The 8 Best Island Day Trips in Croatia

1.From Dubrovnik: Elaphite Islands Day Trip with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 670 reviews · 8 hours · from $70Our pick

Spend eight hours sailing from Dubrovnik to Koločep, Šipan, and Lopud with an English-speaking guide, lunch, and unlimited wine, juice, and water. You will have time for island walks and swimming, plus a long stop at Lopud and its sandy Šunj Beach. Guides may include Milos, Ivica, Emil, or other crew members.

“I loved it with my friends it was wonderful! We really enjoyed it! The helper and the crew were really nice!”

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2.Zadar: Dugi Otok Island Discovery Day Trip with Snorkeling

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 451 reviews · 8 hours · from $104Top rated

Set out from Zadar with a small group of up to 11 people and a skipper-guide such as Marin, Josip, or Petar. Spend eight active hours visiting Dugi Otok, a Cold War tunnel, Veli Rat Lighthouse, Sakarun Beach, a sunken ship, Golubinka Cave, and secluded swimming spots.

“This tour was the best I did within the boat tours, we discovered unusual places (where many boats don’t go) where the sea is a lot more beautiful than anywhere else. Get ready for snorkelling and to be on the boat all day, if you don’t like it than don’t choose a private boat trip at all (with 5 euros you can go to Preko and visit yourself the village without needing a private skipper). If you need to choose between private boat tours and you want to see natural beaches and spots than go directly for this one and don’t waste other money on cheaper ones.”

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3.Dubrovnik: 3 Islands Fun Day Trip by Boat (Host: EN,FR,ES)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 293 reviews · 8 to 9 hours (approx.) · from $54

Set out from Dubrovnik’s Port of Gruž at 10:15 am for a relaxed boat day around the Elaphiti Islands. You’ll get three hours on Lopud, short visits to Šipan and Koločep, multilingual commentary, drinks, WiFi, and a return by late afternoon.

“This felt less like a tour and more like a ferry service with drinks included, although they didn't even provide cold water. The staff provided very limited commentary and were mainly there to provide food and drinks. Unfortunately due to the free wine, many of the guest were drunk by the end of the day and painful to be around. We would not recommend paying for the lunch provided and suggest supporting a local bakery. The islands were beautiful but wish there was an alternative way to visit them, given the public ferry timetables were limited.”

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4.Visit 2 Islands of Zadar on a traditional wooden boat during half-day trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 188 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $26Best value

Spend four hours aboard a traditional wooden boat from Zadar, visiting sandy Preko and quiet Ošljak. You get about 90 minutes at each island, snorkeling gear for the Ošljak stop, and a small-group setting. Skippers such as Gogo, Bart, Ivan, and Joseph have led recent departures, though guiding style varies.

“This was definitely the best and most fun activity in Zadar. Huge thanks to our captain Joseph for today. Even though the weather wasn't great all the time, he made this rainy day much more enjoyable. It was truly an unforgettable experience.”

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5.Peljesac Peninsula & Korcula Island Day-Trip from Dubrovnik

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 135 reviews · 11 hours · from $81

Travel from Dubrovnik to Ston and across the Peljesac Peninsula, then take a boat to Korcula for free time among medieval streets and Marco Polo sights. Finish with Croatian wine, brandy, and liqueur tasting in Potomje. English-speaking guides such as Ivan, Mateo, and Marin lead the day.

“It was a great trip, our guide Marin was very informative, attentive, and humorous.”

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6.Brac Island One-Day Trip with the Sailboat Nana – Private Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 99 reviews · 8 hours (approx.)

Join Mario and his crew aboard the 37-foot sailboat Nana for an eight-hour private outing from Omiš to Brač. Sail to Konopljikova cove, swim and snorkel in clear water, paddleboard, explore Pučišća, and enjoy homemade Croatian food, wine, and beer.

“If I could leave 100 stars I would. Best day of our holiday, in what was already our best ever holiday. Mario was really friendly and super accommodating; delicious lunch provided and the places we went were spectacular. We spent an afternoon in the cove with noone else…enjoying the water. Thanks so much, we will never forget the amazing day we had!”

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7.Blue & Green Cave Vis Island and Pakleni Islands Private Day Trip from Hvar

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 93 reviews · 8 to 10 hours (approx.)

Josko’s private boat tour takes you from Hvar to Budikovac, the Green Cave, Stiniva Cove, the Blue Cave, and Palmižana. Josko and his son adjust the route for weather and your interests, with snorkeling gear, bottled water, and time for a local seaside lunch.

“Great experience, no complaints whatsoever. Beautiful scenery and he was a great captain. Thank you!”

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8.From Dubrovnik: Hiking & Swimming on Koločep Island Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 38 reviews · from $104

Meet your English-speaking guide at Gruž Harbor for a ferry to Koločep. Walk about 8 kilometers on rocky island paths, pause for swimming and cliff jumps, and enjoy snacks, sea views, and the option of lunch at a small local fish restaurant.

“This was definitely the highlight of our entire trip! Kolocep island is absolutely gorgeous and we had a wonderful guide who showed us around the lesser known parts of the island. For the main part of the hike our small group encountered under five people and it was a very refreshing break from the very busy old town in Dubrovnik. Our guide brought us to this really lovely family run restaurant where we had one of the best meals on our trip. It was definitely a 10/10 experience for us!”

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