Municipality of Pakoštane: Cycling routes, cultural heritage and island views

• The Pakoštane–Drage–Čelinka MTB route is 9 km long and physically easy, but technically moderate.
• The Pakoštane–Prosika–Crkvine–Maškovića Han trekking route is 40.4 km long.
• The parish Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Pakoštane was built in 1906 and contains remains of the 16th-century Church of St. Michael.
• Vrgada is a half-hour boat ride from Pakoštane and is car-free.

The 9 km Pakoštane–Drage–Čelinka MTB route starts in front of the parish Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the main square. It follows the coast through Drage and Čelinka to Lake Vrana. The return route to Pakoštane passes through olive groves and pine trees. The ratings refer to two different aspects: the route is considered easy physically and moderate technically. Taking both ratings into account gives you a clearer picture of the ride than the distance alone.

The 40.4 km Pakoštane–Prosika–Crkvine–Maškovića Han trekking route starts in front of Pakoštane’s main church. It passes through Vransko jezero Nature Park as well as Prosika, Crkvine and Maškovića Han before returning to the main square. It is therefore significantly longer than the 9 km route. Another point of reference is the longest cycling route: it starts in Vrana at the village church, passes through Majdan and along the eastern shore of Lake Vrana, then continues through Prosika, Modrave and the hinterland of Drage and Pakoštane towards Crkvine.

For a closer look at the local area, you can also visit the town page for Pakostane.

In Pakoštane stands the parish Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, built in 1906. It preserves remains of the 16th-century Church of St. Michael. The construction date and the remains of the older church bring together two historical periods at this site.

The Put Crkvina walking route also passes through a landscape marked by clear traces of the past. It follows the old road from the fertile Vrana Field to the sea, connecting the lake and the sea. Along the route, the ruins of the medieval Church of St. Mary stand on the Crkvine site. The route description can therefore also be read as a link between a historic road and a specific archaeological site.

The Čelinka viewpoint above Drage offers views of Lake Vrana, the islands of the Pakoštane archipelago and the Kornati Islands. On Vrgada, there are viewpoints overlooking the sea and 13 surrounding islets. The boat trip from Pakoštane to Vrgada takes half an hour; as the travel time may vary depending on operations, check the service for your travel date before setting off. There are no cars on the island.

The Staza tri otoka experience is another possible starting point: it can begin at the Pakoštane pier or at Janice Beach. Together with the viewpoints, these offer different options for planning your trip without conflating the experiences.

If you would also like to compare other destinations, you can visit the overviews for the Municipality of Pirovac, the Municipality of Škabrnja, the Municipality of Nin and the Municipality of Novigrad.

What is the difficulty rating of the 9 km MTB route?

It is considered physically easy and technically moderate. The two ratings describe different aspects of the route.

What does the 40.4 km trekking route pass?

It starts in front of the main church in Pakoštane, passes through Vransko jezero Nature Park, Prosika, Crkvine and Maškovića Han, and returns to the main square.

What should you allow for when planning the boat trip to Vrgada?

The trip from Pakoštane takes half an hour, though the duration may vary depending on operations. So check the service for your travel date before setting off. Vrgada is car-free.

For the broader travel overview: Zadar County.