Dubrovnik has become one of the most popular tourist destinations, and recently exploded in tourism over the past 10 years.

This is probably largely due to it being used as a film set for iconic movies and series, like the infamous ‘Game of Thrones’. Walking through its old town is like being transported back in time, with its winding streets and delicious cafes.

However, if you really want to see it the way the city’s meant to be seen, you need to go on a boat tour! We’ve done the hard part for you, to bring you the top boat tours from Dubrovnik available!

Best Boat Tours From Dubrovnik

	Private Boat Tours in Dubrovnik: Hidden Beauties of Elaphiti Islands	Dubrovnik Sunset Tour By Boat With Local	Dubrovnik Speed Boat Private Tour - (Explore Secrets Of Elafiti Islands)
Departure Point:	Hotel pickup and drop-off is available	Ribarnica. 20000, Dubrovnik	Check with tour operator
Departure Time:	Variety available	7:00 pm	Variety available
Duration:	4 to 8 hours	1.5 hours	4 to 8 hours
Includes:	Luxury private boat according your group size, usage of all boat amenities (fridge, snorkel equipment, stereo, wifi etc.)	All fees and taxes, fuel, captain, bottled water, alcoholic beverages	Drinks ( beers, water, wine, soft drinks), fuel, skipper, snorkeling gear, towels, life jackets, fees and taxes
	Tour Information & Booking	Tour Information & Booking	Tour Information & Booking

Quick Answer: The 5 Best Dubrovnik Boat Trips For 2026

1. Private Boat Tours in Dubrovnik: Hidden Beauties of Elaphiti Islands
2. Dubrovnik Sunset Tour By Boat With Local
3. Dubrovnik Speed Boat Private Tour – (EXPLORE SECRETS OF ELAFITI ISLANDS)
4. Private Boat Tour to Elafiti Islands
5. Elaphiti Islands Private Boat Tour

Dubrovnik Boat Trip Reviews

1. Private Boat Tours in Dubrovnik: Hidden Beauties of Elaphiti Islands

Let’s start things off right with the Private Boat Tours in Dubrovnik: Hidden Beauties of Elaphiti Islands. Lasting anywhere from 4 to 8 hours, you’ll be able to customize it to your liking and your group’s interests.

Traveling on speedboat, you’ll be able to see as much as possible in this time, while learning the whole way through. Hotel pickup is available, so you don’t have to deal with organizing a 3rd-party transportation service.

Once you’re picked up by your guide, you and the rest of your group will travel to your speedboat and get ready to zoom out to Lopud Island!

Lopud Island is a lovely island with no cars on it at all! Instead, you’ll find that many locals opt for a sunny walk around, along with tractors, electric bikes, golf carts, and buggies being more prevalent.

Experience all kinds of medieval adventures, featuring breathtaking architecture ranging from the Renaissance times all the way to the 1920’s!

Next up, head over to Koločep island, known for its natural beauty and tranquility, surrounded by warm, clear blue water.

Take advantage of their complimentary snorkeling equipment and GoPro Hero camera to take snaps of what you see in this underwater paradise! Make sure to visit the konoba for some great local dishes and beverages afterward!

Check out the ancient port of Sudjuradj, where you can hop onto land and check out all their fascinating history. Their Renaissance-era castle, fortified church tower, and expansive water views are not to be missed.

Before heading to Lokrum Island, make a stop at Bowa Restaurant, complete with the beach, lounges, and private cabanas. After, you’ll have time to cruise around Lokrum, see the infamous fort and monastery, as well as where they filmed scenes from Game of Thrones.

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2. Dubrovnik Sunset Tour By Boat With Local

Are you looking for a romantic evening with that special someone? Instead of heading to a fancy restaurant, you select a tour with some of the most beautiful views of the entire city. The Dubrovnik Sunset Tour by Boat with Local is also perfect if you don’t have time for a longer tour. 

Clocking in at 1.5 hours, this option is really easy to fit into a busy schedule or to go on before you head to your restaurant reservation. Meet up at the port, at 7:00 PM and hop on a spacious boat. The skipper will be there to escort you to your seat and make sure you have everything you need.

Before the sun sets, you’ll cruise by all kinds of amazing locations in Dubrovnik! Some of the most notable are the infamous Dubrovnik city walls, Lovrijenac fortress, as well as 2 of the largest caves in the city!

You’ll have plenty of time to take photos of everything you see, with an excellent perspective from the water.

The sun will start going down, creating a brilliant golden reflection off of the blue Adriatic Sea. Watch as it shines off of the ancient city walls, and admire the impressive architecture that’s held up for so many hundreds of years.

While you can definitely bring the whole family along, we recommend this tour more for couples or smaller groups of adults.

The general vibe seemed to be geared more towards adults and a more serene experience which may be boring to younger children. However, it’s a tour that’s open to all backgrounds and ages.

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3. Dubrovnik Speed Boat Private Tour – (Explore Secrets Of Elafiti Islands)

Dubrovnik is a city with a lot to offer, however, 2 of the biggest reasons why tourists end up here is due to the incredible history and great partying.

Why not just have both on the Dubrovnik Speed Boat Private Tour – Explore Secrets of Elafiti Islands)? Lasting anywhere from 4 to 8 hours, this private tour is fully-customizable to your schedule and interests. 

This tour lets you bring along a group of up to 6 passengers, which is perfect if you want to go with the whole family or with a bunch of friends.

Everything you could possibly need for a good time comes included – even beer, wine, soft drinks, and bottled water. 

Meet your skipper at the Dubrovnik Old Town Port, where you’ll set off on your adventure. Once you’re on the water, you’ll be able to see an incredible panoramic view of Old Town, which is a really unique perspective.

Koločep is home to 5 different caves, with the Blue Cave being the star of the show. The Blue Cave is known for, well, being blue. It’s a pretty hot tourist spot, but as you’ll arrive early, you’ll beat the crowds.

Take photos, snorkel around the translucent turquoise waters, and swim at your leisure before hopping back on the boat to go to Lopud Island.

Lopud island is free of cars, and wonderful for strolling around to admire the harbor, remnants of old monasteries and churches, as well as other interesting cultural finds. If you like Game of Thrones, make sure to let your guides know, as they can show you some cool filming locations.

The guides ended up making some lunch reservations at a quaint local restaurant renowned for its freshly-caught fish and great drinks. Take a breather and relax before sailing towards Lokrum Island.

Lokrum island houses the largest of the area’s caves, called “The Pidgeon’s Cave”. Shielded by steep rocks and lush greenery, the elements over thousands of years have made the cave what it is today.

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4. Private Boat Tour to Elafiti Islands

Would you like to escape the hustle-and-bustle of Dubrovnik for the day? How about have a personal tour guide taking you on a route personalized according to your interests? Both are possible with the highly-rated Private Boat Tour to Elafiti Islands!

Accepting groups of only up to 4 passengers, this tour will make you feel like a best friend is leading you around to all the best local spots. Check out the hidden gems that only locals know about, and tourists typically don’t get to see. 

Communication right after booking was wonderful, and they answer any questions you may have. You get to choose your tour start time, tour length, and they also offer hotel pickup so you aren’t left with organizing transportation yourself.

Traveling by speedboat, you’ll head first to Koločep island which is known for its 2 beautiful villages: Forgnje Celo and Donje Celo. The Blue Cave located on the south side is where you’ll stop to admire its natural beauty, and the blue waters. With snorkels and GoPros available to use, it’s a recipe for fun.

Lopud Island is another place where you can relax and enjoy a drink, or hang out in the warm water. Cold water, beer, and soft drinks are all included for you!

After plenty of time exploring under the surface, head to the actual village of Lopud, where you’ll see the stunning Dominican/Franciscan monastery, Dordić-Mayneri park, various small churches, and boutiques.

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5. Elaphiti Islands Private Boat Tour

With a flexible itinerary, talented captain and guide, and the entire day, the sky’s the limit! You’ll get all that and more with the Elaphiti Islands Private Boat Tour ideal for a pair of travelers to check out all the best spots around Dubrovnik.

Instead of partaking in a cookie-cutter activity, you’ll be able to customize yours depending on your specific interests! Now, depending on what you choose to add to the itinerary, your tour will range in length.

You can more or less select when to start the tour, but the guides will add input to make sure you avoid the majority of crowding. Their chauffeur will pick you up at your hotel or other accommodations, so make sure you’re ready on time.

The boat is beautiful and clean, and there will be complimentary drinks waiting for you in a cooler once you arrive. Just like most other tours on this guide, Koločep Island is the first stop of the day due to its proximity to Dubrovnik.

The stunning blue waters surround this calm island, which houses the Blue Cave and the Green Cave – both of which are hot tourist spots.

Take a moment to try out the provided snorkeling gear and GoPro camera, and have a blast taking photos of everything you come across in the water! The staff will email you all the photos you take the next day.

As you cruise around, your guide will tell you all about the history of the area which is very entertaining. Check out Lopud island, which features all kinds of churches from the 15th and 16th centuries. These include the Rector’s Palace and fortress ruins.

After trekking around all day, it’s time to take a little rest at the renowned Bowa restaurant before seeing Sipan. Sipan is the ultimate place for relaxation and serenity. With homemade wine, fresh-grown fruits and veggies, and other natural food items, you’re sure to enjoy it there.

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Dubrovnik Boat Tours, the Islands Worth Your Time and the Ones to Skip

The first time someone in Dubrovnik told me to book a “Blue Cave tour,” I assumed they meant the famous one near Vis, the one that shows up on every Croatia bucket list photo.

It wasn’t. It was a much smaller cave on Koločep Island, twenty minutes offshore, that gets the same name slapped on it because the light does something similar.

Nobody’s lying to you exactly, but nobody’s rushing to clear up the confusion either. That’s the first thing worth knowing before you book anything.

Why Get on a Boat at All

Dubrovnik sits at the bottom of an archipelago that fans out in almost every direction, and most of it is only reachable by water. The Elaphiti Islands, Lokrum, and a string of sea caves are all a short ride from the Old Town port, and none of them show up if you just walk the city walls and call it a day.

This is for anyone who wants a break from stone streets and cruise crowds without leaving the region entirely. It’s also just genuinely worth it for the swimming, since the water around these islands is clearer than anything you’ll find directly off the mainland beaches near the city.

It’s not for someone who gets seasick easily and hasn’t planned for it, since some of these routes run in open water with real chop on a windy day. Bring motion sickness tablets if you’re prone to it, because the skipper isn’t turning back for you.

When to Go

June through September gives you the calmest water and the best swimming temperature, and most of the smaller sea caves are only accessible when conditions are gentle enough to motor a boat inside. May and October can still work, but a rough sea day will close off caves and beach stops that a summer sailing wouldn’t skip.

Morning departures beat afternoon ones almost every time here. The wind tends to pick up by early afternoon, and a bumpier ride back is a rough way to end what should be a relaxing day.

Book ahead in July and August specifically. The popular full day Blue Cave and Elaphiti combo tours sell out days in advance during peak season, and last minute walk up bookings mostly get you whatever’s left over.

What’s Actually Out There

The Elaphiti Islands

Koločep, Lopud, and Šipan sit about twenty minutes northwest of the city by boat, and together they’re the backbone of almost every group tour itinerary. Koločep has the local sea cave everyone calls the Blue Cave, plus a Green Cave nearby that gets far less attention despite being just as worth a look.

Lopud has Šunj Beach, a genuinely sandy, shallow stretch of shoreline that’s the most family friendly swim stop in the whole archipelago. Šipan is the largest and quietest of the three, better for a slow lunch than a swim stop, and a lot of shorter tours skip it entirely to save time.

Lokrum

Fifteen minutes by small boat and it feels like a different world from the Old Town’s crowds. The island has history going back to the 10th century, a Benedictine monastery that’s now a small museum, botanical gardens, and a saltwater lake locals call the Dead Sea for how easy it is to float in.

There’s also a shallow sea cave on the island’s eastern side called Fisherman’s Cave, where the rock walls rise more than 20 meters and you can actually see visible rock layers from inside. Some tours combine Lokrum with the Elaphiti route in one day, and others treat it as its own quick half day trip.

The Real Blue Cave

If the famous Blue Cave near Biševo Island is what you actually want, know that it’s a genuine full day sail from Dubrovnik and most people do it from Split or Hvar instead, not here. Don’t confuse a five hour Dubrovnik “Blue Cave” listing with that one, since they are not the same cave and not close to the same distance.

The Tour Formats

Group Boat Tours

These run set routes on a set schedule with other passengers aboard, typically anywhere from a half day to a full eight hour day covering Elaphiti and one or two caves. They’re the cheapest way to see the islands and usually include soft drinks and sometimes lunch or a snack platter, though don’t expect much more than that at this price point.

Private Speedboat Charters

You get the boat, the skipper, and the route to yourself, which matters if you want to linger somewhere the group boat would already be pulling away from. These run a flat rate per boat rather than per person, so splitting the cost across a group of five or six often beats a standard group tour on a per person basis.

Self Drive Rentals

Croatian law allows you to rent and pilot a small boat with no license required, as long as it’s under 5 meters long and the engine is under 5 kilowatts, roughly 6.7 horsepower. These little pasara boats won’t get you all the way to the far Elaphiti islands comfortably, but they’re perfect for poking around Lokrum’s coastline and the caves closer to the Old Town on your own schedule.

Sunset and Glass Boat Cruises

Shorter, an hour to ninety minutes, and built around the view rather than the swimming. Glass bottom boats add a look at the coastline underwater along the way, and sunset cruises usually come with a cold drink or a light platter rather than a real meal.

The DIY Ferry Option

If you just want to reach Lopud or Šipan without paying for a tour at all, public ferries run from the Old Town port for around 5 euros per adult each way and about 2 euros for kids. It’s slower and less flexible than a tour, but it’s the honest budget option if caves and guided commentary aren’t the priority.

What It Costs

Group tours start around 40 to 46 dollars per person for a shorter panoramic route with Lokrum, and climb to 60 to 80 dollars for a full day Blue Cave and Elaphiti combination with more stops and more time on the water.

Private charters run per boat rather than per person, and a typical Elaphiti private trip starts around 320 euros for the boat, which splits down to roughly 50 to 55 dollars a head if you fill it with five or six people. That’s often cheaper than the equivalent group tour once you actually do the math, so it’s worth checking group size math before assuming private is always the pricier option.

Longer private charters to Korčula or Mljet National Park run closer to 800 euros for the boat and eat most of a full day. A sunset cruise on the cheaper end starts around 200 euros per boat, and that’s usually the easiest splurge to justify since it’s short and doesn’t compete with your daytime plans.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to book in advance or can I just show up at the port?

Book ahead in July and August specifically, since the popular routes sell out days before departure. Shoulder season, you can often book a day or two out without trouble.

Is the Dubrovnik Blue Cave the same as the famous one near Split?

No. The Dubrovnik area cave is a smaller local cave on Koločep Island, and the famous Blue Cave near Biševo is a genuine full day trip usually run out of Split or Hvar instead.

Which is better for families with young kids, Elaphiti or Lokrum?

Lopud’s Šunj Beach on the Elaphiti route is the more forgiving swim stop for younger kids thanks to the sandy, shallow shoreline. Lokrum works well too, especially for older kids interested in the monastery ruins and the saltwater lake.

Is a private charter worth it over a group tour?

If you can fill the boat with four or more people, the per person cost often comes out close to or below a standard group tour, with the added benefit of setting your own pace. For solo travelers or couples, a group tour is usually the more economical choice.

Can I rent a boat myself without any experience?

Yes, small pasara style boats under 5 meters with an engine under 5 kilowatts require no license in Croatia. Stick to protected coastal water near Lokrum and the closer caves rather than attempting the open crossing to the far Elaphiti islands on your own.

What happens if the sea is too rough on the day of my tour?

Skippers will adjust the route for safety, which sometimes means skipping a cave or a swim stop that requires calmer water. Full cancellations do happen on genuinely bad weather days, and most operators offer a rebooking or refund rather than forcing you out in poor conditions.