How Do You Get to Ugljan Island, Croatia?

How do I get to Ugljan if there's no airport on the island?

Fly into Zadar Airport (ZAD), located in Zemunik Donji about 8 km from Zadar city, then head to one of Zadar's two departure points and cross to Ugljan by boat. Zadar Airport has been a Ryanair base since 2013 (Source: Wikipedia, Zadar Airport). Wizz Air started flying to Zadar on 9 June 2026, with a Budapest route and a four-times-weekly Warsaw service in its summer schedule (Source: Zadar Airport, official news, 9 June 2026). Many routes from Zadar are seasonal, so confirm winter flights with the airline. A taxi or transfer from the airport into Zadar takes roughly 15 to 20 minutes by road. The car ferry (line 431) leaves from the Gaženica ferry port, and the passenger boat (line 409) from the central city harbour (Source: Jadrolinija, official site).

• Fly into Zadar Airport (ZAD / Zemunik)
• Transfer to Gaženica for the car ferry or to the city harbour for the passenger boat
• Cross to Preko on Ugljan by Jadrolinija ferry
• Most Zadar Airport routes are seasonal; confirm current flights directly with the airline

How does the ferry between Zadar and Preko work?

Jadrolinija runs two separate lines on this crossing, and both take about 25 minutes. Line 409 is a passenger-only boat between Zadar's central harbour and Preko. Line 431 is a car ferry from the Gaženica ferry port to Preko, and a few of its sailings call at the tiny island of Ošljak on the way, which stretches those trips to 30 minutes (Source: Jadrolinija, line pages and 2026 sailing schedules, checked 13 October 2026). There are more departures in summer than in the rest of the year, so look up the current timetable on jadrolinija.hr before you plan a specific crossing.

• Line 409, passenger-only, from Zadar's central harbour to Preko in about 25 minutes
• Line 431, car ferry from Gaženica to Preko, some sailings via Ošljak
• More departures in summer than in the off-season
• Always check the current Jadrolinija timetable before planning a specific crossing

What does the Zadar-Preko ferry cost in 2026, and how often does it run?

A foot passenger on the line 409 boat pays €4.00 from 1 January to 28 May and from 28 September to 31 December 2026, and €5.00 between 29 May and 27 September 2026. On the line 431 car ferry an adult pays €3.80 all year, a child aged 3 to 12 pays €1.60, a car up to 5 metres long and 2 metres high costs €17.30 and a bicycle €3.80 (Source: Jadrolinija price lists 2026, checked 13 October 2026). The 2026 car ferry timetable lists 17 departures a day from Gaženica in January to May and October to December, and 18 from June to September, although a few of them do not run on Sundays and holidays. The passenger boat adds 9 to 11 weekday departures from Zadar depending on the season, with fewer at weekends (Source: Jadrolinija sailing schedules 2026, checked 13 October 2026). On a weekday in July or August that adds up to 29 departures from Zadar.

• Line 409 foot passenger, €4.00 off-season and €5.00 from 29 May to 27 September 2026
• Line 431 adult €3.80, child 3 to 12 €1.60, car up to 5 m €17.30, bicycle €3.80
• Line 431, 17 departures a day from Gaženica in winter and 18 from June to September
• Prices and timetables change each year; check jadrolinija.hr before you travel

How do I get around Ugljan once I'm there?

Most visitors get around by rental car, scooter, bicycle or on foot, but local buses run by Liburnija Zadar also serve the island. The Kukljica tourist board links a timetable for bus line 205, which runs from Preko via Kali and Kukljica across the bridge to Tkon on Pašman, with 11 weekday departures from Preko in that version (Source: Liburnija Zadar timetable valid from 2 October 2023, linked by the Kukljica Tourist Board). That timetable is a few years old, so check the current one at liburnija-zadar.hr. Measured as a straight line on OpenStreetMap from the Preko ferry terminal, Kali is about 1.7 km away and Poljana about 2 km, while Kukljica (6.3 km), Ugljan village (9.5 km) and Muline (11.9 km) are far enough that a car, bike or bus helps (OpenStreetMap measurement, 13 October 2026; road distances are longer). Preko itself is easy to explore on foot.

When is the best time to visit Ugljan?

Ugljan has a Mediterranean climate with hot, sunny summers and mild, wetter winters. Comfortable travel weather runs from May through October, with average daytime highs around 20 to 28°C in that window, and July and August as the warmest, busiest months with air temperatures regularly above 26°C and sea temperatures between 21 and 26°C (Source: Weather and Climate, 2026 access; Where and When, Croatian islands climate guide, 2026 access). Winters are mild by Northern European standards but wetter, with November typically the rainiest month and average daytime highs dropping to around 11°C in February.

Do I need a visa to visit Ugljan, and what currency is used?

Croatia joined the European Union in 2013, and since 1 January 2023 it has also been a full member of both the Eurozone and the Schengen area (Source: Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia, official source). This means Croatia uses the euro as its currency, and entry rules for international visitors follow the standard Schengen framework. EU/Schengen citizens do not need a visa, and non-EU nationals should check the current Schengen visa-exemption status for their nationality, since exemption lists are updated periodically. Note that air border checks specifically were only lifted from 26 March 2023, slightly after the January 2023 date for land and sea borders (Source: Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia). Since 12 October 2025 Croatia has been one of the 29 European countries using the EU Entry/Exit System (EES), which registers non-EU short-stay visitors electronically at the external border instead of stamping passports, and the system has been fully operational since 10 April 2026 (Sources: European Commission; EU EES information site; Embassy of Poland in Doha, checked 13 October 2026). ETIAS, the planned travel authorisation for visa-exempt visitors, was not yet in operation when checked on 13 October 2026, and the EU says it will announce the start date several months in advance (Source: EU ETIAS information site).

How much time do you need on Ugljan?

Half a day to a full day covers the classic route around Preko, with a short boat trip to the monastery islet of Galevac and a walk or cycle up to St. Michael's Fortress. A second day lets you continue to Muline for the remains of the Roman olive press and the mosaic bench that refers to it. A third day suits Kali, with its fishing harbour, and Kukljica, with Zelena Punta beach and boat trips toward Telašćica and the Kornati. Short on time? Drop the second and third days first. Preko, Galevac and the fortress still work as a day trip from Zadar, while the rest of the island needs an overnight stay or a second visit.