Pag holidays

How to reach Pag

Flight time: There are no direct flights to Pag; the nearest airport is Zadar. Flights to Zadar take around 2 hours and 30 minutes from London.

Transfer time: From Zadar Airport, it's approximately a 1-hour drive to Pag, which involves a scenic drive across the Pag Bridge, offering stunning views of the Adriatic Sea.

Price:

• A taxi from the airport to Pag costs around €60–€80.

• Alternatively, you can take a bus for approximately €10.

Weather and best time to visit Pag

April to June

• The ideal time for holidays to Pag if you prefer milder weather and fewer crowds.

• Temperatures range from 15°C to 25°C, and there’s plenty of sunshine and next to no rainfall.

July to August

• Peak season, when the island bursts into life with festivals and beach parties.

• It gets very hot though, with average temperatures between 25°C and 30°C.

• It can also get extremely crowded, while prices for both accommodation and activities are higher.

September to November

• The island offers a different – certainly quieter – experience and the weather is still very pleasant, with temperatures averaging between 18°C and 25°C.

• There’s still plenty of sunshine and just the occasional drop of rain.

December to March

• This is the off-season, with temperatures ranging from 5°C to 10°C.

• While it’s not the best time for beach activities, it’s perfect for a cultural getaway.

Practical information

• Spoken languages: Croatian is the official language, but English is widely spoken across the island.

• Local habits and customs: Pag is known for its laid-back atmosphere, but be respectful of local customs, especially in more traditional areas. Casual attire is fine for most places, but dress modestly when visiting churches.

• Currency: Croatia uses the Kuna (HRK). ATMs are available in major towns, and most places accept credit cards. It’s a good idea to carry some cash for smaller establishments.

• Getting around: The island’s southern end is connected to the mainland via the Pag Bridge. Otherwise, buses are the main form of public transport on the island, with single journey fares costing around 15 HRK. Car rental is recommended for exploring more remote areas.

• Electricity and plug types: Wall sockets in Croatia operate at 220 volts and take round, two-pin plugs. British and US travellers should purchase a continental adaptor before leaving home.

• Time zone: Pag operates on Central European Time (CET), which is one hour ahead of GMT, and observes Daylight Saving Time.

Best things to do in Pag

Pag is an island of contrasts, where raw, rugged beauty meets some of the Adriatic’s most vibrant nightlife – it’s not called the Ibiza of the Adriatic for no reason.

Viewpoints and panoramas

• Vidikovac Gradac: This elevated viewpoint, high above the road between Pag town and Novalja, offers widescreen views of the whole island.

• Pag Bridge: Linger for a moment and soak up the views on the 300m-long bridge linking the mainland with the island.

The best districts

• Pag Town: A seafront promenade and pebbly stretches of beach, together with a tight grid of streets and well-proportioned Renaissance churches, are the main draws of this pleasant and relaxing holiday town.

• Novalja: Get your dancing shoes on: this is a buzzing modern settlement whose nearby Zrće beach is arguably the prime venue for Adriatic clubbing.

Museums

• Pag Lace Gallery: Explore the intricate art of lace-making in this lovely gallery which showcases exquisite examples of a delicate craft, while offering fascinating insight into a unique aspect of Pag’s cultural heritage.

Parks and gardens

• Olive Gardens of Lun: The bucolic Lun peninsula is mostly covered in maquis, but it’s also famous for its olive groves, many of which are very old indeed and feature dramatically stocky, gnarled trees.

Historical monuments

• Stari Grad: Pag’s original – now eerily uninhabited – old town was abandoned in the 1440s, but retains a few ruined buildings, including the cloister of a Franciscan monastery, and a church dating from 1392 with a fine Gothic relief of the Virgin above the portal.

• The Italian Hole: Originally a Roman settlement dating from around the first century AD, these few ancient remains include an underground water conduit – almost 1km long – also known by locals as the Talijanova buža or “Italian Hole”.

• Benedictine Monastery of St. Margarite: Famous for its production of baškotin, a type of sweet bread, St. Margarite’s provides a peaceful retreat from the outside world.

Day trips in the area

• Zadar: Less than an hour from Pag, Zadar combines ancient and medieval heritage with a lively café culture and a vibrant festival scene. Discover our cheap holidays to Zadar for a blend of history and culture.

• Paklenica National Park: A staggeringly beautiful mountain landscape comprising an enticing mixture of karst wilderness, deciduous forests and fir-clad slopes.

Activities for families in Pag

While the island’s beaches are in many ways the default family activity, there are more than enough cultural and physical pursuits to keep the gang entertained.

• Beaches: Of the island’s many beaches, Planjka (also known as Trinćel) is best suited to families; a long shallow curve of fine shingle and sand with a couple of beach bars at the rear.

• Interactive museums: Both the Pag Lace Gallery and the Salt Museum are worthy expeditions, offering just the right balance between fun and education.

• Water sports: What could be better than a family outing by stand-up paddle board, and the beauty of Pag is that its waters are calm enough for even the youngest members to have a go.

Free things to do in Pag

It may be small, but that doesn’t mean to say that there aren’t plenty of free activities to partake in on the island, if you look hard enough.

• Beaches: Pag’s finest beaches are in Novalja: the main town beach is Vrtić, a stretch of fine shingle and sand, or there’s the much larger, pebbly Straško beach, home to extensive facilities and a naturist section.

• Free events: Pag Carnival is a special spectacle, running every Saturday from early January and culminating in three days of non-stop, costumed festivities before Ash Wednesday. You can either watch from afar or join in with the fun and get dressed up.

Nature and outdoor activities in Pag

Pag’s easily accessible coastline and rugged interior present opportunities for all kinds of leisure pursuits.

• Hiking: The island’s stark interior is made for long walks, but be warned, it’s very exposed here so take sensible precautions.

• Kitesurfing and windsurfing: The island’s exposure to the elements makes it an excellent spot for all kinds of water-bound pursuits, especially kitesurfing and windsurfing.

• Climbing: Stogaj is the island's best-known climbing spot, offering nearly 20 marked routes, including short, easy ascents for beginners, while experienced climbers can attempt the so-called Skorpion or Spyder climbs.

• Stand-Up Paddleboarding: A popular activity around the Pag coastline, the calm waters here are perfect for both beginners and experienced paddlers alike.

• Bird-watching: The reeds and marshland of Veliko Blato provide shelter for almost 150 varieties of birdlife, including herons, great crested grebes, spoonbills and hundreds of flamingos – truly fantastic bird-watching territory.

Pag is known above all for its distinctive hard cheese – probably the most famous in all of Croatia – as well as its lamb, but there’s plenty more great cuisine to enjoy on your Pag holidays.

Some typical dishes

• Pag cheese: A hard, piquant sheep’s cheese, which has a taste somewhere between mature cheddar and parmesan; you’ll find it in supermarkets all over the country.

• Pag lamb: A succulent, spit-roasted delight, although it can also be grilled. Most kitchens, however, cook it on the spit, then carve out the finest cuts and serve it with potatoes and veg.

Meat dishes

• Ćevapi: Juicy rissoles of grilled minced meat served with ajvar (a pepper-based condiment) and flatbread – the classic Balkan staple.

• Peka: Slow-roasted lamb, octopus or other local goodies under an ember-covered metal lid known as a peka: this is a traditional route to a deliciously succulent meal.

Fish and seafood dishes

• Brudet: A scrumptious fish stew comprising various types of fish, to which tomatoes and wine is added. It is typically served with polenta.

• Crni rižot: One of Dalmatia's most iconic dishes, this black risotto takes its name from the main ingredient, cuttlefish ink – and the blacker the risotto, the better the taste.

Sweets and desserts

• Kroštule: Deep-fried pastry twists dusted with powdered sugar, often enjoyed during festive occasions.

• Ice cream: The Dalmatian’s love of ice cream is evident in the dozens of cafés and ice cream parlours lining the promenades of Pag Town and Novalja.

Local drinks

• Rakija: There’s nothing like a shot of rakija (grape brandy) to oil the wheels of social intercourse. Knock back a herb-infused travarica or carob-flavoured rogačica for a truly heart- and soul-warming experience.

• Pag wines: Whether it’s golden Žutica or the lighter Gegić, Pag wines gain their dry character from the sandy soil and provide the ideal accompaniment to Pag’s fabulous cheese.