Silba
About this place
Silba’s only village occupies the narrow waist of its namesake island in the Zadar archipelago, where roughly 700 metres separate the two shores. This makes it possible to walk from the western harbour at Žalić to the eastern coast and Šotorišće’s sandy shallows in about ten minutes. Cars are absent, and bicycles are restricted during the busiest part of summer, leaving the island lanes largely to pedestrians. The village landmark is the 15-metre Toreta, a stone tower wrapped in an exterior spiral staircase and associated with seafarer Petar Marinić and a local love story. Silba’s maritime past also survives in its captains’ houses and the 15th-century Church of St John the Baptist. The nearby swimming spots are notably varied: Šotorišće has a pale sandy seabed, Pocukmarak is a pebble cove close to late-antique sarcophagi, while Pernastica and Dobre Vode reward a longer walk. Sea routes connect Silba with Zadar, Ist, Olib, Premuda and Mali Lošinj, but seasonal timetables vary, so the crossing should be checked before accommodation is booked.
Stays
No stays listed here yet
Things to see
Toreta—also called Marinić’s Toreta or the Monument to Love—is Silba’s defining landmark. This 19th-century stone tower stands 15 metres high and has an external spiral stair; local tradition links it to Captain Petar Marinić and Antonija Mauro. In the village centre, the Church of St John the Baptist is the island’s oldest church, from the 15th century. Continue the historical walk to Pocukmarak, where sarcophagi dating to the 5th and 6th centuries were found near the bay. Captains’ houses along the lanes add another tangible trace of Silba’s seafaring past and wooden sailing ships.
Beaches
Šotorišće is Silba’s most visited beach, distinguished by a pale sandy seabed and turquoise water. The wide, shallow inner bay suits children, while beach volleyball and a nearby café add simple facilities. Carpusina lies closer to the village centre, with clear water over pebbles. Žalić sits beside the main harbour on the settlement’s south-west side; quieter coves such as Pernastica and Dobre Vode are reached on foot through the island landscape or by small boat. Outside the village centre, expect less developed shores than at Šotorišće.
Bathing water quality nearby
- Žalić · 509 mnot classified · season 2025
Source: European Environment Agency (EEA); data from Croatian authorities. · bathing water profile
Practical information
Practical information
Pack for a walkable arrival on Silba: from the Žalić or Mul landings, accommodation is generally reached on foot because the island has no cars. Water-delivery vehicles, small mopeds and bicycles are the limited transport exceptions, and bicycles are not used during the peak season. The village centre, less than a minute from the Church of St John the Baptist, has shops, a bakery, cafés and restaurants. The island also has a post office, exchange office and tourist-information office. For swimming, choose the shore according to the day’s wind; the village’s east and west coasts are only about ten minutes apart on foot.
Getting there and around
Jadrolinija’s local route 401 links Zadar’s Gaženica port with Ist, Olib, Silba, Premuda and Mali Lošinj. A direct Zadar–Silba–Mali Lošinj fast-boat service also operates in summer for foot passengers. Since Silba has no car traffic, vehicles remain on the mainland and the final leg continues on foot from the pier. Travellers leaving Zadar should distinguish the city passenger harbour from Gaženica, as the relevant services do not necessarily use the same terminal. Sailings vary by season, so the current Jadrolinija schedule for the precise travel date should replace any timetable saved from a previous year.
Frequently asked questions
Are cars allowed on Silba?
No; Silba is a pedestrian island, apart from a small number of service vehicles such as those used for water distribution.
How tall is Toreta?
Silba’s Toreta stands 15 metres high and is distinguished by its exterior spiral staircase.
Which Silba beach has a sandy seabed?
Šotorišće has an entirely sandy seabed and shallow water with a distinctive turquoise colour.
Where are Silba’s sarcophagi?
The 5th- and 6th-century sarcophagi stand by Pocukmarak Cove, near the island cemetery.
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Photo credits
- Silba — Guba Zoky Rabko · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Olib — Nilsiboy · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Premuda — Tom Cvetko. Original uploader was Tom Cvetko at de.wikipedia · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
- Ist — Giorgio Davanzo · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Sveti Petar — Darko Tepert Donatus · CC BY-SA 2.5 · Wikimedia Commons
