The tiny island of Premuda is located in North Dalmatia and is considered to be part of the Zadar archipelago island group. Located around 65 kilometres northwest of Zadar, the island is just 9.2 square kilometres in size and has a population of just 64 people, which increases during the summer months as visitors come to enjoy this tranquil island. The island is known for its beautiful coves and beaches – with some sandy ones even located here – if you really want to get away from it all, give Premuda a go!
Given its gorgeous waters, Premuda is also a destination for boats enjoying a sailing trip in this part of the Croatian coast.
The main village on the island is also called Premuda.
History of Premuda
Premuda’s place in history is marked by a sad event that occured over 100 years ago. Just off the island lies the shipwreck of the 152-metre-long World War I Austro-Hungarian battleship, Szent Istvan. The ship was built in Rijeka from 1914 but was struck by two torpedoes from an Italian boat on her first serious voyage in June 1918. Intended to be the pride of the Austro-Hungarian Navy and sailing with a crew of 1,000 members, the ship sank to a depth of 66 metres. 89 men lost their lives. The shipwreck is protected by the Croatian Ministry of Culture and cannot be visited by dives unless with permission.
Getting to Premuda
Catamarans and ferries come in to the main port, Krijal, on the western side of the island.
Jadrolinija operates a year-round ferry from Zadar Gazenica port to Premuda that stops at Ist, Olib, and Silba along the way, and continues to Mali Losinj. This ferry sails daily during the peak summer months, and 4-6 times in the off- and low season. Sailing time from Zadar to Premuda is 4 hours and 15 minutes. The ferry accepts cars (and other vehicles) and foot passengers.
TP Line operates a year-round, fast catamaran that sails from Zadar to Premuda in just 1 hour and 20 minutes. (The catamaran continues to the islands of Silba and Olib.) This service does run daily, year-round.
What to See and Do on Premuda
In a word – relax! There’s not all that much of note on the island in the way of cultural or historic sights, so your days will be filled with exploring the beaches and coves and the island’s many gorgeous viewpoints. If you’re not spending your time lazing by the Adriatic, the island really lends itself to exploring on two feet (or with a bike if you are able to bring one over) as its small size means it’s relatively easy to reach most points.
Beaches
There are both pebble and sand beaches all over the island. Two that are easy to get to once you set foot on the island are to the west and east of the main port.
Diving
The island is a prime spot for underwater exploration, although diving here is best done with an organised agency such as Premuda Diving. There is a series of caves referred to as the Katedrale (“Cathedral”) in one of the island’s bays. This is for advanced divers and, again, would need to be explored with the assistance of a proper diving company.
Events on Premuda
The fun Skojada takes place in early September. Residents from Premuda and its neighbouring islands of Silba and Olib take part in a series of traditional games, but there is also general fun (music, food, activities) that makes this event enjoyable for visitors too.
Eating and Drinking on Premuda
Restoran Masarine, a family-run place located on the western side of the island. Offers typical seafood and meat specialities, including dishes cooked peka style and particularly octopus caught locally.
The nearby Kod Celestina has a simple menu but offers many of the classics of what you might be after – again, fish, octopus or meat peka, plus tuna or shark on the grill.
Accommodation on Premuda
Given the size of the island, it won’t come as a surprise that accommodation here is limited. There are a handful of apartments on Premuda, and you can take a look at what’s available using the map/seach box below:
More info
You can learn more about Premuda on the Zadar Tourist Board website.
There is a small shop in the village of Premuda, and another near the restaurant – both stock the basic essentials. Make sure you have most of what you need when you come over to the island.