Dubrovnik ferries and catamarans: complete guide

The ferry hub: Gruž port

All ferries and catamarans from Dubrovnik depart from Gruž port, located about 3 km west of the Old Town. Gruž is also the main bus station and a small commercial port — not beautiful, but functional and well-organised for travellers.

Getting to Gruž from the Old Town: bus line 1a from Pile Gate (€2, 15 minutes) or a taxi (€12–15, 10 minutes). If you’re staying in Lapad, Gruž is a short walk or a single bus stop away.

The port has a Jadrolinija ticket office, a Krilo/Kapetan Luka desk, a small café, and a luggage storage facility. Allow 30 minutes before departure to buy tickets and find your berth.

Jadrolinija: state car ferries

Jadrolinija is Croatia’s national ferry company and operates most of the regular services from Dubrovnik.

Elaphiti Islands local line

The most-used route for tourists: a local ferry making stops at Koločep, Lopud, and Šipan. This runs multiple times daily in summer and at least twice daily year-round. The boat takes cars (limited space) and passengers.

Key info:

• Koločep: 30 minutes from Gruž, around €5 each way
• Lopud: 50 minutes, around €7
• Šipan (Šipanska Luka): 70–80 minutes, around €9

Tickets: at the Jadrolinija desk at Gruž, or from the online booking system. No advance booking required for foot passengers, though the boat can fill up on summer weekends.

The Elaphiti Islands are a genuinely excellent day trip — Šunj beach on Lopud, the car-free village of Koločep, and quiet Šipan. If you want flexibility over which island to visit and when, an organised hop-on hop-off boat trip may be more convenient than piecing together ferry schedules.

Elaphiti Islands hop-on hop-off day trip from Dubrovnik

Overnight ferry to Bari

Jadrolinija’s overnight ferry to Bari operates in the main season (approximately May through September). Departure is usually evening from Gruž, arriving Bari the next morning. Cabin options range from basic couchette to private cabins with shower.

It is a genuinely pleasant way to combine a night’s accommodation with the crossing — and avoids the cost and inconvenience of a flight between Italy and Croatia. Book well in advance in July–August.

Krilo: fast catamarans

Krilo (owned by Miatrade) operates fast passenger catamarans from Dubrovnik to Split, stopping at several islands en route. The main summer route goes:

Dubrovnik → Šipan → Mljet (Pomena) → Korčula Town → Hvar Town → Split

One-way journey times and approximate prices:

• Mljet: ~1.5 hours, around €15–18
• Korčula: ~2.5 hours, around €18–22
• Hvar: ~3 hours, around €22–28
• Split: ~4.5 hours, around €28–35

Krilo runs daily in summer with one departure in each direction. The catamaran is comfortable, modern, and air-conditioned — a good way to do a one-way island-hopping journey between Dubrovnik and Split.

Booking: online at krilo.hr or from the desk at Gruž. July–August services sell out well in advance. Non-refundable by default; check upgrade options for flexibility.

Kapetan Luka: additional catamaran routes

Kapetan Luka operates additional fast catamaran services, primarily serving the Pelješac peninsula (Trpanj, Orebić), Korčula, and Mljet. Routes change slightly each season — check the current timetable on their website.

They also operate the Dubrovnik to Mljet route, which is the most direct water connection to Mljet National Park from Dubrovnik.

Choosing between ferry types

Regular Jadrolinija car ferry: slower, cheaper, more frequent, takes vehicles. Good for the Elaphiti Islands.

Fast catamaran: faster, more expensive, passenger-only (no cars). Good for longer routes (Split, Korčula, Hvar). Prone to cancellation in bad weather — the Adriatic is usually calm in summer but can be rough in spring/autumn.

Organised day trip: often the most practical option if you want to visit a specific island for the day without worrying about timetables, connections, or whether the 5pm boat has space.

Seasonal reality check

Dubrovnik’s ferry network is a summer system. Here is the honest picture by season:

May–June: most routes operating, increasing frequency week by week. Excellent time to use ferries — not yet overloaded.

July–August: peak frequency, but boats fill up. Book catamarans in advance. The Elaphiti ferry can have long queues for vehicle boarding.

September–October: still good coverage. Krilo runs through most of October. The island atmosphere is noticeably quieter after the summer crush.

November–March: only the Jadrolinija Elaphiti local line runs reliably. Fast catamarans stop entirely or run 1–2 days per week. Visiting islands in winter means committing to their ferry schedules.

Sunset cruises

Beyond scheduled ferries, there is a large tourist cruise boat industry in Dubrovnik. The famous wooden karaka (traditional sailing galleon replica) runs sunset cruises from Gruž.

Sunset cruise on the Karaka galleon

There are also numerous private and group boat tours around the Old Town walls, to Lokrum island, and through the Elaphiti archipelago.

Practical tips for using Dubrovnik ferries

• Arrive early: for car ferry boarding, arrive 45–60 minutes early in peak season. Foot passengers need 15–20 minutes minimum.
• Check departure time, not just the schedule: schedules change seasonally and even occasionally mid-season. Verify on the operator’s website the day before travel.
• Seasickness: the Adriatic between Dubrovnik and Split can be choppy in bad weather. Fast catamarans feel more movement than car ferries. If you’re susceptible, sit in the middle of the boat and look at the horizon.
• Return planning: always check return times before you leave. The last Elaphiti ferry from Šipan leaves by early evening — it’s easy to miss it if you lose track of time at a konoba.

Frequently asked questions about Dubrovnik ferries

Can I take my car on a ferry from Dubrovnik to the Elaphiti Islands?

Yes, on the Jadrolinija car ferry — but vehicle spaces are limited and the islands are small and quiet with very few roads. Most visitors leave their car in Dubrovnik and travel as foot passengers. The Elaphiti Islands are genuinely more pleasant to explore on foot or by bicycle.

Is it possible to do a one-way trip from Dubrovnik to Split by catamaran?

Yes. The Krilo catamaran runs from Dubrovnik to Split (or vice versa) daily in summer. It stops at Mljet, Korčula, and Hvar en route, so you can disembark at any of these for island stops before continuing. It’s a popular way to do a one-way trip along the Dalmatian coast.

How do I get from the Gruž ferry port to my Old Town accommodation?

If your accommodation is inside or near the Old Town, bus line 1a from Gruž to Pile Gate (€2) is your friend. For Lapad accommodation, buses 4 and 6 both run from the Gruž area. A taxi is always an option — use Bolt for transparent pricing.

Are there ferries from Dubrovnik to Montenegro or Albania?

There are no regular scheduled ferries from Dubrovnik to Montenegro. The quickest way to Kotor is by road (around 1.5–2 hours). For Montenegro from the water, some operators run private day trips to Kotor Bay — these are essentially boat tours rather than transport.

Where do I buy Jadrolinija ferry tickets?

The Jadrolinija office is at Gruž port. Tickets can also be bought online at jadrolinija.hr. For the local Elaphiti line, tickets are available at the port on the day. For longer-distance and overnight routes, online booking is strongly recommended in summer.