Dubrovnik: Elaphite Island Cruise w/ Drinks & Optional Lunch

Dubrovnik’s old town is beautiful, but the best way to understand the Dalmatian coast is to leave it behind for a day. This cruise takes you to Lopud, Šipan, and Koločep, with time for swimming, walking, and the sandy beach at Šunj Bay. I like the generous three hours on Lopud and the easy, friendly service aboard the RITA. I also like that the $50 starting price includes drinks, toilets, and a full boat ride rather than charging you at every turn.

The main consideration is pace. Šipan and Koločep get about an hour each, so you will see three islands, but you will not explore any of them in depth. The boat is open on the sides, too, so parents with very young children need to keep a close eye on them.

At a glance

• Three different islands in one day: Lopud brings the longest stop and the best chance for a beach visit, while Šipan offers vineyards and olive groves, and Koločep is suited to a quiet swim or pine-forest walk.
• Lopud is the main event: You have three hours here, enough for Šunj Bay, the waterfront, lunch, shopping, or a walk toward old churches and the Saint Mary Franciscan monastery.
• The RITA is set up for a full day at sea: The boat has an open upper area, a lower air-conditioned salon, two onboard toilets, and five crew members.
• Lunch is optional: Choose fish, chicken, or a vegetarian plate with potato salad, or use your free time on Lopud to eat independently.
• Drinks are part of the experience: Water, soft drinks, Croatian wine, and homemade olive oil are included, with extra drinks available to buy.
• Pickup can simplify Dubrovnik logistics: Hotel pickup and drop-off are available in the Dubrovnik area, including an agreed nearby point for some pedestrian-only locations.

Why this Elaphite cruise works so well

I like this trip because it gives you a full day on the water without asking you to organize three separate ferries. The sailing itself is part of the attraction. For much of the day, you are looking back toward Dubrovnik’s coast, watching the stone shoreline slip past while the crew brings around drinks and keeps the schedule moving.

The tour has a relaxed social feel. Music may become livelier when the group does, and the crew is friendly and attentive without making the day feel tightly programmed. Guides may include Azhar or Nikoleta, depending on the departure, and the tour is offered in English, Croatian, Italian, and German.

The value is unusually strong at around $50 per person, especially if you choose lunch. You receive transport by boat, drinks, crew service, three island stops, and a full day out. The price is less impressive if you want serious historical guiding or long, quiet walks on each island. This is an island sampler with beach time, not a detailed cultural tour.

Boarding the RITA in Dubrovnik

The boat is called the RITA and is docked at the pier. Look for the MARINERO name, with the crew waiting nearby. If you select hotel pickup, an air-conditioned vehicle takes you to the harbor and returns you to Dubrovnik afterward. Pickup is limited to the Dubrovnik area, and anyone staying in a pedestrian-only zone should expect an agreed meeting point nearby rather than a vehicle at the door.

The RITA has an open top, useful for wide sea views and sun, plus a lower air-conditioned salon when the heat becomes too much. Two clean onboard toilets matter on an eight-hour outing. Five crew members handle the boat, food, drinks, and general care, which helps explain why the day tends to feel well managed.

Bring a hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, swimwear, comfortable shoes, and a camera. Towels are not provided. Snorkeling gear is also not included, so bring your own if you want to explore the water. You will have chances to swim at more than one island, but conditions and timing can affect exactly how long you stay in the water.

The first 30 minutes along Dubrovnik’s coast

The opening cruise lasts about half an hour. Treat it as more than a transfer. The water gives you a different angle on Dubrovnik, and the slow change from city shoreline to quieter islands sets the tone for the day.

You can sit in the sun, find shade in the lower salon, or begin with the drinks service. The crew provides water, soft drinks, and Croatian wine, with additional drinks available for purchase. Some departures also include small extras such as wafers or local liqueur shots, but you should not plan your day around a particular number of servings.

This is also a good time to listen for practical instructions. The crew gives clear return times at each island, a detail that matters when you are free to wander without a guide beside you.

Lopud and Šunj Bay: the three-hour highlight

Lopud receives the longest stop, about three hours, and that is the right choice. It is the island where you can fit in several different activities without rushing: lunch, a beach visit, swimming, shopping, a walk, or a little hiking.

The waterfront is easy to explore, but Šunj Bay is the reason many people remember Lopud most. It is a sandy beach on the other side of the island, a welcome change from the rocky swimming spots common along the Adriatic. If you want to swim, make Šunj your first priority, then return to the port area for food or a slower walk.

You can walk to Šunj, but the route includes uphill sections and uneven ground. Golf carts may be available, yet the timing can be awkward because they may wait until full and may leave you a 10 to 15 minute walk from the port. My advice is simple: if swimming at Šunj matters to you, go early and leave enough time for the return.

Lopud is also the best stop for a little history. You might find ancient fortifications, old churches, and the Saint Mary Franciscan monastery along the island’s car-free roads. The tour does not turn this into a formal historical lecture, so come prepared to explore at your own pace rather than expecting every building to be explained.

If you select lunch, it is generally served aboard the boat after the Lopud stop. The choices are fish, chicken, or vegetarian, served with potato salad. Grilled fish has been a popular choice, and the meal is a useful time saver because you do not need to find a restaurant during your limited island time.

The no-lunch option can also make sense. You can bring food or buy lunch on Lopud, where you have enough time to combine a meal with a walk. At the end of the season, however, many restaurants and shops may be closed, so the onboard meal becomes the safer choice outside the main summer period.

Šipan: vineyards, olive groves, and a short stop

The cruise from Lopud to Šipan takes about 20 minutes. Šipan is the largest island in the Elaphite group, and the hour-long stop gives you a quick look at a quieter side of Dalmatia.

The island is associated with vineyards and olive groves, and the surroundings feel more rural than Dubrovnik. You can walk, take photos, swim, or simply enjoy a break from the boat. The stop is pleasant, but its short length limits what you can do.

I would not choose Šipan as the main reason to book this trip. Its value is in the contrast with Lopud. After a busy beach stop, Šipan gives you a slower hour among cultivated land and island scenery. If you want long village walks or detailed exploration, this schedule will feel too brief.

Koločep: a final swim before Dubrovnik

The cruise to Koločep takes about 45 minutes. You get roughly an hour on the island, enough for a swim, snorkeling with your own equipment, a short walk, or a little shopping.

Koločep is the quietest-feeling stop on this route. Pine forests and clear water give it a calm finish, especially if you spend the hour swimming instead of trying to cover too much ground. The water may be tempting, but remember that towels are not supplied and the boat does not provide snorkeling equipment.

Some people would prefer more time here, or more time on Lopud instead of visiting all three islands. That is the central tradeoff of this cruise. You gain variety, but each of the final two stops is an introduction rather than a full visit.

Food, drinks, and the onboard rhythm

The food helps the day feel like a proper outing rather than a boat transfer. The lunch choice is fish, chicken, or vegetarian, with potato salad, and the meal is paired with drinks. Croatian wine is available, along with water and soft drinks.

The crew also serves homemade olive oil and homegrown vegetables as part of the Mediterranean-style offering. Do not expect a restaurant tasting menu. Think of it as a straightforward boat lunch that keeps you fueled while you enjoy the coast.

I like the drinks setup because it reduces small expenses. Water and soft drinks are included, and the crew may circulate several times during the day. Additional drinks can be bought onboard. If you choose the trip without lunch, bring your own food or plan to eat on Lopud rather than assuming every island will have an open restaurant.

How much time do you really get?

The published day lasts about eight hours, including the four cruise sections:

• About 30 minutes from Dubrovnik toward Lopud
• Three hours on Lopud
• About 20 minutes to Šipan
• One hour on Šipan
• About 45 minutes to Koločep
• One hour on Koločep
• About 30 minutes back toward Dubrovnik

The exact order and timing can be affected by operating conditions, but the structure is clear. Lopud gets the bulk of your free time, while Šipan and Koločep provide shorter stops before the return.

That timing suits you if you want a broad taste of the Elaphites, especially on a first visit to Dubrovnik. It is less suitable if you want to settle into one cove for half a day. The cruise is also a good alternative to spending another full day in the old town, since it gives you swimming, open water, and a change of pace.

Who should book this day trip?

I would recommend it to couples, families with older children, solo visitors who enjoy a social boat setting, and anyone staying in Dubrovnik for a short visit. You get a lot of scenery and three islands without handling the transport yourself.

It suits people who like a flexible day. You are not marched from one sight to another. At each stop, you decide if you want to swim, walk, shop, eat, or sit quietly. The crew provides the structure, but your free time remains your own.

Families with toddlers should be more cautious. The boat is open on the sides, so very young children require close supervision. The island paths can also be uneven, and the walk to Šunj is not ideal for anyone who wants a completely flat outing.

This is not the best match for someone seeking an intimate, small-group sailing trip or a detailed archaeology tour. The RITA is equipped for a full day and may feel social and lively. You are paying for variety, food, drinks, and convenience rather than privacy.

Practical advice before you book

Choose the lunch option if you are visiting outside the main season, when island restaurants and shops may have limited hours. In summer, the no-lunch choice can work well if you want to choose your own food on Lopud or bring something with you.

Wear shoes that can handle uneven paths, especially if you plan to walk to Šunj or explore beyond the waterfront. Pack swimwear under your clothes, and bring your own towel and snorkeling gear.

If you use hotel pickup, read the agreed meeting point carefully. Dubrovnik’s pedestrian-only streets can make door-to-door service impossible, but the operator confirms the closest workable location in advance. The trip offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and a reserve-now, pay-later option, which gives you some flexibility when planning around changing weather or ferry schedules.

Should you book the Elaphite Islands cruise?

Book it if you want an affordable, well-organized day away from Dubrovnik, with Lopud and Šunj Bay as the main prize. The combination of clear water, sandy beach, island walks, lunch, drinks, and friendly crew makes the $50 price strong, particularly when lunch is included.

Skip it if you want to spend several hours on one island or prefer a quiet private boat. The final two stops are short, and the open-sided boat may not suit families with very small children.

For most first-time visitors, I would choose the lunch option, head straight toward Šunj on Lopud, and save time for a swim before returning to the RITA. That gives you the best use of the schedule while still leaving room for Šipan, Koločep, and the beautiful ride home.

FAQ

How long does the Elaphite Islands cruise last?

The experience lasts about eight hours, including boat travel and free time on Lopud, Šipan, and Koločep.

Which islands does the cruise visit?

The route visits Lopud, Šipan, and Koločep, all in the Elaphite Islands near Dubrovnik.

Is lunch included?

Lunch is included only if you select the lunch option. The choices are fish, chicken, or vegetarian, served with potato salad. You can also choose a drinks-only option and eat independently on Lopud.

What drinks are included?

Water, soft drinks, and Croatian wine are included. Additional drinks are available for purchase onboard.

Is hotel pickup available?

Hotel pickup and drop-off are available in the Dubrovnik area if you select that option. If your accommodation is in a pedestrian-only or difficult-to-reach area, you will receive a nearby meeting point.

What should I bring?

Bring comfortable shoes, sunglasses, a sun hat, swimwear, sunscreen, and a camera. Towels and snorkeling equipment are not provided, so bring your own if you need them.