Island Pag
On the 3rd day of our eastern holiday, we made a whole day trip to the Island of Pag, which is about 30 minutes from Zadar, along the road you have wine fields and agricultural land, but once you reach the island of Pag, the landscape completely changes, the photos below are taken by the bride Paski most leading to Pag Island, as you can see I looks like a moon landscape!
During the homeland war this bridge was the only connection between northern and southern part of Croatia, (as I mention in our story from Zadar, the JNA force was position a few km outside of the city) a friend of mine from Split, told me that during the war he used 12-14 hours to drive from his hometown Mostar to Zagreb for supplies. The bridge was close to collapsing in 1993 do to the heavy traffic, but luckily a second north – south connection was opened to take most of the traffic before that happened. Postwar the bridge has been completely renovated and enforced.
Pag Island is well known for at least 4 things, the first of them you meet (or at least their parents) just after crossing the bridge! Paski lamb is consider to be one of the best lambs you can get in Croatia, if not even in Europe, do to the high concentration of salt on the Island, the sheep’s diet consisting of grass and wild herbs gives the lam from here a very special taste.
The second thing which Pag is known for is the Paski Sir, which is a cheese made from sheep milk, again the sheep’s diet place an important role in terms of generating a very special taste, but also the facts that the cheese is rubbed in olive oil before maturing are said to have great impact on the taste. When you drive around on the island, you see signs with “Paski Sir” available here everywhere
The third thing which Pag is known for is salt, the last 7-8 km before you reach Pag city, (following the road 106 Paski most – Pag) you will on you left hand side see a large area of strange looking flat fields, this is the production area of the company Salona Pag, who is the main salt producer in Croatia, so if you have bought salt in the supermarket down here, you have for sure tried there product.
Besides regular table salt, Salona also produce sea salt and several special salts for cooking like garlic salt or meat salt, the two later I highly recommend you to try, they are excellent for a barbecue.
After you have past the salt fields you will reach grad Pag (Pag city), Pag city has a nice old town with streets constructed in squares, in the old town you can also find the last remaining tower from the prior fortification, several old churched and the duke´s palace from the 15th century.
Pag is popular tourist city, so you can easily find private accommodation, in the city there is also a few hotels, unfortunately there is no camp outside the city, but with in a range of 20 km you have 3 camps available, Camp Šimuni, Camp Košljun and Camp Dinjiška.
From Grad Pag, we continue on our Pag excursion to our next stop Novalja, which is 25 km from Pag city, on the way we have to cross a small mountain, and saw the following welcome message in a serpentine? (We assumed this was related to 4th thing which Pag is known for)
After 40 minutes drive on curve road, we reached Novalja. Novalja city is properly the most well know tourist destination on the island, main reason for that is a the forth thing which Island Pag is know for, a beach called Zrce, situated 3 km outside the town. Zrce beach is one of the biggest party places in Croatia during summer, as you can see on this preseason photo the area is quite big and as far as I have heard it is crowded here in the main season!!
Of course Novalja, Is not only for young people parting as you can see on the photos here, the city in also a really nice place for a nice family holiday.
From Novalja we went all the way to the peak of the island in Tovrnele, before turning the car for a 2 hour drive back to Zadar. We all had a great day, with lots of impression, so we will for sure return to Island Pag another time.
Here you can find more photos from our excursion to Pag, Grad Pag, Novalja, Lun, Tuvrnele, Zrće.
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hi, i am looking for information regarding travelling from Split airport to Novalja? Is there a ferry? thanks
Hi Jessica
there is no ferry from Split to Novalja, so the easiest way would be to take the bus, from Trogir (6 km from Split Airport) to Zadar, in Zadar main bus station you can find buses which would take you to Novalja. As far as i remember you have bus at 8 Am and 5.30 PM from Trogir, which from a time point of view fits with the Zadar -Novalja bus, travel time is about 4.5 hours.
brgds, Morten
[...] Pillow gifts – famous “Paska Cipka”, laceworks from the Pag island. The most vivid centre, where the tradition successfully survived until the present time is the Pag [...]
Hello,
Do you happen to know if there is a ferry from Pag Island to Hvar?
Thank you!
Hi Amanda
to my knowledge there is no ferry between pag island and Hvar? For where did you get that information?
I think you best option would to take the bus to Zadar, their you take a second bus to Split, from Split you then have several options to get to Hvar.
Morten
In August 2010 I will going to Novalja on Pag Island from Budapest; next I wiil go to Hvar and then to Prague. I’m very confused about the the best and fastest way to travel in Croatia. Is there a flight to an airport from Pag to Hvar?
Hi Blair, i think best and easiest way is to take bus from Novalja to Zadar, from there you take a fast bus to Split, and In Split you take the Catamaran to Hvar town. Other alternative would be to rent a car e.g. in Zadar on the way to Pag and give it back in Split. There is now flight between Pag and Hvar.
Regards, Morten
Would anyone please recommend the fastest way to get from Dubrovnik to Navalja, OR the other way around. My wife & I will be flying from Zurich this summer and want to visit both islands. Its seems like they are very far from each other, but we don’t want to miss out on either one. Any recommendation would be much appreciated.
Clyde
Hi Clyde, the fastest way from Dubrovnik to Novalja is by car, which should take you 5 to 6 hours, if you go by bus you most properly will need around 8 hours. May i ask why you specifically want to visit Pag island? you have beautiful Island like Korcula, Hvar and Brac which are all much closer to Dubrovnik?
Regards, Morten
Croatia Expert,
I am traveling to croatia from london on the 4th July 2010.
We are booking a hotel in Novalja. Is it easier to travel to zadar airport or split airport?
Also, what is the average price for transfers? I have been quoted 150euro each way from zadar to novalja for 3 people which seems a little extreme.
Looking forward to your response.
Thanks,
Simona
Hi Simona,
For sure Zadar airport is the one to travel to, but if you can get cheaper tickets to split and are willing to rent a car, this could be the cheapest solution. (From Split Airport you have about 2.5-3 hours drive to Novalja).
The transfer quote you got seams very high, normally you pay around a 1 Euro per Km for transfer, which would mean 90 Euro each way from Zadar Airport to Novalja. From Who did you get the 150 Euro Offer? Get quote from a few other companies, mail me if you cant find any in the area, then i will see if i can come up with a few alternatives.
Brgds, Morten
Hi Morten,
Thank you for your prompt reply.
Would you happen to know at what time the last bus leaves Zadar airport to go to Novalja?
We arrive at Zadar airport at 8.35pm.
I got the previous quote for the transfer from the website: http://www.johnnie.hr/
Thanks,
Simona
Hi Simona,
There is no bus from the airport to Novalja, you will have to go to main bus station in Zadar first, but i am afraid that the last bus from Zadar to Novalja already left when you arrive.
We contacted some transfer companies as well as the local taxi central in Zadar when we did this information page about the Airport http://www.croatia-expert.com/zadar-airport-airport-bus-and-transfer/, it seams like taxi might even be the cheapest version, i will mail you a few web-pages which you can try to contact for an offer.
Brgds, Morten
Hi Morten
I am currently planning a trip to Pag Island in September 2010.
What is the best way to get from Budapest to Novalja?
Also, we will then be travelling from Novalja to Venice – can you recommend the best way for this leg of the trip?
We are not fussed how we travel and are looking for the quickest and most efficient route.
Many thanks
Sarah.
Hi Sarah
Well Novalja is what I would characterize as a hart to reach destination (:
From Budapest to Novalja, the fast way is properly to rent a car, second option is bus, go from Budapest to Zagreb, according to current schedule (Not summer Schedule) there is bus from Zagreb to Novalja leaving 11.30 (arrival 17:00) and 15:30 (arrival 19:30)
From Novalja to Venica, I guess the fastest way is with Venezialine leaving from several Istrian towns, from Novalja to the Istrian cities should take you about 4 hours, there is several daily departures.
Brgds, Morten
Hi,
I’m am travelling on the Croatian coast in July this year. I hope to be travelling from Split, to Novalja (pag island), then to Hvar, then to Dubrovnik.
What I have gathered is that I need to go back to the mainland between the two islands… is that correct?
Hi Kris
yes that is correct
Brgds, Morten
Hi,
I will be travelling to Pag island in July 2010…Would you recommend a hotel for us….having a hard time figuring out where to live.
We basically want to be as close as possible to where the nightlife is
Thanks
Christine
Hi Christine
i am afraid i can’t help you with that one (:
Brgds, Morten
Hi Croatia Expert,
I am planning a trip with friends this summer and have decided that Island hopping around croatia would be fun. So far we have decided to either fly to zagreb or zadar stay over for 1/2 nights then I go to pag island (i believe by coach.) After there we were planning to go to split- can you get a straight coach from pag to split? then from split to maybe brac then fly home from dubrovnik. Can I get from split to brac to dubrovnik – if not looking for a suggestion of another island that we could visit in between split and dubrovnik. (we are 25 so looking for somewhere that is relaxing but at the same time lots too.) Also we are all on a budget so wondering if you could help estimate the cost of the travel between the places. Also would it be better to fly to zagreb or zadar? Planning to fit this into approx 2 weeks.
Thanks for your help
Kayleigh
Hi Kayleigh
Zadar is closer to Pag, from there you have a few daily buses to Pag (I assume you are going to Novalja?) I don’t know the exact prices, bus travelling in Croatia is quite affordable, if you check out this info http://www.croatia-expert.com/bus/ you have rough idea about the prices.
From Pag to Split you first go to Zadar and then take bus or ferry from Zadar to Split.
If you plan to Island hop from Split to Dubrovnik, you should not go to Brac, but to Hvar or Korcula Island.
Brgds, Morten
Hello,
Visiting Croatia from 15th to 19th May 2010. 5 guys on a lads hol!! Flying into Zadar but have no idea where to go!! Where is the most livly area to stay within a 2hour drive??? Pag? Split? or Zadar??
Would really appreciate any help!!! Thanks a lot!!
Barry, Ireland.
Hello there,
Me and 3 friends are planning to come to Novalja in July 2010.
This will be the 4th time I’ll be in Novalja, but the first time I’ll come by plane.
We live in Belgium and we have two options: fly to Zadar or fly to Rijeka.
But the problem is: how to get from the airport to Novalja? (No taxi, that’s to expensive I think).
I’ve seen that ‘Antonio Tours’-busses drive from Zadar to Novalja, but does the bus leaves at the airport
or in the center of Zadar?
From Rijeka there’s a catamaran(boat) to Novalja, but that in the porto of Rijeka. So how to get from Rijeka airport to the leaving point of the boat?
Please help us,
Kisses from Belgium
Hi Barry
At this time a year, i would say Split or Zadar. take a look at my small guide to nightlife in Split
enjoy, Morten
Hi Esse,
I would recommend you to go to Zadar, from the airport you have an Airport bus (info Zadar Airport), to the city centre and to the main bus station, from there you have 5 or 6 daily buses to Novalja. Airport bus cost 25 Kuna / Person, I would guess the bus from Zadar to Novalja is about 70-80 kuna, so round about 100 kuna / person in total, a taxi from Zadar Airport to Novalja, should be around 800-900 Kuna.
The Airport in Rijeka is actually on the Island Krk, I am not sure if there is an airport bus to the city center? I would guess that a taxi from the Airport to the city center of Rijeka would cost about 350 Kuna.
Enjoy Novalja(-:
Morten
Hay croatia expert:) im coming to novalia this summer, im mooking for a Nice beaches aroud, i ve Sean Somers pictures and it seems strange as a climat there.. Différent from beaches around split. Could u recommand me Nice areas on a pag Island please?
)
Hi Diana, well i am not the familiar with beaches in that area, but i think the Zrce beach area (Outside Novalja) is quite nice
Morten
hello croatia expert!
My friend and i are planning to visit Pag Island on the 8th August for 5 nights. Ideally we would like to stay in Novalja. We have not booked any accommodation, will we be able to find a guesthouse, private accommodation or a cheap hostel on the day we arrive or do you recommend booking ahead?
thanks in advance!
Jimmy
Hi Jimmy
at that time of year it is hard to say if you can find anything onside, if i where you I would at least see what is available on the internet.
Brgds, Morten
Can you tell me how long it would take by bus from Zadar airport to Novalja on Pag island
Hi James,
well first you will have to take the airport bus to Zadar, which is about 20 minutes ride, from Zadar main bus station you can then catch the buses to Novalja, the trip to Novalja takes about 1 hour 45 minutes.
Morten
Hello Mr Expert
,
Me and a few friends are traveling in Croatia from august 20 to august 29. We want to travel to pag island i would like to know if the beach bars are still open during this time of year and if its still busy and worth going?.
Thanks
Jess. xxx
Hi Jess,
To be sure you would have to ask someone from Novalja t, my assumption would be that bars are still open as we still have main Season, if next week is same as this week in terms of tourist there should be plenty of party on the beaches up there.
Morten
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