Dugi Otok (Croatian for Long island) is the seventh largest island in the Adriatic Sea, part of Croatia. It is located off the Dalmatian coast, west of Zadar.

Towns and villages

Chapel of Sveti Rok in Sali

Sali, old harbour

• Sali - The biggest settlement of the island. Its name comes from the nearby salt pans. The village is the "gate" to the Telašćica Nature Park.
• Zaglav
• Žman
• Luka - Sandwiched between the mountain Vela Straža, the highest peak on the island, and the bay of Boka. Luka is known for its therapeutic muds.
• Savar - Known for its picturesque church at the tip of a small peninsula, the cave Strašna Peć and stone quarries.
• Brbinj - Surrounded by thick olive groves. Brbinj lies between Jaz and Lučina bays. At the other, Western, shore of the island there is the Bay of Brbišćica surrounded by high cliffs with numerous caves scattered among them.
• Dragove - Known for Veli Žal, a sandy beach across the Mežanj island.
• Božava - Surrounded by pine forests. Božava is a popular tourist destination. A selection of accommodation options is available there. The village is overlooking a sheltered bay with various fishing and pleasure boats moored there.
• Soline - a small village at the head of a big Luka Solišćica bay at the north of the island.
• Veli Rat - Located in the Cuna bay (part of the Luka Solišćica) at the northern end of the island.
• Verunić - For Saharun, a white sandy beach surrounded by pine forests and considered the most beautiful on the island. The nearby bay Pantera (also part of the Luka Solišćica) is popular among the dives because of a ship wreck.

Other destinations

• 1 Telašćica Nature Park – is a bay located in the southeastern part of the island and has been declared a nature park in 1988. Here span 25 small beaches on nearly 70 km of coastline and the salt lake of Mir, arguably known for its therapeutic qualities.

Understand

Dugi Otok is one of the less touristy islands in Croatia and as such offers beautiful landscapes and unspoiled nature. All the villages are located on the side facing inland.

The island is 45 km long and up to 5 km wide and is crossed by a single paved road that runs throughout its length from north to south. Vela Straža with its 338 m is the highest peak of the island.

Tourist information

In Sali

• 2 Turistička Zajednica Dugi Otok (Tourist union Dugi Otok), Obala Petra Lorinja bb, Sali, ☏ +385 23 377 094, tz-sali@zd.t-com.hr. (updated Oct 2016)

In Božava

• Turistička Zajednica mjesta Božava (Tourist association Božava), ☏ +385 23 377 607, tzmbozava@gmail.com. (updated Oct 2016)

Get in

By boat

• Jadrolinja vehicle ferries from Zadar to Brbinj (twice a day in low season, 3 times a day in high season) and Božava (calling at islands of Rivanj and Sestrunj)
• G&V Line passenger ferries from Zadar to Sali and Zaglav (some calling at the island of Iž)

Get around

By bus

Local buses Brbinj - Božava - Veli Rat, Sali - Zaglav - Luka and some fewer connections between Brbinj and Sali

By car

If traveling by car note that the only gas station on the island is at Zaglav.

See

view from the lighthouse in Veli Rat

• 1 Veli Rat. A picturesque cape with an old lighthouse. The lighthouse (42m high) is in operation for more than 150 years. Inside there are two apartments which could be rented. Although in most places in Croatia there are no sandy beaches, there is a beautiful one close by. (updated Oct 2016)
• 2 Strašna peć. A cave between Savar and Luka. In 1904 it was visited by Austro-Hungarian Emperor Franz Joseph. (updated Oct 2016)
• 3 Crkva Sv. Pelegrina (Church of St. Peregrine). A pre-Romanesque church at an islet connected Savar. (updated Oct 2016)
• 4 Svetište Male Gospe (Sanctuary of the Nativity of Virgin Mary). a pilgrimage destination at the mount Dumbovica, close to Dragove. (updated Oct 2016)
• 5 Saljsko Polje. Over 700-year-old olive groves. According to a local legend the trees were planted by the Greeks more than 2000 years ago. (updated Oct 2016)
• Roman ruins

A submarine pen close to Dragove

• Submarine pens – which were built for the Yugoslav People's Army. They were carved inside a natural hill and is now abandoned and freely accessible from sea or by foot. A couple of them could be found at the inlets on the north and south of Dragove, yet another one in approx. 2.5 km north-west of Božava.

Do

• Yearly festival "Saljske Uzance" – in Sali over the weekend prior to the feast of the Assumption (15 August)

Eat

Eating vegan is difficult and expensive on the island as almost all food besides fish is shipped there. There is one relatively large supermarket in Sali.

Stay safe

Cope

The only ATM on the island is in Sali (next to the Tommy supermarket). Nevertheless, the money could be exchanged at every post office there.

Go next

• Zadar
• Kornati islands