Zlarin

Zlarin is a small island in the Šibenik archipelago, lying about 2 kilometres off the Dalmatian coast near Šibenik. Covering 8.19 square kilometres with 18.7 km of coastline, it is the third-largest island in the archipelago, with its highest point, Klepac, reaching 174 metres.

The island's permanent population was 293 at the 2021 census, though it grows to around 1,500 between March and October. Zlarin is one of the few Adriatic islands that does not allow cars; locals get around on foot, by bicycle, or with small tractors used to haul groceries and building materials. Regular ferries connect the island to Šibenik and Vodice, running roughly eight times a day.

Zlarin's history stretches back centuries: it is first mentioned in a document of King Bela IV in 1245, and its Church of St Marija dates to 1386. The island is best known, though, for its long tradition of coral harvesting — Zlarin fishermen have gathered and worked red coral from the surrounding waters since at least the 15th century, a craft still preserved today at the Croatian Coral Center Zlarin. Car-free lanes, pine woods, and quiet coves make the island a calm stop, worth a visit if you're chartering a gulet from Sibenik.