Municipality of Pakoštane: Cycling Routes, Views and Cultural Heritage

The Municipality of Pakoštane can be planned around a variety of destinations: the routes alternate between stretches of coast, lake, olive groves and historic sites, while viewpoints open up views of the islands and sea. When planning your hotel stay, route details can help you organise excursions by length and focus. The routes range from a 9 km MTB loop to a 40.4 km trekking route, each with its own highlights.

Cycling routes by length and course

The 9 km Pakoštane–Drage–Čelinka MTB route starts in front of the Church of the Assumption of Mary on the main square in Pakoštane. It runs along the sea via Drage and Čelinka to Lake Vrana. The return to Pakoštane passes through olive groves and pine trees. The rating distinguishes between two aspects: physically, the route is considered easy; technically, it is moderately difficult. This distinction is useful for assessing the route, since an easy physical rating does not automatically mean that the technical demands are also easy.

The 40.4 km Pakoštane–Prosika–Crkvine–Maškovića Han trekking route starts in front of the main church in Pakoštane, passes through Lake Vrana Nature Park, Prosika, Crkvine and Maškovića Han, and returns to the main square. Compared with the 9 km MTB route, it covers a considerably greater distance and connects different sites. Another cycling route, the longest one, starts in Vrana at the village church. It goes via Majdan, along the eastern shore of Lake Vrana, then via Prosika and Modrave and through the hinterland of Drage and Pakoštane towards Crkvine. Its starting point and sequence of stops distinguish this route from the two tours that start in Pakoštane.

Routes between the lake, sea and history

The Put Crkvina walking route follows the old path from the fertile Vrana Field towards the sea. Along the way, it connects two distinct bodies of water: the lake and the sea. The ruins of the medieval Church of St. Mary stand on the grounds at Crkvine. Its historical significance is therefore woven directly into the route. Staza tri otoka can start at the Pakoštane pier or at Janice Beach.

The Čelinka viewpoint above Drage offers views of Lake Vrana, the islands of the Pakoštane archipelago and the Kornati Islands. Vrgada offers a different viewpoint: its lookouts face the sea and 13 surrounding islets. The perspectives therefore differ in specific ways: Čelinka takes in the lake, archipelago and Kornati Islands, while Vrgada is associated with the sea and islets.

Vrgada is half an hour by boat from Pakoštane; the actual crossing time may vary depending on the service. There are no cars on the island. The boat journey time and car-free character are therefore useful details if you are considering including Vrgada in your travel plans.

Churches and cultural heritage

The parish church of the Assumption of Mary in Pakoštane was built in 1906 and contains remains of the 16th-century Church of St. Michael. Its construction date and the remains of an older church are thus brought together in one named building. By contrast, the ruins of the medieval Church of St. Mary are located along Put Crkvina: here, the parish church with its construction date and older remains; there, the ruin along the route.

In the wider region, in Vrana, stands Maškovića Han, a separately protected cultural asset of national importance. Inside the Han is a museum devoted to various objects found in and around Vrana and Pakoštane. Maškovića Han is also a stop on the 40.4 km trekking route, making it possible to combine the route with a visit to the region’s cultural heritage.

Discover more destinations: Pakostane, Drage, Vrgada, Pakoštane, Municipality of Posedarje, Municipality of Obrovac, Municipality of Benkovac, Municipality of Zadar.

For the broader travel overview: Zadar County.