Ugljan Island

The tranquil island of Ugljan is located within sight of the city of Zadar laying a few miles away on the mainland. Only a narrow strait separates the island and city from each other. Ugljan is densely covered with typical Mediterranean plants, shrubs and trees, olive trees, palms and cypresses which produce the dominating green image of the island. Numerous hiking and biking trails run through the countryside, and those coming at their own accord, especially mountain bikers will enjoy the hilly terrain. The numerous, scarcely frequented, sand and gravel beaches are another reason why Ugljan is an insider tip for tourists in Croatia. Yet few tourists come here to enjoy the romantic beauty of the sunniest island in the Zadar archipelago.

Sights and Attractions on Ugljan

The around 7,500 locals still subsist from that which their ancestors did hundreds of years ago: mainly from olive and fruit tree orchards and fishing. On Ugljan, fishing has had a long tradition: The fishing grounds off the coast are unusually rich and the quality of the fish caught so high that even its tuna is exported to distant Japan. But that is not the sole reason why the Adriatic Sea before Ugljan is such an exciting area. Divers are attracted in large numbers to the sea here. The underwater reefs are teeming with life, such as rare corals, fish and other marine life just waiting to be discovered by divers. Besides swimmers and those looking for active holidays, the island is very much appreciated by cultural visitors. Around the island are a number of historical sights to see. Northeast of Muline there is an archaeological site dating back to Roman times with a villa rustica, a mausoleum and mills. Located on a small peninsula in the northeastern outskirts of Ugljan, right next to a gently-falling into the sea sandy beach is the Franciscan Monastery of Holy Jerónimos dating back to the year 1430. On the nearby islet of Galevac there is also another Franciscan monastery open to visitors. Visitors can make further interesting discoveries on the islet of Osljak, where among other things, the ruins of two olive mills from the 18th century are located. Here, visitors can hike through and discover the spooky environment. Olive oil was produced here 100 years ago and still is to this day. Also worth seeing is the Baroque church Sveti Lovre, whose bell tower overlooks the traditional fishing village of Kali on Ugljan. Kali is one of the larger towns on the island and extends between two small ports in the northwest and to the Otric Bay in the southeast. In the vicinity of the town of Preko the ruins of the Sveti Mihovil Castle lure visitors. Those who climb the fortress hill are rewarded with a fantastic view of the village of Preko and the upstream Monastery Island of Galovac - on most days you can even look over to Zadar. Preko in English means "on the other side" or "over", which best describes its location directly opposite of Zadar. From Zadar, there is regular ferry service between the mainland and the island. Each visitor individually experiences the the village, its charm and its Mediterranean flair at their own paces.

Wonderful Sand and Gravel Beaches on Ugljan

Ugljan is known for its beautiful sandy and pebbled beaches. The Bay of Muline attracts guests, in particular, with its beautiful beaches. In the town of Ugljan, the sandy Mostir beach is very suitable for bathing, especially for children and non-swimmers. Also, near the Kukuljica resort, there are some sand and gravel beaches suitable for families in the Kuncabok Bay. Furthermore, there are a variety of shops, restaurants and bars, as well as sports and leisure activities. Surrounded by lush pine forests, the cozy village of Lukoran lies near the ferry terminal. From here, you can take a hike to one of the various hidden bays. The small village of Poljana, referred to as the orchard of Zadar, is also very popular. Here a variety of fruits and vegetables thrive year-round in countless gardens and are eventually sold in the markets in Zadar. An interesting destination for boaters is the quaint, small town of Sutomiscica in the bay. Other beautiful beaches are found in Guduce and Susica.

How to get there

Ugljan and Pasman are two of the largest islands of the Zadar archipelago and are only separated from the mainland by a narrow channel. Accordingly, the journey turns out to be relatively short one between the two elongated islands from the south of Kukljica (Ugljan) and west of Zdrelac (Pasman) which are connected by a bridge. The ferry from Pasman is run by the Jadrolinija ship company and connects Pasman to Biograd on the mainland through the route number 432. It only takes 15 minutes for the car ferry to complete its travels and reach the port in the island town of Tkon. In the busy season between late June and late August, the ferry runs from 5am to 9pm hourly, and even nonstop if necessary. In the off season, there are still 12 connections per day, but at slightly different times. In addition, some routes do not occur depending on the day or date - so it is recommended to take a look at the more current schedule prior to departure. Those who do not like waiting for the ferry, can park their car on the mainland and, for example, be picked up in Biograd by the landlord of their rented holiday cottage by motorboat.

The Jadrolinija ship company also has a car ferry route connecting Preko on Ugljan with the port city of Zadar. The route 431 travels every hour even in the low season- May to late September- from 5am to 11pm. The cheap ferry reaches its destination after about 25 minutes and is used by tourists and day trippers, as well as by many island residents who commute to work on the mainland.