By Rowan Ellis · Updated · Affiliate links, explained in my disclosure
Adventure Dalmatia - Dubrovnik
Sea Kayaking&Snorkelling Guided Day/Sunset Tours
4.9 (4,491) · from $28
If you are choosing a boat tour in Dubrovnik, the decision comes down to three things: how long you want to be afloat, whether you want a crowd or your own boat, and whether the sea is warm enough for you to jump in. I compared 15 trips on GetYourGuide, and they fall into six groups: Elaphite Islands day cruises, sea kayaking at the city walls, sunset boats, cave tours by speedboat, private skipper tours and self-drive rentals. Prices on Dubrovnik boat tours run from $11 to $291 and ratings from 4.6 to 5.0.
My short answer: if you can spare a day, I’d book the Elaphite Islands cruise at $17, because it covers three islands for $17 and scores 4.8 from 2,552 reviews. If you have two hours, I’d paddle with Adventure Dalmatia at $28 and see the city walls from the water. Every price, rating and duration below comes from the listings, checked in October 2026, and prices are in US dollars. The GetYourGuide links are affiliate links, and I explain how that works on my about page.
The boat tours in Dubrovnik that people remember are the ones that show the Old Town from the sea, because the walls rise straight out of the water and no road view matches that. The two trips in this section do it in very different ways. One is a paddle, the other is a private skipper-led day on a motorboat. Both start within a few minutes of the Old Town, which saves you the long bus ride to the marinas on the Lapad peninsula.
The Adventure Dalmatia kayak tour is the best-reviewed trip of the 15, with 4.9 from 4,491 reviews. It costs $28 and takes 2 hours. You meet near Pile Gate, paddle along the walls, swim and snorkel at Betina Cave, which the listing says is accessible only by sea, and see Lokrum island from the water. Kayak, paddles, life jackets, snorkelling gear, a waterproof bag, insurance and a guide are included. It also runs as a sunset tour, which is why it shows up on my sunset cruise page too.
Night tourAdventure Dalmatia - Dubrovnik
My pick: The one I'd do with two hours to spare: $28, 4.9 from 4,491 reviews, walls and Betina Cave from a kayak.
At the other end of the scale is the HUGO private island tour. It is rated 5.0 from 295 reviews and starts at $223 for the boat, with options of 4, 6 and 8 hours and a 2-hour sunset version, according to the listing. Your skipper recommends spots but you set the pace: Koločep, the Blue Cave, the Elaphiti Islands, lunch on Lopud. An ice box with wine, beer, water and cola is included, but the drinks are not unlimited and food is not included. The listing says island restaurants start from about 50 euros per person. I cover the rest of the private options on my private boat tour page.
HUGO
My pick: The private day: $223, rated 5.0, you choose 4, 6 or 8 hours and where to stop.
Most Dubrovnik boat tours that last more than a morning go west to the Elaphiti Islands, a chain of small islands a short sail from the city. The Elaphites are inhabited, car-free in most places and known for beaches, churches and olive groves. The Elaphiti Islands entry on Wikipedia gives the history if you want it. The three islands you will see in nearly every listing are Koločep, Lopud and Šipan, which is why I handle them together on my island hopping page.
The big shared boat trip in Dubrovnik is MARINERO excursions at $17. The cruise takes 7.5 to 8 hours, scores 4.7 from 5,868 reviews, and spends about 3 hours on Lopud, 1 hour on Šipan and 1 hour on Koločep, with sightseeing cruises in between. The boat has an open top, an air-conditioned lower salon, two toilets and five crew, and the listing offers languages in Croatian, English, German and Italian. Drinks are included and lunch and hotel pickup are options. It is the most-reviewed of all 15 trips.
MARINERO excursions
My pick: The crowd-pleaser: $17, 4.7 from 5,868 reviews, three islands, drinks included, lunch optional.
If you want the same islands on a private Dubrovnik boat tour without a crowd, Fantasea Dubrovnik runs a private boat for up to 8 people at $291 with free pickup. Tours last 2.5 to 8 hours, cover the Blue Cave, the Three Green Caves, Šunj beach on Lopud and Šipan, and finish at the Lapadska obala pier. Fuel is not included: the listing prices it at 65 euros for 2.5 hours, 80 for 4 hours, 100 for 6 hours and 120 for 8 hours. Divide the total by your group size before comparing it with the shared cruises above.
FANTASEA DUBROVNIK
My pick: The private Elaphiti day: $291 for up to 8 people, free pickup, rated 4.9. Budget the fuel extra.
When I rank the best boat tours in Dubrovnik, I look at rating, review count and what you get for the price, in that order. On that measure two trips stand out, and they are completely different. One is a second Elaphite Islands cruise, the other is a boat you drive yourself. Neither of these boat tours in Dubrovnik is a pick for everybody, but each is good at one job.
The Dubrovnik Islands tours cruise costs $17 for 8 hours and scores 4.8 from 2,552 reviews. The listing includes unlimited drinks, which it lists as white wine, water and juices, plus cola and Fanta. Lunch and hotel pickup in the city area are options. The tour uses a boat with two decks and two toilets, and the stops are Koločep, the Blue Cave on Koločep, Šipan and Lopud. The Blue Cave stop carries an extra fee of 20 euros per person. The listing says the boat is called Emili and docks next to a bus stop. It is not suitable for wheelchair users or people with mobility impairments.
Dubrovnik Islands tours
My pick: My day-cruise pick for value: $17, 4.8 from 2,552 reviews, unlimited drinks; Blue Cave is 20 euros extra.
The alternative among the best boat tours in Dubrovnik is AdriaWave. For $163 you rent a small boat for 4 to 8 hours, for up to 5 people, and the listing scores 4.9 from 88 reviews. It says a boat licence is not required, and that is the operator’s claim: I have not checked it against the Croatian rules, so ask AdriaWave which licence applies to your group. Fuel is not included either. The listing asks for 20 euros in cash after the tour. There is no toilet in the marina. The full rental comparison is on my boat rental page.
AdriaWave Dubrovnik
My pick: The do-it-yourself pick: $163, up to 5 people, rated 4.9. Ask which licence applies.
Searches for a boat tour in Dubrovnik, Croatia are mostly about two promises: the caves and the islands. The two Dubrovnik boat tours in this section deliver one each, and both are strong. The caves are around Koločep, the island nearest the city, which is why a private speedboat can do them in 4 to 6 hours. The islands are further out, which is why the cheap shared boats need a full day.
The Dubrovnik Caves private speedboat tour is from $73, takes 4 to 6 hours and scores 4.8 from 1,206 reviews. The listing says you cruise the full circuit of sea caves around Koločep: the Blue Cave, the Green Caves and other caves that most tours pass by. You then relax on Šunj, a sandy beach on Lopud. Included are a guide, snorkelling gear, a GoPro, life jackets for all ages, hotel pickup and free drinks: wine, beer, water and local brandy. Food is not included.
Dubrovnik Caves
My pick: My cave pick: from $73, 4 to 6 hours, 4.8 from 1,206 reviews, drinks and GoPro included.
For something lighter on the wallet, Dalmatia Entertainment runs a fun three-island cruise at $17 for 8 hours, rated 4.7 from 88 reviews. The boat arrives at 10:00 across from the Gruž market, and the commentary is offered in French, English and Spanish. The listing includes visits to Lopud, Šipan and Koločep, jumping from the boat and Croatian wine. It is not recommended for people prone to seasickness.
Dalmatia Entertainment
My pick: The multilingual party-ish day: $17, 8 hours, French, English and Spanish, wine on board.
Searchers who type Dubrovnik yacht tour want something classy: a deck, a skipper and no queue, which is a different thing from the usual Dubrovnik boat tours. I did not find a yacht in the 15 listings, so I will not pretend otherwise. The closest to a yacht experience is the private skipper boats above, which use fast modern motorboats with Bluetooth speakers, not sailing yachts. If a real yacht charter is what you want, you would have to book it directly with a charter company, outside this comparison.
What the listings do offer is a different kind of freedom: you can skipper a small boat yourself. Two rental operators do that, and both leave from Štikovica beach on the Lapad side. Adriatic Boat Tours charges $157 for 4 to 8 hours, rated 4.7 from 69 reviews, and the listing includes a cooler with ice, snorkel gear, a map of the islands, life jackets and pickup as an option. Non-swimmers and drivers under 18 are excluded.
Adriatic Boat Tours
My pick: Skipper it yourself: $157 for 4 to 8 hours, a map of the islands, snorkel gear and a cooler.
The other is Maura at $180, rated 4.6 from 20 reviews. You rent a retro wooden boat called Pasara with a 5-horsepower engine, a big sun shade, a cooler and snorkelling equipment. The itinerary lists the Blue Cave, the Three Green Caves, Šunj beach and Lopud, each at a relaxed pace. Non-swimmers, people prone to seasickness, people with mobility impairments and people over 80 are excluded. It has only 20 reviews, so treat the rating with some caution.
Maura
My pick: The nostalgic rental: a retro wooden boat with a 5 hp engine, $180, but only 20 reviews so far.
The Blue Cave is the reason many people look up boat tours in Dubrovnik at all. It sits on Koločep, the closest of the Elaphiti Islands, and sun reflecting from the sea floor gives the water its glow. Six trips in my comparison stop there: the cave tour in this section, the Dubrovnik Caves speedboat, HUGO, Fantasea, the Maura rental and the Dubrovnik Islands tours cruise. Light varies by hour and weather, so read the listing notes before you rely on any promise.
My pick for the cave itself is the Blue Cave and 7 Caves tour from Blue Cave Dubrovnik, Private and Group tours. It costs $55, lasts 4 hours and scores 4.9 from 984 reviews. It meets at the Gari Boat office at Marina Frapa on Lapadska obala 21a, and asks you to arrive 10 to 15 minutes before departure. The route in the listing passes the Franjo Tuđman Bridge and Grebeni lighthouse, then visits the Blue Cave, three Green Caves, a bat cave and two further caves. A skipper, welcome drinks, snorkel masks, noodles and life jackets are included.
Blue Cave Dubrovnik | Private and Group tours
My pick: The cave specialist: $55, 4 hours, 7 caves, 4.9 from 984 reviews. Leaves from Marina Frapa.
The marina is about 3 km from the Old Town port by straight line, which I calculated from the coordinates in my data. A taxi or bus takes a few minutes, so allow time. If you want caves and a swim stop together, the snorkelling side of this trip is on my snorkeling tour page.
For a shorter boat tour in Dubrovnik that fits between lunch and dinner, the two sunset boats are the answer. Both leave from the Old Port, right beside the city walls, so you can walk to them from the Old Town. That makes them the easiest Dubrovnik boat excursions to fit into a city break. Both last no more than 90 minutes, and both are meant for the evening hours, when the stone turns gold.
Karaka is a replica of a merchant ship from the Dubrovnik Republic and the only tall ship in my comparison. The 90-minute cruise costs $57, scores 4.8 from 865 reviews, includes a welcome glass of sparkling wine and a host on board, and meets at the Old Town port, Na ponti. It is adults only: children under 16 are not allowed. Wheelchair users are excluded too.
Night tourKaraka Dubrovnik
My pick: The grown-up sunset: $57 for 90 minutes on a replica merchant ship, sparkling wine included, ages 16 and up.
The cheapest ticket in the whole comparison is the Sea Heart of Dubrovnik romantic sunset cruise at $11. It is a shared one-hour boat trip from the small pier in the Old Town port, with a skipper and fuel included, and it scores 4.8 from 711 reviews. Sunset times change a lot through the year, from about 4:16 pm in December to 8:28 pm in June, so I give the full table on my sunset cruise Dubrovnik page.
Sea Heart Of Dubrovnik
My pick: The cheapest ticket of the 15: $11, one hour, shared boat, 4.8 from 711 reviews, leaves from the Old Port.
Quite a few people search for a boat tour from Dubrovnik to Split, and I should be straight about it: none of the 15 trips I compared goes to Split. Split is a long way up the Dalmatian coast, and a day trip from Dubrovnik that returned the same evening would not make sense. The Dubrovnik to Split boat trips you will find are one-way ferry or catamaran lines, which are transport, not tours, and I do not cover them here. Check the operator’s timetable for the season you travel in.
What I can offer instead are two Dubrovnik boat tours by kayak that stay near the city and are worth doing if you can only spare a morning. The Dubrovnik Walks sea kayaking tour costs $27 for 2 hours and scores 4.8 from 1,113 reviews. The guide holds an orange umbrella near the Pile bus stop, you paddle around Lokrum without stopping on it, and Betina Cave gets a 20-minute swim and snorkel stop. Children under 8, pregnant women and people with back or heart problems are excluded.
Dubrovnik Walks & Sea Kayaking
My pick: The cheapest kayak tour: $27 for 2 hours, 4.8 from 1,113 reviews, water and a barrel for your things.
The other is the Old Town Kayaking morning tour at $29. It runs 2 or 3 hours, scores 4.9 from 850 reviews, meets at Pile Square outside the Old Town gate and includes kayak, paddles, a guide and snorkelling gear. In April and October the operator provides wetsuits and windproof jackets on cooler days, which tells me it runs into late October. Children under 6 and pregnant women are excluded. Read more on my kayak tour Dubrovnik page.
Dubrovnik Old Town Kayaking
My pick: The morning paddle: $29, 2 or 3 hours, 4.9 from 850 reviews, wetsuits on cooler days in April and October.
The sights on a boat tour in Dubrovnik come in two groups, and every Dubrovnik boat tour shows at least the first. Close to the city, you see the Old Town walls, the Old Port and Lokrum island. Further out, you reach the Elaphiti Islands, with their small harbours, pine woods and beaches. The private cave tour listing names the route precisely, and I used it for the diagram below.
Stops on the route
Between the bridge and the caves you pass the Franjo Tuđman Bridge and the Grebeni lighthouse, then reach Koločep. Koločep is the nearest island, so expect the first stop there. After that the route turns to Šunj beach and a viewpoint on the way back. The Wikipedia page on Dubrovnik has the history of the walls, and Croatia’s national tourist board lists the islands.
Dubrovnik boat tours leave from five different places, and they are not close together. Boat tours in Dubrovnik start at the Old Port, a few steps from the Old Town, where the sunset boats leave. The Lapadska obala promenade, home to Marina Frapa and the private pier, is about 3 km away. Gruž harbour, where the Dalmatia Entertainment cruise boards opposite the market, is about 2.9 km from the Old Port. I calculated those distances from the coordinates in my data, so treat them as straight lines.
Tourist attraction
4.7 · 5,725 Google reviews
Ribarnica ul. 1, 20000, Dubrovnik, Croatia
Historical landmark
4.8 · 482 Google reviews
Ul. kneza Damjana Jude 2, 20000, Dubrovnik, Croatia
Tourist attraction
4.8 · 476 Google reviews
Stajeva ul. 11A, 20000, Dubrovnik, Croatia
Tourist attraction
4.8 · 766 Google reviews
Ul. Skalini dr. Marka Foteza 2, 20000, Dubrovnik, Croatia
Port
4.6 · 763 Google reviews
Lokrum ul., 20000, Dubrovnik, Croatia
Marina
4.4 · 498 Google reviews
Lapadska obala 21a, 20000, Dubrovnik, Croatia
Ferry terminal
4.6 · 304 Google reviews
20000, Gruž, Dubrovnik, Croatia
Open in Google MapsMarina
4.4 · 597 Google reviews
Ul. na Skali 2, 20236, Komolac, Croatia
The Port Authority of Dubrovnik publishes port information at portdubrovnik.hr. Pile Gate, a short walk west of the Old Port, is where both kayak tours meet. Remember that the listing’s meeting point wins: some operators use a hotel road or a beach desk, not a pier.
This table of Dubrovnik boat tours is built from the same listings. Prices are the lowest in each group, and every type has its own page with the full comparison.
| Trip type | Price from | Typical duration | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Island hopping | $17 | 7.5 to 8 hours | A full day, beaches, lunch, value |
| Kayak tour | $27 | 2 to 3 hours | Active travellers, the city walls |
| Snorkeling tour | $27 | 2 to 8 hours | Swimmers, caves, clear water |
| Sunset cruise | $11 | 1 to 2 hours | Couples, photos, a short evening |
| Private boat tour | $73 | 1.5 to 8 hours | Groups, a schedule of your own |
| Boat rental | $157 | 4 to 8 hours | Confident swimmers who want to steer |
For most visitors with one day to spare I recommend the island cruise, because it is the best value and the islands are why people come. Book a kayak tour if you prefer to be active, and a private boat only if the group is large enough to share the cost.
Here is the list I’d use for any boat tour in Dubrovnik:
Whatever boat tour in Dubrovnik you choose, check the meeting point on the booking page, because the Old Port, Pile Gate, Gruž and Lapadska obala are different places. Every trip allows cancellation up to 24 hours before the start. The season runs into October: one kayak operator mentions cooler days in April and October, but no listing states an end date, so check availability for your dates in late October and November. For other cities, start from the Harbour Advisor home page. I’d match your boat tour in Dubrovnik to your time, your group and your budget.
The 8 most-reviewed boat companies on Google Maps in Dubrovnik, with what I found about each. Ratings and reviews are Google's.
Boat tour agency
5.0 · 2,261 Google reviews
1 of the tours I compared · from $55
Boat tour agency
4.9 · 1,224 Google reviews
Not in my GetYourGuide comparison: book direct
Boat tour agency
5.0 · 797 Google reviews
1 of the tours I compared · from $55
Boat tour agency
5.0 · 639 Google reviews
Not in my GetYourGuide comparison: book direct
Boat tour agency
5.0 · 470 Google reviews
1 of the tours I compared · from $55
Boat tour agency
5.0 · 322 Google reviews
1 of the tours I compared · from $55
Travel agency
5.0 · 256 Google reviews
1 of the tours I compared · from $55
Boat tour agency
5.0 · 245 Google reviews
1 of the tours I compared · from $55
For a first trip I'd book the Elaphite Islands day cruise from Dubrovnik Islands tours. It costs $17, lasts 8 hours, scores 4.8 from 2,552 reviews and includes unlimited drinks, with lunch as an option. If you only want two hours on the water, my pick is the Adventure Dalmatia sea kayaking tour at $28, rated 4.9 from 4,491 reviews.
In my comparison, prices run from $11 for a one-hour shared sunset boat to $291 for a private island tour. The three full-day Elaphite Islands cruises cost $17, the kayak tours $27 to $29, the Karaka sunset ship $57, and the boat rentals $157 to $180. Fuel is extra on some private boats. All prices are in US dollars.
Yes, on every trip I compared. All 15 GetYourGuide listings allow a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start. The sea kayaking tour from Dubrovnik Walks words it strictly, with no refund after that point. Because weather matters on the water, I'd book a flexible ticket and watch the forecast.
From several places. The kayak tours meet at Pile Gate, the sunset boats and Karaka leave from the Old Port next to the Old Town, the Gari Boat caves tour meets at Marina Frapa on Lapadska obala, and the Dalmatia Entertainment cruise boards opposite the Gruž market. Private boats use the Lapadska obala pier. Check each booking page.
Yes. The Dubrovnik Blue Cave is on Koločep island, part of the Elaphiti group, and six of the 15 trips I compared stop there. The Gari Boat tour at $55 lasts 4 hours and visits 7 caves, and the private Dubrovnik Caves speedboat from $73 adds the Green Caves and Šunj beach on Lopud.
From one hour to a full day. The Sea Heart sunset boat takes 1 hour, Karaka 1.5 hours, the kayak tours 2 to 3 hours, the cave tours 4 hours, and the Elaphite Islands cruises 7.5 to 8 hours. Private boats are flexible: HUGO offers 1.5 to 8 hours and Fantasea 2.5 to 8 hours, so you choose the length.
Three listings offer self-drive boats, and two say no boat licence is needed: AdriaWave for up to 5 people and Adriatic Boat Tours. That is the operators' claim, and I have not checked it against Croatian rules. Ask the operator which licence applies to your boat and group before you pay, and read my boat rental page.
Yes, three. The Dubrovnik Caves speedboat starts at $73, HUGO costs $223 and rates 5.0, and Fantasea charges $291 for up to 8 people with free pickup. Fuel is an extra cost on the Fantasea tour, from 65 to 120 euros depending on the length, so read the inclusions before you book.