Northern Dalmatia · Zadarska
Dugi otok
Dugi otok is a 45-kilometre wall between the Zadar channels and the open sea: Sakarun and the Veli Rat lighthouse in the north, Telašćica Nature Park in the south.
- Area (km²)
- 113
- Population
- 1,691
- Highest peak (m)
- 337
Dugi otok is the largest island of the Zadar archipelago. Its outer coast falls into the sea in steep cliffs, while the inner coast is indented and gentle. The largest village is Sali, an old fishing centre, and on the north-western cape stands Veli Rat, the tallest lighthouse on the Adriatic.
The south of the island is taken up by Telašćica, a bay eight kilometres long with dozens of coves, the salt lake Mir and cliffs above the open sea. It is a nature park: you pay for a ticket, and boats moor to the park buoys because anchoring is not allowed. In the north are the bays of Pantera and Čuna with buoys, and Sakarun beach, which in calm weather can also be reached by boat.
For boaters
The harbours of Sali, Zaglav, Božava and Brbinj, a marina and buoys near Veli Rat (Čuna and Pantera bays), buoys in Telašćica (Mir bay).
Marinas and harbours
Luka
Božava
Brbinj
Luka Sali
Stržna, Dugi Otok
Uvala Luka
Veli Rat
Žman
Fuel
Zaglav
Anchorages
Uvala Pantera
Sheltered from Pulenat
Open to Bura, Tramontana, Jugo
A large bay off Veli Rat with a buoy field in its northern and western parts; anchoring is not allowed within 150 m of the field. Bura drives a swell into the bay, and the guides disagree about shelter from jugo and northerly winds. In a strong maestral the Slatine arm is better.
Uvala Sakarun
Sheltered from Bura, Tramontana, Maestral, Pulenat
Open to Jugo, Oštro, Lebić
Concession buoys off the famous sandy beach, with a roped-off bathing area and big crowds in summer. Completely open to jugo and southerly swell: at the first sign of jugo move to Pantera or off Veli Rat.
Uvala Mir
Open to Tramontana, Bura
A park buoy field by the path to the salt lake Mir and the cliffs. The buoys carry no separate charge, but every boat needs a Telašćica ticket, and the park rules prohibit anchoring. By day there are many excursion boats; watch out for the large iron buoy in the middle of the bay and for sudden summer squalls from the west.
Uvala Tripuljak
Sheltered from Pulenat
Open to Bura
The largest buoy field in Telašćica, a short tender ride from Lake Mir and the cliffs. The buoys are included in the park ticket, and anchoring is prohibited. It is not sheltered from bura, when boats on the buoys roll.
Uvala Podlokvanj
Sheltered from Tramontana, Pulenat, Maestral
Open to Bura
Sources list this field in the northern part of Pantera bay under the name Pantera; it operates from 15 April to 15 October and anchoring on your own anchor is not allowed within 150 m of the field. Bura raises waves in the bay, so in strong bura boats take the buoys in the northern part or leave. At the entrance to the bay the water north of the green light is shallow with a wreck, so pass south of the green light.
Uvala Slatine
Sheltered from Jugo, Oštro, Pulenat
The listing gives 30 buoys and no anchoring within 150 m, but according to skippers' reports from July 2025 to June 2026 the buoys have been removed and the bay is for anchoring only, so check the situation on the spot. Depth increases from 2 m in the west to 5 m in the east. One source describes Pantera bay as a whole as open to bura; the nearest restaurant and shop are in Veli Rat, about 1 km to the south.
Lučina
Sheltered from Levant, Jugo, Oštro, Lebić, Pulenat
The bay holds the ferry berth of the Brbinj - Zadar line, so expect ferry traffic. The concession field is in the western part of the bay, and anchoring on your own anchor is not allowed in the field, between the field and the shore or within 150 m seaward of it. One pilot advises leaving the bay before a storm from the north.
Bok
Sheltered from Tramontana, Bura, Lebić, Pulenat, Maestral
Open to Jugo
The northern part of Brbinj bay: boats lie bow to the buoy with the stern towards the shore. When picking up the stern line take care it does not foul the propeller, rudder or keel; users report that you need your own mooring line. The berth is charged per metre.
Uvala Stržna
Sheltered from Tramontana, Bura
All berths have a stern line; when mooring in wind take care it does not wrap around the propeller or keel. Strong tramontana and bura raise waves that hit the moored boats on the beam, so before a storm the nearby Bok or Brbinj harbour is recommended. Depth runs from about 1 m in the south-west to 20 m in the north-east, and users report that some buoys and lines are in poor condition.
Uvala Kruševica
Sheltered from Levant, Jugo, Oštro
Open to Maestral
The buoys carry no separate charge, but a Telašćica Nature Park ticket is mandatory and cheaper when bought online in advance. In a strong maestral or summer squalls a source advises moving north-west to Farfarikulac cove. The 2022 park rulebook bans anchoring in the park except in an emergency (effective once published in nautical charts), so count on the buoys.
Uvala Mala Proversa
Sheltered from Tramontana, Bura, Levant, Jugo, Maestral
Open to Lebić
The buoy field is in a cove on the Dugi otok shore, north of the Mala Proversa passage; a Telašćica Nature Park ticket is mandatory. In the passage itself, about 4-5 m deep and marked by lateral marks, the current reaches 3-4 knots in windy conditions and traffic is heavy. The restaurant with a jetty is across the passage on Katina, and its guests use this field when the jetty is full.
Bays on the island
- Barićev bok
- Bočina
- Burnje lučice
- Čavonjinska lučica
- Dražica
- Dumboka uvala
- Haljina dražica
- Japršnje lučice
- Jaz
- Komorovška lučica
- Lučica
- Luka
- Luka Solišćica
- Luka Telaščica
- Mala voda
- Malo Žalo
- Nozdra
- Pećina
- Prkaška dražica
- Puljiška lučica
- Skraća
- Straški bok
- Turnarski bok
- Uvala Bandirina
- Uvala Beljavka
- Uvala Bok
- Uvala Božavčica
- Uvala Brbišćica
- Uvala Brig
- Uvala Buflić
- Uvala Buhanj
- Uvala Bukašin
- Uvala Čeline
- Uvala Čuna
- Uvala Čušćica
- Uvala Čuška dumboka
- Uvala Dobra
- Uvala Dobrlja
- Uvala Draginjevica
- Uvala Drstalo
- Uvala Dumbočica
- Uvala Dumboka
- Uvala Farfarikulac
- Uvala Garnice
- Uvala Gmajnac
- Uvala Golubinka
- Uvala Gozdenjak
- Uvala Greben
- Uvala Gruševica
- Uvala Guvnine
- Uvala Hrhorovica
- Uvala Hrnjetine
- Uvala Ilo
- Uvala Jaz
- Uvala Južni Vavošćak
- Uvala Južno lojišće
- Uvala Kablin
- Uvala Kameničine
- Uvala Kamiškarta
- Uvala Kanalić
Data source: OpenStreetMap (ODbL). The data may be incomplete, so check directly on site before you arrive.
Routes that call at the island
Trips to the island
Croatian islands
Neighbouring islands
- Rava3.6 km²
- Iž17 km²
- Ugljan51 km²
- Ošljak0.3 km²
- Lavdara2.3 km²
- Rivanj3.6 km²
Safety
Emergency at sea
Croatia's national maritime search and rescue coordination centre (MRCC Rijeka) is on watch 24 hours a day. Save the number before you set off.
- 195Maritime search and rescue
- VHF 16Distress and safety calls
- 112Single emergency number
Before you call, have ready the boat's position (coordinates or the nearest headland, island or bay), the number of people on board and a description of the problem. A call to 112 is put through to the maritime rescue centre.
Get out on the water yourself
Find a boat directly from its owner and arrange the rental with no commission.
The information is for guidance only and does not replace official nautical charts, pilot books or forecasts. Check the current conditions and regulations before you set off.
