UNKNOWN
Ugljan
610 Hummingbird Lane, Ugljan 40809, Croatia
610 Hummingbird Lane, Ugljan 40809, Croatia
Only a short 25-minute boat journey across the Zadar Channel, Ugljan is a green, mountainous island carpeted with olive groves and dotted with small fishing ports. It's a beguiling island that has become a popular weekend getaway for Zadar residents who come for the beaches, bike paths and hiking trails. Ugljan runs northwest to southeast for 24km and is only 4km at its widest point. The gentle eastern side facing Zadar is more populous while the uninhabited western side is rugged and steep. Throughout the island, residents work at fishing, cultivating olives and grapes and tending to visitors. Named after the Croatian word for olive (ulje), Ugljan makes a great rustic escape from busy Zadar or an alternative place to stay.
Preko is the administrative centre of Ugljan island and where the Jadrolinija boats dock. It's a delightful place to linger, sipping a coffee along the harbour or strolling the tiny town. From Preko a hiking path leads up to St Michael's church (265m) with a sweeping view of the island and Zadar's archipelago.
It's easy to rent a bike from Preko and bike along a coastal path that runs from Preko to Kukljica. Bike paths also run from Ugljan to the western side of the island. The tourist offices have maps with hiking trails to the western side.
The indented coastline of Ugljan curves around a multitude of swimming coves of all types. The coastal path from Preko to Kali is easily accessible by foot or bike and passes a number of swimming spots. Just outside Preko on the way to Kali is the well-developed but concrete Jaz Beach with WC, showers, snacks, lifeguards and wheelchair accessibility. Zelena Punta outside Kukljica is shaded by pines and slopes gradually into crystal-clear water. Also nearby is pretty Kostanj beach. For more seclusion, take a 15-minute walk to Sabusa and Jelenica beaches on the other side of the island
Croatia's islands are numerous (at least 1185 depending on which size rock counts as an island!) and spectacular. From remote fishing outposts to harbours dotted with massive yachts, Croatian islands display nearly every style you can imagine and some you haven't yet imagined. With all those islands in Croatia, it may surprise you to know that only 66 islands are inhabited. Although the islands stretch from Istria to Dubrovnik, most islands are clustered in central and southern Dalmatia. Istria has few islands. Central Dalmatian islands tend to be dry and rocky, carpeted with brush and olive trees while southern islands are green and forested. For geological reasons, Croatian islands tend to be long and narrow, running from northwest to southeast and parallel to the coastal mountains.
ExploreEtiam non quam lacus suspendisse faucibus interdum. Orci ac auctor augue mauris augue neque. Bibendum at varius vel pharetra. Viverra orci sagittis eu volutpat. Platea dictumst vestibulum rhoncus est pellentesque elit ullamcorper.
