Visiting Zadar? Don’t miss the Salute to the Sun
In this article, you’ll find our useful tips in pictures to help you prepare for your visit to theSun Salutation in Zadar and make the most of this must-see attraction.
This opinion is completely independent, based on our experiences. We made our own choices, visited the area anonymously, and paid our bills in full.
Why visit the Sun Salutation?
Is Saluting the Sun worth it? Our review
Absolutely! This installation adds a poetic and technological dimension to the Riva de Zadar. Designed by architect Nikola Bašić (same as for theOrgan of the Seas), it transforms the promenade into a veritable solar and cosmic calendar. We were particularly struck by the harmony between design, nature and innovation. During your visit, try to observe the 300 glass plates that capture the sun’s energy during the day, and light up in the evening to offer a light show that seems to come from the cosmos.
It was both a contemplative and vibrant experience: walking on this circle, to the rhythm of the lights and facing the sea, gave us the impression of dialoguing with the universe.
Salute to the sun is one of Zadar’s top attractions!
Discover the Organ of the Seas and all Zadar’s treasures on a guided tour!
– Enjoy an informative and leisurely walking tour to discover Zadar’s history
– Visit Zadar’s hidden gems on a guided Eco Tuk Tuk tour
Why is Salute to the Sun famous?
Inaugurated in 2008 by Nikola Bašić, we learned that the monument is formed by a 22m-diameter disk made of 300 multi-layered glass plates, on top of photovoltaic cells. Around the central circle are small spheres representing the planets of the Solar System – a nod to the cosmos! A chrome ring around the disc is engraved. Here you can read the names of Zadar’s saints and their feast days, as well as astronomical data (inclination of the sun, length of day…). The work is both an artistic object and a genuine solar calendar.
We liked the fact that, as well as being a visual spectacle, the installation was also environmentally friendly. In fact, it produces part of the electricity for Zadar’s Promenade Riva thanks to its photovoltaic panels.
Our favorite moments
- Watch the light show at dusk, when the first light of evening illuminates the glass circle, transforming it into a dance of changing colors.
- Combine this visit with a visit to the nearbyOrgue des Mers. Sunlight and the sound of the waves meet for a complete sensory experience.
- Admire the surrounding landscape.
History in brief
- Salute to the Sun(Pozdrav Suncu in Croatian) was inaugurated in 2008 and designed by Nikola Bašić, the Croatian architect who also designed the Orgue des Mers.
- The installation symbolizes communication between man, nature and the universe. You can observe a photovoltaic solar circle that captures energy during the day and releases it in the evening in the form of a light show.
- We learned that it generates several tens of thousands of kWh per year, contributing to part of the waterfront lighting.
Access: Salutation to the Sun, Zadar
Where is Salut au Soleil?
- At the northern end of the Promenade Riva, which runs along the Adriatic Sea,
- In the historic center of Zadar,
- In the immediate vicinity of Nikola Bašić’s other work: “L’Orgue des Mers”,
- Close to Zadar’s main attractions
How to get there
The site is within easy walking distance of the city’s main attractions, via the Zadar Maritime Promenade: the Riva, which offers a pleasant stroll along the coastline. The promenade leads up to the marble staircase housing the organ’s unique sound installation, whose pipes are hidden beneath the surface.
La Salutation au Soleil is not served by public transport.
Parking
If you’re coming by car, be aware that parking can be difficult in Zadar’s historic center. We recommend the nearest parking lot, ideally located near the picturesque Port of
OUR ADVICE FOR RENTING YOUR CAR AT Croatia
- Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars – one of the best rated sites.
- Choose a car that is powerful enough (the roads are steep) but compact (some passages are narrow).
- There is a lot of demand, book it early.
See our tips (coming soon)
Useful tips: duration, schedules, eating…
Best time to visit
Sunset is undoubtedly the ideal moment. You can enjoy both the last rays and the beginning of the light show. The transition from day to night is simply enchanting. At the same time, you can listen to the natural melodies produced by the nearby sea organ.
However, this tour of Zadar can be done at any time of day, depending on your schedule and your desires!
Length of visit and main difficulties
The Salute to the Sun tour takes place in the open air along Zadar’s seafront promenade. It takes around 15 minutes to discover the site, but you can spend longer depending on your pace and your desire to linger and admire the scenery. The site is accessible to all, without any particular physical effort, and presents no major difficulties.
Visiting with children
Salute to the Sun is a fun and educational experience for children. The circle, the planets, the play of light… everything will attract their curiosity! The site is accessible to baby carriages and poses no particular danger.
Le Salut au Soleil: a dialogue between light, architecture and the cosmos
Discovering Salute to the Sun, we felt as if we were walking on a real cosmic map laid out on the seashore. This work by Nikola Bašić combines solar technology, visual poetry and a tribute to astronomy.
Beneath your feet, the 300 sheets of glass capturing the sun’s energy will reveal themselves like an immense modern stained-glass window, ready to light up once night falls. We were fascinated by the precision of the device: the large 22 m circle evokes the sun, while the surrounding spheres symbolize the planets of the solar system.
Looking at the engraved metal circle, we really felt the artist’s intention: to link the city to the universe. You, too, will probably be impressed by this fusion of public art, science and contemplation, which makes Salute to the Sun a unique monument in Europe.
Seeing light dance, a memorable sensory experience
When the first LEDs came on as daylight faded, we were immediately caught up in the magic of the place. The colors began to ripple beneath our feet, as if the sea had decided to reflect in the glass and play with the night.
As the sky grew darker, the surface was transformed into a choreography of light in perpetual motion, punctuated by the solar energy accumulated during the day. We loved watching the children chasing the colored beams, and the couples sitting back to admire the spectacle.
You too can experience this vibrant, almost meditative atmosphere. A blend of sounds played by the Orgue des Mers, living light and the softness of the evening. Salute to the Sun is not just an attraction, it’s a suspended moment overlooking the Adriatic, a meeting of nature, technology and emotion.
