Best Beaches on Ugljan Island, Croatia

Which beach is best for families with children?

Jaz, on the outskirts of Preko, is the island's most equipped beach: a sand-and-concrete-slab shore with natural tree shade, showers, a restaurant, a children's playground and lifeguard service (Source: Adriatic.hr, beach guide). Mostir, in the center of Ugljan town, is also built for families and non-swimmers, with sun loungers, a shower, a toilet, a changing cabin, a wheelchair ramp and floating protective barriers marking off the shallow swimming area, plus a beach volleyball court (Source: Turističke priče, citing the official Ugljan Tourist Board). Both differ from most of the island's smaller coves in having supervised, fully serviced setups rather than a bare patch of sand or pebble, which is worth weighing when choosing a village to base yourself in.

• Jaz (Preko): sand and concrete slabs, showers, restaurant, playground, lifeguard
• Mostir (Ugljan town): sand, loungers, shower, toilet, changing cabin, wheelchair ramp, floating barriers, volleyball
• Uvala Čeprljanda: concrete beach over a mixed sand-and-rock seabed, with a changing cabin, shower, nearby restaurant and playground (Source: Turističke priče, citing the official Ugljan Tourist Board)

Where can I find a quieter, less crowded beach?

Uvala Pavlešina, on the island's southern side, looks out toward Iž, Rava, Sestrunj and Dugi Otok and is used mainly for quiet swimming and watching the sunset rather than for facilities (Source: Turističke priče, citing the official Ugljan Tourist Board). Batalaža, a pebble beach in Kali between the village's two harbor piers, is described as having crystal-clear water and dense surrounding vegetation, making it a more intimate spot than the serviced beaches closer to Preko (Source: Turističke priče, citing the official Ugljan Tourist Board). A rocky, deep-blue cove known locally as Ćinta is also mentioned as a swimming and boat-trip spot near Ugljan town — check the boating and anchoring rules near Ugljan before arriving by private boat — though this detail could only be confirmed through a single secondary source and should be treated as a lead worth checking locally rather than a fully verified listing.

• Uvala Pavlešina: south coast, island views, sunset spot, minimal facilities
• Batalaža (Kali): pebble beach between the village's two piers, clear water, quiet
• Ćinta: rocky cove near Ugljan town, single-source lead, verify locally

Are Ugljan's beaches mostly sand or pebble?

Both types exist, split fairly evenly by village. Jaz in Preko, Mostir in Ugljan town, and Južna Luka near Muline are sand beaches, with Južna Luka also known for large smooth stone formations rising out of the water and pine cover along the shore, making it a spot locals point to for sunset photos (Source: Turističke priče, citing the official Ugljan Tourist Board). Zelena Punta in Kukljica, by contrast, is a pebble beach on concrete slabs shaded by pine trees (Source: Adriatic.hr, beach guide). Travelers who want to avoid pebble shoes should aim for Jaz, Mostir or Južna Luka; those who prefer a firmer pebble bottom for wading in should head to Zelena Punta.

• Sand: Jaz (Preko), Mostir (Ugljan town), Južna Luka (near Muline)
• Pebble and concrete slabs: Zelena Punta (Kukljica)
• Južna Luka's rock formations and pine shade make it a favored sunset spot

What is Zelena Punta, and why is it linked to Kukljica?

Zelena Punta is Kukljica's main beach: pebble and concrete slabs shaded by nearby pine trees, on the village's stretch of coast facing the mainland (Source: Adriatic.hr, beach guide). It sits within Kukljica's wider identity as one of the island's older fishing settlements and an early adopter of tourism in the Zadar island group, a history covered in more detail in Kukljica's fishing-village history.

Which beach is closest to the Preko ferry port?

Jaz is the closest fully serviced beach to Preko, sitting on the edge of the village where the Zadar-Preko car ferry docks, which makes it a practical stop right after arriving in Preko by ferry or before a return crossing without needing to travel further into the island (Source: Adriatic.hr, beach guide). Plaža Centar, in the middle of Ugljan town a short distance south of Preko, is another easily reached option with loungers, a shower and a changing cabin, though it is known to get crowded and is best visited early in the day (Source: Turističke priče, citing the official Ugljan Tourist Board).

Beach comparison