Novalja is easy to love, but even the most devoted beach person gets the itch after a few days of sun, sea and Zrće sunsets. The good news: Pag is connected to the mainland at both ends, which puts three very different day trips within reach of your apartment. Head south over the Pag Bridge for Zadar’s waterfront and the ancient little town of Nin, or hop on the short ferry north and drive the wild Velebit coast. Here is how to plan each one, with a few local tips to make the day feel like a holiday rather than a commute.
Which way off the island?
Before anything else, decide how you leave Pag, because it shapes the whole day. Going south means driving the length of the island past Kolan and Pag town and crossing the Pag Bridge onto the mainland. No ferry, no tickets, just a long, beautiful drive through white karst and dry-stone walls. Going north means the ferry from Žigljen, a few minutes outside Novalja, to Prizna at the foot of Velebit. The crossing itself only takes about a quarter of an hour, but summer queues can add a lot more. Our guide to the Prizna–Žigljen ferry explains how to time it, and the full overview of ferries, the Pag Bridge and airports has the bigger picture.
Day trip 1: Zadar, the city of sunsets
Zadar is the big city of the trip, roughly an hour and a half from Novalja by road via the Pag Bridge (the same route as the drive to Zadar Airport). The old town sits on a compact peninsula, so once you have parked you can do everything on foot.
Spend the morning wandering the marble streets of the old town: the Roman Forum, the round pre-Romanesque Church of St Donatus and the cathedral of St Anastasia are all within a few minutes of each other, and the narrow lanes in between are full of cafés where you can watch Zadar go about its day. Lunch is easy to find, but walk a street or two back from the busiest squares for better value.
Then save the best for last. On the tip of the peninsula, the waterfront promenade (the Riva) holds two installations by architect Nikola Bašić. The Sea Organ is a series of broad stone steps leading into the sea; beneath them, waves push air through a system of resonant chambers and the sea literally plays music. Right next to it, the Greeting to the Sun is a circle of 300 multi-layered glass plates that soak up solar energy all day and put on a light show along the waterfront just after sunset. Sit on the steps, listen to the sea and watch the sky turn orange over the islands. It is one of those simple experiences of joy that stays with you.
Local tip: if you stay for sunset, you will be driving back to Pag in the dark. The island road is good but winding, so take it easy, especially across the open stretches where the bura wind can gust.
Day trip 2: Nin, Croatia’s royal little island town
Nin lies just off the route towards Zadar, so you can pair it with a city day or make it a slower trip of its own. Locals proudly describe it as one of the oldest towns in Croatia, with a history going back some 3,000 years, and it was the seat of an important medieval bishopric and a royal town of early Croatian rulers.
The old town sits on a tiny islet, roughly 500 metres across, joined to the mainland by two stone bridges. Inside, it takes very little time to walk around, but there is a lot packed in: the remains of a Roman forum and temple, the bronze statue of Bishop Gregory of Nin (tradition says rubbing his toe brings luck), and the jewel of the town, the Church of the Holy Cross. This tiny white 9th-century church is often called the smallest cathedral in the world, and it is perfectly photogenic in the afternoon light.
Nin is also a beach day in disguise. The long, shallow sandy Queen’s Beach (Kraljičina plaža) stretches for around three kilometres, with Velebit rising on the horizon, and it is a dream for small children who like to paddle. The lagoon is also known for its medicinal mud, which people have been using for treatments for decades; you will see bathers coating themselves grey and drying off in the sun. Nin also has its own salt works with a small salt museum, a nice counterpoint if you have already visited the salt pans near Pag town.
Families heading this way might also like our guide to Novalja with kids, since the shallow sand at Nin is ideal for little ones.
Day trip 3: the Velebit coast and Zavratnica
For a wilder day, take the ferry from Žigljen to Prizna and you land right at the foot of Velebit, Croatia’s great coastal mountain. The road along this coast is quiet, rocky and dramatic, with the sea on one side and bare grey slopes on the other.
The star is Zavratnica, a narrow fjord-like inlet near the village of Jablanac, a short drive north of Prizna. The cove is about 900 metres long and only 50 to 150 metres wide, with rocky shores rising up to 100 metres, and the water is an unreal shade of turquoise. From Jablanac it is roughly a 20-minute walk along a seaside footpath. Look out for the steel skeleton of a German wartime landing craft at the entrance to the bay, sunk during an air attack in August 1944 and now a favourite with snorkellers. Zavratnica is part of Velebit Nature Park, and the park charges a small entrance fee (€5 per adult on its price list when we checked in November 2026; children under 7 go free).
Prefer to arrive by sea? Some excursions from Novalja include Zavratnica too; see our roundup of boat day trips from Novalja.
Bonus for hikers: Paklenica National Park
If you came for mountains as much as beaches, head south over the Pag Bridge and continue up the mainland coast to Starigrad, the gateway to Paklenica National Park. The Velika Paklenica canyon cuts deep into Velebit, narrowing to around 30 to 50 metres at its tightest, with the famous climbing wall of Anića kuk towering above the trail. Further up, the Manita peć cave can be visited on a guided tour. Go early in the morning in summer, bring proper shoes and plenty of water, and check the park’s official website for current tickets and opening times. Already a keen walker? Our guide to hiking on Pag has trails closer to home.
Good to know
Which day trip is best with kids? Nin. The sandy, shallow Queen’s Beach and the tiny walkable old town make for an easy, relaxed day without long walks.
Can I do Zadar and Nin in one day? Yes. Nin sits close to the road towards Zadar, so a morning in Nin and an afternoon and sunset in Zadar works well.
Do I need the ferry for these trips? Only for the Velebit coast and Zavratnica. Zadar, Nin and Paklenica are all reached over the Pag Bridge, no ferry needed.
When is the best time to go? Early or late in the season, when the roads and the ferry are quieter. In July and August leave early in the morning to beat the heat and the queues, and come back to Novalja in time for dinner. Looking for a base? Browse our picks on where to stay in Novalja.
