A Journey Across the Adriatic

Dubrovnik may be surrounded by the Adriatic, but some of the region’s most memorable experiences begin when you leave the mainland behind.

Just beyond the coast are islands where pine forests reach the sea, small fishing villages sit around quiet harbours and hidden coves invite you to spend the afternoon swimming.

Some can be reached in minutes. Others deserve an entire day.

From the wild beauty of Lokrum to the peaceful Elafiti Islands and the forests of Mljet, each offers a different reason to step aboard a boat and discover another side of southern Croatia.

Lokrum – Dubrovnik’s Island Escape

Lokrum is so close to Dubrovnik that it almost feels like part of the city.

A short boat journey takes you from the historic harbour to an island covered in pine, cypress and oak trees, with walking paths leading towards rocky swimming spots and quiet corners overlooking the Adriatic.

At its heart stands the former Benedictine monastery, while nearby you’ll find the small saltwater lake known as the Dead Sea.

There are no cars and no hotels on Lokrum. Most visitors simply walk, swim and find a peaceful spot beneath the trees.

It’s an easy escape when you want to exchange stone streets for nature without travelling far.

Koločep – Small, Green & Peaceful

Koločep is the smallest inhabited island of the Elafiti archipelago.

Life here is wonderfully simple. There are no cars, only paths connecting small villages, pine forests, beaches and secluded swimming spots.

Spend the day walking beside the sea, discovering quiet coves or enjoying lunch overlooking the harbour.

Koločep doesn’t ask for an itinerary. Its charm is precisely in having nowhere you need to be.

Lopud – Island Life at a Slower Pace

Lopud has long been one of Dubrovnik’s favourite island escapes.

Its waterfront village is lined with stone houses, small restaurants and palm trees, while paths through the island reveal old churches, gardens and traces of its maritime past.

On the opposite side lies Šunj, one of the area’s rare sandy beaches. Its shallow water and wide bay make it particularly pleasant for a long summer afternoon.

Stay until later in the day, when many visitors have departed and the waterfront settles into a quieter rhythm.

Šipan – The Island of Olive Groves

The largest of the Elafiti Islands, Šipan feels distinctly different.

Olive groves, vineyards and old stone houses spread across its fertile landscape, while the villages of Suđurađ and Šipanska Luka retain the atmosphere of traditional island communities.

For centuries, Dubrovnik’s noble families built summer residences here, drawn by the island’s tranquillity and fertile land.

That sense of escape remains today.

A leisurely lunch beside the harbour, a walk through the countryside and an afternoon swim are often all that’s needed for a perfect day on Šipan.

Mljet – An Island Shaped by Nature

Further along the coast lies Mljet, one of Croatia’s greenest islands.

Much of its western side forms part of Mljet National Park, known for its forests and two saltwater lakes, Veliko and Malo Jezero.

Visitors can walk or cycle along shaded paths, swim in remarkably calm water or take a small boat across Veliko Jezero to the islet of St Mary, home to a historic Benedictine monastery.

Mljet deserves time.

Rather than trying to see everything, choose a bicycle, kayak or walking trail and allow the island’s slower rhythm to set the pace.

The Pleasure of Island Hopping

The beauty of exploring the islands around Dubrovnik is that no two days need to feel the same.

Lokrum offers an effortless morning escape. Koločep and Lopud invite you to slow down. Šipan brings vineyards, olive groves and traditional island life, while Mljet offers an entire landscape shaped by forests and water.

You don’t need to visit them all.

Sometimes the best island day is simply choosing one, finding a quiet place beside the sea and forgetting about the return boat for a few hours.

Continue Your Journey

The Adriatic is an essential part of the Dubrovnik experience. From peaceful island villages to secluded bays and days spent at sea, discover southern Croatia at your own pace from one of our handpicked luxury villas.