There are lots of things to do in Dubrovnik, but there are also fantastic things to visit outside, and many of those are possible on day trips from Dubrovnik.
Let’s explore all you can see in a day from Dubrovnik without spending the night.
Best day trips from Dubrovnik
DAY TRIP | TYPE | BEST WAY |
---|---|---|
Lokrum Island | Half-day | Independent |
Outskirts of Dubrovnik | Half-day | Independent |
Elaphiti Islands | Full-day | Tour |
Blue Cave and Island Hopping | Full-day | Tour |
Visiting Pelješac Peninsula | Full-day | Both |
Mljet National Park Day Trip | Full-day | Tour |
Visiting neighboring Montenegro | Full-day | Both |
Day trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina | Full-day | Tour |
1. Lokrum Island
The easiest day trip from Dubrovnik is to Lokrum Island, just a quick 15-minute ferry ride from the port in Old Town.
You don’t really need a full day to explore Lokrum Island, so this is perfect for a half-day trip from Dubrovnik’s busy Old Town.
On the island, you can find a Benedictine monastery dating back to the 11th century, a botanical garden with colorful free-roaming peacocks, walking paths, the Dead Sea (a cool swimming hole), Lokrum Island’s famous nude beach, and more rocky beaches.
At the Lokrum Visitor Center, you can also take photos while sitting on the original Iron Throne. Lokrum Island served as the filming location for “Qarth”, so it’s now another famous Game of Thrones filming location spot to visit in Dubrovnik.
Game of Thrones fan? Check out this tour of Lokrum Island.
How to get to Lokrum Island
Take the short 15-minute ferry to Lokrum Island from the Old Town port. It costs 26 EUR and includes the entrance fee to the island.
Another way to get to Lokrum Island is by kayak – you can rent it at many spots around Old Town. The best time to kayak in Dubrovnik is early morning or sunset to avoid the heat and boat traffic.
You can rent a kayak at Banje Beach or West Harbor, the “kayaking base” of Dubrovnik. There’s also an option to book a kayak on Banje Beach online in advance.
Visiting Lokrum Island on a tour
We recommend this top-rated Lokrum Island & Beaches Tour, which also visits the Betina Cave & Beach and St. Jacobs Beach (Plaža Sveti Jakov).
You can also kayak around Lokrum Island on a Lokrum Kayaking Tour. But note that it can be quite a physical activity, as you cover quite a lot of distance.
However, kayaking tours to Lokrum usually don’t include visiting the island’s attractions. They usually only kayak around the island and swim (or cliff jump).
2. Outskirts of Dubrovnik
A perfect independent day trip from Dubrovnik you can do by renting a car is to the outskirts. You can drive up to Mount Srđ for the best views of Dubrovnik, visit nearby Cavtat, and then continue to Konavle Museum before reaching the stunning Pasjača Beach (35-drive from Old Town).
If you have time, you can even visit Sokol Grad (Sokol Fortress), a more off-the-beaten-path attraction.
Travel tip: With Dubrovnik Pass, you get discounted tickets to Sokol Grad. Read our Dubrovnik Pass Review for more details.
3. Elaphiti Islands (Elaphites)
A great island-hopping day trip from Dubrovnik is to Elaphiti Islands (Elafiti), located just northwest of Dubrovnik. It’s a small archipelago with three main islands worth visiting.
Koločep is the closest island to Dubrovnik and is the first stop on most Elafiti Islands day trips from Dubrovnik. Its pristine coastline, seafood restaurants, and old buildings make it the perfect relaxing place. Koločep is also home to the popular Blue Cave.
The second stop is Lopud, the most developed island in the Elafiti archipelago, with bars and restaurants along the promenade, ancient ruins, and the famous sandy beach Šunj.
Šipan, the last and the largest island out of the three has gentle waters, olive trees, and pebble beaches.
Did you know? Šipan holds the Guinness World Record for having the most olive trees per square meter. There are over 300 thousand olive trees on the island!
How to get to Elaphite Islands
The best way to organize your day trip to Elaphite Islands from Dubrovnik is to ride the ferry from Gruž for 5 EUR. You can check the latest timetable for Lopud and Koločep on Jadrolinija and the ferry to Šipan on Omio.
However, due to infrequent ferry times (and seasonality), a tour makes more sense if you want to see more than just one of the Elaphite islands.
Visiting Elaphite Islands on a tour
The most affordable way to visit Elaphite Islands is the shared boat tour, but if you want a private experience or are traveling as a group, a private boat tour is a great option.
And if you’re feeling adventurous, you can also join a Kayak & Bike tour of Elaphite Islands.
You can also stay overnight in Koločep, Lopud, and Šipan if you want more time.
- Koločep: Kalamota Beach House – TUI BLUE All-Inclusive
- Lopud: Boutique Hotel Tomić – Lafodia Resort & Wellness
- Šipan: Hotel Bozica – Lela Studio Apartments and Rooms
4. Blue Cave and Island Hopping
Another excellent day trip option from Dubrovnik is to the Blue Cave on Koločep island.
Although Dubrovnik’s Blue Cave on Koločep is less blue than the one on Vis island, you can swim here, unlike on Vis.
The best way to make a day trip to Blue Cave from Dubrovnik is to go on the Blue Cave Tour, one of the most popular tours in Dubrovnik.
This tour offers a nice combination of things to do, as you can also visit the sandy beach Šunj on Lopud Island and other caves on Koločep Island.
You can swim in the beautiful blue waters, and even cliff jump at some spots if you dare. Safety jackets are provided to keep you floating safely if you’re not a confident swimmer.
5. Pelješac Peninsula
A great day trip from Dubrovnik for wine lovers is to the Pelješac peninsula, just one drive hour north. This area is famous for its award-winning red wine production, particularly of Plavac Mali and Dingač.
You can visit family-operated wineries to taste and learn about the wine’s history, production techniques, and exceptional characteristics. Local winemakers will personally show you around their cellars and vineyards so you can get an insight into their unique creations.
Many wineries are spread across the large peninsula. But there are also some fabulous ones in Ston at the beginning of the peninsula.
How to get to Pelješac Peninsula
You can get to Ston on Pelješac by taking the bus from Dubrovnik. From there, you can visit the Winery Škurla by taxi or a 30-minute walk.
However, we recommend renting a car in Dubrovnik to have more flexibility.
Visiting Pelješac Peninsula on a tour
The easiest way to explore the Pelješac Peninsula is by joining the Pelješac Full-Day Wine and Food Tour.
This tour includes a wine-tasting and food tour in a winery and visits Ston, known for its 5.5-kilometer wall (the longest in Europe), the Ston saltworks, and oyster farms.
Another option is the Wine Lover’s Tour of Pelješac Peninsula, which visits three wineries in one day. For a more personal experience, this private tour to Pelješac is a good choice (wine tasting included).
TRAVEL TIP
A stone’s throw away from Pelješac is Korčula, a stunning island and the assumed birthplace of Marco Polo. However, you can only visit a bit of Korčula on your day trip if you’re going by car. Otherwise, there is a Korčula & Pelješac combo tour you can join.
6. Mljet National Park
Visiting “Green Island” (Mljet) is another popular day trip from Dubrovnik. It’s full of dense forests and is known as one of the most beautiful Croatian islands.
You can explore Mljet by e-bike, walking the nature trails, or kayaking around the coastline. Choosing the e-bike is the best, as you can cover the whole area. Don’t miss out on the lakes in which you can swim (the water is warmer than the sea).
The entrance ticket for Mljet National Park is 25 EUR per person in season (1.6.-30.9.) and 15 EUR in the shoulder season.
How to get to Mljet National Park
You can do a day trip to Mljet from Dubrovnik by getting the earliest 1-hour ferry (8 or 9 am) and the latest ferry back at 5:35 pm. This way, you’ll return to Dubrovnik a bit before 7 pm.
Visiting Mljet National Park on a tour
For an organized trip, we recommend the Mljet National Park & 3 Islands Tour. It also includes visits to Šipan and Koločep of Elaphiti Islands.
It’s a great day out where you visit beaches and caves and have the option to swim in beautiful waters, as well as go kayaking.
7. Montenegro
The neighboring scenic country of Montenegro is perfect for a day trip from Dubrovnik, as it’s just a 45-minute drive south. If you have some spare time during your vacation, it’s a great day out, as you can see a lot in just one day.
During your day trip, stop by the picture-perfect town of Perast, soak up the sparkling blue waters of Kotor Bay, and visit the famous man-made island “Our Lady of the Rocks”. This little island has a church with a fascinating history worth learning about.
Then there’s Kotor, a UNESCO coastal town in Montenegro with rich history, medieval walls and buildings, beautiful streets, museums, and beaches.
How to visit Montenegro from Dubrovnik
You can visit Montenegro on a day trip from Dubrovnik by renting a car. On the way, you can see some of the spots we mentioned in the first day trip option (outskirts) because they are right on the way to Montenegro.
There is a ferry (check options here) from Dubrovnik to Kotor, but you don’t have enough time between the arriving and departing ferry (only about 4 hours), so it’s not really worth it.
If renting a car is not an option for you, we recommend a day trip with a boat cruise that will take you through Montenegro’s natural beauty and charming towns, especially in Kotor Bay.
Extending your Montenegro day trip
If you have more days to spare and rent a car in Dubrovnik, you can cover a lot of Montenegro in just a few days. That includes Herceg Novi, Perast, Kotor, Lovćen National Park, and even Sveti Stefan and Budva, another historical coastal town.
8. Bosnia and Herzegovina
Another excellent trip option from Dubrovnik is a day trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina. You can reach some cool spots just two and a half hours from the Old Town.
Kravica Waterfall is the usual first stop, where you can cool off in clear water surrounded by lush greenery.
Then, you can drive to the lovely town of Mostar to visit the iconic UNESCO-listed Old Bridge, scenic rivers, monuments, and restaurants offering traditional Bosnian dishes.
How to visit Bosnia and Herzegovina from Dubrovnik
The most economical way to visit Bosnia from Dubrovnik is a small group tour to Mostar and Kravica Waterfall.
However, personally, we recommend renting a car in Dubrovnik and driving up to Bosnia. This way, you can have more time at the waterfall and more flexibility on when you want to start or finish the day.
You can also visit Mostar by bus, but in that case, you must spend the night in Mostar. The bus from Dubrovnik only goes in the afternoon, and there is no late bus back from Mostar.
Final thoughts
Dubrovnik is an excellent base for a lot of fun day trips, so if you have extra time, it’s worth adding a night or two more to do some of them.
If renting a car is an option, you can see so much in just a day or two. If you’ve only got a day, at least visit the outskirts (1st day trip option). Otherwise, one of the island-hopping tours is always a good choice.
No matter which of these day trips you take from Dubrovnik, we’re sure you will enjoy them!
Continue reading
- Dubrovnik Travel Guide (things to do)
- One Day Dubrovnik Itinerary (24 hours trip)
- Free Things To Do in Dubrovnik
- Travel to Dubrovnik on a Budget
- Guide to Dubrovnik Old Town
- Best Beaches in Dubrovnik
- Dubrovnik Pass Review (must-have for saving money)
- Where to stay in Dubrovnik (best areas & hotels)
- Best Dubrovnik Bars & Beach Clubs