This route from Buzet in Istria to Zadar in Dalmatia is part of a two-week holiday to Albania and back. It can of course also serve as a starting point for your own route or holiday plans. This route is planned and driven in 2023.

The start of this route is in Buzet. Buzet, located in inland Istria, Croatia, is a true truffle paradise. This region is known for its delicious truffles, which grow deep underground near the roots of trees. This ancient town is one of many in the region. High on a mountain with a sturdy city wall, a safe place in times of war.
The route heads south. At photo point Draguć, you will see an old medieval town that has served as the backdrop for many films and series. A good point for a photo. Further inland you drive through many small hamlets, some of which still clearly bear the traces of years of communist rule. The roads are surprisingly well maintained. As you approach the small town of Plomin, you see the blue of the Adriatic Sea in front of you. Although Plomin itself is not that big, the power station next to the village makes a big impression. A huge complex with a very high chimney. A little further on is Hotel Flanona, although it looks like it will never open again, it is a nice point for a few photos of the view and the island of Cres that lies off the coast.
The road along the coast will now determine your route. This is not a major main road, it is wonderfully quiet and provides a relaxing stretch with beautiful views. Arriving in Lovran, it is time for coffee or a delicious ice cream sundae. Gelateria Lucica has both and with a terrace at the back overlooking the small harbor, this is a nice resting point. From Lovran it starts to get a bit busier. Opatija is the last coastal town before you enter the large port of Rijeka. Rijeka is the main port of Croatia. Although the city was completely destroyed in several wars, it has been rebuilt again and again. The city may have lost some of its grandeur, but in 2020 Rijeka was the cultural capital of Europe.
The route continues south and just outside Rijeka you turn onto the Jadranska Magistrala. The Jadranska Magistrala, also known as the Adriatic Highway or officially the D8 state road, is a scenic coastal road that stretches for 643 kilometers along the east coast of the Adriatic Sea in Croatia. Whether it winds along deeply incised bays or skirts scree-covered mountains, there is hardly a dull stretch in this section of the route. The views are unforgettable. In Novi Vinodolski, it is time for lunch. Cafe Bar GAT has a small lunch menu, the food can be enjoyed on the terrace on the water.
If you don't have tickets for the ferry yet, now is a good time. They can be purchased online at https://www.jadrolinija.hr/en/ For a motor crossing you pay less than €5.- 65km further you have arrived at the port. This is where the crossing from Prizna to Žigljen begins. After a 15-minute boat ride you have arrived on the desert island of Pag.
The term desert island is obvious, it seems like a completely different world. No vegetation and just bare rocks. It is useful to let local traffic find their way first before you set off yourself. These have their own traffic rules. On the way to Pag town you will undoubtedly notice the small sales places of Paški sir, although that will not mean much to most. Paški sir, also known as Pag cheese, is a Croatian cheese variety made from hard, distinctively flavorful sheep's milk. This cheese originates from the Adriatic island of Pag and is widely considered the most famous of all artisanal cheeses made in the country. You can even find it in many markets outside Croatia. Pag town has been the city of salt for centuries. The city has its own salt museum, where the role of salt and the city is further explained. The last photo point for today offers a view of the bridge in front of you and the old fortress a little further away.

Once in Zadar, a hotel in a suburb is a good choice. Quieter and cheaper. In the evening you take an Uber to get to the old center. You can also walk, but it is so easy for a few euros. In the old center, few buildings have been spared by the many wars, which makes the center slightly less attractive. In the evening this deficiency is compensated for by a large crowd and numerous restaurants. Two attractions that are definitely worth seeing are the sea organ, Morske orgulje, and the Greeting to the Sun. The Sea Organ in Zadar's old town is an intriguing architectural work of art located right on the water. Designed by Croatian architect Nikola Bašić and opened to the public in 2005, this experimental instrument creates harmonious sounds based on wind, wave movements and pipes under a marble staircase. The Sun Salutation, which is next to it, is by the same architect. It is a fascinating work of art that charges with solar energy during the day and creates a colorful show of light in the evening. This unique design conceived by architect Nikola Bašić is located along the waterfront on Riva Nova boulevard.