Dubrovnik to the Elaphiti Islands

By the Viamo editorial team · Editor Terje Moy · Last updated July 2026 · 5 min read

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Just off Dubrovnik's coast sit three small, largely car-free islands — Koločep, Lopud and Šipan — that make one of the easiest and most rewarding escapes from the city's summer crowds. A scheduled local ferry links all three from Dubrovnik's main port, while private boats and organised day tours offer a faster, more flexible alternative. Here's how to choose.

The public option: the Jadrolinija local ferry

The state ferry operator Jadrolinija runs a scheduled passenger line from Gruž, Dubrovnik's main port a short bus or taxi ride from the Old Town, calling at Koločep, Lopud and Suđurađ on Šipan in turn. Journey times are short — well under an hour to the nearest island, Koločep, and a little over an hour on to Šipan — and it runs several times a day in the summer season, thinning out considerably in winter. Because tickets on this line are tied to a specific sailing and effectively double as a reservation, it's worth buying ahead in the peak summer months rather than assuming you can turn up and board.

A separate car ferry also serves Šipan, the only one of the three islands with a proper road network, useful if you want to bring a hire car rather than explore on foot or by local bus once there.

Taxi boats and private transfers

Private water taxis operate from Gruž and, in season, directly from the Old Port, offering a faster and more flexible alternative to the scheduled ferry, particularly useful if you want to reach the islands early or return outside the ferry timetable. They cost considerably more than the Jadrolinija service, but for a small group splitting the fare, or a short one-way hop when the timetable doesn't cooperate, the premium can be worth it.

Organised day tours from the Old Port

The most popular way to see the islands is a group or semi-private boat day tour, departing directly from Dubrovnik's Old Port and typically visiting two or all three islands over six to nine hours, often including lunch on board and a swimming stop. These tours suit visitors who want to cover Koločep's sea caves, Lopud's beach and Šipan's village in a single day without juggling ferry connections themselves — the trade-off is a fixed itinerary and less time on any one island than you'd get travelling independently. They work on the same principle as the wider day-tour boats covered in our guide to Croatia island hopping, which also covers routes further afield from Split.

Which island should you pick?

Koločep is the closest and smallest, known for a sea cave good for swimming and a quiet, wooded interior with almost no development — a good choice for a half-day escape. Lopud, a little further out, has the area's best beach, the sandy Šunj on the far side of the island, reached by a pleasant 20-minute walk or a golf-cart shuttle across the island from the ferry jetty. Šipan, the largest and only one with a paved road and any real vehicle traffic, has two villages and a slower, more rural feel — better suited to a full day than a quick stop.

Car-free islands: what to expect

Koločep and Lopud have no cars at all beyond a handful of essential service vehicles, and Šipan's small road network carries very light traffic even in high season. That means no rental scooters, no taxis waiting at the jetty on the two smaller islands, and everything reached on foot, by bike, or by the occasional golf-cart shuttle. It's a large part of the appeal — expect quiet lanes, no traffic noise, and distances that are genuinely walkable, though pack accordingly if you're visiting in the height of summer heat, since shade and shops are limited once you're away from the harbour.

Which should you choose?

For a relaxed, low-cost day out at your own pace, the Jadrolinija ferry is the simplest choice — pick one island (Lopud for the beach, Koločep for a short, quiet trip) rather than trying to rush all three. If you want to see more in a single day and don't mind a fixed schedule, an organised boat tour from the Old Port covers the most ground. Taxi boats are worth the extra cost mainly for flexibility — an early start, a late return, or a group happy to split the fare. If you're bringing a hire car to Šipan or exploring the wider Dalmatian coast, see our guide to driving in Croatia for the coastal road and island-ferry rules.

Timing your visit

The islands are at their best, and least crowded, earlier in the day before the bulk of the day-tour boats arrive from Dubrovnik. Travelling independently on the first ferry of the day, rather than mid-morning, gives you a couple of quiet hours on Lopud's beach or around Koločep's cave before the crowds catch up. Outside the main summer season, sailings and tour departures both thin out considerably, so check the current schedule before planning a spring or autumn visit, and don't count on the same frequency you'd find in July or August. If the Elaphiti Islands are one stop on a longer Croatian trip, see our guides to Split to Dubrovnik, Split to Hvar by ferry and Dubrovnik to Mostar for the onward legs.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get from Dubrovnik to the Elaphiti Islands?

The Jadrolinija local ferry from Gruž port calls at Koločep, Lopud and Šipan several times a day in summer. Private taxi boats and organised day tours from the Old Port are faster, more flexible alternatives at a higher cost.

Which Elaphiti island has the best beach?

Lopud, home to the sandy Šunj beach on the far side of the island, generally considered the best swimming spot among the three.

Are the Elaphiti Islands car-free?

Koločep and Lopud have essentially no cars. Šipan has a small road network and some light traffic, making it the only one of the three practical to explore by vehicle.

Can I visit all three islands in one day?

It's possible on an organised day tour that plans the connections for you, but doing it independently by ferry is tight — most visitors travelling on their own pick one, or at most two, islands to see properly.