Lokrum

The island of Lokrum is an essential part of Dubrovnik’s skyline. Whether you are looking at the city from Srđ, Orsula, Minčeta, or Lovrijenac, Lokrum will always be in your frame.

It is the “living room” of the people of Dubrovnik. It’s common for children to head to Lokrum after school to spend the afternoon swimming and playing. Locals have free transport, so both young and old can enjoy it boundlessly, much like Split residents enjoy Marjan or Zagreb residents enjoy Maksimir. Due to its biodiversity, it has been declared a Special Reserve of Forest Vegetation.

A regular public boat line runs from the Dubrovnik city harbor (Old Town – 42.64098152936702, 18.11149571740283) to Lokrum. This is also the most affordable transport, with boats departing every half hour throughout the day, depending on the season and weather conditions. You will also be offered many private tours there, which are slightly more expensive but provide various additional activities for that price, such as a circle around the walls, a guide, and more.

Lokrum can also be reached by kayak as part of a much broader tour that lasts about 2.5 hours. You won’t see much of the island’s interior, but you can experience it from a different, sea perspective that is equally impressive. On the south side of the island is the Golub (Dove) sea cave, which can be entered either by kayak or by swimming. The cave is of impressive dimensions. Kayak tours start from Šulić beach (Kolorina bay, 42.64137618649382, 18.106248618943514), and the tour also includes another cave on the mainland, east of the old town. This is Betina Cave, where scientist Marin Getaldić (nicknamed Bete) spent time solving scientific problems known only to him.

As soon as you disembark from the boat in the Portoč harbor on the eastern side, it becomes clear that Lokrum is a special place. Nature here is incredibly beautiful—the true essence of the Mediterranean!

The island is small, only a kilometer and a half long, and can be explored in a few hours. It is crisscrossed with walking paths leading to various natural and man-made attractions.

From the harbor, heading west leads to the Benedictine monastery and Maximilian’s gardens. The Benedictines were the first permanent residents here, but at some point, the Dubrovnik authorities took away their ownership. According to legend, the Benedictines cursed the island, and since then, various paranormal things can supposedly be experienced here at night, so no one stays overnight—not even the guards. Many crowned heads, as well as curious adventurers, met tragic ends after staying on Lokrum. Thus, the myth of the curse has been fueled by new tragic stories for centuries. If you are easily spooked and believe in such things, definitely keep an eye on when the last boat returns to the mainland!

Also interesting is the legend of Richard the Lionheart, who, while returning from the Third Crusade, was saved from a terrible storm right on Lokrum. Out of gratitude, he funded the construction of a Romanesque basilica in Dubrovnik with one hundred thousand gold coins. After the great earthquake, the cathedral was built on its site.

When heading south from the monastery, after about 150 m, you reach the Dead Sea (Mrtvo more), a lake with saltwater. Although it looks very attractive and is interesting to see, it didn’t tempt us to swim. We always prefer the real sea.

Thirty meters further west, you emerge onto a coast consisting of a very interesting rocky plateau full of karst pits.

At the far southern point of the stone plateau is “Buža”, an attractive stone arch above a natural pool filled with sea water. From there to the east, the landscape is very dramatic with cliffs battered by the sea. The previously mentioned Golub Cave is located on that side.

North of the monastery lie an attractive botanical garden and an olive grove, and further north, the Paradise Path (Rajski put) climbs toward the highest point of the island—Fort Royal. Below it, on the northern side, you can see the Lazaret (quarantine station), which, unlike those at the eastern entrance to Dubrovnik, was never put into use. This part of the island is covered in holm oak and manna ash forest.

One could say that Lokrum is heaven on earth. It has many hidden swimming spots in crystal clear sea, the vegetation is lush and diverse, and with plenty of shade, restaurants, and cocktail bars, you can easily spend the whole day there—especially during the heat when walking through Dubrovnik isn’t as pleasant.

A visit to Dubrovnik is not complete without exploring Lokrum.