Ugljan is a picturesque island overgrown with fig trees, grapevines, and olive trees used to make the very highest quality olive oil. The island of Ugljan has a long tradition of fishing and is regarded as the most important fishing centre in the Adriatic Sea. Kali is regarded as the most beautiful fishing town and is certainly worth visiting.
The eastern part of Ugljan is lower and more rugged, most of the inhabited towns and villages (Ugljan, Sutomiščica, Poljana, Preko, Kali, and Kuklica) are located here. The most famous bays on the eastern side of the island are Južna luka (beach), Pavlešina (breakwater), Kobiljak (nice snorkelling but be careful – there are a lot of rocks here), Prtljung (anchorage), Želijna Vela (beach), Svitla, Vela Lamjana (fishing harbour and boat building), Mala Lamjana (anchorage, buoys, fish breeding) and Sabušica (with a beach suitable for children).
The western part of the island is more difficult to get to, rather desolate and uninhabited. Even so, you will find some delightful deserted bays and places to swim there.
Ugljan Harbour—a small harbour in a fishing village, mostly occupied by fishing boats. Berths are set aside for sailing yachts by the breakwater with a depth of 3 m, but only occasionaly will you find a place here. There are three restaurants in the harbour (Kaleta, Apolo, Trapula) and numerous cafés. You can buy local foods at the fish market. There is also a post office, an ATM and two supermarkets. North of the harbour is the chapel of St Jerome and a nice beach. You should sail in from a southeasterly direction due to the shallows (we recommend studying this in the Pilot or the sailor's guide, 888), and watch out for the current! The northerly wind is dangerous for entering the harbour (N). Near Batalaža Bay, north of the harbour, we recommend snorkelling (there is a breakwater here, anchorage and a beach.
Olive Island Marina, Sutomiščica—a clean, modern marina offering 200 berths which is easily accessible even at night thanks to the lighthouse at the entrance of the bay and the marina. The marina is well sheltered and rarely overcrowded. Here you will find showers and toilets, technical services, a shop with yachting goods, car and scooter rental. You will appreciate the WiFi for weather updates and the excellent Olive Garden restaurant where you can eat your fill.
Poljana Harbour—a small, frequently fully occupied harbour.
Marina Preko—a lovely marina in the attractive town of Preko. The marina offers 85 berths that are often full during the summer. In addition to the showers, technical services and WiFi, there is a diving centre, a doctor and a dentist. There are countless bars and restaurants at the waterfront. There is a nice beach behind the harbour.
Kali is an absolutely beautiful fishing town. There are three small harbours in the town full of fishing boats and fishermen mending their nets. The atmosphere is rounded off by old stone houses, narrow lanes, dry stone walls and olive groves. Above the town on the hill is the Church of St Lawrence which offers wonderful views of the surrounding area. Various festivals and fishing festivals take place here every year, at the end of July and the beginning of August. In the old fishing harbour of Kali, the depth is 3 m and it is usually only possible to moor here by mooring to a fishing boat. If you ask permission and land, you should be able to get to the shore across the decks of the fishing boats. This is an opportunity to visit the local salting plant—a fish processing factory. You can try many different types of salted fish here for very low prices and in the factory, you can buy some superb pickled herrings. This is an experience you should not miss and one which people will smell on you—for a long time!
It is also possible to anchor at the breakwater in the neighbouring Batalaža bay. From there you can take a nice walk to the old fishing harbour of Kali and the centre. But watch out for the submerged rocks in the bay! Study the Pilot well.
Kuklica Harbour is located in the relatively lively village of the same name, Kuklica. Finding a post office, ATM or a doctor here is no problem. There is a smaller harbour here with a breakwater and moorings for you to secure your yacht. Use breakwater B, which is for guests. In the harbour, you will find connections to water and electricity, showers and toilets. The idyllic atmosphere can, however, be jeopardised by a blustery Sirocco. In addition to restaurants and several cafés, you will also find the chapel of St Paul at the waterfront as well as the small local discotheque.
There are a lot of nice places where to swim in the surrounding area. The coastline of the Zaglav peninsula is worth exploring. There are pine forests and several pebble beaches. The shore is reinforced with concrete to ensure a gradual slope to the sea with a fine, bottom layer of sand. There is also a nice beach suitable for very young children in Sabušica bay on the southwestern shore of the island.