How to Spend an Amazing Day on Lokrum Island from Dubrovnik

Just 15 minutes away by ferry from the charming copper, coastal Dubrovnik Old Town, is island paradise. 

Lokrum Island is a serene nature reserve covered in lush, vibrant vegetation, surrounded by the sapphire waves of the Adriatic Sea. Whether you’re hoping to escape the crowds that cluster around historic Dubrovnik monuments and walk among the fortified walls of Dubrovnik Old Town, or gawk at the awe-inspiring silver glimmer of the Iron Throne, a day trip to Lokrum Island is the perfect getaway. 

This detailed Lokrum Island travel guide will cover important details for your day trip to Lokrum Island from Dubrovnik, including how to get there, best things to do, and what to pack for your day trip!

How to Get to Lokrum Island from Dubrovnik

The best way to get to Lokrum Island is to catch the ferry from Dubrovnik Old Town Harbor to the island. Tickets for the Lokrum Island Ferry can be purchased at the dock, or from the official Lokrum Island ticket website. If the line for Lokrum Island tickets is long, scan the QR code outside the ticket office to purchase your tickets online.

The ferry to and from Lokrum Island takes approximately 15 minutes. Along the way you’ll cruise along the Southern Dalmatian coast passing beautiful landmarks like the Betina Cave and the dilapidated Plaza Belvedere Hotel (a Game of Thrones filming location). 

The Lokrum Island ferry is available from April to October – during off season, Lokrum Island is not available to visit. The first boat departs Dubrovnik Old Town Harbor at 9am and the last boat leaves Lokrum Island around 7 or 8pm, depending on the season. Visitors are not permitted to stay on Lokrum Island overnight and there are no hotels on this island. 

Many Dubrovnik kayaking tours will pass by the beautiful island, so if you’d like a little more adventure, a kayaking tour is a great way to see the island and visit the Betina Cave nearby.

Best Things to Do on Lokrum Island

There are so many incredible things to do on Lokrum Island! I spent a half-day exploring the island after my Game of Thrones tour in Dubrovnik Old Town, but I could’ve easily spent a full-day exploring and swimming in the warm waves of the Adriatic. Here are some of my favorite things to do on Lokrum Island:

Explore the Benedictine Monastery and Botanical Gardens

As a huge Game of Thrones fan, I didn’t hesitate to book this guided tour with the option to visit Lokrum Island. Our incredible guide not only brought us around all the Game of Thrones filming locations in Dubrovnik Old Town, we also got a detailed tour of the Benedictine Monastery where scenes of Qarth – “the greatest city that ever was or will be” – were filmed.

The scenic, weathered stone monastery was one of the most beautiful Croatian landscapes used to animate George R.R. Martin’s captivating book series. In the Benedictine Monastery, Daenerys first meets the warlocks on her epic quest for the Iron Throne. This glimmering silver throne welcomes formidable (or friendly) visitors to sit upon from all over the world.

Swim in the Dead Sea

Though not quite as captivating nor salty as the Dead Sea in the Middle East, Croatia’s very own “Dead Sea” is a peaceful, natural saltwater pool on Lokrum Island. Fed by the sapphire waves of the Adriatic Sea, this salty natural swimming pool is a popular place to float while soaking in the Mediterranean sun. To get to the Dead Sea, walk beyond the Benedictine Monastery and follow the local signs to Mrtvo More, the saltwater pool. 

Visit the Hidden Cove

Just steps away from the Lokrum Island’s Dead Sea is a scenic hidden cove. Though the hidden cove is not so “hidden” anymore and is easily accessible by climbing down the rock pathway toward the Adriatic Sea, it is definitely worth visiting for a Lokrum Island photo opportunity! If you plan to get a photo in the cove, be careful – the rocks are slippery with algae!

Discover Secret Swimming Spots (and Skinny Dip if you Dare!)

Most people don’t venture beyond the Benedictine Monastery…but treasure awaits those who explore the scenic trails that snake around Lokrum Island! As you walk further along the trails leading through the dense forest, hidden swimming spots reveal themselves. 

As I traversed the scenic walking trails, I kept my eyes peeled for the perfect place to swim. I found a secluded cove on the eastern part of Lokrum Island where no travelers dared to visit. Any swimming spot can be a nude beach if you’re not surrounded by tourists!

Walk the “Path of Paradise” to the Fort Royal

As if Lokrum Island wasn’t paradise enough, a scenic, uphill walking trail called the “Path to Paradise” (or as I like to call it, the “stairway to heaven”) will lead you to the island’s closest point to heaven – Fort Royal. 

The weathered grey stone of Lokrum Island’s Fort Royal is a heavenly location with incredible views of Dubrovnik Old Town. This monumental fortress was constructed in the early 1800s during Napoleon’s occupation of Croatia. You can climb to the top of Fort Royal for incredible views of Dubrovnik and the Southern Dalmatian coast.

Discover Incredible Views of Dubrovnik Old Town

Keep walking both beyond Fort Royal and you’ll discover some of the best views of Dubrovnik Old Town!

Meet the Local Peacocks

From the moment you step off the Lokrum Island ferry, you’ll be greeted by the locals…the local peacocks, that is! 

Introduced to Lokrum Island in the 19th century by Archduke Maximilian of the Habsburg dynasty, these vibrant birds decorate the island. In addition to the introduction of several new plant species to the dense forest vegetation – exotic plants like eucalyptus and cactus which scatter the botanical gardens – Archduke Maximilian wanted colorful peacocks to guard the beauty of Lokrum Island.

The island’s peaceful natural habitat and lack of predators helped the peacock population thrive, establishing the peacock as a symbol of Lokrum Island.

How I Recommend Spending One Day on Lokrum Island

Start your morning with a guided tour of Dubrovnik Old Town. The history of Dubrovnik and Lokrum Island are intertwined, so pairing a guided tour of Old Town with a visit to Lokrum Island is a great way to explore the history of these Southern Dalmatian charms. 

If you’re a fan of Game of Thrones like I am, I recommend booking this Game of Thrones guided tour with the Lokrum Island option to learn about Dubrovnik Old Town and its beautiful neighbor, Lokrum Island. Most Game of Thrones fans will have Lokrum Island at the top of their list…you won’t want to miss the chance to visit Qarth!

Note: If you book the guided Game of Thrones tour, you will need to purchase a ferry ticket to Lokrum at Dubrovnik Old Town Harbor. The ferry ticket is not included with purchase of the guided tour. 

After your incredible discovery of the historic locations in Dubrovnik Old Town, many of which are noteworthy Game of Thrones filming locations, catch the local ferry from Old Town Harbor to Lokrum Island. As you cruise towards island paradise, keep an eye out for the Betina Cave, a great place to visit by kayak, and Plaza Belvedere, the place where Prince Oberyn and the Mountain battle in Game of Thrones (I won’t spoil the ending!).

Arrive at Lokrum Island and expect a warm welcome from the local peacocks!

If you book the guided Game of Thrones tour, you’ll walk through the Benedictine Monastery, discovering the filming location where Daenerys first met with Qarth nobility. Your guide will also give you the chance to pose on the Iron Throne. Even if you haven’t seen Game of Thrones, the monastery and the Iron Throne are worth adding to your Lokrum bucket list.

After visiting the Benedictine monastery, walk through the botanical gardens, then head to the Dead Sea for a relaxing soak in the sun. The southwest part of the island has some incredible rock formations, including the Lokrum Island’s hidden cove. This hidden cove is a steep walk down the rocky coastline, but worth visiting for some mesmerizing photos. 

Using the local footpaths, walk to the eastern part of the island, searching for “secret” swimming locations. My favorite place to swim on Lokrum Island is halfway between Lokrum Beach and the ferry port on the eastern part of the island. If you’re daring enough, go skinny dipping! It’s not often that you get to swim naked in the cerulean waves of the Adriatic.

After a relaxing swim in one of Lokrum’s secret swimming locations, climb the steep “Path to Paradise” up to the island’s highest point, Fort Royal, for incredible views of Dubrovnik before heading back to the port. A day spent exploring Lokrum Island is a day well spent!

What to Pack for Lokrum Island Day Trip

Here’s a list of my recommendations for what to pack for Lokrum Island:

Important Tips for Visiting Lokrum Island

Avoid Food and Drink on Lokrum Island

There are so many incredible places to eat in Dubrovnik, but the restaurants on Lokrum Island don’t make the list. I spent thirty minutes waiting for mediocre, overpriced food at one of the few restaurants on Lokrum Island. I rarely give bad reviews to restaurants, but transparency is a pillar to this travel blog. Avoid the restaurants and bring a picnic lunch with you for your Lokrum Island day trip if you can!

Do Not Feed or Approach the Peacocks

The local peacocks on Lokrum Island are wildlife – do not feed or attempt to approach them!

Bring Lots of Sunscreen!

Sunburnt is the last thing you want to be during your trip to Croatia. Lather yourself in a high quality, eco-friendly sunscreen like this mineral sunscreen, especially if you plan to travel to Croatia during the blazingly hot peak season.