Two silhouetted visitors on the Sea Organ waterfront in Zadar, looking out to sea at sunset

Landmark · Zadar, Zadar County

Zadar – Sea Organ & Greeting to the Sun

Waterfront steps that play music with the waves, beside a solar-powered circle of light

Ambient soundSea Organ tones and lapping waves, Zadar

Photo: Partha Narasimhan (@notsphinx) / Unsplash

Discover Zadar – Sea Organ & Greeting to the Sun

At the western tip of Zadar's old town peninsula, the waterfront steps breathe. Beneath the white stone, a set of pipes catches the movement of the sea and releases it as low, shifting chords through small openings in the steps. Sit down, listen and watch the boats pass: no two minutes sound the same.

A few steps away, the Greeting to the Sun is a 22-metre circle of glass panels set into the promenade. By day it quietly gathers solar energy; after dusk it glows with changing colours and patterns, and children and adults alike walk and dance across it. Together the two installations have become a popular place to watch the sun go down over the islands.

Don’t miss

01The Sea Organ's marble steps, with 35 pipes beneath producing sound from the waves
02The Greeting to the Sun, a 22 m circle of about 300 glass solar plates
03The evening light show on the Greeting to the Sun after dusk
04Sunset views across the channel towards the islands off Zadar
05The Riva promenade linking the installations with the old town

History & culture

The story of Zadar – Sea Organ & Greeting to the Sun

Both installations came out of a project to renew this stretch of Zadar's waterfront. Architect Nikola Bašić designed the Sea Organ, which opened on 15 April 2005: about 70 metres of stepped stone with 35 pipes of different lengths and diameters beneath it, tuned to chords inspired by Dalmatian klapa singing. In 2006 it shared the European Prize for Urban Public Space.

Bašić followed it in 2008 with the Greeting to the Sun, made of some 300 multi-layered glass plates with solar modules underneath. Its design represents the solar system, and the surrounding ring carries the names of Zadar's patron saints with their feast days. Energy collected during the day powers the light show and also feeds into the lighting along the promenade.

Local life & traditions

The Riva is Zadar's living room. Locals walk here in the evening, sit on the steps to chat, and swim from the waterfront on summer days. The Sea Organ and Greeting to the Sun have become part of the city's identity, mixing modern design with the old-town setting and with the klapa harmonies that inspired the organ's tuning.

Things to do

Experience it like a local

Come in the hour before sunset, find a place on the Sea Organ steps and listen as the sound changes with the swell; a passing boat's wake can set off a sudden chorus. After the sun sets, walk over to the Greeting to the Sun to watch it light up, then stroll back along the Riva into the old town.

During the day the area is calmer, and it is pleasant to sit by the water between visits to Zadar's Roman forum, churches and museums nearby. The installations are in a public space and can be visited at any time.

When to go

Any time of year works, since the installations are outdoors and free. From May to September sunsets are late and warm, and the steps fill with visitors; spring and autumn are quieter with softer light. Windier days with more swell make the Sea Organ louder, while a calm sea gives gentler tones.

Plan your visit

Travel tips

Arrive 30-45 minutes before sunset to get a seat on the steps in summer.
Wait until full dusk for the best view of the Greeting to the Sun light show.
Keep children close on the steps: they lead straight into the sea and can be slippery.
Be respectful of others listening; music from speakers spoils the experience.

General guidance from our specialists, not official information.

Around Zadar – Sea Organ & Greeting to the Sun: food, markets & places to stay

The installations sit at the end of the Riva on the old town peninsula, a short walk from the Roman forum, St Donatus' Church and St Anastasia's Cathedral. Cafes and ice-cream shops line the nearby streets, and ferries and catamarans to the islands leave from the harbour on the peninsula. Zadar is also a common base for day trips to Plitvice Lakes and Krka National Park.