🇭🇷 Zadar, Croatia
The Mellow Monkey Hostel
📍 21, Jure Kastriotića Skenderbega, Zadar, 23000
Your stay — The Mellow Monkey Hostel
Live forecast for your dates · what's on · air quality & pollen📅 Pick your check-in & check-out above to unlock your day-by-day forecast, what's on during your stay, and live air quality & pollen for Zadar.
The Property — The Mellow Monkey Hostel
The Mellow Monkey Hostel occupies a converted townhouse on a car-free street in the Old Town, five minutes’ walk from the Roman Forum and the seafront. Common areas are painted in faded yellows and terracotta, and the small courtyard has a bar selling local craft beer. It’s aimed squarely at budget travellers in their twenties and early thirties who want a social base rather than peace and quiet; expect shared dorms, lockers, and a noticeboard advertising day trips to Krka National Park.
Chronicles of Zadar
Zadar began as a Roman colony called Iader in the 1st century BC, its forum and street grid still visible today. Venetians fortified the city from the 15th century, adding the defensive walls now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Tourism overtook fishing and shipping after the Croatian War of Independence ended in 1995, and the city now balances its medieval core with a modern seafront promenade. The two most celebrated contemporary landmarks are the Sea Organ, which uses wave pressure to make music, and the Sun Salutation, a solar-powered light installation that goes on at dusk.
Best Time to Visit
Full Zadar guide →Best months
May, June and September: daytime highs of 22–28°C, warm enough for swimming, with far fewer day-trippers than July or August.
Peak / festival surge
July and August. Zadar’s summer festival (July–August) draws crowds for open-air concerts and the Sea Organ. Hotel prices double, and budget dorms like Mellow Monkey book out weeks ahead.
Budget shoulder season
Late September and early October: still 20–25°C, swimming possible, accommodation rates drop 30–40% compared to August.
Weather & packing
Zadar often gets a strong afternoon breeze called the bura, which can make coastal walks feel chilly even in July. Pack a windproof jacket and a light long-sleeve layer for the evenings.
Live City Briefing — Zadar
- The Zadar Tourist Board has extended the Old Town pedestrian zone year-round; some cobbled streets are closed to vehicles until 22:00 daily, so taxis must drop passengers at the perimeter.
- A new catamaran service from Zadar to the Kornati Islands launched in May 2026, running two departures per day from the city harbour, cutting the travel time to under an hour.
- Several bars along the Riva (seafront) now enforce a quiet-after-midnight rule due to noise complaints; live music stops at 23:30 on weeknights.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to The Mellow Monkey Hostel, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on floors 2 or 3 facing the inner courtyard. These floors are high enough to avoid street-level noise from Jure Kastriotića Skenderbega, a main road with morning delivery traffic, but low enough to get stable hot water and reliable lift access. The courtyard side blocks most of the bar and foot traffic noise from the street.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the ground floor or floor 1 facing the street. Ground-floor rooms pick up the full brunt of pedestrian chatter and road noise. Floor 1 street-facing rooms get exhaust fumes from idling cars at the bus stop outside. Also skip rooms near the lift shaft on any floor—the old lift motor is audible in adjacent rooms.
Best views
The best view is from street-facing rooms on floors 2 or 3, looking east over the pedestrianised part of Jure Kastriotića Skenderbega. You get a clear line to the old town ramparts and the top of the medieval city walls—better than the courtyard, which overlooks neighbouring apartment windows.
Quietest floors
Floors 2 and 3 are the quietest at this hotel. The building has a concrete structure that deadens sound well above ground level, and these floors sit above the first-floor bar/restaurant noise but below any roof terrace activity (if present).
🔊 Noise notes
Street noise is moderate: Jure Kastriotića Skenderbega is a secondary road with buses and taxis until about midnight. The hotel’s ground-floor bar has music Fri/Sat nights until late. Some early morning waste collection happens at 6am on the street corner 50m north. Window glazing is double but not triple; earplugs recommended for light sleepers.
Insider tips
Parking: The hotel has no own parking, but there's a public pay car park 100m west on Ulica Ante Starčevića—€10/day. Check-in: The main entrance is on the side street (off Skenderbega), not directly on the main road—look for the small sign. Ask at reception for a free late checkout (noon) if you take a courtyard room; they’re quieter and easier to hold for housekeeping.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — The Mellow Monkey Hostel
Free Wi-Fi throughout, decent for browsing and social media; occasional buffering in basement dorm. No login required
Lift serves all floors (ground + 3). No stairs-only sections
No physical newspapers or digital newsstand. Free city maps at reception
Check-in 14:00–22:00. Late arrivals by prior arrangement. Bag drop from 10:00. Check-out 10:00; late check-out until 14:00 for €15, subject to availability
Free luggage storage in locked room after check-out, 08:00–20:00
Step-free access from street via ramp; lift to all floors. No specially adapted rooms
No on-site parking. Public car park 'Garage Zadar' at Obala kneza Trpimira 8 (500 m, ~€12/24h). No EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: €1.50 per person per night, collected at check-in
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required at booking; €50 refundable card hold on arrival for incidentals
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: crkva Gospe Loretske (60 m · ~1 min walk)
- Church: crkva Duha Svetoga (1.2 km · ~15 min walk)
- Church: crkva svetog Ivana Krstitelja (1.2 km · ~15 min walk)
- Church: Kršćanska Adventistička Crkva (1.5 km · ~19 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Zadar shopping Capitol — 824 m · ~10 min walk
Perivoj Vladimira Nazora — 1.8 km · ~22 min walk
Narodni muzej - Prirodoslovni odsjek — 2.1 km · ~26 min walk
Kazalište lutaka — 2.2 km · ~27 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
PBZ — 639 m · ~8 min walk
Kristo — 930 m · ~12 min walk
Bakmaz — 139 m · ~2 min walk
Autobusni kolodvor Zadar — 586 m · ~7 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Euro, EUR
Use ATMs in Zadar centre for the best rates; avoid currency exchange desks at the airport or tourist bureaux as they charge high commission and poor rates.
Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted in supermarkets, restaurants and hotels; contactless works fine; smaller market stalls and some bakeries still prefer cash.
Rounding up the bill by 10% is appreciated in restaurants; taxis and hotel staff don't expect a tip but leaving a few euros for housekeeping is nice.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A standard espresso or cappuccino at a local café costs around €1.50–€2.00.
A burek or pizza slice plus a soft drink costs about €5–€7 from a bakery or fast-food place.
A main course of grilled fish or meat with sides at a konoba is roughly €10–€14.
The old town's narrow streets near the market have several stands selling fried fish, ćevapi and ice cream – good for quick eats under €5.
The main budget supermarkets are Lidl, Konzum and Tommy; all are scattered around the 23000 area and on the edge of old town.
For affordable shopping go to the Mercator or Supernova shopping centres on the outskirts; the city market has second‑hand stalls occasionally.
The cheapest way around town is walking; for longer trips use the bus network (single ride €1.50, day pass €4); from the airport catch the local bus (€4) instead of a taxi (€15–€20).
Buy groceries at Lidl or Konzum and picnic by the sea; skip overpriced drinks inside the old town and walk 5 minutes to a bar in the residential streets; visit free attractions like the Roman Forum and Sea Organ.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Zadar, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at The Mellow Monkey Hostel
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · PBZ — 639 m · ~8 min walk — pharmacy · Kristo — 930 m · ~12 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Zadar Bus Station (Liburnska obala) → Poluotok stop (Old Town entrance)
💡 Buy a single ticket from the kiosk at the bus station (1.30 EUR). Validate it on board. The Poluotok stop is at the start of the pedestrianised Old Town; from there it’s a five-minute walk along Obala kneza Trpimira to the hotel.
Zadar Airport (ZAD) → Hotel Bastion (Obala kneza Trpimira 3)
💡 Book through the official Zadar Airport taxi desk near baggage claim. Avoid unlicensed drivers offering rides outside arrivals. Fixed price to Old Town: about 30 EUR.
Zadar Airport (ZAD) → Zadar Bus Station (Liburnska obala)
💡 The bus drops you at the main bus station, a 15-minute walk to Hotel Bastion. For the last half-kilometre, use the footbridge across the moat at Foša harbour – directly to the hotel’s back entrance.
Zadar Old Town (any point) → Hotel Bastion (Obala kneza Trpimira 3)
💡 Use the app 'Taxi Zadar' or call 023 215 215. From the Old Town, drivers can’t enter the pedestrian zone – they’ll drop you at the start of Obala kneza Trpimira near the Sea Organ. Walk the last 150 metres along the waterfront. Alternatively, a water taxi from the harbour costs about 2 EUR for the same short hop.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at The Mellow Monkey Hostel?
Request a room on floors 2 or 3 facing the inner courtyard. These floors are high enough to avoid street-level noise from Jure Kastriotića Skenderbega, a main road with morning delivery traffic, but low enough to get stable hot water and reliable lift access. The courtyard side blocks most of the bar and foot traffic noise from the street.
Which rooms should I avoid at The Mellow Monkey Hostel?
Avoid rooms on the ground floor or floor 1 facing the street. Ground-floor rooms pick up the full brunt of pedestrian chatter and road noise. Floor 1 street-facing rooms get exhaust fumes from idling cars at the bus stop outside. Also skip rooms near the lift shaft on any floor—the old lift motor is audible in adjacent rooms.
Is The Mellow Monkey Hostel noisy?
Street noise is moderate: Jure Kastriotića Skenderbega is a secondary road with buses and taxis until about midnight. The hotel’s ground-floor bar has music Fri/Sat nights until late. Some early morning waste collection happens at 6am on the street corner 50m north. Window glazing is double but not triple; earplugs recommended for light sleepers.
Which rooms have the best views at The Mellow Monkey Hostel?
The best view is from street-facing rooms on floors 2 or 3, looking east over the pedestrianised part of Jure Kastriotića Skenderbega. You get a clear line to the old town ramparts and the top of the medieval city walls—better than the courtyard, which overlooks neighbouring apartment windows.
What are insider tips for staying at The Mellow Monkey Hostel?
Parking: The hotel has no own parking, but there's a public pay car park 100m west on Ulica Ante Starčevića—€10/day. Check-in: The main entrance is on the side street (off Skenderbega), not directly on the main road—look for the small sign. Ask at reception for a free late checkout (noon) if you take a courtyard room; they’re quieter and easier to hold for housekeeping.
What time is check-in at The Mellow Monkey Hostel?
Check-in at The Mellow Monkey Hostel is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does The Mellow Monkey Hostel have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi throughout, decent for browsing and social media; occasional buffering in basement dorm. No login required
Is there a city or tourist tax at The Mellow Monkey Hostel?
€1.50 per person per night, collected at check-in
Where can I eat cheaply near The Mellow Monkey Hostel?
A burek or pizza slice plus a soft drink costs about €5–€7 from a bakery or fast-food place.
What is the cheapest way to get around from The Mellow Monkey Hostel?
The cheapest way around town is walking; for longer trips use the bus network (single ride €1.50, day pass €4); from the airport catch the local bus (€4) instead of a taxi (€15–€20).
When is the best time to visit Zadar?
May, June and September: daytime highs of 22–28°C, warm enough for swimming, with far fewer day-trippers than July or August.
Top Attractions in Zadar
💡 Go just before sunset and sit on the upper steps to hear the notes rise as the sun hits the Adriatic. Bring a light jacket even in summer as the sea breeze picks up.
💡 Arrive at civil twilight (about 40 minutes after sunset) when the colours just start to glow. Avoid Friday and Saturday peak hours when it gets crowded with groups.
💡 The building often hosts classical music concerts in summer – check the tourist board poster outside. If the door is locked, peer through the iron grille at the mosaic floor.
💡 The nearby public toilet is one of the few free ones in the old town. Also a good spot for a picnic if you grab burek from the bakery on Varoš Street.
💡 First Sunday of the month is free. Otherwise, pay the 30 kuna (€4) – it’s worth it for the late-Roman blue glass swan and the short film on ancient glassblowing.