Is Lokrum Worth Visiting from Dubrovnik? A Solo Half-Day Trip ⋆ EverlastingWandering

Is Lokrum worth visiting from Dubrovnik? During my solo trip to Croatia, I spent five nights in Dubrovnik, and I couldn’t resist taking a trip to Lokrum to find out for myself!

This lovely island sits just across the water – it’s reachable in only 15 minutes from Dubrovnik’s Old Port, making it arguably the easiest day trip from the city!

I decided to make it a solo half-day trip – Lokrum is a small island, so you can explore it in just a few hours and still have time to enjoy more of Dubrovnik. I even hiked up Mount Srd afterwards!

As a budget traveller, I actually had a bit of a toss-up between walking Dubrovnik’s city walls and visiting Lokrum. In the end, I opted for Lokrum – partly because it was slightly cheaper, but also because I’d already had a good feel for the Old Town. For me, Lokrum was definitely worth visiting, and I’m glad I chose it on this trip!

Something I love about visiting Lokrum is how it’s so close to Dubrovnik yet feels so different. Dubrovnik’s Old Town is beautiful but very busy, while Lokrum has this serene feel even at its busiest times. With its greenery, peaceful trails, swimming spots, sights to explore and, not to forget, amazing views back over Dubrovnik, it’s an island that really feels like an ‘escape’ from the city.

How to Get to Lokrum Island from Dubrovnik

🚤 Passenger Ferry – the easiest way to visit Lokrum

The passenger ferry to Lokrum Island leaves from Dubrovnik’s Old Port. It’s the easiest and quickest way to visit, with the crossing taking just 15 minutes. Travelling this way also gives you the most freedom timing-wise to explore – you can stay a couple of hours, half a day like I did or even longer.

🎟️ Tickets

Tickets can be bought directly at the Old Town Port, or you can purchase them online. I intended to buy mine at the port before boarding, but the queue was long… so I ended up quickly going online while there, got the ticket and was ready to hop on the next boat. Note that you don’t need to book a specific ferry time, so if booking in advance you just need to book for a certain date then you can go and return at any time 🙂

💶 Price

Boat tickets are a bit expensive (then again, what isn’t in Dubrovnik?!) – I paid €30 when I visited in September. So you might question: is Lokrum worth visiting despite the price tag? As a budget traveller, I know I did! But in the end, I felt like it was worth it for such an easy day trip from Dubrovnik and such a different island experience from what I’d had elsewhere on my trip.

The thing to keep in mind about the price is that Lokrum Island is a nature reserve which has an entrance fee – this is included in the ferry price. So although €30 initially felt steep to me, this isn’t simply a €30 ferry ticket – it also covers your Lokrum entrance.

🕐 Good to know

Lokrum Island is a seasonal destination. During peak season boats run frequently – generally every 30 minutes – but it’s best to check the timetable, which you can do online, or find it at the ticket kiosk in Dubrovnik. Honestly, I didn’t really plan what time I was going as I knew boats were frequent in September, which very much fits my travel style of no strict itinerary!

🛥️ Boat Tour – great for seeing more of Dubrovnik

If, like me, you’d rather explore Lokrum at your own pace, I’d take the passenger ferry. But if you’re short on time, or want to include even more in your day trip from Dubrovnik, a boat cruise with a stop at the island is a great choice.

Hop-on Hop-off, Lokrum Island, St. Jacob Beach & Betina Cave
The Hop-on Hop-off, Lokrum Island, St. Jacob Beach & Betina Cave tour gives you 2 hours free time on Lokrum, before continuing on a coastal tour with a 1-hour stop at St. Jacob Beach and 30-minutes at Betina Cave. This is a super lovely, relaxing way to experience not only Lokrum but also some more of Dubrovnik’s highlights.

Dubrovnik: Blue Cave & Panoramic Cruise
There is also the Dubrovnik: Blue Cave & Panoramic Cruise, which includes an optional stop at Lokrum. This is a great choice if you’re trying to maximise your time and experience a little more from Dubrovnik in one day, with a trip to the
Blue Cave on Kolocep Island as well as the option of spending a couple of hours on Lokrum (Lokrum entrance fee is extra).

🛶 Kayaking to Lokrum – a more adventurous option

I took the passenger boat to Lokrum, but if you’re looking for a more active and adventurous way to visit, a kayaking tour from Dubrovnik could be for you.

Kayak tours generally last 2-3 hours, and don’t give the chance to explore the island on foot, but you will be able to experience it up-close from the water – pretty cool! Not only that, you get a tour of Dubrovnik’s stunning coastline, with many trips stopping off at Betina Cave Beach (which is only accessible from the sea) for a swim. As kayak trips don’t include the entrance fee to Lokrum (since you won’t actually be on the island), they can also be slightly more budget-friendly!

I recommend checking out the Dubrovnik: 2- or 3-Hour Morning Sea Kayaking & Snorkelling Tour, as it includes a guided tour and sightseeing around Lokrum.

⏱️ How Long Do You Need on Lokrum Island?

I spent around four hours on Lokrum Island, which gave me enough time to explore pretty much the whole island, including the monastery, Dead Sea, Botanical Garden, Path of Paradise, Fort Royal and some of the quieter trails and swimming spots.

So if you’re wondering whether Lokrum is worth visiting for just a few hours, then yes – a half-day is enough to see the main sights without feeling too rushed.

If you want to swim, relax, have lunch (there are a few places to eat or drink) or simply slow down and enjoy the island, though, you may wish to allow longer. I spent most of my time walking and exploring the trails, but I easily could’ve spent even longer on Lokrum if I’d gone for a swim in the Dead Sea or at one of the island’s sea swimming spots!

Whether you only have a couple of hours to explore the main sights or want to spend a full day enjoying a relaxing nature escape from Dubrovnik, Lokrum can fit into your itinerary!

Exploring Lokrum Island

If you’re planning to explore Lokrum at your own pace like I did, here’s how my half-day visit went – from the ferry ride over from Dubrovnik, to wandering the island’s trails, discovering its main sights and eventually making my way back to the port.

Ferry ride from Dubrovnik to Lokrum Island

I was staying in a hostel just outside of the Old Town (Love Dubrovnik Hostel), which made for a quick walk to Dubrovnik’s Old Port, where I caught the ferry to Lokrum. The boat I took departed at 11am, and it got pretty busy!

The ride from Dubrovnik to Lokrum is a treat in itself. While I’d taken the ferry to Mljet Island some days before, that departed from Dubrovnik’s main port in Gruž, so this was my first chance to see Dubrovnik’s Old Town walls and this gorgeous coastline from the water.

The views were even better on the way back, though, when the boat was less busy and the Old Town walls were coming into sight!

Before I knew it, we’d crossed the water and were arriving at Lokrum Island, just 15 minutes after departure.

Arriving on Lokrum Island

Croatia’s dreamy turquoise water was showing off, and the pink and white visitor centre by the port stood out, marking the arrival on Lokrum.

As soon as you step onto Lokrum Island, it feels a world away from the busy streets of Dubrovnik’s Old Town. Despite the boat being full on the way over, it didn’t take long for the newly arrived crowd to disperse, and the overall peaceful atmosphere of Lokrum to take over. It’s not just people on Lokrum, either. The island’s wild peacocks roam around the whole nature reserve – you can’t miss them! I spotted them right away.

I arrived on Lokrum with no plan (as always!) – but that was perfect as it’s the kind of place that’s easy to explore without a plan.

🚶‍♀️ How to Get Around Lokrum Island

When you arrive on Lokrum, getting around is easy – there are no cars, buses or bikes on the island, so the only way to get around is on foot. The island has a mix of well-marked gravel paths and dirt trails, which make it easy to explore. I’d definitely recommend wearing comfortable shoes, though – I’m glad I wore trainers!

Lokrum isn’t that big – I covered around 7km in total, and that was with exploring pretty much the whole island. Of course, you can easily walk less and still see a lot!

There’s plenty of guidance for getting around, too, right from the start – just past the visitor centre are information signs, maps and wooden signposts pointing you in the direction of Lokrum’s main sights.

You definitely don’t need to arrive with a detailed itinerary – the best thing to do is just wander and see what catches your attention, whether that’s the monastery, botanical gardens, swimming spots or one of the island’s viewpoints. I snapped a quick photo of the map so I could refer to it as I explored and make sure I didn’t miss anything major.

🗺️ What to See on Lokrum Island

Benedictine Monastery & Gardens of Maximilian

A short way from the port, the path branches off in different directions, with most people, myself included, heading straight for the Benedictine Monastery. Despite being one of the main areas to explore on Lokrum, it was still surprisingly peaceful – nothing like exploring the historic sights of Dubrovnik itself.

If you’re a Game of Thrones fan, the Monastery will stand out for you – this was one of the filming locations! There is actually a Game of Thrones exhibition in the monastery, with a replica of the Iron Throne. Honestly, I’ve never watched Game of Thrones so I wasn’t too fussed – but many visitors were definitely enjoying this!

Despite my lack of GOT knowledge, I enjoyed exploring the Monastery, with its ancient ruins alongside the pretty and peaceful Gardens of Maximilian. This is another sight marked on the map, and you can easily combine the two with the Chapel of Annunciation, which is right by the monastery too.

From there, I took the walking trails towards the Rocks.

The Rocks

Essentially, this is a rocky coastal area, where you can go for a dip in the water – I didn’t, but some people were!

Lokrum Island doesn’t have to be all about exploring – there are also plenty of opportunities for relaxing and swimming, which takes us to the next main sight – the Dead Sea.

The Dead Sea

Lokrum’s Dead Sea is the island’s most popular swimming spot, and it’s easy to see why. This small saltwater lake has calm, shallow water and a high salt concentration, making it surprisingly easy to float around. If you’re not a strong swimmer but still fancy a dip, this is a great place to do so.

There’s also a rocky beachy area around the lake where you can lay down a towel and relax when you’re not in the water. So, if you fancy taking a break from exploring, this is a lovely spot to slow down for a while.

I’ll be honest, though – I was in full exploring mode and didn’t actually go in… which I maybe regret a little now! Looking back, I probably should’ve spent more time here rather than rushing off to see what else Lokrum had to offer.

Charlotte’s Well

From the Dead Sea I continued along some trails to another nearby sight on the map – Charlotte’s Well. This involved a bit more of a proper trail walk among the trees, and at this point I felt like I’d left most of the other visitors behind!

Charlotte’s Well wasn’t really a highlight for me, though. I don’t even seem to have any photos of it! When I arrived, it was basically an empty pond in a very quiet spot among the trees, so there wasn’t a huge amount to see. Historically, it was used to collect water for Maximilian’s exotic gardens, so there’s more to it than my rather underwhelming first impression suggests!

If you’re exploring the island and happen to be nearby, it’s worth having a look, but I wouldn’t go out of your way for it. If you’re short on time, I’d prioritise some of Lokrum’s other sights instead.

Botanical Garden

From there, I headed back towards the monastery, continuing past it to Lokrum’s Botanical Garden.

After the quieter trails around Charlotte’s Well, it was nice to be back around one of the island’s main sights. The botanical garden is home to a collection of plants from around the world, with paths winding through the greenery and plenty of peaceful spots to wander around.

I had a quick look around, but I was actually feeling pretty eager to hit up Fort Royal, so I kept following the island’s paths, which took me by the Olive Grove and towards the Path of Paradise.

Path of Paradise

This is a paved, tree-lined path leading up towards Fort Royal. It’s a steep and steady climb, but it’s also pretty short. The elevation gain is less than 100m.

The Path of Paradise was probably one of my favourite paths on Lokrum! Some may disagree because of the incline – but it’s my kinda vibe, especially because I knew it meant there would be some good views from the top.

Fort Royal

As a gal on a mission who enjoys a little climb, it didn’t take me long to reach Fort Royal, which was easily one of my standout spots on the island.

The circular fortress marks the island’s highest point. You can head inside and, with just a few more steps, reach the top of the fort, where you’ll find some of the most impressive views on Lokrum Island.

I love a good viewpoint, and this one certainly didn’t disappoint! I spent longer up here than most – perks of travelling solo to Lokrum Island – no one was telling me to leave. And those views would never get old.

From Fort Royal, you get incredible views back over towards Dubrovnik and along the coastline.

This was definitely one of the busiest areas of the island during my visit, with people constantly coming and going to take in those amazing Croatian views. But even with the crowds, it never felt crowded. The top of the fort is a reasonable size, with a path circling around it, so there was plenty of space to take in the views and enjoy the scenery.

Exploring More of Lokrum

By this point, I felt like I’d hit up the top spots, but I wanted to keep going to a few more of the sights I spotted on the map, while randomly following some of the trails along the way.

So, from Fort Royal, I took a different path back down rather than retracing the Path of Paradise. This gave me a chance to explore another part of the island, and the trail eventually led me towards the Lazaret, Skalica and the Cross of Triton.

Along the way, I found some super quiet spots, with views towards Dubrovnik appearing through the trees from the trailside at points.

It was pretty cool to see Dubrovnik so close, while being in this totally tranquil spot myself. I loved just wandering around and stumbling across little spots to stop and take in the surroundings.

Skalica was the next spot that really stood out to me as I continued exploring this part of Lokrum. It’s another of the island’s swimming spots, with the rocky coastline giving you the chance to take a dip straight into the clear Croatian water. It was quite busy here!

By this point, I was starting to think about heading back to Dubrovnik, so I kept making my way in the direction of the ferry port, taking in a few more spots around Lokrum along the way.

The path back was really lovely, with plenty of gaps in the trees offering views out towards the water. As I got closer to the ferry port, I also came across a really lovely view looking over the harbour.

There was a long line of people waiting to take the next ferry back across to Dubrovnik, and I wasn’t quite ready to leave yet, so I decided to take the one after that. This gave me some time to chill out after plenty of exploring and finally enjoy my picnic lunch by the water!

Now, this was where true Lokrum Island shone – I didn’t really get to ‘enjoy’ my food, as the peacocks were very eager to eat it!! It was pretty fun ‘interacting’ with them!! A litttttttle annoying at times… but hey, they’re super beautiful!

I ended up heading back to Dubrovnik on the 3:15pm ferry. Honestly, I easily could’ve stayed even longer. But I’m glad I headed back when I did, as it gave me time for a quick chill back at my hostel before heading on an amazing sunset hike up Mount Srd to top off an amazing day!