01Does Paklenica Have Islands?
No. Paklenica is a mountain national park on the southern slope of Velebit, with two canyons, Velika Paklenica and Mala Paklenica, running inland from the village of Starigrad-Paklenica. The sea in front of Starigrad is the Velebit Channel. The islands in view are Pag to the northwest and Ugljan and Pašman further south. Island hopping from Paklenica therefore means using Starigrad as a base and driving to a ferry port or bridge.
The coast road D8 (the Adriatic Highway) connects every crossing in this guide. A car makes the plan far easier. Public buses run along the D8, but ferry timing and island distances make a rental or private car the practical choice.
02The Islands Within Reach of Starigrad-Paklenica
Pag: The Closest Island (15 Minutes by Ferry)
Pag is the easiest island from Paklenica. The Jadrolinija car ferry on line 335 runs from Prizna on the mainland to Žigljen on the island. The crossing takes 15 minutes. Prizna is about 45 km north of Starigrad along the D8.
The 2026 fares are €4.30 per adult in summer (late May to late September) and €2.50 off-season. A standard car up to 5 m long and 2 m high costs €18.10 in summer and €12.20 off-season. Children aged 3 to 12 pay about half, and children under 3 travel free. Return tickets get no discount, so a round trip is exactly double.
In high season the ferry runs about 21 sailings a day, and first departures from Prizna are around 05:45. Tickets can be bought in the Jadrolinija app. Sailings can be cancelled during strong bura wind, so check jadrolinija.hr on the morning of travel.
What to do on Pag:
- Pag town
- salt-pan landscape, lace-making tradition and the famous Pag cheese (paški sir). Expect to pay roughly €25–40 per kg for aged cheese at a producer.
- Zrće beach
- the island's party beach, near Novalja. It is about 25–30 km from Žigljen.
- Lunar landscape
- the bare, stony northern half of the island looks very different from the green Velebit mountains behind Starigrad.
The island is also linked to the mainland by the Pag Bridge near Pag town. It is free to cross, but it adds a long detour from Starigrad compared with the Prizna ferry.
Ugljan and Pašman: Quiet Islands from Zadar
Zadar is about 45 km south of Starigrad, roughly 45 minutes by car. Jadrolinija runs frequent car ferries from Zadar to Preko on Ugljan, a crossing of about 25 minutes. Foot passengers pay a few euros; check the current price list for cars.
Ugljan and Pašman are joined by a bridge at Ždrelac, so one ferry gives access to both. Both islands are low, green and dominated by olive groves, fig trees and small fishing villages. Ugljan has more services. Pašman is quieter and has the Tkon ferry link, which is a good alternative to returning via Preko.
A useful variation for travellers without a car: park in Zadar, take the ferry as a foot passenger, and rent a bicycle on Ugljan. The island is about 22 km long and mostly gentle.
Rab: Further Away, Better Beaches
Rab is reached by a car ferry from Stinica to Mišnjak, about 75 km north of Starigrad. The crossing takes roughly 15 to 20 minutes. Rab has sandy beaches such as those on the Lopar peninsula, and a walled old town with four bell towers.
Rab is a poor day trip from Paklenica. The drive to Stinica is over an hour each way, the island is long, and the return ferry queue in July and August can be long. The map makes it look close, but it works better as an overnight stop on a trip north toward Senj or Krk than as a side trip from Starigrad.
Vir: No Ferry Needed
Vir is connected to the mainland by a bridge, so it is a simple drive from Starigrad. It is mostly flat, with long pebble and sand beaches that suit families with small children. Parking at popular beaches fills early in summer.
03Practical Costs and Timing
| Item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Pag ferry, adult one way (summer) | €4.30 |
| Pag ferry, car one way (summer) | €18.10 |
| Pag ferry, car one way (off-season) | €12.20 |
| Bicycle on the Pag ferry (summer) | About €4.10 |
Budget around €53 for a summer day trip to Pag with a car and two adults (car €18.10 each way plus passengers €4.30 each way per adult, so about €53 for two adults and the car round trip). A foot-passenger return trip costs €8.60 per adult. Fuel adds roughly €10 for the Starigrad–Prizna round trip.
The best months are May, June and September. Water is warm enough for swimming from June, and the ferries run on the reduced off-season price until late May.
04A Realistic 3-Day Island-Hopping Plan from Starigrad
Day 1: Pag. Drive to Prizna, take an early ferry (before 09:00), and spend the day around Pag town and Novalja. Return on a ferry in the late afternoon, since the last sailings are in the evening.
Day 2: Paklenica. Rest day on land. Hike Velika Paklenica canyon in the morning, before the heat. Park entry fees vary by season, so check the national park site for the current ticket price.
Day 3: Zadar, Ugljan and Pašman. Drive to Zadar, take the ferry to Preko, cross the bridge to Pašman and return via the Tkon–Biograd crossing or back through Preko.
05Local Tips
- Arrive at Prizna early.
- Cars are loaded in order of arrival, and summer queues can mean waiting for the second or third ferry. Aim for the first sailings before 08:00 in July and August.
- Check the wind.
- Bura is strongest from late autumn to early spring and can stop ferries. Summer cancellations are less common but possible.
- Use the Velebit Channel for views.
- The road between Starigrad and Prizna runs along the water with views across to Pag, so it is worth driving rather than rushing.
- Book boat tours separately.
- Small-boat trips along the Velebit coast leave from Starigrad in summer. Prices vary by operator, so compare at the harbour.
06Is It Worth Island Hopping from Paklenica?
Yes, with limits. Pag and the Ugljan–Pašman pair are easy additions to a Paklenica stay. Rab and the Kvarner islands are better treated as a separate trip. Stacking three or four islands in one week from Starigrad means more time on D8 and in ferry queues than on beaches.
