South Dalmatia packs a lot into a short stretch of sea. Within minutes of Dubrovnik’s walls you are off Lokrum, a forested reserve. Further west lie the Elaphiti Islands, then Mljet, whose western half is a national park with two saltwater lakes and a monastery on an islet, and finally Korčula town on its own peninsula. One base, several very different days on the water.
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Quick answer: Dubrovnik by boat
- Best departure harbour: Gruž for the islands and Mljet; the Old Town port for Lokrum and short trips; ACI Marina Dubrovnik at Komolac for bareboat and multi-day charters.
- Best half day route: the Old Town port around Lokrum and along the coast to Cavtat for lunch.
- Best full day route: the Elaphiti Islands (Koločep, Lopud and Šipan), or Mljet National Park if you want the lakes.
- Best months: June and September; late May and early October with some weather risk.
- Book ahead: the boat for July and August, Mljet park tickets online, lunch tables ashore and a hotel near your harbour.
This guide is part of our Croatia by boat series, the first country beyond our Italy by boat guides. If you are arriving from the Italian side of the Adriatic, see also Italy to Croatia by boat.
Check prices and availability
Staying in Ploče, Lapad or Gruž puts you minutes from the boats. July and August fill early.
Harbours and marinas: where the boats leave from
Drive times are rough and depend on summer traffic; ask your skipper to confirm the exact pier.
- Old Town port: the small harbour by the eastern walls, where Lokrum boats leave and many day boats collect guests. Walkable from Ploče; around 30 minutes by car from the airport.
- Gruž: the main port, about 3 km west of the Old Town. Best for the Elaphiti Islands and Mljet, close to Lapad hotels.
- ACI Marina Dubrovnik, Komolac: a year-round marina about 6 km from the Old Town in the sheltered Rijeka Dubrovačka inlet. Most bareboat and week-long charters start here.
- Cavtat: around 10 minutes from the airport; ideal for a first or last day.
- Korčula town: for the multi-day route, reached by road across the Pelješac bridge and a short ferry from Orebić.
The routes in detail
Times assume a skippered motor boat at a relaxed cruising pace with swim stops; a sailing yacht needs roughly twice as long. The skipper will reorder stops to suit the wind.
Route 1, half day: Lokrum and the coast to Cavtat
Board at the Old Town port and cross to Lokrum in a few minutes. Its south side is wilder rock with clear water for a swim off the boat; going ashore means paying the reserve ticket (see the rules below). Then run south-east along the coast to Cavtat, roughly 30 to 40 minutes, for lunch on the waterfront. Back within four to five hours.
Route 2, full day: the Elaphiti Islands
From Gruž the closest island, Koločep, is a short hop. On its outer side a low sea cave known locally as the Blue Cave can be entered by swimming from the boat when the sea is flat. Continue to Lopud and anchor off Šunj, the sandy bay on the island’s southern side, for a long swim. Šipan, the largest of the group, comes last: lunch in Šipanska Luka or Suđurađ. A comfortable seven to eight hours.
Route 3, full day: Mljet National Park
Mljet is the longer crossing, typically 1 to 1.5 hours each way by fast motor boat from Gruž depending on sea state. Arrive at Polače, with its Roman ruins at the water’s edge, or at Pomena on the western tip, both official park entrances. Buy visitor tickets, then walk or take the park’s transport to the lakes and the park boat to St Mary’s islet and its Benedictine monastery. Swim where permitted, lunch in Pomena or Polače. Plan nine to ten hours.
Route 4, two to three days: Mljet, Korčula and Lumbarda
Day one: Gruž or Komolac to Lopud for a swim, then Polače for the night. Day two: the lakes early, before the day boats, then across to Korčula, stopping at Lumbarda on the eastern tip for sandy coves and Grk wine before berthing in Korčula town. Day three: sail back via the Elaphiti, or finish in Korčula and drive to Dubrovnik across the Pelješac bridge, opened in 2022, stopping in Ston for its walls and Mali Ston bay oysters.
For more islands further north, continue with our guides to Hvar and the Pakleni Islands by boat and Split by boat.
Rules: national park, reserve, anchoring and speed (2026)
Figures below come from official park, reserve and ministry sources in autumn 2026.
Mljet National Park
- Vessel ticket: every visiting boat needs a park ticket priced by length. For 2026 the park publishes, for example, EUR 70 in high season (June to September) for a boat of 7 to 10.99 m bought at the park, or EUR 60 online, and EUR 100 (EUR 90 online) for 11 to 17.99 m. A one-day vessel ticket is valid until noon the next day.
- Visitor ticket: separate from the vessel ticket. Adults pay EUR 30 in high season and EUR 20 in low season, children 8 to 18 pay EUR 8 or EUR 5, under 7s are free. It includes one return boat to St Mary’s islet and the park’s electric train in summer.
- Entrances: visitors may enter only at Pomena, Polače and Crna klada, with a ticket.
- Anchoring: permitted only in designated areas, including Lokva bay off Pomena and Polače bay. Anchoring is banned in many other coves, including the strictly protected bays along the north, west and south coasts. Anchor on sand, never on Posidonia seagrass. The park’s own description of the anchorage boundaries is not fully consistent, so ask a ranger or the skipper exactly where to drop.
- Speed: maximum 5 knots inside the park, within 150 m of the coast and in the Soline channel and Veliko jezero.
- Lakes: only park boats and authorised operators run on Veliko jezero; Malo jezero is limited to rowing boats. No diving in either lake.
- Waste and conduct: no wastewater discharge anywhere in the park, no fires, smoking only in designated areas, drones only with permission.
- Fishing: our research turned up contradictory information here. The park’s code of conduct says fishing is prohibited throughout the park, while its page for yachtsmen allows recreational fishing in part of the sea zone with a park licence. It was not clear to us which applies, so keep the rods stowed unless the park confirms.
Lokrum Special Reserve
- Ticket: EUR 30 per adult for 2026, EUR 5 for children 7 to under 18. Bought at the Old Town port, it includes the return reserve boat. Arriving by private boat or water taxi, you still pay the same ticket at the Forester’s House on arrival.
- Rules: no smoking, no open fire, no drones without permission, and no staying on the island before the first or after the last reserve boat. The reserve publishes a separate boat timetable for each period (one runs from 1 November 2026), the last boat leaves the island in the late afternoon outside summer, and the reserve boat does not run in bad weather. Winter service varies, so check the reserve’s current timetable before you plan a landing.
General Croatian rules
- Speed near the coast: within 300 m of the coast, in narrow channels and on approaches to ports and anchorages, boats must not exceed 8 knots, and harbour masters can set lower local limits.
- Swimmers: a 2026 amendment to the navigation rules keeps boats under 15 m at least 50 m from a marked bathing area, 15 to 30 m at least 100 m, and 30 m and over at least 300 m.
- Elsewhere: mooring buoy fields and their fees are set locally; ask the skipper or harbour master for the current arrangement in each bay.
Types of boat and what a skippered charter includes
Choose between an open speedboat or rigid inflatable (fast, ideal for Mljet, little shade), a cabin motor boat or small motor yacht (shade, a toilet, more comfort in a chop) and a sailing yacht, catamaran or gulet (slower, better for the Elaphiti and multi-day trips).
A private skippered charter typically includes the boat, the skipper and snorkelling gear. Confirm in writing whether these are extra:
- Fuel, often charged separately on motor boats, especially for Mljet.
- Mljet vessel and visitor tickets, and the Lokrum ticket if you go ashore.
- Lunch ashore, usually at your cost.
- Berthing fees for overnight stays in Polače, Pomena or Korčula.
- Gratuity for the skipper.
For bareboat hire, the person in charge must hold a boat licence recognised by Croatia for the size and type of vessel, and the crew should include someone with a VHF radio operator certificate. The Croatian Ministry of the Sea publishes a list of recognised certificates; check yours with the charter base before you book.
Routes at a glance
| Route | Departure | Duration | Highlights | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lokrum and Cavtat | Old Town port | 4 to 5 hours | Lokrum swim, coastal cliffs, Cavtat lunch | First day, short stays |
| Elaphiti Islands | Gruž | 7 to 8 hours | Koločep cave, Šunj beach, Šipan lunch | Families, swimmers |
| Mljet National Park | Gruž | 9 to 10 hours | Lakes, St Mary’s islet, Polače ruins | Nature lovers, walkers |
| Mljet, Korčula, Lumbarda | Gruž or Komolac | 2 to 3 days | Lakes at dawn, Korčula old town, Ston oysters | Couples, island hoppers |
Best months, winds and practical tips
June and September give warm water and fewer boats. July and August are hottest and busiest. Late May and early October are lovely when the weather holds, though timetables and island restaurants can be reduced.
Three winds matter. The maestral, a north-westerly breeze, typically builds on summer afternoons. The jugo, from the south-east, brings swell and can make the run to Mljet uncomfortable. The bura, a gusty north-easterly, is more common outside summer. If either jugo or bura is forecast, choose the more sheltered Elaphiti.
- Bring: reef-safe sun cream, hats, a light layer, cash, water shoes.
- Seasickness: sit at the stern, watch the horizon, take any remedy before boarding.
- Booking timing: book July and August boats months ahead; Mljet vessel tickets are cheaper on the park’s webshop.
- August crowds: start early to reach Mljet’s lakes or Šunj before late morning.
Charlotte’s tip: keep one flexible day
If you plan both the Elaphiti and Mljet, do not fix the dates too early. Book the skipper for two days and agree that the Mljet crossing goes on the calmest one. On a jugo morning, swap to the islands and save the park for when the sea settles.
Coming from Italy? A seasonal Jadrolinija car ferry links Bari with Gruž in the summer season (dates and sailing times change each year, so check Jadrolinija’s current international timetable), so a week of boating in Puglia pairs neatly with a few days here.
Check prices and availability
Cavtat is a quieter base, close to the airport, with its own harbour for boat days.
Where to stay near the harbours
Villa Dubrovnik
A five-star hotel on terraces above the sea, about 1.5 km east of the Old Town. A complimentary hotel boat runs to the Old Town several times a day, a short hop from the charter quay. Indoor and outdoor pools and a private stretch of shore. It is seasonal and closes over the winter (in 2025 to 2026 from early November until spring); ask the hotel for this year’s dates.
Best for: Lokrum and Cavtat half days, couples.
Check rates at Villa Dubrovnik
Hotel Excelsior Dubrovnik
A five-star waterfront hotel in Ploče, around 600 m from the Old Town and an easy walk to the Old Town port. An indoor pool, a spa and bathing terraces with direct sea access. Some restaurants and outdoor services are seasonal.
Best for: walking to the boat, shoulder season stays.
Check rates at Hotel Excelsior Dubrovnik
Hotel Kazbek
A small five-star hotel in a Renaissance summer residence from 1573 on the Lapad waterfront, overlooking Gruž bay and close to the Gruž port. It has 13 rooms and suites and a heated outdoor pool in the garden. Ask the hotel about opening dates.
Best for: Elaphiti and Mljet days from Gruž, privacy.
Hotel Croatia Cavtat
A five-star resort on a pine-covered peninsula, about 700 m from Cavtat’s old town and harbour and around 5 km from Dubrovnik airport. Two private beaches, indoor and outdoor pools and a spa.
Best for: families, short stays near the airport.
Check rates at Hotel Croatia Cavtat
Lešić Dimitri Palace
Residences set in an 18th-century bishop’s palace and medieval houses in the heart of pedestrianised Korčula old town, a short walk from the harbour, with the LD restaurant on site and private motorboat transfers from Dubrovnik on request. Published sources disagree on the number of residences and on winter opening, so check with the hotel.
Best for: the multi-day route, a night in Korčula.
Check rates at Lešić Dimitri Palace
For time ashore, see our Dubrovnik travel guide, where to stay in Dubrovnik, our Villa Dubrovnik review and Pelješac wine and Dingač.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you visit Mljet National Park as a day trip by boat from Dubrovnik?
Yes. A fast motor boat from Gruž takes roughly 1 to 1.5 hours each way. You need a vessel ticket for the boat and visitor tickets for everyone going ashore to the lakes.
Can a private boat land on Lokrum?
Visitors arriving by private boat or water taxi must buy the reserve ticket (EUR 30 per adult in 2026) at the Forester’s House. Ask the skipper where landing is currently allowed.
Do I need a licence to hire a boat in Croatia?
For bareboat hire, yes: a recognised boat licence for the vessel size plus a VHF certificate on board. With a skippered charter you need neither.
Which is better for a first boat day, the Elaphiti Islands or Mljet?
The Elaphiti Islands: shorter crossings, more shelter, easy swim stops. Save Mljet for a calm day.
Planning more days on the Adriatic?
