Islands near Dubrovnik: 4 Adriatic escapes by ferry

Planning your days in Dubrovnik and wondering what lies beyond the city walls? The catamarans leaving Gruž port put a whole stretch of the southern Adriatic within reach: some islands barely an hour away, others a half-day sail into quieter waters. Crossings run year-round, with departures multiplying through the summer.

Whether you're after a walled medieval town, a forested national park, a glamorous harbor scene, or an island so remote the night sky steals the show, there's a day trip (or a longer detour) with your name on it. Here are the islands worth pointing your compass toward.

Find the best Dubrovnik island-hopping options below and book your ferry tickets online on Ferryhopper!

1. Korčula

Often called a mini Dubrovnik, Korčula earns the comparison and then some. Its medieval Old Town sits on a small peninsula, with a clever herringbone street layout built to tame the wind, and it carries a quieter, more lived-in charm than its famous neighbor. The island also stakes a claim as the birthplace of Marco Polo.

Spend an afternoon wandering the Old Town, visit St. Mark's Cathedral, and walk the Venetian-era walls that ring the historic core. Just outside town, Lumbarda is worth the short trip for its sandy beaches and Grk (a rare white wine grown on sandy soil and found almost nowhere else in the world). Pull up a chair at a waterfront konoba (a traditional family-run Dalmatian tavern) and order whatever the day's catch happens to be.

High-speed catamarans reach Korčula in about 1 hr 55 min to 2 hr 10 min, with daily crossings all year round and up to 7 departures a day in high season. Prices normally start at around €10.

Check available routes and schedules from Dubrovnik to Korčula and have a wonderful trip!

Dubrovnik - Korčula from €10.20

Panoramic view of the island of Korčula

2. Mljet

If you only have one day and want green over glamour, make it Mljet. The western third of the island is a protected national park, blanketed in dense pine forest and built around two connected saltwater lakes that feel more like a hidden lagoon than open sea.

The heart of Mljet National Park is its pair of lakes, Veliko Jezero (the Great Lake) and Malo Jezero (the Small Lake), where you can swim, kayak, or cycle the shoreline paths. A small boat ride takes you to the islet of St. Mary, home to a 12th-century Benedictine monastery. Legend has it Odysseus was shipwrecked here, and a trip to Odysseus Cave on the southern coast makes the myth easy to believe. Round off the day with a slow-cooked peka (meat or octopus roasted under a bell-shaped iron lid) at a local tavern.

Ferries from Dubrovnik to Mljet (port of Sobra) take as little as 1 hour, with daily crossings year-round and up to 3 a day in summer. Prices normally start at around €8. From April to October there's also a seasonal catamaran straight to Pomena, the gateway closest to the park.

Dubrovnik - Mljet from €8.70

Mljet island and his National Park

3. Hvar

Hvar is the island that needs no introduction: all sunshine, lavender, and a harbor scene that hums well into the night. But step past the glamour and you'll find fragrant countryside, ancient vineyards, and some of the most beautiful old stone towns in Dalmatia.

Start in Hvar Town, where the hilltop Fortica fortress looks out over the harbor and the scattered Pakleni Islands just offshore. The main square, or pjaca, opens onto the elegant Cathedral of St. Stephen, lovely at dusk once the day-trippers thin out. Inland, the Stari Grad Plain is a UNESCO World Heritage Site laced with ancient dry-stone walls, while the island's lavender fields and vineyards make for a fragrant detour. Look for gregada (a rustic Dalmatian fish stew) on local menus.

The Dubrovnik - Hvar route is seasonal, running daily from April to October with up to 4 crossings a day. The high-speed catamaran makes the trip in around 3 hr 20 min. Prices normally start at around €40.

Dubrovnik - Hvar from €40

A beautiful corner of Hvar island

4. Lastovo

For travelers who want to disconnect properly, Lastovo is the reward at the end of the line. One of Croatia's least-visited inhabited islands, it sits within a protected Nature Park, with forest covering most of its surface and skies dark enough to count as some of the best stargazing in the Adriatic.

The main village, also called Lastovo, tucks into a hollow in the hills rather than facing the sea, giving it a sheltered, inland feel that's unusual for a Dalmatian island. Look up and you'll spot the fumari (the tall, ornate stone chimneys found only here) crowning the old houses. Hikers and cyclists have miles of marked trails through pine forest, while divers head for the pristine waters around Cape Struga and its clifftop lighthouse. Quiet coves reward anyone willing to make the journey out.

Catamarans from Dubrovnik to Lastovo run daily year-round, with up to 2 crossings a day. The trip takes between 3 hr 30 min and 3 hr 55 min. Prices normally start at around €14.

Dubrovnik - Lastovo from €14.25

The remote island of Lastovo

Island-hopping around Dubrovnik: book your ferry tickets

Ready to swap the city walls for open water? On Ferryhopper, you can compare schedules and prices for every ferry connection from Dubrovnik in one place, with no hidden fees.

Whether it's a quick hop to Mljet or a longer haul out to Lastovo, you can string your whole trip together and book in just a few steps. Check our Map of ferries and start planning your next adventure!