Getting around by boat and ferry Dubrovnik & Area

Several routes to and from Dubrovnik, most of them by car ferries. From late May to late September, the company sails daily by catamaran between Split, Bol (Brač), Hvar, Korčula and Dubrovnik.All year round, the company operates ferries to the Elaphite Islands and from Orebić (Pelješac) to Korčula (Dominče), as well as to Prapatno (Pelješac) on the Ston side and Sobra (Mljet).From early June to late September, the company operates ferries from Vela Luka (Korčula) to Lastovo, Hvar and Split. There is also a ferry service between Dubrovnik and Bari.

This agency operates fast catamarans, which run between the port of Gruž and the ports and piers of southern Dalmatia. With its five fast catamarans, TP Line covers five routes: Dubrovnik, Korčula, Lastovo; Dubrovnik, Šipan, Sobra and Polače (Mljet), Korčula, Lastovo; Dubrovnik, Pomena (Mljet), Korčula, Hvar, Milan (Brač), Split; and further north Split-Hvar and Makarska, Bol (Brač), Hvar, Vis, Split. Online purchasing and mobile app also available. Book in advance and arrive at least 15 minutes before boarding.

The port of Gruž is where gigantic cruise ships arrive and depart, as well as ferries to Italy (Bari), the Dubrovnik archipelago (Elaphite Islands, Lastovo), the Pelješac peninsula (Korčula) and the fast catamaran for Mjet. Passenger transport, with or without vehicles, is provided by the national shipping company Jadrolinija and the private company TP Line, which means plenty of people and traffic on the quays during the summer months.

Indispensable Roko! Ratko Ojdanić of his real name, this skipper and owner of a taxi boat is the kind to arrange everything. Roko knows the region like his pocket and the archipelago of Korčula in particular. There is no water transfer or activity that escapes him! Want to take a tour of the Korčula archipelago? Go fishing? To rent a boat? To travel to Lastovo or Split? Or need a housing? Roko will answer all your requests.

The national ferry company Jadrolinija charters a ferry from Prapratno (Pelješac) to Sobra in all seasons. The trip takes 45 minutes, and it is possible to take your car with you. There are several ferries per day. Please note that in the summer, the number of available places for cars on Croatian ferries may be limited due to the large number of tourists. It is not possible to reserve a seat in advance, so you must arrive well in advance at the boarding point. If you miss the last ferry, you will have to stay on the island.

Ljubo Gamulin, his father Jadran and their partners have only one passion: the Mediterranean, on which they have been sailing for decades. Jadran, who founded the agency, has been working as a skipper since 1968 and has won several competitions. His son Ljubo has been sailing for a living since 1989, and has also won regattas. Father and son rent out sailing boats (for a minimum of six people) and offer skipper services. The boats are located in the Dubrovnik marina as well as in the Orsan marina in Lapad (city center).

This private shipping company connects Dubrovnik to Split in a 4.5-hour catamaran ride via Mjlet (Pomena), Korčula, Hvar and Brač (Milna), from early April to late October. This same route is also covered by the state-owned company Jadrolinija, but its catamarans only start in early June and do not stop in Mljet. If you travel without a car and want to go from Dubrovnik to Split, the catamaran is a good solution: the sea crossing is still more expensive than the bus, but it avoids traffic jams on the road and the duration of the trip is similar.

This is the newest of the marinas in the area. With a capacity for 200 boats (for boats between 11 and 25 metres long), it offers various services for boaters and tourists: a restaurant serving local and international cuisine, a beautiful open-air swimming pool, shops and a car park. The pedestrian surroundings have been converted into a seaside promenade. The setting is pleasant and walking around is a real pleasure. In the evening, the marina comes alive to the rhythm of the locals and tourists who enjoy the place.

The 4-star Dubrovnik Marina (open all year round) is located northwest of Gruž, on the southern bank of the Rijeka Dubrovačka, at its source. On foot or by boat, you will not miss the silhouette of the villa of the Sorkočević, one of the most powerful Rijekan families of the time, built on the banks of the Ombla River. It is now part of the marina. The park can be freely accessed and walked around. It is very pleasant when the sun rises or in the evening when the star disappears to make way for the moon and its reflections on the water.

All year round (10 times a day and more), the company transports passengers and vehicles from Orebić (Pelješac) to Korčula Dominče (3 km east of the town center). See website for timetables. From early June to late September, the Jadrolinija runs from Vela Luka to Lastovo, Hvar and Split several times a week. For Split, Brač and Hvar, it's even several times a day. Book your tickets in advance. A catamaran to Split also departs from Dominče.