MY HOTEL PINIJA REVIEW: ONE OF THE BEST HOTELS NEAR ZADAR

If you’re looking for an amazing hotel near Zadar, you need to read my Hotel Pinija review!

We stayed at Hotel Pinija in April during our yearly coastal road trip, and we absolutely loved it. We’d heard so many great things about the hotel beforehand, and honestly, it completely lived up to our expectations.

If you’re searching for a great hotel near Zadar, this hotel could be a fantastic choice. But if you still need a bit more convincing, keep reading!

HOTEL OVERVIEW AND AMENITIES

Hotel Pinija is a beautiful and comfortable beachfront hotel surrounded by pine trees and amazing Adriatic Sea views. The hotel offers great rooms for both couples and families, along with plenty of facilities for a relaxing holiday. You can enjoy indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a wellness and spa area, a gym, tennis courts, and easy access to the beach.

There are also restaurants serving both local and international dishes, bars with outdoor seating, and various activities for both children and adults during the summer season.

CHECK-IN

The check-in at Hotel Pinija was quick and very easy. We visited in April, so the hotel wasn’t overly crowded, but there were still a few people checking in and everything moved really smoothly.

The staff were lovely and explained everything in detail. We also received a free parking card to place in the car as hotel guests, which was a really nice bonus. The reception and lobby area look absolutely incredible, and from the moment you arrive, the hotel really gives you that luxurious holiday feeling. We loved it!

THE ROOM

We stayed in a premium room with a balcony at Hotel Pinija, and we really enjoyed it. The room itself does feel slightly more outdated compared to the stunning lobby and reception area, but it was lovely and very comfortable and the balcony was great.

The room included all the amenities we needed, such as a hairdryer, slippers, bathrobes, and everything else you’d expect for a comfortable stay. It was also very quiet during the night, so overall we had a really relaxing experience. The only small thing I missed was carpet on the floors, since they felt quite cold while we were there in April, but I completely understand why that probably isn’t an issue during the summer months.

THE RESTAURANTS

We had both breakfast and dinner included in our stay at Hotel Pinija, and we ate at the buffet restaurant Mediteran. Honestly, it was amazing!

Buffets can sometimes really be hit or miss, but we genuinely loved almost everything we tried here. The breakfast had a huge variety of food, and there was even a live station where they prepared omelettes for you. Dinner was even better, with plenty of different options and really delicious food. I had an amazing risotto, while my boyfriend tried a traditional Croatian stew, and we were both really happy with our meals.

The only thing I didn’t love was that during dinner, the only drink included in the half-board package was water. It does feel like it pushes guests to order additional drinks, and they were quite expensive. One Coca-Cola and one beer cost us 9 euros.

The hotel also has several additional dining options, including the à la carte restaurants Restaurant Lanterna and Restaurant Kantun, as well as the Golden Restaurant & Bar. There are also several bars around the property, so you’ll always have somewhere to grab a drink, whether you’re by the hotel or relaxing on the beach.

SPA AND WELLNESS

When it comes to the spa and wellness area at Hotel Pinija, some facilities are included in your stay, while others require an additional payment. We had access to the saunas and both the indoor and outdoor pools, but for the whirlpools and some extra wellness areas, you need to reserve a time slot in advance, and it costs 8 euros per person for an hour.

Honestly, the price itself is very reasonable, but the area is quite small, so reservations fill up quickly. By the time we tried to book a slot, there weren’t any available during our stay, so unfortunately we had to skip it.

If you’re staying for a few days, I’d definitely recommend reserving your spa time on the first day. The indoor pool itself is huge though, and you can still have a really great time there even without the extra wellness section.

BEACH ACCESS

The beach access at Hotel Pinija was probably my favourite part of the whole hotel. It only takes a few steps to reach the sea, and there are plenty of loungers included in your stay. You can choose between loungers right by the water or ones placed in the shade under the pine trees, depending on what you prefer.

The sea itself is crystal-clear with very easy access, and overall this is an amazing hotel choice if you want a relaxing beach holiday without having to walk far or deal with crowded public beaches. There’s also another long beach right next to the hotel, so spending your days by the sea here is incredibly easy and enjoyable.

WHAT TO DO THERE

There’s plenty to do both at Hotel Pinija and in the surrounding area, so you definitely won’t get bored during your stay.

When it comes to the hotel itself, my absolute favourite activity was the mini golf course! It costs 12 euros for two people, and you can easily spend over an hour there having a really fun time. Besides that, you can also play tennis or table tennis, rent bikes and cycle around the area, or simply relax by the sea while the kids enjoy the kids’ club.

Outside the hotel, you’re only about 10 minutes away from Nin, which you absolutely need to visit, and around 15 minutes from Zadar, one of the most popular coastal cities in Croatia. You also have some fantastic day trip options nearby, including Krka National Park or boat tours to the islands around Zadar.

MY HONEST FINAL HOTEL PINIJA REVIEW

We absolutely loved Hotel Pinija and I genuinely can’t recommend it enough! From the lovely and comfortable room with a great balcony, to the amazing breakfast and dinner buffet, beautiful beach access, and fun activities around the hotel, it really feels like the perfect place for an easy and relaxing holiday while still having plenty to do nearby. The drinks are definitely on the expensive side, but overall I think the rest of the hotel’s offer is excellent and absolutely worth the money.