A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Zadar vs. Puerto del Carmen for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Zadar or Puerto del Carmen?

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

Should I visit Zadar or Puerto del Carmen? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Zadar or Puerto del Carmen?

Zadar

You'll find Zadar in northern Dalmatia, Croatia. It is located on the Adriatic Sea and is the center of Zadar County. It is both the historic center for the region and the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Zadar. There are a handful of sights around town, most of which can be explored on foot.

The climate for the city is a mix between humid subtropical and a Mediterranean climate. The winters are usually mild and wet, and the summers are humid and warm. The hottest months are July and August when temperatures can exceed 30 degrees Celsius. Average yearly rainfall usually exceeds 917 mm. Fall months often remain warm and temperatures are often around 30 degrees Celsius as well. In general, the temperatures rarely drop below freezing, even during the coldest month of January. The rainiest months are October and November, although winter is considered the wet season. July is usually the driest month. Water temperatures are around 25 degrees Celsius in July and August and it may be possible to swim any time between May and October.

Puerto del Carmen

Located on the south-eastern coast of the Canary Island of Lanzarote, Puerto del Carmen is a popular resort area best known for its high concentration of bars, pubs, restaurants, and clubs. By day, visitors frequent the beaches for swimming, sunbathing, windsurfing, and other watersports - and by night, they flock to enjoy the live music and drinks of the area's thriving nightlife.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Croatia, The Best G Adventures Tours to Croatia, The Best 3-Day Tours from Madrid, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Madrid.


Which place is cheaper, Puerto del Carmen or Zadar?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Zadar Prices
    Croatia Prices
    Puerto del Carmen Prices
    Spain Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Zadar 110
    Puerto del Carmen 210

The average daily cost (per person) in Zadar is €110, while the average daily cost in Puerto del Carmen is €210. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Zadar and Puerto del Carmen in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Zadar 51
    Puerto del Carmen 98
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Zadar 102
    Puerto del Carmen 196
Compare Hotels in Zadar and Puerto del Carmen

Looking for a hotel in Zadar or Puerto del Carmen? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Zadar


Hotels in Puerto del Carmen


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Zadar Hotel Prices and Puerto del Carmen Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Zadar 9.53
    Puerto del Carmen 39

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zadar

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zadar:

  • Zrmanja River Kayaking, with optional transfer from Zadar: $66
  • Private Transfers to Airports & Top Destinations: $72
  • Zadar Private Transfers to or from any location: $80
  • Zadar Airport to Novalja Private Transfer: $262
  • Transfer from Zadar airport to Vir: $69
  • Transfer From Zadar Airport to Town Zadar: $67
  • Private one way transfer from Zadar to Split: $295
  • Private Transfer: Zadar (Airport) to/from Biograd na moru or Crvena Luka Resort: $106
  • Private Transfer from Zadar to Zagreb with 2h of Sightseeing: $237
  • Private Transfer from Zadar to Split, Hotel-to-Hotel: $165
  • Private Transfer from Zadar to Split with 2 hours for sightseeing: $244
  • Private Transfer from Zadar Hotels to Zadar Airport: $55

Is it cheaper to fly into Zadar or Puerto del Carmen?

Prices for flights to both Puerto del Carmen and Zadar change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Zadar 49
    Puerto del Carmen 89

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Zadar

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Zadar.

  • Morning Zadar Food Tour: $142
  • Preko Cooking Class and Shellfishing Experience with a Local: $190
  • Gourmet Sunset dinner on board: $239

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Zadar 19
    Puerto del Carmen 17

Tours and Activities in Zadar

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Zadar are as follows:

  • Panorama guided Zadar Eco Tuk Tuk tour: $65
  • Private Sunset tour with Antares Sailing : $107
  • Sunset boat Tour in Zadar: $24
  • Zadar Boat Tour Half Day: $42
  • Šibenik and Zadar private tour from Split or Trogir: $181
  • 2 Hour Quad Buggy ATV Mountain Adventure in Starigrad: $116
  • 3 Island Tour Swim and Snorkel with Drinks on Traditional Boat: $24
  • 3 Islands Luxury Boat Tour with Aperol Spritz: $33
  • A Self-Guided Tour of Zadar's Medieval Heart: $12
  • Adrenaline Adventure on Speedboat with 3 stops and Snorkeling: $38
  • Be a Local: Private Tour from Olive Harvest to Culinary Delight: $238
  • Boat Tour around Zadar Islands with snorkeling during half day excursion: $34

Tours and Activities in Puerto del Carmen

For Puerto del Carmen, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Las Palmas: Freedive & Deep Snorkel Experience For Beginners: $141

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Zadar 12
    Puerto del Carmen 60

Sample the Local Flavors in Zadar

Also in Zadar, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Brlog Brewery Tour and Beer Tasting : $30
  • Guided Speedboat Tour with Food, Oil & Wine Tasting: $42
  • Craft Gin and exclusive brandies in unique distillery: $78
  • City Tour with Educational Beer Tour in Brlog Brewery: $94
  • City and Wine Tour in Zadar with Eco Tuk Tuk: $107


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zadar and Puerto del Carmen, we can see that Puerto del Carmen 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 Puerto del Carmen would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Puerto del Carmen 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 Zadar Expensive? and Is Puerto del Carmen Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Zadar or Puerto del Carmen?

Zadar has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Puerto del Carmen. When comparing the sizes of Zadar and Puerto del Carmen, 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.