Tribunj Fishing Village

The tiny old town of Tribunj occupies an entire small tidal island in the sheltered Vodice bay — a compact medieval fishing settlement connected to the mainland by a narrow stone bridge dating from 1446. Tribunj was founded in the 15th century by refugees fleeing Ottoman raids on the mainland and its layout has barely changed since: a labyrinth of pale stone alleys just wide enough for a single person, tiny hidden squares, no cars possible at all, and everywhere the sound of the sea slapping at foundations that are literally rooted in the Adriatic. The tiny 15th-century parish church of St. Nicholas sits at the highest point of the island and offers a lovely view over the harbour and out to Vodice bay. Tribunj's fishing fleet is still one of the most active on the central Dalmatian coast — over 40 professional fishing boats moor in the small harbour — and the harbourside restaurants serve some of the freshest fish in Dalmatia at prices well below Zadar or Šibenik. Every August since 1975 the town has hosted the delightfully surreal 'World Donkey Racing Championship' on the mainland side — a 500-metre course, hundreds of local competitors, and thousands of laughing spectators. Come here for a quiet fish lunch and gentle exploration; skip the crowded neighbouring Vodice entirely.