Boat Rental Ugljan — 2027 Guide: Rivanj and Sestrunj, Galevac, the Ždrelac Passage and Prices

Ugljan is a long, narrow island opposite Zadar, separated from the city by the Zadar Channel, only a few kilometres wide. Almost all of its villages, from Ugljan in the north through Preko and Kali to Kukljica in the south, line the shore facing the city, while the western side of the island is steep, empty and full of coves that are easiest to reach by sea. A boat on Ugljan means you are already on the island: in a single day you can reach Rivanj and Sestrunj, circle Galevac and Ošljak, pass under the bridge at Ždrelac or cross the channel to Zadar. This guide describes where to go, how to handle the wind in the channel and how much the boat costs.

The north of the island and the village of Ugljan

• Ugljan village: the northernmost larger settlement on the island, spread around several coves and small harbours. By the sea stands the Franciscan monastery of St Jerome, and behind the village are the olive groves the island is known for.
• Muline cove: a cove in the north of the island where the remains of an ancient estate and an early Christian church have been found.
• North-western cape: rounding the northern end of the island takes you out of the Zadar Channel onto the western, more open side, with views of Rivanj, Sestrunj and Molat.

Rivanj, Sestrunj and Molat

Distances are approximate, from the northern part of Ugljan:

• Rivanj (about 3–4 NM): a small island right next to the north-western end of Ugljan, with one small settlement and coves without traffic.
• Sestrunj (about 5–6 NM): an island west of Rivanj, with one village and coves facing the open sea.
• Molat (about 10–12 NM): a larger, wooded island further north-west, with the villages of Molat, Zapuntel and Brgulje. The coves of Molat make a good destination for a full day.

The Karnic 692 cruises at 18–23 mph (about 16–20 knots), so Rivanj is about 15 minutes away and Molat about 40 minutes.

Preko, Galevac and Ošljak

• Preko is the largest village on the island and the ferry port for Zadar. From here the channel is crossed by the shortest route, about 3 NM to the Zadar peninsula.
• Galevac is a green islet just off Preko, with a Franciscan monastery among the pines. It is so close to the shore that swimmers swim across to it.
• Ošljak is an islet between Preko and Zadar, one of the smallest inhabited islands in Croatia, with a pine wood and a few houses by its small harbour.

Zadar is within easy reach of Ugljan: across the channel, about ten minutes by boat, you arrive below the city walls and the Sea Organ. For the Kornati, Dugi Otok and Telašćica, see our nautical guide to Zadar.

Kali, Kukljica and the Ždrelac passage

• Kali is a fishing village with one of the largest fishing fleets in the Adriatic; fishing boats line the entire waterfront.
• Kukljica lies at the south-eastern end of the island, surrounded by pine woods and beaches. Every 5 August, on the feast of Our Lady of the Snows, the village celebrates with a procession of boats.
• Ždrelac is the narrow sea passage that separates Ugljan from Pašman, spanned by a road bridge. Smaller boats pass under the bridge, and on the other side begins the Pašman Channel with the coves of Pašman. The passage is narrow and busy, so you go through it slowly.

From Preko it is about 5 NM to Kukljica and about 6 NM to Ždrelac.

Wind in the Zadar Channel

• Bura blows from the mainland, off the Velebit, straight across the channel and hits the side of Ugljan facing Zadar, where almost all the harbours are. On the western side of the island the sea is calmer at such times. When the bura is strong, you do not cross the channel in a RIB.
• Jugo blows from the south-east along the channel and raises a swell that grows towards the north of the island.
• Maestral usually starts around midday in summer and strengthens in the afternoon. Morning is the best time for crossing the channel and for longer runs towards Molat.

Our offer on Ugljan

• Karnic 692: a RIB with a cabin, 7.15 m, Suzuki 4-stroke 200 HP engine, built in 2022, for up to seven people. It has a sun awning, shower, radio and electric anchor. A full day costs €450. A licence is required to drive it yourself, and the boat can also be rented with a skipper. View the listing.

Booking works like this: you send an enquiry, we check the date with the owner, you pay us the booking fee, and you pay the rest to the owner on the day of the rental.

Season

• June–September is the main season; in July and August the ferries from Zadar and the beaches around Preko and Kukljica are at their busiest, while the coves on the western side of the island and around Rivanj stay quieter.
• May and October bring less traffic in the channel and empty coves.
• The Zadar–Preko ferry runs all year, several times a day, and the crossing takes about 25 minutes.

Boat rental on Ugljan with Crystalium Booker

See the boat and the location on the Ugljan location page or send us your dates and number of people via the contact page, and we will suggest a boat. Do you rent out a boat on Ugljan or the surrounding islands? List it with us.