Types of Boat Charter in Dubrovnik
The boat charter market in Dubrovnik divides into three distinct categories, each serving a different kind of traveller:
- Day trip / excursion boats: Shared or private tours lasting 4–8 hours, typically visiting the Elaphiti Islands, Lokrum, the Blue Cave (on Bisevo via Vis), or the nearby coastline. These need no licence and no advance sailing knowledge. They depart from Dubrovnik's old harbour or Gruz harbour.
- Speedboat / RIB rental: Self-drive or skippered rental for half a day or full day. Popular for independent day trips to Lopud, Sipan, or Cavtat. Self-drive requires a valid boating licence; skippered requires nothing.
- Weekly bareboat or crewed charter: Catamaran, sailing yacht, or gulet for a full week. These depart from ACI Marina Komolac and require either a sailing qualification (bareboat) or a hired skipper/crew (crewed).
Day Trips by Boat from Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik's day trip boat market is well developed. Most tours depart from near the old city or from Gruz harbour and run May through October. Common options:
| Tour | Duration | Price (pp) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elaphiti Islands (3 islands) | Full day | €55–85 | Kolocep, Lopud, Sipan; lunch included on some tours |
| Lokrum Island | Half day | €20–35 | Short ferry; peacocks; botanic garden; swimming |
| Cavtat & coastal caves | Half day | €30–50 | Southeast of Dubrovnik; charming old town |
| Blue Cave + Hvar day trip | Full day | €100–140 | Long trip (Vis / Bisevo); speedboat; worth it for the cave |
| Private boat hire (half day) | 4 hours | €200–350 total | Private speedboat with skipper; customisable route |
For private day charters, the market in Dubrovnik is competitive — captains with small speedboats and RIBs offer private tours from the old harbour waterfront. Negotiating directly with a captain at the harbour typically yields 20–30% better value than booking through a hotel concierge or online platform.
The Elaphiti Islands by Boat
The Elaphiti Islands are the most popular boat day trip from Dubrovnik, and deservedly so. Three inhabited islands — Kolocep (7 nm), Lopud (12 nm), and Sipan (16 nm) — each have distinct character. Kolocep is forested and quiet; Lopud has Croatia's best-known sandy beach (Sunj); Sipan is the largest and most historically interesting, with Renaissance stone villas and an old port that feels unchanged since the 17th century.
All three islands are car-free on the passenger side, which creates an unusual tranquility even in peak season. The regular ferry from Dubrovnik serves all three islands, but a chartered boat — or even the regular excursion boat — lets you spend time at each island on your own terms rather than the ferry schedule.
Weekly Charter Options from Dubrovnik
For a full week, Dubrovnik offers catamaran charter and gulet charter as the two main options. Both operate from ACI Marina Komolac, 4 km northwest of the old city.
- Catamaran: Best for active sailors who want to handle the boat themselves (bareboat) or who want a skipper for guidance while retaining control of the day plan. More flexible on where you anchor and when you move.
- Gulet: Best for groups of 8–20 who want everything included. Professional captain and cook, full catering, no sailing experience required. The classic Croatian island-hopping experience in maximum comfort.
- Sailing yacht: For experienced sailors who prefer a monohull. The sailing performance is better than a catamaran in some conditions; the liveability is worse. Available through most charter operators in Komolac.
Price Overview
For weekly charters, add 20–30% for APA, cleaning, and deposit. Full breakdown in our Croatia charter cost guide.
Where to Find Boats in Dubrovnik
Day trip and excursion boats are found at two locations: the old harbour (Stara Luka) just outside the Pile Gate, and Gruz harbour (Luka Gruz) 2 km northwest of the old city. The old harbour has more competition and better prices for short private charters; Gruz has more variety and handles the larger excursion vessels.
For weekly charters, ACI Marina Komolac is the place — essentially all bareboat and crewed charter operators in the Dubrovnik area base their fleets there. The marina has a charter village with operator offices, a fuel dock, and provisioning facilities. From Komolac, the first anchorage of the week is typically Sipan or Lopud, both reachable in under 2 hours.
Other Charter Locations
Looking for a different base? All location guides below.