Silba

• Silba is connected to the mainland from Zadar by ferry and catamaran services.
• The island’s small size and flat landscape are ideal for walking and exploring on foot. There are no cars on the island; vehicles for water distribution, small mopeds and bicycles are permitted. Bicycles are prohibited during the peak season.
• The Natura 2000 site HR2001279 covers 28 hectares of Mediterranean coastal cliffs with endemic Limonium species. The marine Natura 2000 site HR3000053 Silba - podmorje covers 700 hectares of Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows.
• Šotorišće is the most visited beach on Silba. Its seabed consists of light-coloured sand, and the water is turquoise.

The two Natura 2000 sites give Silba’s natural environment distinct features: one encompasses Mediterranean coastal cliffs, while the other covers seagrass meadows in the sea. Endemic Limonium species grow on the cliffs, and Posidonia oceanica is found in the meadows. Travellers interested in both coastal landscapes and marine nature will find two different habitats here, each defined by its area and characteristic plants.

For beachgoers, Šotorišće is a specific point of reference: it is considered the island’s most visited beach and is described as having a light-coloured sandy seabed and turquoise water. The natural areas and the beach represent different aspects of the coast; mentioning them does not imply a route connecting them. Silba’s small size and flat landscape also make it suitable for exploring on foot. Together with the bicycle regulations, this is an important factor when choosing how to get around: bicycles are prohibited during the peak season.

Silba’s ecclesiastical history is reflected in several buildings from different centuries. The Baroque parish church of Uznesenja Blažene Djevice Marije was built between 1637 and 1844. Gospe od Karmena dates from 1660 and was consecrated in 1752. The medieval church of Sv. Marka was enlarged in 1637 and is associated with a cemetery. The chapel of Gospe od Sedam Žalosti dates from 1758. Sv. Ivan Krstitelj, dating from the 15th century, is considered the island’s oldest church.

The seven white chapels are also part of Silba’s religious heritage: they mark stations of the Way of the Cross, along which a church procession passed through Silba before Easter. Those interested in intangible cultural heritage can learn about the Silbenski tanac: this island cultural tradition was added to the intangible cultural heritage of the Republic of Croatia in 2018. The old captains’ houses, scattered throughout the village, recall its seafaring tradition.

In Pocukmarak Bay, a stone waterfront structure served as a small quay; stone sarcophagi are incorporated into the structure. Valuable sarcophagi dating from the 5th and 6th centuries were found near the bay.

For more travel ideas, you can also visit the pages for Kozino, Zverinac, Olib, Rava, Petrcane, Ist, Mali Iž and Premuda.

How can you get to Silba from Zadar?

Silba is connected to the mainland from Zadar by ferry and catamaran services.

Can you explore Silba on foot?

The island’s small size and flat landscape are suitable for walking and exploring on foot. Bicycles are prohibited during the peak season.

What is known about visiting a beach on Silba?

Šotorišće is the island’s most visited beach. It has a light-coloured sandy seabed and turquoise water.

For the broader travel overview: Općina Zadar.