Island hopping from Dubrovnik: the complete practical guide

Everything you need to know before you book the ferry

Island hopping around Dubrovnik is easier than it looks. The ferry network from Gruž Port covers the three inhabited Elaphiti Islands daily year-round and connects to Mljet and Korčula on the faster catamarans. Lokrum, the island immediately off the Old Town, has its own separate ferry. None of these journeys requires a car, and none requires specialist booking knowledge — just an understanding of which vessel serves which island and when.

This guide covers the practical mechanics of island hopping from Dubrovnik: which boats to take, how to book, how to handle timetable connections, and the best route options for different lengths of stay.

The two main departure points

Gruž Port (Luka Gruž): The main ferry port for all Elaphiti Island services, the Krilo/Kapetan Luka catamarans to Mljet and Korčula, and the Jadrolinija car ferries going north along the coast. Located about 5 kilometres from the Old Town. Served by city bus from Pile Gate (routes 1A, 1B, and others). Taxis take 10–15 minutes in normal traffic.

Old Harbour (Stara Luka): The small inner harbour inside the Old Town walls. Departure point only for the Lokrum ferry — everything else leaves from Gruž.

For more detail on getting to Gruž from the Old Town, see the Gruž Port guide.

Ferry operators and what they serve

Jadrolinija local line: The main workhorse for the Elaphiti Islands. A car and passenger ferry (slow but comfortable, good deck space) operating Dubrovnik–Koločep–Lopud–Šipan (Suđurađ)–Šipan (Šipanska Luka) daily year-round. Multiple departures daily in summer; fewer in winter. No advance booking needed. Buy tickets at the Gruž terminal.

Krilo (Kapetan Luka): The faster seasonal catamaran operating Dubrovnik–Mljet–Korčula–Hvar–Split in summer. Stops at Polače (Mljet national park entrance) and Korčula Town. Reserved seating — book online in advance. Also stops at Elaphiti Islands (Lopud and Šipan) on most journeys, making it an alternative to Jadrolinija for the Elaphiti.

Nona Ana (G&V Line): Another catamaran service operating a similar route to Krilo in season. Check their schedule for current stops and times.

Lokrum ferry: A small passenger-only boat operating from the Old Harbour to Lokrum Island. No advance booking; buy ticket at the harbour.

Option 1: Elaphiti Islands in a day (organised tour)

The most popular single-day island experience from Dubrovnik. An organised tour picks up all the ferry logistics — you arrive at the boat, the operator handles the connections between islands, and typically includes a fish lunch on one of the islands.

Standard tours visit all three inhabited islands (Koločep, Lopud, Šipan) and spend 45–90 minutes on each, with swimming time at Šunj Beach on Lopud and a lunch stop.

The honest advantage of organised tours: the timetable. Independently connecting all three Elaphiti islands in a single day requires checking specific departure times to avoid long waits between ferries or missing the last return. The tour handles this.

Three Elaphiti Islands tour with fish picnic: Koločep, Lopud, Šipan Elaphiti Islands full-day boat tour with swimming and lunch

Option 2: Elaphiti Islands independently

If you want the independence and cost savings of doing the Elaphiti Islands on your own, here is the approach:

1. Take the Jadrolinija ferry from Gruž to Koločep (first departure in the morning — check jadrolinija.hr for current times)
2. Spend 1.5–2 hours on Koločep (forest walk, beach)
3. Catch the intermediate ferry from Koločep to Lopud (15-minute crossing)
4. Spend 3–4 hours on Lopud (walk to Šunj, swim, lunch)
5. Return to Dubrovnik directly from Lopud on the afternoon service

To include Šipan: this requires an early start and checking that the specific day’s timetable allows the connection between Lopud and Šipan with enough time on each island. The ferry from Lopud to Šipan (Suđurađ) is about 30–35 minutes. Šipan to Dubrovnik on the return is about 1 hour 20 minutes.

Key risk: Missing the last return ferry from any island means staying overnight or arranging a private water taxi. Always note the last departure time from whichever island you are furthest from Dubrovnik.

Option 3: Full-day Mljet or Korčula

Mljet: Book the Krilo or Nona Ana catamaran from Gruž (approximately 1.5–2 hours to Polače). Allow 6–7 hours in the national park. Return on the catamaran (check times — there may only be 1–2 return options in a day). Total day: about 11–12 hours.

Korčula: Similar catamaran journey (1.5–2 hours). Korčula Town can occupy a full afternoon and evening (the Old Town is at its best in the late afternoon when day-trippers have left). Return on the evening catamaran.

Both destinations are more practical as day trips on an organised tour or with advance catamaran booking. Flexibility in the return time is the main benefit of independent travel.

Full-day Elaphiti Islands + Blue Cave tour from Dubrovnik

Option 4: Multi-day island hopping (no car)

The Krilo catamaran’s route Dubrovnik → Mljet → Korčula → Hvar → Split allows a progressive island-hopping journey staying one or two nights at each stop. This requires no car and no complex logistics — you simply re-book individual catamaran legs as you go (or book the full chain in advance in summer).

A practical 5-day version: Day 1 Dubrovnik; Day 2–3 Korčula (day trip to Mljet); Day 4 Lokrum or Elaphiti; Day 5 Dubrovnik departure.

The 5-day Dubrovnik island-hopping itinerary and 7-day South Dalmatia no-car itinerary provide detailed day-by-day plans.

Seasonal considerations

July–August: All services run at maximum frequency. Book Krilo catamaran seats 1–2 weeks in advance. Organised tours sell out. Beach destinations (Šunj on Lopud) are busy.

June and September: Excellent balance of warm weather, good ferry frequency, and manageable crowds. The best months for independent island hopping.

May and October: Shoulder season. Jadrolinija ferries still run; Krilo catamaran frequency reduces in October. Most island restaurants and accommodation operate; some close in late October.

November–March: Jadrolinija local line to the Elaphiti runs year-round (reduced frequency). Krilo catamaran is seasonal (roughly April–October). Lokrum ferry stops or reduces sharply. Visiting in winter is possible but some facilities will be closed.

Costs overview

All prices are in EUR (Croatia joined the eurozone in January 2023).

• Jadrolinija Elaphiti ferry: approximately €5–8 per person one way
• Krilo catamaran (Dubrovnik–Korčula): approximately €20–25 per person one way
• Krilo catamaran (Dubrovnik–Mljet): approximately €18–22 per person one way
• Organised Elaphiti three-island tour: €55–80 per person including lunch
• Mljet National Park entry: approximately €20–25 per person

Frequently asked questions about island hopping from Dubrovnik

Do I need to pre-buy ferry tickets online?

For the Jadrolinija local Elaphiti ferry: no. Buy at Gruž terminal on the day. For the Krilo or Nona Ana catamaran: yes, in peak season. Book via the Kapetan Luka or G&V Line website.

Is island hopping possible with a backpack and no hotel?

In theory — you could carry a bag and book accommodation at each island as you go in low season. In July and August, accommodation on smaller islands (Lopud, Šipan) is very limited and should be booked weeks in advance.

Are children welcome on ferries and tours?

Yes. All ferry services welcome children. Organised tours are generally family-friendly. Check with specific tour operators regarding minimum age for water activities.

What is the best single-day island trip for first-time visitors?

If you can only do one island day, the Elaphiti three-island hop (organised tour) covers the most ground and requires the least pre-planning. If you prefer to focus on one island, Lopud for Šunj Beach is the easiest full-day option.

Can you island-hop to Montenegro from Dubrovnik?

Dubrovnik is close to the Montenegro border (about 25 km to the south). Day trips to Kotor in Montenegro are popular, but the journey is overland (bus or car) rather than by sea. This is a different kind of day trip — not a ferry-based island hop.

Is there a hop-on hop-off boat service around the islands?

Some operators run seasonal hop-on hop-off services to the Elaphiti Islands in summer. These are different from the Jadrolinija scheduled service — they operate on a fixed daily circuit with set stops. Check current providers for availability in the season you are visiting.