On the ground floor there is a display of archeological artefacts dating from 7th to 12th century, most of which represent material abundance and spiritual wealth of Croatian people of that time.

On the first floor there are numerous artefacts that depict life in northern Dalmatia during Roman times (a new display is being prepared). On the second floor there is a display of pre-historic archeological artefacts dating from Paleolithic and Iron Age (from around 10 000 BC until arrival of Romans).

As a state-owned museum it covers the district of Zadar, together with the islands of Rab and Pag. The museum has several departments: pre-historic, ancient, medieval, Modern Age, submarine archeological units department as well as the department for pedagogy and andragogy, department for conservation and restoration, library and others, including Museum of collection from Nin. In the museum in Zadar more than 100 000 archeological artefacts are kept from all cultural and historical periods from Palaeolithic time to the end of the 11th century.