Ancona-Zadar

The crossing: operator, vessel, time

The operator is Jadrolinija, which presented the line as its main news in international traffic this season. The catamaran Jelena makes the crossing between Zadar (the Gaženica passenger port) and Ancona in about four hours, which Jadrolinija calls the fastest sea link between Croatia and Italy. Jelena was built in Singapore in 2018. Jadrolinija's ship page gives 42.2 metres, a top speed of 40 knots and room for 403 passengers; the press release rounds that to 400.

We found no vehicle capacity or car fare for this line. The Jadrolinija texts speak only of passengers, so treat it as a foot-passenger service unless the operator tells you otherwise. If you travel with a car, the overnight Split-Ancona ferries in our Ancona-Split guide are the car option.

Season and sailing days for 2026

The line began on 26 June and, from the week before the launch event on 6 July, ran five departures a week. For the extension to 6 September Jadrolinija added trips on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. We did not find a day-by-day timetable on the pages that are still online, so we do not list departure times.

The terminals and check-in

In Zadar the line used Gaženica, Zadar's passenger port; the Zadar port page on croatianferries.com lists it as Zadar (Gaženica). For Ancona and for check-in times the operator's pages say nothing we can quote, so check with Jadrolinija.

Onboard

Jadrolinija describes the Jelena as a fast, comfortable boat adapted for passengers with disabilities. The pages we read mention no cabins; the crossing is four hours.

Arriving in Zadar

Zadar is the base for the northern Dalmatian islands and the Zadar archipelago. Our page on Zadar covers the town and the crossings from it.

Onward from Zadar

Local ferries leave from Gaženica and from the Liburnska obala quay. croatianferries.com has the Zadar (Gaženica) port page and, for the nearest island, the Zadar-Preko crossing to Ugljan.

Documents

Italy and Croatia are both in the Schengen area. There is no border control between them, but carry a passport or national ID card, as the operators check identity at boarding.

Booking and prices

Tickets were sold on Jadrolinija's website and in its mJadrolinija app, at its sales points in Zadar and through authorised agents in Ancona. The launch fare was 100 euros one way for an adult, with children up to 12 at half price. For the extended weeks Jadrolinija announced promotional fares of 80 euros for adults and 40 euros for children from 3 to 12. Read the operator's own words in its season extension notice (Croatian) and check Jadrolinija's booking page for any new dates.