Hotels near Elafiti Islands

The Elafiti archipelago - a chain of 13 islands northwest of Dubrovnik - offers the perfect antidote to Old Town crowds. Only three are inhabited: Kolocep, Lopud, and Sipan. All are car-free, draped in pine forests and olive groves, and surrounded by some of the clearest water on the Adriatic. A Jadrolinija ferry from Gruz port serves all three islands, with the journey to Lopud taking about an hour (around 6 EUR each way).

Lopud is the most popular for day trippers thanks to Sunj Beach, a rare sandy beach in this part of Croatia, tucked into a bay on the island's far side (a 20-minute walk or golf-cart shuttle from the ferry dock). Kolocep is the smallest and quietest, perfect for swimming and a lazy seafood lunch. Sipan is the largest, with two small villages, wine production, and the most authentic local atmosphere. Many operators run Three Island tours from Dubrovnik for around 50-60 EUR including lunch, but you can easily do it independently with the public ferry for a fraction of the price.

Pro Tip: Take the morning ferry to Lopud, walk across to Sunj Beach for the morning, then catch an afternoon ferry to Kolocep for a swim and late lunch before the last boat back to Gruz. Check the Jadrolinija timetable carefully - ferries run only a few times per day.