamukkale.

Zadar has a few public transit options. There are 11 bus lines that travel around town.

Is Pamukkale or Zadar a more walkable city?

Pamukkale and Zadar are great when it comes to walkability.

Pamukkale is a very walkable destination. The town is compact and very walkable, especially within the main tourist areas. The travertine terraces and the adjacent ancient city of Hierapolis are easy to explore on foot as well.

Zadar is very walkable. The old town is particularly walkable and can easily be explored on foot in a few hours.

For even more information, also check out Is Pamukkale Worth Visiting? and Is Zadar Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Zadar or Pamukkale?

How long in Pamukkale or Zadar?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Pamukkale or Zadar to fill your time. In our opinion, Zadar has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Zadar than Pamukkale. However, 1-2 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

Families should spend more time in Zadar than Pamukkale. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Zadar, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Zadar than Pamukkale. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Zadar that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Zadar than Pamukkale if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Zadar.

One day in Pamukkale or Zadar?

In Pamukkale, many people enjoy the food and shopping that this unique destination offers. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

You'll find nightlife and food around the town of Zadar. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Zadar has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Pamukkale or Zadar?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Pamukkale. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

You'll find food and scuba diving and snorkeling around the relaxed destination of Zadar. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this town has to offer. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Pamukkale or Zadar?

Pamukkale is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Pamukkale. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

Travelers enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping when visiting the coastal town of Zadar. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. It's also a relaxing resort destination. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Pamukkale or Zadar?

You'll find shopping and food around the iconic destination of Pamukkale. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Zadar is a popular choice for travelers. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Turkey, The Best G Adventures Tours to Turkey, The Best Tours for Seniors to Croatia, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Croatia.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pamukkale and Zadar, we can see that Pamukkale is more expensive. And not only is Zadar much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Zadar would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Zadar and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Pamukkale would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Pamukkale than you might in Zadar.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Pamukkale Expensive? and Is Zadar Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Pamukkale or Zadar?

Zadar has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Pamukkale. When comparing the sizes of Pamukkale and Zadar, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Pamukkale or Zadar?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Pamukkale or Zadar in the Summer?

Both Zadar and Pamukkale during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Pamukkale for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Zadar because of the beaches, snorkeling, and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Pamukkale is generally around the same temperature as Zadar. Daily temperatures in Pamukkale average around 28°C (82°F), and Zadar fluctuates around 26°C (80°F).

In Zadar, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Pamukkale. In the summer, Pamukkale often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Zadar. Pamukkale gets 356 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Zadar receives 345 hours of full sun.

Pamukkale usually gets less rain in July than Zadar. Pamukkale gets 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Zadar receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Pamukkale or Zadar in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Pamukkale and Zadar. The autumn months attract visitors to Pamukkale because of the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Also, the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Zadar this time of year.

Pamukkale is around the same temperature as Zadar in the autumn. The daily temperature in Pamukkale averages around 19°C (67°F) in October, and Zadar fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Zadar this time of the year. In Pamukkale, it's very sunny this time of the year. Pamukkale usually receives more sunshine than Zadar during autumn. Pamukkale gets 232 hours of sunny skies, while Zadar receives 200 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Pamukkale usually receives less rain than Zadar. Pamukkale gets 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Zadar receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Pamukkale or Zadar in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Pamukkale as well as Zadar. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Pamukkale this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Zadar for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In the winter, Pamukkale is around the same temperature as Zadar. Typically, the winter temperatures in Pamukkale in January average around 9°C (48°F), and Zadar averages at about 8°C (47°F).

In the winter, Pamukkale often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Zadar. Pamukkale gets 137 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Zadar receives 128 hours of full sun.

Pamukkale receives a lot of rain in the winter. Pamukkale usually gets more rain in January than Zadar. Pamukkale gets 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Zadar receives 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Pamukkale or Zadar in the Spring?

Both Zadar and Pamukkale are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Pamukkale for the natural beauty. Also, many visitors come to Zadar in the spring for the beaches and the natural beauty.

In April, Pamukkale is generally a little warmer than Zadar. Daily temperatures in Pamukkale average around 17°C (62°F), and Zadar fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).

It's quite sunny in Zadar. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Pamukkale. Pamukkale usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Zadar during spring. Pamukkale gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Zadar receives 212 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Pamukkale usually receives less rain than Zadar. Pamukkale gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Zadar receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Zadar and Pamukkale