Hiljaca Bay

Hiljača is a large, three-part bay on the northeastern coast of Žut, the second-largest island in the Kornati archipelago. Žut itself is uninhabited — with no farmland and no history of permanent settlement — and covers 14.83 square kilometers of mostly barren, scrub-covered terrain shaped by centuries of slash-and-burn land clearing. Its coastline alone runs 45.9 kilometers, indented with coves that make it a fixture of Adriatic sailing itineraries; a seasonal marina with a restaurant and small shop operates at Luka Žut from April to October.

Hiljača bay itself splits into three sections — Sabuni, Dragišina and Pristanišće — sheltered to the northeast by two small islets. The turquoise water off Sabuni is a favorite spot for mooring buoys, while boats can also tie up at small piers in shallow water near a waterside inn. The bay opens to the northeast, so it is exposed during a strong bora and not recommended for an overnight stay in those conditions; the neighboring Dragišina cove, with its sandy bottom, offers better shelter from northerly winds.

Sitting within easy reach of both Zadar and Šibenik, Hiljača is one of the anchorages you'll visit on a private gulet cruise in Croatia through the Kornati islands, valued as much for its calm, clear water as for the simple konoba serving guests who arrive by boat.