In Ugljan, protected cultural heritage, beaches and paths through olive groves bring together different historical periods. When planning your stay, you can choose what to focus on: the churches and their history, time by the water, or exploring coastal and inland trails. This lets you discover Ugljan according to your own interests, without limiting your days to a single theme.

History along the coast and in the villages

Alongside Mostir Beach are the monastery and the Church of Saint Jerome, considered the settlement of Ugljan’s most significant protected cultural heritage. The single-nave Gothic church dates back to 1447. The monastery also houses the tombstone of Bishop Š. Kožičić (Benja). Mostir itself is a sandy beach in Lučino Selo, within the settlement of Ugljan. Here, a protected architectural complex and a beach offer two distinct reasons to visit.

Above Gornje Selo stands the Church of All Saints, whose origins date back to the 12th or 13th century. From the church, a short climb leads to the Stražica viewpoint, also above Gornje Selo. You can combine the two by adding a walk up to the viewpoint after visiting the historic building; trail conditions can change, so check them before setting out on a specific route. Another historic church is located in Varoš: the Church of Saints Hippolytus and Cassian dates back to the 11th or 13th century and was first mentioned in documents in 1374.

Beršić Castle is another part of Ugljan’s history. It was built in the 17th century by the landowner Califfi, later restored, and is now known as Dvor Krešimir Ćosić. The different dates associated with the churches and the castle provide several historical reference points for a cultural itinerary, without requiring you to follow a particular order.

Bays, trails and the history of olive oil

Batalaža Bay has two main beaches. When diving, you may discover a mill wheel on the seabed; whether it is visible also depends on changing underwater conditions. This is a different way to experience the bay than spending time on the beach: a possible underwater find and time on the shore sit side by side, though a sighting is not guaranteed.

Muline has well-maintained paths along the coast and inland for hiking and cycling. Visitors can also learn more there about high-quality olive oil and the ancient history of olive oil production. Those looking to combine outdoor activities and culture will find two distinct points of interest in the same named place: paths for outdoor activities and information about olive oil production. The island of Ugljan as a whole has more than 40 kilometres of trails through olive groves for hiking, walking and cycling.

The Čeprljandska fešta dates back to 1979 and takes place on the first Saturday in August. Check the programme and date for the relevant year before travelling if you would like to include the festival in your plans.

Getting there and a regional excursion

The Jadrolinija passenger service connects Zadar with Preko on the island of Ugljan. It offers numerous daily departures, and the crossing takes 25 minutes. Timetables can change, so check the operator’s latest information before making your travel arrangements.

As an excursion within the wider destination of Preko, the remains of the medieval Fortress of St. Michael stand on Mount Sv. Mihovil. A three-kilometre paved road leads to the fortress and is suitable for cars, bicycles and pedestrians. From there, views extend over more than 200 islands of the Zadar archipelago and Kornati National Park. The fortress and its views make this a distinct regional excursion in Preko.

Discover more destinations: Poljana, Lukoran, Sestrunj, Preko, Sutomišćica.

Go to the overview of the wider destination: Preko.