How to Day Trip to Lokrum Island from Dubrovnik

Day Trip Itinerary for Lokrum Island

Lokrum Island is a small, forested island (now nature preserve and UNESCO protected) with a fascinating history just 15 minutes from Dubrovnik’s famous Old Town. It’s not a big place, and most of the attractions are in one area on the southern end of the island. You can see it all in a few hours, and then spend the rest of your time relaxing on the beach or in the water.

Here’s how I’d spend a half day on Lokrum Island.

• Ferry ride from Dubrovnik
• Walk to the Benedictine Monastery ruins
• Explore the monastery: its history, ruins, and GOT Iron Throne replica
• Stroll to Mrtvo more (Dead Sea), a natural saltwater inland pool
• Discover the “Hidden Cove” sea arch
• Admire the sea views and that gorgeous blue water
• Walk back to the monastery and through the botanical gardens
• Hike the Path of Paradise trail up to Fort Royal
• Explore in, around, and especially on top of Fort Royal for amazing views
• Continue following the path north to an unobstructed viewpoint of Dubrovnik
• Walk back down the hill, through monastery grounds, to the beach
• Get in the water!
• Dry off while watching the island’s peacocks wandering around
• Ice cream while you wait to board the ferry
• Ferry ride back to Dubrovnik

This can all be done in 4-5 hours. We went in the afternoon, leaving Dubrovnik around 12:30 and coming back around 17:30. (Grab Holy Burek for lunch beforehand for a mobile meal that’ll fill you up. Just make sure you leave enough time to stand in the long line.)

You could also go in the morning but have a plan for lunch, whether that’s eating at an island restaurant, bringing your own lunch, or skipping some activities so you can leave after 3 hours or so to eat a late lunch in Dubrovnik.

Good to Know: The hike up the Path of Paradise is short but steep in places, with some rocky, uneven terrain. You won’t get a stroller up here unless you carry it. I wouldn’t bother. The views looking back at the walled city are beautiful though, and not a view you can easily get from the mainland.

⚠️ Concerning Lokrum beaches: These are not sandy beaches. These are rock ledges. There are metal handrails to help you navigate slippery stairs cut into the rock to get you in and out of the water. When you’re not in the water, you may want a beach chair, but most Croatians will be on their towels on the rocks.

What to See on Lokrum Island

Monastery Complex

Lokrum Island is protected for its natural vegetation, but it also has a long history that matches the walled city of Dubrovnik. The most notable part of that history is the monastery, where you can walk through ruins, learn some history, and see the Iron Throne from Game of Thrones.

Some people check out the Iron Throne and then leave the monastery for the beach, but you’re better than that. Take a few minutes to stroll through some cool ruins that date back to Richard the Lionheart and the 12^th century.

The monastery is here because of Richard, who stopped on the island on the way to the Crusades. Learn all about that story in the very well-done exhibit in the monastery basement.

The basilica ruins are from the 12^th century, and the slightly more intact monastery and cloister are from the 15^th century. The Chapel of the Annunciation is the only completely intact Benedictine monastery structure left, unless you count the monks’ olive grove. Some of those trees are more than 300 years old.

Eventually, the monks were forced to leave, and if you believe in such things, they cursed the island on their last night there. That’s another fascinating story also found in the basement exhibit.

In 1859, a Habsburg, Archduke Maximilian, bought the island outright and built his summer residence here. The gardens are a remnant of his time on the island.

Lokrum received its protected status in 1948, but preservation was different then. The botanical gardens by the monastery complex are actually from the 1950s when researchers were testing what would grow in the unique soil. Now, it’s just a nice area to walk through and see exotic plants that don’t belong.

Peacocks

Peacocks roam freely about the island. You’ll most often find them in the shade and near the monastery and restaurants. I didn’t see any up at Fort Royal, but I don’t know that that’s on purpose. You don’t have to try to see the peacocks. They’ll find you.

Mrtvo More (Dead Sea)

This natural saltwater pool shares the same blue color as the sea, but you won’t have to deal with any waves because it’s inland and completely separate from the beaches. There’s also a bar on-site for beverages and cold treats.

It’s interesting to see, and maybe better for a quick dip if the rocky beaches and waves intimidate you, but I personally found the sea to be better than this aesthetic pool.

The Buža sea arch and the sea-side beaches

On the far southwest corner of Lokrum Island, you’ll find a pretty sea arch that’s quite photogenic. You can climb on top or down below by the pool.

The official Lokrum Island website calls this The Buža, but that’s confusing because there’s a far more famous cliff-side bar and swimming spot of the same name back in Dubrovnik. Google Maps calls the sea arch simply “hidden cove Lokrum.”

Regardless of its name, it’s cool to see, but you have to kind of just wander and stumble upon it. There’s no path. You’re just climbing on rocks until you find it. There are usually other people doing the same thing, so if you spot a small group, there’s a good chance that’s the right direction.

The “beaches” on the island are all solid rock, and the sea-side beaches are always in direct sun so they’re warm. It’s a good spot for jumping into the sea, but make sure you’re prepared to get back out via metal ladders. On the plus side, the lack of shade means you’ll dry off pretty fast once you’re done.

Path of Paradise hike

This isn’t a particularly long hike, but it does have some elevation gain. Bring water. The reward is reaching Fort Royal and beyond to see spectacular views back to Dubrovnik.

While you’re walking the path, stop and look behind you. The views about 2/3 of the way up are pretty great, too! Embrace the opportunity to catch your breath mid-climb.

The path is a mix of surfaces: a dirt and tree root section, a “paved” stone section, and a chaotic rocky section. That last bit might just be what happens to the stone path after centuries of erosion.

I believe there’s a plan in place to smooth it out, eventually, but in the meantime, be prepared to watch your feet and walk around stones on an incline for the last 50 yards or so.

Fort Royal

Atop the tallest point of the island, Fort Royal was built by Napoleon’s forces in 1806. It’s not the only Napoleonic fort in Croatia or even near Dubrovnik, but Fort Royal has some fantastic views of the walled Old Town, the shipping channels, and the Croatian coastline disappearing towards Montenegro.

The climb to get here is worth the views, in my opinion.

There are no exhibits at the fort, but the stairs have all been maintained so you can climb into the fort and around all 3 levels inside. It’s in surprisingly good condition. The parapet up top has the showstopper views.

Unobstructed Viewpoint of Dubrovnik

The best unobstructed view of Dubrovnik from elevation on Lokrum Island is at this viewpoint. It doesn’t have a name. It’s just called “Viewpoint unobstructed Dubrovnik” on Google Maps. That’s fine. It really is a fantastic view!

To get here, continue down the path from Fort Royal another 5-10 minutes. It’ll be a clearing on the left. If it takes longer than that, then you may have missed it, and you’re headed for Lazaret.

Lazaret

There’s not much to see here, just a stone foundation, but the history is significant. Started in 1534, Lazaret was a quarantine area for travelers attempting to enter the city.

Dubrovnik was a shipbuilding and sailing nation. It was intimately familiar with how disease spread when a new ship docked from a foreign place. Lokrum Island was the perfect quarantine location, within easy reach of the city but completely isolated so contagions were limited.

For security reasons, the building was never completed, and now it’s a permanently unfinished project from the 16^th century that’s history buffs can appreciate.

How to Get to Lokrum Island

The only way to get to Lokrum Island is via boat, typically the official ferry from Dubrovnik’s Old Town harbor. If you arrive via private boat, you are required to purchase a ticket at the Forester’s House immediately by the dock on the eastern side of the island. You can’t just land wherever on the island.

Ferry tickets can be purchased from the Lokrum Island office at the harbor, near the Fish Market Gate. If you have a Dubrovnik Pass, you get a discount.

In the high season, ferries leave every 30 minutes from 9:00 until 19:00. When you buy your tickets or before you get on the boat, take a picture of the ferry schedule for that day. It may change from month to month.

It’s only a 15 minute ride, so don’t be discouraged if you’re one of the last ones on the boat and can’t sit together with your group.

On the return from the island, get in line about 15 minutes or so before the ferry is scheduled to dock. If the line is past the vendor shack right where the path first forks, then you’re probably not getting on that boat.

Try to time your exit with a buffer, meaning if you have a dinner reservation at 18:00, don’t wait for the 17:15 ferry to leave. A big crowd will leave around lunch time, and another big crowd will leave around 16:00-17:00. It might take a couple of tries for you to make it onto the boat during these times.

Half Day vs Full Day on Lokrum Island

Whether you spend a half day or a full day on Lokrum Island really depends on how long you want to be in the water or how long you want to linger over a meal with friends. The other activities and sights to see on the island don’t require a full day, but that doesn’t mean you’d be wasting your time if you spent the day on Lokrum.

I personally enjoyed our afternoon half day on Lokrum Island.

We took the 12:30 ferry, strolled through the monastery and around the southern end of the island, opted to hike before getting in the water (smart choice, by the way), hiked up to the fort, saw some killer views, then walked back down to the beach near the ferry dock, and got in the water for a bit before catching the 17:20 ferry back to the city.

Five hours was a good amount of time for a day trip to Lokrum. Not rushed, but also never idle except our time at the beach.

We didn’t eat a meal here, either, which tends to slow things down in Europe. However, the ice cream vendors had our favorite Mango Magnum bars for a sweet treat before hopping on the ferry.

I’ll also admit, for those that are new here, that I’m not a chill vacationer. I can relax at the beach for a few hours, but I don’t like to spend more than that doing nothing. I’m a go-go-go traveler all the way.

You may feel differently, and in that case, Lokrum Island is still a valid destination for you. It’s got several beach areas to get in the water, and some good spots for sunbathing with or without chair and umbrella rentals. It still gets busy here, but it’s limited by the number of people that can fit on the ferries.

My recommendation is to take a half day trip to Lokrum Island and pair it with a laid-back afternoon back in Dubrovnik.

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