The island of Vir is one of the 300 islands in the Zadar archipelago, that is, one of 1186 islands and islets in the Croatian Adriatic. It lies in Sea of Vir (Virsko more) in the northwestern part of Dalmatia, and it is the twentieth largest island among the Croatian islands, and the eighth in the Zadar archipelago. It has a surface of 22.38 km, lenght of 10,12 km and its widest part is 4.25 km. Its coast-line is 31,43 km long. Distance between Vir and Zadar is 26 km, and around 15 NM by sea-route. Vir is connected to the mainland by bridge that spans across the Shellows of Privlaka since 1976., which enabled the island to become an integral part of the mainland. Therefore, visitors can experience the typical atmosphere of the island, while at the same time can enjoy the mobility offered by a modern road network. Vir is part of the genuine Mediterranean climate. Number of sunny hours per year is 2450, or almost 300 days of sunshine, that makes it a pleasant destination out of the main season also. The average amount of rainfall is around 1000 mm, so the summer has an average of 5-6 rainy days, and during the main season this number is reduced by half. Winds are the most important climate characteristic of Vir. In the spring occurs mistral, which is a major and a refreshing wind during the summer, that reduces summer temperatures and creates good conditions for sailing and surfing. The highest average temperature in July is about 25 ° C, while the lowest is in January and is 6.5 ° C. This healthy climate affects health and life length of the population. Along the coast of Vir there are pebbly and sandy beaches partly situated near pine trees and surrounded by crystal clear sea waters, making this island a perfect place for a family holiday. Very special place holds a small island of Školjic, covered in pine trees and long sandy beach that is its particularity. Školjic is situated near the bridge that connects the island of Vir to the mainland. Besides swimming, surfing, sailing, jet skiing and other water sports, hiking enthusiasts can admire the beautiful panorama that encompasses entire Vir, nearby islands and Velebit mountain (1750 m), from the top of Bandira vantage point (112m). We recommend this area to those who enjoy mountain-biking. Very interesting is also the peloid mud that is used for the treatment of rheumatic diseases, and can be found at some Vir beaches, especially ones near the bay of Sapavac, close to the Venetian fortress – Kaštelina. We highly recommend it to seniors. If you enjoy picnics, Vir is the perfect place because of its excellent location on the Croatian Adriatic, and nearness of national parks such as: impressive canyon Paklenica, Kornati with 200 islands and islets, Krka waterfalls and Plitvice lakes. Also, nearby is situated the ancient royal town Nin with the smallest cathedral in the world – St. Cross (Sveti Križ) and the 3000 years old town Zadar with many historical monuments.
