Pag Island Sailing – Explore Croatia by Yacht
Sailing 19 NM north from Zadar, you will reach the island of Pag, the 5th largest island in Croatia. The island has an area of 284.56 km² and a population of around 9000 people. It's a long, narrow island off Croatia's mainland coast, opposite the Velebit mountain range. The island's shores are very indented, and many bays are suitable for anchoring.
The Pag Bridge connects it to the mainland and makes it easily accessible by car.
Pag is known as "The Island of Stone" and "Moonscape Island" because of its rocky, rough appearance. Strong Bura brings sea salt from the Velebit Channel across the island and prevents more lavish vegetation.
Pag is one of the most attractive islands of the Adriatic. It offers to its visitors a dose of entertainment, adventure, silence and peace, the gloom of the past and the nightclubs of the future, unusual and quite "ordinary" enjoyment on the kilometers of the beaches.
Symbols of Pag island are the famous Pag cheese, salt production, lace, and delicious lamb specialties.
The Pag lace history, the "white gold" of the town of Pag, is abundant. It has roots in Mikena but was made in the city of Pag by the end of the 15th century. The International lace festival is held every year in June in the town of Pag. Today Lace tradition is on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Salt, along with lace, is the white gold of the town of Pag. The island's salt pans are among the oldest in the eastern Adriatic seaboard, first mentioned in 10th-century chronicles. The traditional natural evaporation technique was abandoned with a salt factory's construction. Today the facility, Solana Pag, with its pans and clay pools for evaporation, covers about 2 million square meters. Together with 9 depots and a plant floor, it makes it the largest production plant in Croatia.
Pag cheese is the best-known culinary brand from the island of Pag. It is made exclusively from the milk of the indigenous sheep of Pag. The winds from the Velebit massif sprinkle sea salt over the island's vegetation. The Pag sheep, feeding on these salted plants and medicinal herbs, produce milk with a unique flavour and aroma. Pag cheese may be purchased at family farms that produce cheese or at one of the island's cheese factories.
Thanks to this type of diet and growth, the Pag lambs' meat has a unique flavour, and it's considered among the finest specialties.
All explanations are unnecessary and incomplete for Pag Cheese. It's created by grass blade among branches and bleating cry of sheep while hiding in February before the "bura "and licking salt from wind sprinkled vegetation.
Due to natural conditions, the Island of Pag is excellent for recreation and an active holiday.
The waters of Pag are very attractive for diving. The sea's purity, an uneven, rocky seabed rich in flora and fauna, will make you go back to explore new areas around Pag. There are several diving centers on the island where you can arrange diving trips or do a diving course. Thanks to the summer wind, Maestral, Pag is a favorite windsurfing destination.
Given the island's length and the existing network of roads and field roads, Pag is a paradise for cyclists. There are 14 bike trails, ranging from 2 to 20 km, that offer plenty of beautiful views of the island's untouched nature.
Besides the two towns on the island, Pag and Novalja, there are many smaller villages.
The town of Pag
Pag is a town known for its preserved cultural monuments, gourmet specialties, and magical stone landscapes.
The core of the city of Pag is a real example of a Renaissance town built in the 15th century. Although Pag has never been able to compete with larger Croatian cities in the tourism segment, new hotels and restaurants are opening every year. Pag is slowly becoming a beautiful tourist destination.
On the road from Pag to Novalja, after climbing the hairpin bend, to the left is the belvedere Vidikovac. A sweeping view of the town is visible from this plateau.
Novalja
Among the younger generations, Novalja, with its beautiful beach Zrće, is known as the No. 1 summer party destination in Croatia. But Novalja has much more to offer.
Far from the fast pace of life, daily rush, and stress, in Novalja, you will find a corner of the home atmosphere where tradition and comfort of the modern way of life combine - a place where nature and man have always been inextricably linked.
Hundreds of kilometers of drywall lace, greenery of the Novalja field, and the sea's blue make Novalja your first choice for a sailing holiday in harmony with preserved nature.
Novalja and the island of Pag are a perfect destination for outdoor activities: diving, hiking, cycling, and climbing.
Šimuni
We can say that Šimuni is the favorite sailing destination on the island of Pag. A fishing village on the south-western shore of the island of Pag. Šimuni is an ideal spot for a family vacation, long strolls, swimming, and sunbathing on the nearby beaches.
Enjoy the fresh catch in the local restaurants, brought by the fishermen to the shores in the early morning hours.
At the bottom of the beautiful Šimuni cove is a favorite boaters' destination, ACI marina Šimuni.
While sailing around Pag, you should add to your itinerary the famous beaches: Ručica, Slana, Seline, and Beritnica in Metajna.
For those with an adventurous spirit, Pag offers one of the most beautiful and unique trails in Croatia – "The Life on Mars trail" in the Metajna area. Here you have guaranteed social distancing, untouched nature, and an experience you will never forget.
For the best sailing experience around Pag, the ideal starting points for boat rental are Zadar, Sukošan, and Biograd na Moru. These marinas offer excellent connections to the island and allow you to easily explore Pag’s dramatic coastline, hidden coves, and nearby islands. Whether you choose a sailing yacht for an authentic Adriatic adventure, a spacious catamaran for maximum comfort and stability, or a fast motor boat for flexibility and speed, departing from this part of the Dalmatian coast gives you the perfect base to discover Pag and the surrounding archipelago.
You can also follow our recommended Zadar sailing itinerary, which includes a visit to Pag Island and highlights the most scenic routes, anchorages, and must-see spots along the northern Dalmatian coast.
