April the 5th, 2026 – Premuda is an island that has escaped the curse of mass tourism, it has a very strange cave system and a sense of zen that heals the soul. Meet the westernmost inhabited island in the expansive Zadar archipelago.
As Putni kofer writes, the glorious Croatian Adriatic is by far one of the most beautiful marine areas in all of Europe. The turquoise sea, the irregular, heavily indented coastline and over 1000 islands, islets and cliffs create a landscape that attracts travellers from all over the world year after year without fail.
From ancient cities that come alive during summer to unsung little places where you can enjoy absolute peace, this country’s coast is so diverse that it will satisfy even the most demanding tourists. Croatia does struggle with overtourism, however, but Premuda is an island with no mass tourism to speak of, not to mention a very strange underwater cave system. It is part of the expansive Zadar archipelago, known as the densest island area in the entire Adriatic.
premuda – the island escape from mass tourism
Premuda is, put simply, charming. This unsung but picturesque little island captivates all who visit it with its simple Dalmatian beauty and untouched nature. Located southwest of Silba and northwest of Škarda, it is about 8.7 kilometres long, only one kilomertre wide, and its total area spans approximately 8.6 square kilometres only.
Premuda is covered with ancient oak, olive trees, fig trees and twisted grapevines, which gives it a typical Mediterranean atmosphere. With plenty of secret coves and beaches that mass tourism hasn’t touched, this gorgeous island is ideal for anyone looking for a bit of zen and is especially loved by sailors and divers eager to explore the crystal clear sea’s depths.
By far the most famous diving attraction on Premuda is the so-called Cathedral (Katedrala), an impressive system of underwater caves teeming with all kinds of marine life. For the most experienced divers, there is also the wreck of the Austro-Hungarian battleship Szent István, also often referred to as the “Titanic of the Adriatic”. It sank back in 1918 and lies at a depth of about 66 metres, with its deck facing the seabed and its keel facing the surface, creating a very creepy underwater atmosphere worth exploring.
beaches, coves and bays galore…
Premuda has a 25.46-kilometere-long coastline with plenty of sandy and pebble beaches, as well as hidden coves and little bays. One of the most visited of all is called Zad crikve. It faces southwest and offers not only excellent swimming opportunities but fantastic views as well.
Premuda is protected from strong waves and harsh elements coming from the open sea by a group of cliffs: Hripa, Masarine, Plitka sika and Veli and Mali Bračić. The Masarine cliff and Premuda itself are only about 300 metres apart, and the partially sandy seabed between them is covered with a type of endemic sea flower and a well known natural cleaner of the entire Mediterranean.
there’s only one settlement on premuda, and that’s… also premuda
The best-kept secret of the Zadar archipelago has only one settlement of the same name, Premuda, which has only about 60 permanent residents during the year. Back at the beginning of the 20th century, many locals left the island in search of a better life, and many of them went to America, never to return.
Premuda has two ports: on its northeastern side is a port called Loza, while in the southwest is Krijal, which also has a ferry port. The island is connected to Zadar and Lošinj, and near Krijal there is an anchorage with buoys for sailors. The settlement does have a shop, a post office, and in the summer there is a café and several restaurants from which the freshest possible fish can be enjoyed. South of the port of Loza, you will find the beach of Popova Škrača. According to a local legend, priests once swam and bathed there, which is why it got this unusual name.
