Slow Roads Croatia: the Elafiti Islands near Dubrovnik

The Elafiti Islands are a small archipelago off the coast of Dubrovnik. Only three islands are inhabited: Kolocep (or Kalamota), Lopud, and Sipan. 

A popular day trip from Dubrovnik is a visit to the Elafiti Islands. The islands are a short boat ride from the city, yet they feel miles away. They have a completely different vibe. There are very few vacation rentals and two hotels, one on Lopud Island and the other on Kolocep. Groups on a day trip from Dubrovnik are the only ones making a buzz. Otherwise, the islands are pretty quiet.

Locals like Elafiti for their laid-back vibe, especially off-season, a sandy beach Sunj that is especially suitable for small kids, outdoor activities, and a good choice of restaurants. 

We visited all three of the biggest Elafiti Islands – Sipan, Lopud, and Kolocep. And we visited them in style – aboard a lovely motor yacht, Jeanneau Prestige 42 Fly. We can’t say which island is our favorite. Each island is nice in its way. They are all tiny, with only one or two settlements, beautiful unspoiled nature, gorgeous sandy and pebble beaches, and a slow pace of life.

People come here to relax, swim, or kayak in the crystal-blue sea and indulge in the small pleasures of life. We couldn’t stop taking photos, trying to capture the beauty of these islands.

We started cruising along the coast of Dubrovnik, from the town’s port to the old city, then around Lokrum Island, and off to the Elafiti Islands. I’ve never expected to fall so much in love with this beautiful archipelago.

How to Reach Elafiti Islands

There are a few ways to reach the Elafiti Islands. 

The cheapest way to visit the islands is by ferry. A ferry departs daily from Dubrovnik’s Gruz port and stops on all three islands. In July and August, the ferry departs 4 times a day, giving you enough time to visit each of the three islands and make it back to Dubrovnik on time. The ferry cost (three islands + return to Dubrovnik) is €18.

Another option to visit the Elafiti Islands is on a group tour from Dubrovnik. Many agencies in Dubrovnik offer this tour. So you shouldn’t have any problems finding it. For as little as €42, you get a boat ride to all three islands, a meal, and a selection of local wine, water, and soft drinks. This Elafiti Boat Trip with Lunch has the most affordable prices and great reviews!

The best way to visit the Elafiti Islands is on a private boat tour. It is a bit more expensive, but it’s still affordable at 100 € per person for a group of four. And nothing can compare with having a boat and a skipper for yourself.

On a private boat tour, you benefit from the flexible itinerary, allowing you to visit and experience Dubrovnik from the sea while sailing around the old town, cave beach Betina, and Green, Blue, and Pidgeon’s cave. All these stops are out of reach if going to the islands by ferry or on a group tour with a bigger boat. The Secrets of Elafiti Islands Boat Tour is the most popular private boat tour to Elafiti. 

Kolocep

The car-free island of Kolocep, or as locals call it, Kalamota, is the closest to Dubrovnik. Kolocep is a small island with two settlements. Between the villages, there is a 3-km-long walking trail.

Both villages on Kolocep are located within a small cove and protected from the winds. Donje Celo is the island’s main village, with a few bars, restaurants, and one hotel (and a few apartment rentals!).

The only hotel on the island, the Kalamota Resort, is an all-inclusive couples-only hotel. Restaurant and lounge bar Villa Ruza boasts a superb seafront terrace, and it is a popular dining spot on the island (not that the choice is wide :) ) – even if you are not staying at the island, you can try out the restaurant.

You can rent a kayak or a motorboat or explore the island on foot.

Lopud

The car-free island of Lopud is the most popular Elafiti Island. There is only one village on the island (also called Lopud). A wonderful, over one-kilometer-long sandy beach, Sunj is a popular summer spot for tourists and locals.

The beach has a few beach shack restaurants and offers deck chairs and parasols to rent, as well as snorkeling and kayak rentals and tours. The beach is on the opposite end of the island’s only village.

You can reach the beach by boat, on foot (not far, but on a hot summer day a bit tough), or by a golf cart that runs continuously between the village and the beach (approx. 5 € per person). The Hotel Lafodia is the only hotel on the island.

Restaurant Obala is our favorite restaurant on the island. It serves a wonderful scampi stew, buzara, one of the best I’ve ever eaten. 

Sipan

Sipan is the largest Elafiti island, with a surface area of 16 km2. Two small fishing villages, Suduraj and Sipanska Luka, are at either end of the island.

The two are 5 kilometers apart, one from the other, and a local bus is running between the villages (usually scheduled per a ferry schedule). It’s also easy to walk from one village to another. We hiked this trail and worked out the appetite for a lunch we had scheduled on Lopud Island. The walk is easy and mostly flat. 

Both villages have several restaurants and bars, lovely beaches, and a hotel. Suduraj is a tiny but very charming village. Its beautiful 16th-century fortress used to be the summer residence of a local sea merchant.

Restaurant BOWA is a must-visit for a unique experience. Located in the Vrbova Bay and described as a ”Robinson Crusoe” getaway spot, it’s only accessible by boat. The name BOWA means the Best Of What’s Around, and, really, here, you will get the best of nature in every sense. Clear blue sea, rocks, carob, and olive trees combined with the top-notch food. The menu is created daily depending on the catch of the day and available fresh food. 

On the island, there are a dozen apartments to rent and a 4-star hotel, Bozica Dubrovnik Island Hotel, situated in Suduraj. The hotel is open from May to mid-October, and prices range from 140 € in the off-season to 315 € in the season’s peak.

Practical information about the Elafiti Islands

• Each island is tiny. There is little to do outside of the primary season (except walking & exploring). Consider that when planning a visit to the islands during a shoulder season or on a rainy day.
• The islands are worth a visit, at least for a day, even if the “away from it all” kind of holiday isn’t your style.
• Reach the Elafiti Islands by ferry, a private taxi boat, or on an organized island cruise departing daily from Dubrovnik
• The ferry departs from Dubrovnik, and it takes 30 minutes to reach Kolocep, another 20 minutes to reach Lopud, and another 20 minutes to reach Sipan. The one-way ferry ticket costs €4.

Have you ever been to the Elafiti Islands? Would you like to go? Let us know in the comments below.