Island camping: discover Pag

Are you looking for an island with sandy beaches, local specialties, entertainment, and sports activities, that is also easy to get to? Then Pag is the right choice for you. This Croatian island has the most indented coastline, so beautiful beaches await you at every turn.

Pag is a diverse island that offers something for everyone. Those looking for fun can find it at the clubs on Zrće Beach near Novalja. Active travelers can explore the numerous trails, and those looking for a relaxing vacation can spend their days lounging on the beaches. To help you make the most of your vacation on Pag, we’ve compiled our best recommendations.

How to get there

There are two ways to get to Pag. If you’re coming from the north, the first option is the ferry from Prizna. The crossing takes about 20 minutes and brings you to the northern part of the island, near Novalja. During the high season, ferries sail in both directions every hour. During the off-season, however, service is somewhat less frequent, so it is best to check the sailing schedule and book a ferry in advance.

The second option is the Pag Bridge on the southern end of the island. This is a great option if you are traveling to the southern part of the island or if you don’t want to pay for the ferry. Currently, in June 2025, the ferry costs between 12 and 20 euros for cars and between 20 and 30 euros for campervans, depending on their size.

What to see

Are you interested in history? If so, take a walk through the old part of Pag, where you will find old walls and historical sites such as the Rector’s Palace, the Skrivanat Tower, and the Katine Bridge, a replica of an 18th-century Venetian bridge. Novalja is the second largest town on the island, so choose it if you want to be in the heart of the action and close to some of the most beautiful beaches.

Pag is famous for its many indigenous products. One of them is Pag lace, which is on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List. You can learn more about it at the Pag Lace Gallery. While you are in town, visit the saltworks Solana Pag, the largest producer of sea salt in Croatia. You can sign up for workshops, see the salt pools, and participate in the salt harvest.

The island is also famous for sheep farming, so definitely try Pag lamb and Pag cheese, made from sheep’s milk, which has won several international awards. Visit the Gligora cheese factory in Kolan, where you can book a tour or relax at the Cheese Bar and enjoy Pag cheese and other specialties while taking in the views of the island.

What goes well with top-quality cheese? High-quality olive oil. Visit Lun, a village near Novalja, where you can explore olive groves with the largest number of thousand-year-old olive trees in one place.

Where to eat

• Restaurant Boškinac – The only Michelin-starred restaurant on Pag. Located near Stara Novalja, it offers dishes made with carefully selected local ingredients, including shrimp, Pag lamb, cheese, fish, and olive oil. You can wash it all down with some of the international wines on offer.
• Konoba Barcarola – A great place for real Pag specialties. Whatever you order — be it lamb, Adriatic squid, or one of the homemade pasta dishes — you won’t go wrong.
• Konoba Didova kuća – This tavern is located near Kolan and it offers fresh seafood and local specialties, which you can enjoy on the terrace by the sea.
• Konoba Starac i more – A family restaurant in the center of Novalja that bases its menu on fresh seafood and Pag lamb. To get to know Pag specialties well, try the tasting menu, “A Walk Around the Island of Pag”.

Where to stay

• Campsite Straško – A campsite known for its large pitches and modern mobile homes, some of which have access to a shared pool. The campsite has a two-kilometer-long pebble beach and offers various activities during the season.
• Campsite Terra Park Phalaris – Located north of Novalja. It offers pitches with wooden awnings, as well as modern mobile homes with two or three bedrooms and luxury mobile homes with a private, heated pool. You can enjoy swimming on the pebble beach, and you can take your dog to the nearby dog beach.
• Campsite Terra Park Spirito S – Located halfway between Pag and Novalja and is great for exploring the island. It offers well-maintained pitches next to the famous pebble beach of Sv. Duh, as well as luxury mobile homes with a pool.

  

  

• Campsite Šimuni – This ADAC-Superplatz-awarded campsite is known for its beautiful beach, aquapark, excellent entertainment, and a range of activities.
• Campsite Aminess Style Camping Avalona Resort – Another campsite with the ADAC Superplatz award. It offers pitches with private heated pools and mobile and glamping houses with pools. There is a swimming pool complex for additional water activities, and the campsite also offers many sports activities.

Where to swim

• Ručica Beach – A pebble beach near Metajna. There is a parking lot from which you can reach the beach in five minutes on foot. The beach has crystal clear water, a small bar that is open in the summer, and a view of Velebit.
• Šimuni Beach – One of the best beaches on Pag. It has fine pebbles and sand, and there is an aquapark and beach bars for fun. The FKK Šimuni Beach is also a few minutes’ walk away.
• Zrće – Nicknamed the “Croatian Ibiza,” and once you experience the atmosphere of its bars and clubs at any time of day or night, you’ll understand why.
• Planjka Trinćel Beach – Great for families with children because of its easy access to the sea and amenities like slides, playgrounds, and pedal boats.