Pag Island
Pag is a bare, windswept island in the Adriatic, known for sheep's-milk cheese, hand-made lace and Zrće, a beach with late-night parties.
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Pag is a long, bare island in the Adriatic, off the Zadar coast in Zadar County. Its land is mostly limestone with few trees, so the scenery is open and dry, and the wind keeps the low vegetation short. Pag is known for sheep's-milk cheese, traditional lace and the salt pans near Pag town. At the north end of the island, the club beach of Zrće sits near Novalja.
Pag suits road trips along the coast between Zadar and the Kvarner region, and it fits into a few days of a longer Croatia route. The Pag Bridge links the island to the mainland. The first decision is where to base yourself. Pag town is quieter and close to the salt pans. Novalja is nearer to Zrće. Summer is the busy season, while late spring and early autumn are calmer. Plan at least a few days to see the main points.
Pag Island in five
- Drive over the Pag BridgeThe Pag Bridge, 301 m long and open since 1968, joins the island to the mainland, with the Prizna to Žigljen ferry as the alternative. Zadar to Novalja is 76 km by road according to Novalja's tourist board.Zadar
- Taste cheese from local sheepPag cheese is made from the milk of the island's own sheep and is one of the best-known food products in Croatia. Buy it at a farm or a shop that names its producer, and ask how long it was aged.
- See lace in Pag townCroatian lacemaking, including Pag lace, is on UNESCO's intangible heritage list, and the old town is where lace is made and sold. The salt pans, among the oldest on the eastern Adriatic, give the other local story.
- Choose Zrće only for party nightsZrće beach near Novalja is the island's club beach, with parties that run into the early morning. Families and travelers who want quiet do better in Pag town or a smaller village.
- Link Pag and Rab without a carNovalja's tourist board lists a catamaran north to Rab and Rijeka, and a passenger boat from Lun to Rab. Both suit a trip without a car.Rab Island
Need to know
- Airport
- Zadar (ZAD), about 80 km from Novalja
- Getting there
- Pag Bridge by road; Prizna to Žigljen ferry; catamaran to Novalja
- Getting around
- A car; buses link Pag town, Novalja and Zadar
- Best base
- Pag town for lace and salt; Novalja for beaches
- Time needed
- 1 night to 3 days
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain13 rainy days3 snowy daysHigh5°Low-2°Cold, windyJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 5°
- Low
- -2°
- Precipitation
- 132 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 3
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, windy
- FebruaryPartly cloudy11 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh7°Low0°Cold, windyFebruaryPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 7°
- Low
- 0°
- Precipitation
- 136 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, windy
- MarchPartly cloudy12 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh10°Low1°Cool, bura windMarchPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 1°
- Precipitation
- 140 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, bura wind
- AprilRain12 rainy daysHigh14°Low4°Spring, freshAprilRain
Good
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 92 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, fresh
- MayRain16 rainy daysHigh18°Low8°Warm, calmMayRain
Good
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 140 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, calm
- JunePartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh24°Low13°Warm seaJunePartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 78 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm sea
- JulyClear8 rainy daysHigh27°Low15°Hot, Zrće seasonJulyClear
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 56 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, Zrće season
- AugustClear8 rainy daysHigh27°Low15°Hot, Zrće seasonAugustClear
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 69 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, Zrće season
- SeptemberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh21°Low11°Warm sea, calmerSeptemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 126 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm sea, calmer
- OctoberRain10 rainy daysHigh16°Low7°Mild, quietOctoberRain
Mixed
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 150 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quiet
- NovemberRain14 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh10°Low3°Wet, quietNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 217 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, quiet
- DecemberRain13 rainy days3 snowy daysHigh6°Low0°Cool, quietDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 6°
- Low
- 0°
- Precipitation
- 161 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 3
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, quiet
Average daily high and low in Pag, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Pag Island
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
12
- Feels like
- 3°
- Humidity
- 54%
- Wind
- 55 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 83%
Pag Island
09:48 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today14°11°83%Monday: Cloudy. High 14°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 83%.
- Tue13°11°15%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 13°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 15%.
- Wed14°12°10%Wednesday: Rain. High 14°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 10%.
- Thu15°12°0%Thursday: Cloudy. High 15°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri15°12°10%Friday: Clear. High 15°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 10%.
- Sat15°11°51%Saturday: Rain. High 15°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 51%.
- Sun16°14°54%Sunday: Rain. High 16°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 54%.
Updated 05:56 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Day trips by train
- Zadar76 km from Novalja by roadA walled peninsula with the Sea Organ and the Roman Forum.Read the guide
- Rab Islandby catamaran via NovaljaFour bell towers and the sandy beaches of Lopar.Read the guide
- Lun peninsulaby road, then boat to RabThe northern tip, with olive groves and a boat across to Rab.
Before you go to Pag Island
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Rules for Pag Island, checked
- Pag Bridge: 301 m long and 9 m wide, opened 17 November 1968; it gave the island a direct road link to the mainland.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
- Novalja is 76 km from Zadar, 225 km from Zagreb and 216 km from Split; the Prizna to Žigljen ferry and a Rijeka to Rab to Novalja catamaran serve the island.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
Plan around Pag Island
The gateway city and airport for Pag
Read the guideNorthern DalmatiaPag in a road loop with Šibenik and Krka
Read the guideRab IslandKvarner island by catamaran from Novalja
Read the guideKvarnerRijeka, Krk, Cres and Lošinj to the north
Read the guideRoad travel in CroatiaCar hire, ferries and buses compared
Read the guideAll of CroatiaCoast, islands, Zagreb and entry rules
Read the guidePag Island FAQ
Is Pag island worth visiting?
Yes for the landscape, cheese, lace and salt pans, and for Zrće if you want a beach club. It is a poor fit for travelers who want sand, shade or forest, since the island is bare.
How do you get to Pag island?
Drive over the Pag Bridge, take the Prizna to Žigljen ferry from the north, or ride the catamaran from Rijeka via Rab to Novalja. Buses also run from Zagreb, Rijeka, Zadar and Split to Novalja.
Is Pag a good day trip from Zadar?
It works with a car: Zadar to Novalja is 76 km. Pag town sits nearer the bridge, so a day for the town, the cheese and the salt pans is realistic. Allow an overnight for Zrće.
What is Pag known for?
Pag cheese, Pag lace, lamb, salt and the Zrće beach. The cheese is made from the milk of the island's sheep, and Croatian lacemaking, including Pag lace, is on UNESCO's intangible heritage list.
Where should you stay on Pag?
Pag town for lace, salt and a quieter evening, Novalja for beaches and restaurants, and Zrće only if you want the clubs. A village stay suits travelers who want quiet and a car.