The ferry from Prizna to Žigljen is the shortest sea link onto the island of Pag, and for many summer visitors it is the classic way in: you drive down the Velebit coast, roll onto a car ferry, and fifteen minutes later you are on Pag with the sea-and-stone moonscape opening up in front of you. It is also the one part of the journey that can turn a relaxed holiday start into an hour in a hot queue. Here is how it works, and how to dodge the worst of it.
The crossing at a glance
The line is run by Jadrolinija, Croatia’s state ferry company, as car-ferry line 335. It connects Prizna on the mainland coast, on the Adriatic road between Senj and Karlobag, with Žigljen on the northern tip of Pag. The crossing takes about 15 minutes. From Žigljen it is a short drive on to Novalja, so this is the natural route if you are arriving from Rijeka, Slovenia, Italy or Austria via the coast road.
Timetable: three seasons, one big difference
Jadrolinija publishes its sailing schedule for line 335 in seasonal blocks. The 2026 schedule splits the year into an off-season (1 January to 28 May, and 28 September to 31 December), a low season (29 May to 2 July, and 31 August to 27 September) and a high season (3 July to 30 August). The high-season block is the one that matters for most travellers: sailings are far more frequent, starting in the small hours and running late into the night, while the off-season has noticeably fewer departures spread across the day.
A few footnotes are worth checking before you plan around a specific sailing. Some departures do not run on Sundays and public holidays, a few run only on certain dates, and on 1 January, 25 December and 26 December only selected sailings operate. Because the exact times change from year to year, we deliberately do not copy a timetable here. Always check the current schedule for line 335 on the Jadrolinija website (jadrolinija.hr) before you travel, and note which year the PDF is for.
Tickets and prices
The sailing schedule itself carries no fares, so we will not quote prices here. Jadrolinija publishes its tariff separately, with different rates for cars, motorbikes, bicycles and foot passengers, and it can change between seasons and years. Check the current price list on jadrolinija.hr, and also look there for whether online ticketing or advance booking is offered for this line in the season you are travelling. As a rule on short car-ferry lines, plan on buying your ticket at the port and having a card or cash ready.
Beating the summer queues
Queues build up when many cars arrive at once, and in July and August that means weekend changeover days, when guests leave and arrive in bulk, and the stretch from late morning to late afternoon on hot days. A few habits make a real difference:
- Travel at the edges of the day. Very early morning and late evening or night sailings are usually calmer, and the high-season schedule runs round the clock.
- Avoid peak changeover days if you can. Arriving mid-week in the high season is easier than a Saturday.
- Arrive at the port with fuel, water and snacks. If the queue is long, you may wait for more than one sailing.
- Keep the bridge in mind as a backup. If the ferry queue looks hopeless, the road bridge to Pag via Maslenica avoids the ferry altogether, though it adds driving time. Our guide to getting to Novalja by ferry, bridge and airport compares the options.
Strong winds and cancellations
The Velebit channel is known for its bura wind, and in strong gusts sailings can be delayed or suspended. This is most likely in the colder months, but it can happen at any time of year. If wind is forecast, check Jadrolinija’s notices before setting off, and keep a flexible mindset: the bridge is the fallback when the ferry is not running.
After the ferry: your first hours on Pag
Once you land at Žigljen, the road runs across the island’s stark limestone landscape, past sheep pastures and views back to the Velebit mountains. If you have time before check-in, it is worth a slow drive rather than a rush. Novalja is the island’s lively hub, so browse where to stay in advance, and see what is on in the events calendar so your arrival day lines up with something good.
Good to know
How long is the crossing? About 15 minutes, according to Jadrolinija’s line 335 schedule.
Can I reserve a spot? Check the Jadrolinija website for the current booking rules on this line; do not assume it is available in every season.
Does it run at night? In the 2026 high season the schedule includes very early and very late sailings. Off-season service is much thinner, so check before a late arrival.
What if the ferry is not running? Drive round via the Pag bridge at Maslenica. It is longer, but it works in any weather the road allows.