Zadar and Preko on Ugljan Island have the highest number of daily ferry connections in Croatia. During the summer season, there are up to 29 daily departures, and in winter, around 20.
The route is operated with a fast ferry from Zadar Old Town to Preko and a car ferry from Zadar Gaženica. The crossing time is 20 to 25 minutes.
In the video below, you can see me taking a fast ferry from Zadar Old Town to Preko and returning on a car ferry to the Gaženica ferry port.
Ferry Options and Details
Fast Ferry (from Zadar Old Town):
- Operated by Jadrolinija.
- Up to 11 daily departures.
- The crossing time is 20 minutes.
- Tickets can be bought online or at Jadrolinija’s ticket office at the port.
- The departure location is on the northeast side of the Old Town (the side with the city wall).
- The line is operated with the vessels Silba and Kata, which are enclosed fast ferries with comfortable seating.
- Season ticket price: €5, ticket valid for any departure on the purchase date.
- No seat reservation (boarding according to first-come, first-served principle).
Car Ferry (from Gaženica):
- Operated by Jadrolinija.
- Up to 18 daily departures.
- The crossing time is 25 minutes.
- Tickets can be bought online, at Jadrolinija’s ticket office, or at the waiting lane booths at the port.
- The Gaženica ferry port has marked signs, so navigation is easy.
- The line is operated with various vessels; the vessels have an air-conditioned indoor area with toilets and a coffee bar, and there are seats outside.
- Season ticket price: €3.80 for adults, €17-18 for a car, ticket valid for any departure on the purchase date.
Trip with the Fast Ferry
The 20-minute ferry ride with the fast ferry Silba was super smooth, the staff were friendly, and the seating was very comfortable.
I didn’t manage to check if there was Wi-Fi onboard, but I noticed there were a few plugs for charging at the front of the cabin.
Arriving in Preko
When we arrived at the Preko ferry port, we decided to take a walk to Preko town, which was a 10-minute walk along the shore. Preko village turned out to be a really nice Croatian holiday village, with a marina and lots of coffee bars and restaurants along the waterfront.
After enjoying a refreshment, we took another route back to the ferry port to wait for our car ferry back to Zadar.
The ferry port is well organized, with several waiting lines. Next to the waiting lines, there is a bus stop with bus connections to most villages on Ugljan as well as on Pašman Island.
Facilities at the ferry port include a Mlinar bakery, a kiosk, a public toilet, a Jadrolinija ticket office, and a Konzum supermarket.
Trip with the Car Ferry
Our return trip with the car ferry was also super smooth; the weather was great, so it was nice that we could sit outside.
The cabin on the ferry was in great condition (as on most Jadrolinija car ferries), and the toilets were fine.
As it was outside the main season, we paid only €2.80, which I think is more than reasonable.
My Final Thoughts
A day trip from Zadar to Preko is doable, and I would consider it for:
- A beach day; the water on the island is just on another level.
- An island dinner; as mentioned above, there are lots of nice sea-view restaurants in Preko.
- A bicycle trip (ferry ticket for a bicycle is the same as an adult ticket).
- Let me know if you have more suggestions!
Another interesting thing about Preko/Ugljan Island: If you’re planning a holiday in Zadar but don’t necessarily need to visit the Old Town every day, you could consider staying in Preko or somewhere else on the islands. The ferry trip is only 20 minutes, and with so many departures every day, you can easily go to Zadar Old Town when you need to.