11 Incredible Day Trips, Tours and Boat Trips to take from Dubrovnik

If you’re looking for the best day trips from Dubrovnik, you’re in the right place. Travelista Editor Jessica Ruth Gibson shares some of the very best Dubrovnik day trips on land and sea.

It’s safe to say that Dubrovnik is one of the most spectacular European coastal cities I have ever visited. It’s steeped in ancient history and its 16th century walled old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Tourism has boomed in Dubrovnik ever since Game of Thrones selected it as the most prominent filming location as the fictional capital city of Westeros, King’s Landing. But whether you’re a Game of Thrones fan or not, you cannot fail to be captivated by the Gothic and Renaissance charm of Dubrovnik. Being surrounded by the glittering Adriatic sea, there are plenty of Dubrovnik day trips on offer to explore further afield beyond the ancient city.

Dubrovnik’s coastal location near the Croatian border makes it a perfect destination to explore neighbouring countries including Montenegro (Bay of Kotor) and Bosnia and Herzegovina (Mostar). As well as island hops to stunning nearby locations, we’ve included some of the best Dubrovnik day trips, including boat tours in Dubrovnik.

8 of the Best Dubrovnik Day Trips, Tours and Boat Trips 2024

1. Elaphiti Islands – Full Day or Half-Day Tour

The Elaphiti (or Elafiti Islands) are a small archipelago of 13 small islands situated northwest of Dubrovnik. The only way to explore these beautiful islands is by boat and there are number of different options including half day and full day tours. Tours typically include visits to three main Elaphiti islands of Kolocep, Lopud and Sipan although some tours may take you further off the beaten track. Highlights of the Elaphiti islands include the mesmerising Blue cave of Kolocep (be sure to jump in and take a dip), the laid-back celebrity hotspot of Lopud and the olive trees of Sipan.

On any Elaphiti islands boat tour you can expect stunning sandy beaches, glittering crystal clear waters and fresh local cuisine. We advise booking your boat tours in advance to avoid disappointment and paying any inflated on-the-day prices.

Top Tip: Picking up some authentic local olive oil in Sipan would be an amazing souvenir from your trip or a gift for a loved one at home.

2. Elaphiti Islands and Ston – Full Day Tour

You also have the option to combine a visit to the Elaphiti islands with a stop off at Dubrovnik’s neighbouring ancient old town of Ston. In Ston you’ll find the second largest walls in the world, trumped only by the Great Wall of China. If you love historic sites, options for a combined Ston and Elaphiti Islands tour is a must. Ston is also known for its oysters and salt pans which both often feature on these tours.

3. Korčula islands & Pelješac Peninsula – Full Day Tour

A day trip from Dubrovnik to the Korčula islands & Pelješac Peninsula is a full day experience which would take 8-9 hours in total. Many people say the best wine in Croatia can be found in Peljesac, so this is a great place to come and sample local wines as well as the rich history, the beaches and the quaint and highly picturesque old town. Many day tours to Korčula include a trip to a local vineyard and provide opportunities for wine tasting and to also shop for local wines.

4. Mljet National Park and Odysseus Cave Tour – Full Day Tour

If you love the idea of lakes and hidden cakes, don’t skip a day trip to the island if Mljet National Park (phonetically pronounced m’l-yet). Your local skipper will take you on an 8-10 hour adventure to Mljet island, which is known as the greenest island in Croatia and the only one with two inland lakes. The island has ties and stories closely woven with Greek Mythology and there is a magical air in the island that you can’t help but feel as you explore. Tours include a trip to the Odysseus cave which you can swim in for an unforgettable experience during your Dubrovnik holiday.

5. Lokrum Island – Half Day Tour

If you love the idea of a boat trip but struggle with possible seasickness or long journeys, take a short hop from Dubrovnik over to the very beautiful and tranquil Lokrum Island. The short boat ride only takes 15 minutes and costs around 7 euros each way. This island was also used as a filming location for Game of Thrones and it even has a small Game of Thrones exhibition where you can sit in the iron throne for a photo op. Peacocks roam through a shady botanical garden and there are plenty of opportunities to take a dip in the sea along the rocky coastline. Lokrum island is well worth visiting and could be done in half a day and boats go continuously to and from Dubrovnik old port throughout the day. There is a great choice of Lokrum Island tours which are also much more affordable compared to other Dubrovnik day trips.

8. Dubrovnik to Montenegro – Full Day Tour

If you fancy ticking off another country from bucket list whilst visiting Dubrovnik, I would recommend taking a day trip to the Kotor Bay in Montenegro. Although you’ll be visiting an entirely different country for the day, the bus drive from Dubrovnik from Kotor is only 1 hour 50 minutes. There are lots of different Dubrovnik day trips to Kotor which we do recommend as this can really take the stress out of co-ordinating all of the travel logistics and ensure you get to just sit back and enjoy the experience. Many of the tours include boat trips so you can still be close to the water and stunning scenery and views. There is no ferry crossing from Dubrovnik to the Bay of Kotor in Montenegro, so going by bus is the quickest and easiest option.

9. Dubrovnik to Hvar – Stay Overnight

Some believe that a day trip to Hvar is too far from Dubrovnik due to the 3 hour 15 minute ferry crossing – but we say don’t rule it out. You could get there and back in a day, but If you really wanted to visit Hvar whilst in Dubrovnik we recommend taking the ferry catamaran by foot and then staying over 1 night as part of your wider Dubrovnik itinerary. If you do this in the middle of your trip, there’s a chance you can leave your main luggage at your Dubrovnik accommodation and then nip over to Hvaar with a smaller overnight bag. It’s worth knowing that the round trip will cost you around 74 euros and the Dubrovnik to Hvar ferry operates from April to October only.

There are no direct car ferries between Dubrovnik and Hvar but you can drive there in 3 and a half hours. You will have to drive along the coast and across the Peljesac Bridge all the way to Drvenik and from there to cross by car ferry to Sucuraj at Hvar island.

Top Tip: It’s worth knowing that Hvar island is much closer to Split, so if you are going to be in Split during your time in Croatia, this is a better base to visit Hvar from. The ferry crossing from Split to Hvar takes as little as 50 minutes and up to 2 hours, depending on the route.

10. Day trip from Dubrovnik to Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Don’t forget about the option to travel from the Dubrovnik riviera to the Bosnian countryside. The quaint Medieval town of Mostar is home to the spectacular Kravice waterfalls, where swimming is a must (so be sure to pack a swimsuit and towel). Getting to the Kravice waterfalls independently from Dubrovnik can be challenging so we recommend booking a guided tour which can be a group tour, semi private or entirely private tour depending on your budget. Tours also usually include plenty of time to explore the charming Old Town of Mostar independently.

11. Dubrovnik to Split – Stay Overnight

The best way to visit Split from Dubrovnik is to go by road, which takes just under 3 hours You can get a ferry from Dubrovnik to Split but the fastest sailings are 4.5 hours long – and often they can take longer due to timetable variations. Again, a day trip from Dubrovnik to Split is possible, but being a 6 hour round trip, we recommend an overnight stay in Dubrovnik. A visit to Split’s Medieval old town is a must and there is a brilliant collection of food markets and beautiful beaches to explore such as the buzzing Bačvice beach.

Plan Your Own Adriatic Coastline Itinerary

If you really wanted to visit all of the places I’ve mentioned in this article, I’d recommend planning a multi-stop holiday instead of basing yourself in just one place. You could travel the Adriatic coast on a route that includes all of the places above and more. This way you avoid the round trips of any longer crossings and each journey would only be one way. For this style of travel you have to be prepared to pack light and see each accommodation as an overnight base as opposed to a leisurely stay.

To start you off, you could travel onwards from each destination in the following order;

• Day 1) Split
• Day 2) Trogir, Solin and Split sunny beaches
• Day 3) Day trip to Hvar from Split
• Day 4) Down to Korčula islands & Pelješac Peninsula
• Day 5) Dubrovnik
• Day 6) Day trop to Elaphiti Islands and Ston from Dubrovnik
• Day 7) Travel on to Kotor and the coastline of Montenegro

To Conclude

With so many spectacular Dubrovnik day trips on offer, Dubrovnik is the perfect place to base yourself to explore the wider islands, cities and towns of Croatia as well as its neighbouring countries of Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina. However you end up spending your time in Croatia, we hope this guide has provided you with a few new ideas and tips for some of the very best Dubrovnik day trips.

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