Airport and transport – daily ship and ferry line with Zadar (around 30 km); daily hydroplane connection to Zadar; weekly hydroplane connection with Ancona (Italy); airport in Zadar.
History – remains of monuments from Paleolithic (confirmed by archaeological excavations from Krševanje polje and Veli Rat); first time mentioned in the 10th century by Byzantine Emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitus (under the name of Pizuh; in his work “De administrando imperio”); in Soline used to be saltworks (first time mentioned in 12th century); in the 15th century registered as Veli Otok.
Interesting to see: church of St. John (in Sali; 11th century; build partly on ruins of a Roman construction that dates back to 5th or 6th century); church Ascension of Virgin Mary (in Sali; 9th/10th century; a new one of renaissance form was built in as well as a font with the year 1561 marked on it); church of St. Rock (17th century); remnants of the church of St. Victor (in Sali; the early Christian period, before 8th century); St. Pelegrin in Savar (World Heritage Site) is a pre-Romanesque construction of central shape, angular ground plan with ovoid dome on pillars (probably before the 9th century).
Info – 12 villages and around 1 772 inhabitants; the highest peak Vela Straža is 337 m high; island is 45 km long; there are three lakes (two frash-water lakes near the Žman, and one salt lake in Natural Park Telašćica); the road (which connects all places on the island) offers a magnificent view; the south-west coast of the island is steep with fascinating cliffs, and with line of bays (the most beautiful among them is white sand beach Sakarun).
Inevitable to see: donkey races, folk dance “kolo”, theatre performances and musical concerts in the environment of the island architecture; Nature Park Telašćica (on the SE with 13 surrounding islands and islets; 70,5 m2); lighthouse Veli Rat; horrified cave “Strasna pec” (in Savar; entrance is 70m height above sea level and it is formed in well-layered limestones of fossil shells from Cretaceous); Local musical show “tovareća mužika” (“serenades to newly married”; in the past younger generations used horns for making jokes on account of those who would get married when already of a certain age, which referred to marriage of a widower or a widow (started when an old maid married a widower); became a part of local festivities and tradition; the whole event finishes late in the afternoon when the performers together with the ceremony master slowly enter the sea in Porto whilst continuing to play until the water reaches their necks, at the same time holding their instruments high in their hands).
Inevitable to taste: local olive oil, figs, cheese and wine.
For sailors:
Božava: exposed to S; sheltered from all other winds. Berth: (vessels with the draught of up to 2 m) along the pier (on the NE side of the coast) or in front of the waterfront. Mooring: on the middle of the bay (depths around 7 m). Warning: although the bay is not open from NW, if it comes to storm (from that direction) it is best to leave the bay.
Brbinj: exposed to bora (outer part of the bay), jugo causes waves; sheltered from all winds (in furthermost N part of the bay), good shelter from jugo (in the furthermost SE branch of the bay). Berth: along the waterfront (in the furthermost NW branch of the bay; in front are buoys; warning-shallow: depths 1-3 m).
Luka: exposed to NW wind (creates waves); sheltered from all other winds. Berth: (smaller vessels) along the pier (in front of the settlement Luka). Mooring: (bigger vessels) SW from the islet Luški. Warning: the passage between islet Luški and cape Gubac should be avoided (strong current and the shallow bottom); marked reef (around 200 m E from the islets Luški).
Luka Telašćica (bay extends 8 km inside the island; the biggest width is 1.5 km; around is 6 smaller islets): Sheltered: lee from bora (along the N side). Mooring: almost everywhere (depend on winds) in branches of the bay (anchored buoys); bay Mir. Shallow and cliffs: in the bottom of the bay (3 m deep). Warning: fishing is not allowed unless with permission issued by Park Management; Scuba diving is possible also with the permission and only on specific locations (that are changeable).
Pantera (bay looks like lagoon; it is the most famous mooring place on the NW side of the Dugi Otok): Recommendation: near is one of the most beautiful lighthouses on the Adriatic (Veli rat; walking distance). In front of the lighthouse (toward the open sea) are beautiful beaches with small pebbles.
Sali (settlement and the small port): Mooring: possible in the outer part of the bay.
Savar: bay with the small jetty; suitable from mooring.