Island in Dalmatia – Zadar
Dugi otok
- Best time to go
- June, July, Sept
- Part of
- Dalmatia – Zadar
Dugi Otok, the 'long island', is the outermost of the large islands off Zadar, more than 40 km long and only a few kilometres wide.
It has no big resorts and only a handful of villages, so it feels far quieter than its short distance from Zadar suggests. In the north is Sakarun, a long bay of white pebbles and shallow turquoise water, and in the south is Telašćica Nature Park, a deep, sheltered bay with high cliffs facing the open sea. People come for the sea, for sailing and diving, and for the slow pace.
Things to do
Don't miss in Dugi otok
- Swim at Sakarun, a long bay near Soline with fine white pebbles and shallow, bright blue water.
- Visit the Veli Rat lighthouse at the island's north-west tip, a tall nineteenth-century lighthouse with a small beach beside it.
- Spend a day in Telašćica Nature Park in the south, with its sheltered bay, the cliffs over the open sea and the salt lake Mir.
- Wander around Sali, the island's main village, and watch the fishing boats come into the harbour.
- Dive from Sali or Božava; the clear water, walls and reefs make the island popular with divers.
- Drive the single road from Sali to Veli Rat, stopping at viewpoints and small coves along the way.
Where to stay
Pick your neighbourhood
Sali
the island's largest village, with a fishing harbour, restaurants and boats into Telašćica
Božava
a small resort village in the north with hotels, a few beaches and diving
Veli Rat and Soline
people who want Sakarun beach and the lighthouse nearby, and real quiet
Brbinj
a sheltered bay by the ferry port, handy if you arrive without a car
Tours and getting around
Day trips from Dugi otok
Boat trips from Zadar, Biograd and Murter visit Telašćica and the cliffs, often combined with the Kornati National Park next door. On the island, boats from Sali go into Telašćica, and diving centres in Sali and Božava run trips to the outer reefs.
A car, scooter or bike is the easiest way to get around, as the villages are far apart and buses are few. If you come over on foot, some places to stay can arrange rental on the island. Renting a small boat in Sali or Božava is the best way to see the bays of Telašćica and the islets nearby.
Getting there
How to get to Dugi otok
Jadrolinija's car ferry from Zadar docks at Brbinj, in the middle of the island, and its catamaran from Zadar calls at Božava and Brbinj. G&V Line runs foot-passenger catamarans from Zadar to Sali and Zaglav in the south. Zadar Airport is the nearest. One main road runs the length of the island, so check ferry times on jadrolinija.hr and gv-line.hr and plan how you will get from the port to where you are staying.