Nautical tourism is a complex term that is closey related to the stay of tourists-sailors who are in ports and outside of them and who use boats for the purpose of recreation, leisure and some other needs. From the aspect od activity, nautical tourism can be classified into three forms, namely: nautical tourism ports, cruising and charter. According to the Ordinance on the classification of nautical tourism, they are classified into: anchorages, moorings, dry marinas and marinas. Nautical tourism ports are importan aspect of initiating the development of nautical tourism, which involves much more than just providing service activities. This paper will clearly define the ports of nautical tourism in Zadar. This will provide an insight into the existing capacities of marinas and moorings. It will be explained what happened nautical tourism in Zadar County after the occurrence of the COVID-19 pandemic. The paper will also look at the consequences imposed by the pandemic that nautical tourism must face. Expanding the capacity of nautical tourism while investing in its quality is a complex task and the desired direction of development of nautical tourism. The challenges posed by the pandemic to nautical tourism in Zadar County and tourism in general, require a synergistic effect of all important stakeholders in nautical tourism in order to meet the sett tasks.