A Day on Lokrum Island, the Reserve Opposite the Old Port

What it is

Lokrum is the wooded island you see opposite the old port, a quarter of an hour away by boat. It has been a special forest-vegetation reserve since 1948, the third oldest protected natural area in Croatia: forest covers about 90% of its 72 hectares. The island and the sea around it are also part of the Dubrovnik site inscribed as a World Heritage site. There are no cars or hotels, and nobody may stay the night.

What to see

• The Benedictine monastery of St Mary. The Benedictines arrived in 1023. The west wing of the Romanesque cloister and the Renaissance cloister survive; the medieval church fell in the 1667 earthquake.
• Maximilian's summer house. Archduke Maximilian of Habsburg bought the island in the mid-19th century, brought exotic plants and laid out paths and avenues; his mark remains in the gardens.
• The botanical garden. It was founded by the Academy of Sciences and Arts in 1959 to acclimatise species from Chile, Australia, California and South Africa. It covers 3.3 hectares and is Croatia's only island botanical garden.
• Fort Royal. The French began this fortress in 1806 at the highest point on the island. From the top, the view takes in the city and the coast.
• The peacocks. They have lived free on the island since the mid-19th century. The Mediterranean tortoise also lives in the forest.

For swimming there are flat rocks and small coves around the island, with very clean water. There is no sand: bring water shoes.

Boat and times

The reserve's official boat leaves from the Gradska luka, the old port, and takes about 15 minutes. From 9 November 2026 it leaves every hour on the hour from 10:00 to 15:00 and returns at quarter past; the last boat back leaves the island at 16:00. In summer there are more departures: check the current timetable on the reserve's website. In bad weather the boat does not sail.

The island closes in midwinter. In 2025 the last day of boats was 14 December, and in 2026 it reopened for the Feast of St Blaise, from 31 January to 3 February, with free entry. From February to March it only opens at weekends.

Tickets and price

The 2026 ticket costs €30 for adults, €5 for children aged 7 to 18 and €10 for students; under-7s do not pay. If you buy it at the booth at Luža, in the old port (from 8:00 to 16:00), it includes the return boat. If you arrive on your own by kayak or boat, you still pay the €30 at the ranger's house, on the island. The ticket is valid up to three days after the date it carries.

Rules

Throughout the reserve it is forbidden to smoke, light fires or any flame, feed or disturb the animals, fly drones without permission, leave the marked paths and drop litter outside the marked points. You cannot be on the island before the first boat or after the last.

With children

It is a comfortable plan for families: shaded dirt paths, animals that let themselves be seen and rocks for swimming. Allow half a day. Under-7s enter free, and those aged 7 to 18 pay €5.

How to plan it

Go at midday, when the old town is fullest and the heat bites: the pine wood gives shade. Bring water, some food, a towel and water shoes. On the way back, if you still have energy, the Srđ cable car leaves five minutes from the Ploče gate.

Qarth and the throne

The Croatian tourist office says Lokrum's gardens stood in for Qarth in Game of Thrones, and Dubrovnik's points to a replica of the Iron Throne on the island: according to the first, it is in the Benedictine monastery. Ask at the landing stage whether it can be seen that day.