Post overview: How to Get to Lokrum Island & List of Best Things to Do on Lokrum Island
If you’re spending any considerable time in Dubrovnik then you simply must not miss the opportunity to visit Lokrum Island. We spent two weeks in Dubrovnik and visiting Lokrum Island was the highlight of our trip.
Little did we know that the island was teeming with ruins, gardens, cute restaurants and peacocks (yes, really!). We decided to spent half a day on the island, but ended up staying for the full day. We got a pretty good feel for the island during our trip and I wanted to share what we learned.
Read on to learn about how to get to Lokrum Island in addition to the best things to do on Lokrum Island. Let’s get to it!
You may enjoy reading: 20 EPIC Things to Do in Dubrovnik (No, Not Just Game of Thrones)
Tips for Visiting Lokrum Island in Dubrovnik
Are there restaurants on Lokrum Island?
Forever thinking ahead, eh? I like that. You’ll be happy to know that you won’t go hungry while visiting Lokrum Island because there’s a handful of restaurants on the island. If memory serves correctly, I noticed 3-4 restaurants on Lokrum Island.
Just note that prices are higher on the island, but setting is picturesque so the inflated prices are (almost) justified.
Sunscreen is a must
You’ll be exposed to a lot of sunshine while visiting Lokrum Island, so make sure to bring some sunscreen with you. If helpful, here’s the only sunscreen I use.
Getting around on Lokrum Island
Cars are not allowed on Lokrum Island. As such, the only way to partake in the best things to do on Lokrum Island is on foot. Comfortable walking shoes are essential because the terrain is uneven. Thankfully everything is pretty close together (the island isn’t very large) so you won’t get lost easily.
How to Get to Lokrum Island from Dubrovnik
There’s really only one way to get from Dubrovnik to Lokrum Island and that’s via ferry. Some adventurous folks choose to get to Lokrum Island from Dubrovnik by kayaking, but you won’t have much time to explore unless you rent the kayak for the full day (which is expensive).
That said, a ferry is the easiest way to get to Lokrum Island from Dubrovnik, and thankfully, it’s pretty easy to figure out. The ferry runs every 30 minutes, with the last boat leaving the island at 7pm. Read the steps below.
How to take the ferry from Dubrovnik to Lokrum Island
- Check the Lokrum Island ferry schedule.
- Purchase the Lokrum Island ferry tickets online or at the Old Port 15-minutes before your ferry departs.
- Hop on the ferry for Lokrum Island, the ride takes 10-15 minutes.
- Get off at Lokrum Island and start exploring.
How much does the ferry to Lokrum Island cost?
As of this writing, the total cost for the round-trip ferry from Dubrovnik to Lokrum Island is 200 kuna ($26) per person. The includes both the ferry ride and entrance to Lokrum Island. Prices change, life happens, so here’s the current price sheet.
P.S. If you buy the Dubrovnik Card (like we did) you’ll get a discount on tickets.
Best Things to Do on Lokrum Island
1. See the wandering peacocks near the Benedictine Monastery Ruins
We spent the day aimlessly wandering the entire island in search of the best things to do on Lokrum Island. We didn’t have much planned, other than hitting all the points in the map we picked up from the tourist office.
One of the spots that surprised us most was the Benedictine Monastery. Dating back to the 11th century, the monastery got a major facelift in 1839 when the Archduke Maximilian Ferdinand, Emperor of Mexico after his visit to the island.
Blinded by beauty, Ferdinand bought the island (“I’ll take the whole island, please”) and promptly funded the construction of a church and monastery.
But let’s talk about those peacocks, because they were so mesmerizing to watch! It’s not every day you get to see these beauties in the wild, and being able to see them up close is an opportunity you won’t want to miss.
But you know the drill — make sure to keep a safe distance. This is their home, not yours. So keep a good distance while taking your photos.
Bonus: Stroll the Botanic Garden
If you’re into fauna, take a stroll through the botanical garden — one of the most relaxing things to do on Lokrum Island. The garden was created in 1959 in an effort to research the adaptation of foreign plants on the island’s climate.
Today, the garden boasts an estimated 800 plant species from all over the world. It’s a small area, but may be interesting for folks that love plants.
2. Hike the Path of Paradise to Fort Royal
In true travel fashion, we were eating our weight in carbs while visiting Dubrovnik, so we decided to get our heart pumping with a hike. Thankfully, the Path of Paradise on Lokrum Island fit the bill.
Lined by pyramidal cypresses on either side, this dreamy trail will lead you directly to Fort Royal and the views along the route are worth the effort. At the top you’ll be rewarded with panoramic views of Croatia and the Adriatic Sea.
We explored the interior of Fort Royal (didn’t take long, wasn’t much to see) before heading outside to soak in the glorious sunshine and epic views. It was hard to leave this viewpoint because it was so beautiful, highly recommend!
3. Dip your toes in the Dead Sea
Who among us hasn’t dreamed of floating in the dead sea? Well, if you can’t make your way to the famous body of water in Jordan or Israel, may I suggest visiting Lokrum Island in Croatia?
Located on the southern end of the island, this idyllic little naturally formed salt lake is an ideal stop for those in search of adventurous things to do on Lokrum Island. Called Mrtvo More (literally translates to “Dead Sea” in Croatioan), intense tectonic activity and subsequent erosion resulted in a cavity that was slowly filled with seawater to create this picturesque swimming hole.
The lake is about 30 feet deep but perfectly calm. As such, you’ll see folks swimming (and even fishing) during the warm summer months. If you’d like a bite to eat, head to the adjacent cafe and order a brew while enjoying the glorious sunshine or getting your fill of people-watching.
4. Enjoy drinks al fresco
Much like the whole of Croatia, Lokrum Island is an example in slow living. It’s all about enjoying the present moment, and the quaint little outdoor restaurants are a testament to that.
As we were wrapping up our time on the island (we ended at the Dead Sea), we decided to pop down for a while with some mixed drinks (mistake) before switching to brews (right call). We parked ourselves in a picturesque corner and watched swimmers while the hours slipped by.
Enjoying drinks in such a beautiful setting was one of our best memories from Croatia. Isn’t that what vacation is for anyways?
5. Visit the real Iron Throne
It’s no secret that Dubrovnik was used as King’s Landing in the super-popular HBO show Game of Thrones. The city’s walls are teeming with exciting filming locations worth exploring. But something folks don’t realize is that the official Iron Throne from the show is located on Lokrum Island.
Yep, that’s right. We’re not messing with replicas here, folks. It’s the real deal. HBO gifted the throne to the city of Dubrovnik and they decided to place the through inside the visitor center on Lokrum Island.
This is a free experience. Simply pop into the visitor center and take your photo (there wasn’t a line when we visited).
If you’re a Game of Thrones fan (me too!) you may enjoy reading: 15 Must-See Game of Thrones Filming Locations
Visiting Lokrum Island (Post Overview)
In sum, here’s a quick roundup of fun things to do on Lokrum Island.
- See the wandering peacocks near the Benedictine Monastery Ruins
- Hike the Path of Paradise to Fort Royal
- Dip your toes in the Dead Sea
- Enjoy drinks al fresco
- Visit the real Iron Throne
Map of Lokrum Island things to do
Cheers!
Antonina
What do you think?