Hostel Stadion
Bruno's place — curtained pod-bunks, ensuite bathrooms in every dorm, Lidl across the road, the local-host hostel of Zadar.
Hostel Stadion is the host-led hostel in the Stanovi residential pocket, named for the football stadium across the street. Run by Bruno (whose name appears in nearly every five-star review), it's the curtained-pod-bunk hostel of Zadar — every dorm has its own ensuite bathroom and a Lidl supermarket across the road. 8.6 across 500 reviews and trending up.
Stadion sits on Ulica Hrvoja Ćustića 2, two blocks from the Zadar city football stadium and across the road from a Lidl supermarket. The address is in Stanovi — residential, quiet, and a 15-minute walk through real Zadar streets to the Land Gate of the Old Town. The bus station is 8 minutes' walk for Plitvice and Pag departures.
The building is purpose-fitted as a hostel rather than a converted apartment: dorms are large, with curtained pod-bunks (heavy curtain, in-bed lamp, shelf, sockets), tall personal lockers and ensuite bathrooms shared only by the dorm's occupants. The pod design means even the bottom bunks have proper sit-up room — a small detail that backpackers reviewing here keep noticing. Every room has AC, tiled floors and the kind of dressing-room layout that makes a 4-day stay feel less crowded.
The shared kitchen is properly equipped (multiple hobs, fridge, kettle, kitchenware) and the Lidl across the road is the cheapest grocery in central Zadar — guests cook here far more than at the Old Town hostels where dining out is the default. Bruno is the host and the reason the hostel works: he handles late check-ins, books Pag transfers without markup, and has the kind of presence that turns 'just a hostel' into 'felt like home' (his most-quoted review line).
There's no organised bar crawl and no rooftop, but the lounge runs late and the kitchen at 19:00 is sociable in a low-key way. Most guests use Stadion as a quiet base for Plitvice/Krka day trips and Pag/Ugljan ferry runs.
- 01Pod-bunks with heavy curtains, in-bed lamp, shelf and sockets — best dorm design in Zadar at this price
- 02Ensuite bathrooms shared only between dorm occupants, not the whole floor
- 03Bruno is hands-on host — late check-in, transfer booking, neighbourhood tips on tap
- 04Lidl across the road = cheapest cooking in central Zadar
- 05Quiet residential street with the bus station 8 minutes' walk away
- Curtained pod-bunks with in-bed lamp, shelf, sockets and privacy curtain
- Ensuite bathroom in every dorm, shared only between dorm occupants
- Shared kitchen with multiple hobs, fridge, kettle and kitchenware
- Lidl supermarket across the street, bus station 8 min walk
“Bruno is a wonderful person. Though he is running a business, he welcomes everyone like his own personal guest. Didn't even feel like I was staying somewhere far for holiday. Felt like home.”
“Close to bus station. Very clean. Bed with curtain. Great cooking facilities. 2 toilets and showers in room. Supermarket Lidl very close.”
“Everything very clean. Good aesthetic atmosphere in the bunks, very soft and warm. Heavy curtains for privacy. Accommodating and friendly staff. Peaceful and safe. Bus central is 15 min walk.”
- Lidl supermarket30 sec walk
- Bus station (Plitvice, Pag, Krka)8 min walk
- Old Town Land Gate15 min walk
- Kolovare Beach19 min walk
- Sea Organ & Greeting to the Sun22 min walk
- Stanovi Stadium (NK Zadar)2 min walk
