Boat trips
The Elafiti islands: Koločep, Lopud and Šipan
Three inhabited islands off Dubrovnik, uncrowded and almost car-free: sandy Šunj, the summer villas of the Dubrovnik nobility and pine woods.
- Duration
- Full day
- Dubrovnik (NM)
- 6
The Elafiti lie in a row north-west of Dubrovnik, separated from the mainland by the Koločep Channel. According to ancient writers, they were named after deer. Koločep, Lopud and Šipan are inhabited, and between them are another ten or so islets.
The usual plan for the day is a swim in Šunj bay on Lopud, a walk through the village of Lopud and lunch in Suđurađ or Šipanska Luka. The distances are short: four miles from Gruž to Koločep and four from Koločep to Lopud, and another two to Šipan.
What to see
- The sandy beach of Šunj on Lopud
- The Franciscan monastery and the park in the village of Lopud
- The summer villas and towers in Suđurađ on Šipan
- Donje Čelo and the pine woods of Koločep
Departure points
| Departure point | Distance | By speedboat | By sailboat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubrovnik Boat rental: Dubrovnik | approx. 6 NM | 14 min | 1 h |
Distance one way. Travel time is calculated at about 25 knots for a speedboat and about 6 knots for a sailboat, without stops.
With your own or a rented boat
There are no tickets or permits on the Elafiti. Off Šunj you anchor outside the roped-off bathing area and swim or row the tender ashore.
Good to know
- Šunj is open to the south-east: in jugo there is a swell and it should be avoided. The village of Lopud is about twenty minutes on foot across the island.
- In the afternoon the maestral picks up in the Koločep Channel, so in a smaller boat head back earlier.
- The channel carries heavy traffic of excursion boats and scheduled ferries: keep to the rules and watch out for their wash.
Boat trips
Other trips
The Blue Cave on Biševo
The best-known sea cave on the Adriatic, five miles from Komiža. Around noon the sun fills it with blue light through an underwater opening.
Open tripThe Blue Lagoon at Drvenik Veli
The shallow turquoise bay of Krknjaši between Drvenik Veli and two islets, six miles from Trogir: the most popular half-day trip in central Dalmatia.
Open tripThe Pakleni islands off Hvar
A chain of some twenty islets just off Hvar harbour: turquoise bays, Palmižana and Vinogradišće, restaurants under the pines and swimming from spring to autumn.
Open tripSafety
Emergency at sea
Croatia's national maritime search and rescue coordination centre (MRCC Rijeka) is on watch 24 hours a day. Save the number before you set off.
- 195Maritime search and rescue
- VHF 16Distress and safety calls
- 112Single emergency number
Before you call, have ready the boat's position (coordinates or the nearest headland, island or bay), the number of people on board and a description of the problem. A call to 112 is put through to the maritime rescue centre.
Get out on the water yourself
Find a boat directly from its owner and arrange the rental with no commission.
The information is for guidance only and does not replace official nautical charts, pilot books or forecasts. Check the current conditions and regulations before you set off.