Zadar’s Old Town peninsula, red roofs and waterfront seen above the Adriatic in daylight.

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Zadar Islands by Ferry in 7 Days

Zadar Islands by Ferry in 7 Days

Spend two nights each in Zadar, Preko and Božava, with a full day on each island and a separate ferry connection through Gaženica.

Length: 7 days, 6 nights
Night split: 3 bases, 2 nights each
Transport: Ferries & transfers
Best time: Late May–Jun / Sep

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A city stay followed by two island bases

Begin with two nights in Zadar, cross to Preko on Ugljan for two more, then spend the final two nights in Božava on northern Dugi Otok. The week combines Zadar’s Roman Forum and waterfront with village walks, swimming and a day around Sakarun. You can travel without a car if the island accommodation and road transfers are arranged around the actual ferry ports.

The move between islands goes back through Zadar. This plan uses Jadrolinija 431 from Preko to Gaženica, followed by 434 from the same mainland port to Brbinj. Those are separate sailings and tickets. Brbinj is not Božava: confirm the road pickup and its price before reserving the room. A bus may work on a particular date, but its timetable must be checked against the boat’s actual arrival.

Day seven includes the road journey back to Brbinj, a ferry to Gaženica and the airport connection. Check that whole sequence before buying flights. For an early departure or a margin you are not comfortable with, add a final Zadar night and make it an eight-day trip. Kornati and southern Telašćica are optional additions or alternatives requiring more transport; neither is included as an extra stop in the main week.

Time in Zadar before the islands

Two nights leave a full day for the Forum, markets and peninsula streets, as well as the Sea Organ and Greeting to the Sun. Choose the room around evening walks and the later journey to Gaženica.

Preko as the first island stay

Cross from Gaženica, leave your bag and explore the waterfront. Use the full day for time by the sea, a village walk or a modest rented-bike outing suited to the conditions.

Božava and a day around Sakarun

Arrange a pickup from Brbinj to the northern accommodation. The full day can focus on Sakarun’s bay and nearby coast; agree the return transport before leaving the room.

Best for

Travellers happy to coordinate ferries and island pickups
A city visit followed by swimming and village walks
Couples or friends sharing rooms and any private transfers

Think twice if

An early day-seven flight without a workable ferry connection, guaranteed step-free access or a holiday with no advance transfer planning. Bring luggage you can handle on quays, ramps and the final walk to the room.

StartBooker answer

Can I visit Preko and Dugi Otok in a week without a car?

Yes, with two nights in Zadar, two in Preko and two in Božava. Use the Gaženica–Preko ferry, return to Gaženica on day five and change to the Brbinj ferry for Dugi Otok. Arrange the Brbinj–Božava road transfer in both directions, plus transport for the Sakarun day. Check the day-seven ferry and airport journey before booking a flight; an extra mainland night changes this to an eight-day trip.

Six hotel nights: Zadar 2 · Preko 2 · Božava 2
Four main crossings: Two Preko ferries and two Brbinj ferries via Gaženica
Two different island ports: Preko is on Ugljan; Brbinj needs an onward transfer to Božava

Three overnight bases with different arrival journeys

Check the exact room address and the journey from its ferry terminal. An island name alone does not establish a walkable arrival.

3 stops · swipe

1

Zadar
2 nights

Zadar’s Forum, peninsula streets and Sea Organ

Stay on or near the peninsula for restaurants and waterfront walks. A room near the main bus station can simplify some transfers but needs a separate journey for Old Town sightseeing. In either case, plan how to reach Gaženica with luggage before the first island departure.

Watch out: Gaženica and the central passenger port are different places; use the terminal on your ticket.
Read the Zadar guide →
2

Preko, Ugljan
2 nights

Preko’s waterfront and nearby Ugljan villages

Choose a room with manageable access from Preko’s ferry landing and somewhere to eat nearby. The waterfront makes a useful starting point for walks and local transport. A stay farther along the island can be quieter, but check the final bus, taxi or host pickup before choosing it.

Watch out: Check hills, steps and the walk from the actual landing or pickup point.
3

Božava, Dugi Otok
2 nights

Božava harbour and the northern Dugi Otok coast

Božava is the named base for these two nights, with Sakarun as the main full-day outing. The Brbinj ferry arrives elsewhere on the island, so agree a priced road transfer to the exact property. Soline is an alternative area to investigate, with a different room address and pickup arrangement.

Watch out: Book the early return pickup to Brbinj as carefully as the arrival transfer.

Seven days with time on both islands

The six nights are split evenly between Zadar, Preko and Božava. Day five is a transfer day with two separate sailings; day seven is the return to the mainland.

1 Day 1 Arrive in Zadar and walk the waterfront Bus

Check the airport bus for the actual month and the stop closest to your accommodation. The operator currently publishes a €5 (about US$6) one-way fare including luggage. Gaženica, the main bus station and the peninsula are separate stops, so confirm the correct place to get off. After leaving bags, take a short walk through the centre or along the Riva towards the Sea Organ. Its sound comes from waves moving air through pipes beneath the steps. There is a full city day tomorrow; a late arrival can simply end with dinner near the room. The first island crossing is on day three.

Airport connection to the correct stop
A short Riva and Sea Organ walk
Two nights in the same Zadar room

Overnight: Zadar

2 Day 2 Explore Zadar’s peninsula On foot

Start around the Roman Forum and St Donatus, then walk through the market and nearby streets. Choose an interior that interests you if it is open, or continue towards the city’s gates and waterfront. Leave time for lunch and a shaded break before returning to the Sea Organ later. Greeting to the Sun is the neighbouring installation whose light display is seen after dark. Before dinner, check the next day’s route to Gaženica and save the 431 ticket details. Also confirm the day-five Brbinj sailing and both Božava pickups, so the remaining island reservations fit the complete transport sequence.

Forum and peninsula streets
A break before the waterfront evening
Confirm the two island moves

Overnight: Zadar

3 Day 3 Take the Gaženica ferry to Preko Ferry

Reach Gaženica for Jadrolinija 431 and check the actual boarding point. The normal crossing takes about 25 minutes; departures calling at Ošljak take around 30 minutes. A published 2026 adult foot-passenger fare is €3.80 (about US$4) each way. The route’s printed-date ticket is usable on departures that day subject to capacity, rather than reserving a particular seat. On arrival in Preko, leave your bag before walking along the waterfront and choosing lunch. Spend the afternoon near the village or at a suitable nearby swimming spot. Check any onward local transport before wandering farther, then return to the same room tonight.

Gaženica–Preko on line 431
Waterfront lunch after dropping bags
A nearby swim or short walk

Overnight: Preko

4 Day 4 Spend a full day around Preko On foot

Choose a waterfront walk towards a nearby village, time by the sea close to Preko, or a rented-bike outing. Ask the rental shop about the actual surface, climbing, traffic and return time before choosing a route. A short ride with a lunch and swimming break may suit the weather better than a long inland loop. If using a local bus, check the return service before leaving; the operator treats Preko as the island transport hub. Keep the main bag at the accommodation. Later, reconfirm the morning ferry back to Gaženica, the separate Brbinj departure and the driver or host who will meet you there.

A walk, a swim or a suitable bike route
Return transport checked before setting out
Reconfirm tomorrow’s island pickup

Overnight: Preko

5 Day 5 Sail back to Gaženica and continue to Brbinj Ferry

Take 431 from Preko back to Gaženica, then change to 434 for Brbinj on Dugi Otok. A dated example from the published 2026 tables is Monday 14 September: Preko at 08:15 reaches Gaženica around 08:40, before the 10:00 Brbinj ferry. That leaves about 80 minutes in the same port, with no protected connection if a service is delayed. The second crossing takes about one hour and 40 minutes. Check your own date and reach the correct berth with time to board. At Brbinj, use the confirmed road pickup to Božava. Have the contact, price and meeting point saved before leaving Preko.

Two separate tickets and sailings
A connection buffer at Gaženica
Confirmed Brbinj–Božava pickup

Overnight: Božava

6 Day 6 Make Sakarun the main island outing Transfer

From Božava, arrange transport to Sakarun and the return together. The bay lies on the island’s northwest coast, with pale shore, shallow water and pine trees behind it. Bring water, sun protection and what you need for lunch; check which seasonal facilities are operating. A summer tourist train is described by the tourism board, but confirm its current departure, return and pickup point rather than assuming it runs on your dates. Spend time by the bay or choose a shorter outing near Božava if conditions change. Telašćica is at the opposite, southeastern end of the island and needs a separately organised excursion if you choose it instead.

Sakarun and its northern coastal setting
Return journey arranged in advance
Božava waterfront time afterwards

Overnight: Božava

7 Day 7 Return through Brbinj to Zadar Ferry

Leave Božava on the road transfer arranged for the dated Brbinj ferry. The published 434 timetable varies by season and weekday; do not substitute a different day’s departure. Add the drive to Brbinj, boarding, the roughly 100-minute crossing, getting off the boat, airport transport and the airline’s required arrival time. The airport bus’s outbound Gaženica stop is a lay-by near Crodux, rather than the inbound stop above the passenger terminal; check the current instructions and walking route. A same-day flight needs a substantial margin for delays. If it does not fit, add a Zadar night and fly on day eight.

Prearranged road pickup to Brbinj
Dated ferry and mainland airport transfer
Extra mainland night if the connection is unsuitable

Overnight: Departure

One direct crossing, then a connection through Gaženica

Two inter-base legs connect the three overnight stops. The second contains two sailings via the mainland; it is not a direct public-ferry hop between Ugljan and Dugi Otok.

2 transfers

Zadar Preko, Ugljan

Ferry Travel time: About 25 minutes; 30 with an Ošljak call

Jadrolinija 431 leaves Zadar’s Gaženica port for Preko. Travel from the Zadar room to the port and boarding time are additional. The 2026 adult example is €3.80 (about US$4) one way.

Booking note: The printed-date ticket does not reserve a particular departure; arrive with time and check capacity conditions.
Preko, Ugljan Božava, Dugi Otok

Ferry Travel time: About 25 + 100 minutes sailing, plus the connection

Return on 431 from Preko to Gaženica and change to 434 for Brbinj. The published Monday 14 September 2026 example allows about 80 minutes between estimated arrival and the onward departure. Add the prearranged road journey from Brbinj to Božava.

Booking note: These are separate tickets; the vehicle-reservation notice is not a promise of a reserved foot-passenger seat.

Compare dated timetables, berth information and capacity conditions before booking rooms. Day seven adds a separate Brbinj–Gaženica ferry and airport journey.

Budget for the rooms as well as the boats

These are per-adult planning amounts, with two adults sharing rooms and any private transfers. Rounded USD equivalents use 1.1195 dollars per euro, the ECB reference rate dated 14 October 2026. Ferry examples are standard adult fares, without resident concessions.

Six shared-room nights At €100–180 (about US$110–200) per double room nightly, split by two. Compare actual Božava availability before fixing the boat dates; peak summer can cost more.: €300–540 (about US$335–605) each
Meals and refreshments for seven days Allows €35–55 (about US$40–60) daily for simple lunches, modest dinners and drinks. Check included breakfasts and bring food for the transfer day.: €245–385 (about US$275–430) each
Main passenger ferries, with a small margin Four 2026 crossings total €20.40 (about US$23): twice the 431 fare and twice the 434 fare. The allowance adds a small margin; bicycles and excess baggage cost extra.: €25 (about US$28) per adult
Airport and mainland local transport Includes two airport buses at €5 (about US$6) each, plus city and Gaženica connections. A private airport taxi requires its own quote and may exceed this allowance.: €25–50 (about US$28–55) per adult
Dugi Otok pickups and the beach outing Allowance for shared Brbinj–Božava pickups both ways and Sakarun transport. Get actual quotes first: pickup time, distance and included hotel shuttles change the cost.: €60–140 (about US$65–155) per adult
Selected sights and optional bicycle hire Allowance for chosen interiors or a modest bike outing. A private tour, long boat excursion or special activity needs a separate price.: €40–90 (about US$45–100) per adult
Illustrative six-night total Seven days, six nights; May, June or September; two adults share rooms and private transfers. Excludes flights, shopping, private tours, Kornati and an extra mainland night.: €695–1,230 (about US$780–1,375) per adult
If you add a final Zadar night Illustrative extra shared-room night and one further day of meals. This makes seven nights and eight days; check the actual room and flight before choosing the extension.: €85–145 (about US$95–160) extra per adult

Booking tips

Match the day-five connection and final return to actual dates before reserving island rooms.
Ask for written prices and pickup points for both Brbinj road transfers.
Confirm Sakarun transport separately; a seasonal tourist train is not a year-round guarantee.
Keep the airport bus’s outbound Gaženica stop distinct from its inbound stop.
Use cancellable bookings until the flight, ferry and island pickup sequence fits.

Live cards may include the peninsula, outer Zadar neighbourhoods and nearby coastal towns. Check each address against the Old Town and Gaženica; a room near the main bus station may suit transfers. Search Preko and Božava separately and confirm the journey from each ferry port.

Compare Zadar stays →

Locate the three overnight bases

Markers show Zadar, Preko and Božava. They do not trace the ferries or the road from Brbinj. For the island-to-island move, return through Gaženica as described above. Compare hotel addresses with the actual landing and pickup points; zoom on a phone to inspect each location.

Questions travellers ask before booking

Which Zadar port should I use for this route?

The main plan uses Gaženica for 431 to Preko and 434 to Brbinj, so the day-five change stays in one port. Central Zadar also has passenger ship 409 to Preko. If you return on 409 on day five, allow a road transfer from the central port to Gaženica before the Brbinj ferry.

Is the transfer from Preko to Dugi Otok direct?

This plan returns to the mainland on 431, then changes to the separately ticketed 434 ferry at Gaženica. Check your date and leave a connection buffer. The dated example in the day plan is from published 2026 tables; it is not a guaranteed connection for another date or year.

Can I rely on a bus from Brbinj to Božava?

Only after checking the actual ferry and bus times together. Liburnija lists a Dugi Otok route through the northern settlements, but a timetable’s Brbinj departure may not follow your arriving ferry. Arrange a confirmed host or taxi pickup when the bus does not fit, and price the early return as well.

Can I bring a bicycle and a large bag?

Check the tariff and vessel for each ticket. The 431 and 434 car ferries charge separately for a bicycle; passenger ship 409 and catamarans do not accept bicycles under the current rules. The cited ferry tariffs include hand luggage up to 20 kilograms, with additional terms for larger baggage.

Should I choose Sakarun, Telašćica or Kornati?

Sakarun suits the northern Božava base. Telašćica is at Dugi Otok’s southeastern end and needs a planned excursion or a different base. Kornati is a separate boat-excursion choice with admission and weather conditions to confirm. Add time for it rather than placing it between the final ferry and a flight.

Can I fly home on the ferry-return day?

Only when the confirmed road pickup, Brbinj sailing, airport connection and airline deadline leave a substantial margin. Check the actual weekday and season, plus the carrier’s weather notices. If that sequence is unsuitable, add a Zadar night and depart on day eight; the quoted main budget covers six nights.

How this route was checked

Reviewed by StartBooker editorial team Zadar archipelago transport and accommodation research

Last reviewed 2026-10-15

Updated 2026-10-15

Method: Checked against current ferry route pages and visually read 2026 schedules and tariffs, airport and island-bus operators, official destination information and independent regional guides. Separate sailings, Brbinj road transfers and the final flight connection are explicit. The budget covers six nights and states shared costs, season and optional extras.

30 References opened

Key sources