Boutique Hostel Forum
Built into the Roman Forum, on Kalelarga, with sea-view dorms and 3,200 reviews — Zadar's most famous hostel and the loudest Old Town address.
Boutique Hostel Forum is the most-reviewed hostel in Zadar (3,200 reviews) and the most-photographed: it's literally built next to the Roman Forum and St Donatus' Church, on Kalelarga (Široka ulica), the main pedestrian spine of the Old Town. Sea-view dorms, modern boutique-spec interiors, breakfast included on twin/double rooms — and the Sea Organ is a four-minute walk.
Forum sits in the absolute centre of Zadar Stari Grad — Kalelarga is the marble-paved main street and the hostel doors open onto it. Outside the door, the Roman Forum, the round 9th-century St Donatus rotunda, the Cathedral of St Anastasia, the Greek-theatre-style Forum steps and the daily street performers. Inside the door, modern design: white walls, blonde wood, glass dividers, sea-view rooms on the upper floors, card-key locks throughout.
The hostel is the largest in Zadar (over 60 beds) and runs on a hotel-tier reception model: 24h front desk, card-lock dorms, breakfast tables, an in-house café-bar, and a tour desk that handles Plitvice/Krka/Kornati/Pag transfers. Standard twin and superior double rooms include breakfast — the dorms don't, but the same breakfast is available paid à la carte.
The trade-off of the Old Town address is two-fold. First: marble streets carry sound, and the bars on the Riva run late on weekends in summer (June–August). Second: 3,200 reviews means a lot of turnover and a wider mix of guest types than smaller hostels — the experience is closer to a budget design hotel than a personal-host hostel like Stadion or Lazy Monkey. In return, you wake up inside the Forum.
The ferry port is a 4-minute walk for Ugljan and Dugi Otok day trips. The bus stop for the Pag/Plitvice line is 150 metres. The Sea Organ is 400 metres. Everything you came to Zadar for is within a 10-minute radius.
- 01Walk out of the door and you're in the Roman Forum — there is no more central address in Zadar
- 02Sea-view dorms on the upper floors with the Adriatic out the window
- 03Hotel-tier reception (24h, card-key, English-speaking, tour desk) with hostel pricing
- 04Breakfast included for twin and double private rooms
- 05Ferry port, bus stop, Sea Organ, Forum, Cathedral, Land Gate — all within 10 minutes' walk
- On Kalelarga (Široka ulica), the main marble pedestrian street of the Old Town
- Sea-view rooms on the upper floors
- In-house café-bar and tour desk for Plitvice, Krka, Kornati, Pag
- Card-key dorms with per-bed lockers and modern boutique fit-out
“The hostel's location is perfect, next to the Roman Forum and with sea view. The twin room had all the basic necessities and was comfortable. An incredible quality for price.”
“Very peaceful in winter when there are hardly any customers. Comfortable beds, great interior design, handy card key, very central position. Coffee machine in the hallway with wooden sticks, not plastic ones.”
“It is a great value for money, breakfast is nice, location is superb. Recommendations.”
- Roman Forum & St Donatus rotundaSteps from the front door
- St Anastasia's Cathedral1 min walk
- Sea Organ & Greeting to the Sun4 min walk
- Ferry Port (Ugljan, Dugi Otok, Pašman)4 min walk
- Five Wells Square & Land Gate6 min walk
- Bus stop (Pag, Plitvice, Krka)150m walk
