Lokrum Island: Dubrovnik’s Best Kept Secret

10 minutes from the bustling city of Dubrovnik lies an unspoiled paradise of pine trees and beaches: Lokrum Island.

I have nothing against Dubrovnik – in fact, it’s my favourite beach destination in the world. But sometimes you need a break from the crowded city walls and tourists flocking to Game of Thrones sites around the city.

After volunteering across Europe for 8 months with Workaway and coming off a particularly strenuous placement at a ranch, I needed some TLC.

The ancient city of Split offered gorgeous views and Hvar’s fortress offered a chance to stretch my newly healed knee (thanks to a cantering mishap with a draught horse), but I didn’t find the true rest and relaxation I was looking for until I took a day trip to Lokrum Island, Croatia.

🏝 I recommend this tour of Lokrum

What is Lokrum Island?

Lokrum Island is located 10 minutes off the shore of Dubrovnik. A scenic ferry ride is all that stands between you and your island oasis.

I’ll admit I only discovered Lokrum because it’s a site from Game of Thrones – yes, I’m addicted, I know. On my Game of Thrones city tour, our guide pointed out the splash of green on the horizon and I knew I had to visit.

It started out as an attempt to visit every Game of Thrones site in Dubrovnik, but quickly turned into something else.

Lokrum is an ancient island with records dating back to 1000 AD. It was the site of a Benedictine abbey and monastery that you can now visit the ruins of. Its history has ties to Napoleon, Richard the Lion Heart, and even a more modern history with Game of Thrones.

Now, it’s a nature reserve and blissful haven from the buzz of tourism in Dubrovnik in spring.

Tourists are just starting to discover this secret island, although many still skip it since it lacks the party reputation of Hvar or Korchula.

🏝 I recommend this tour of Lokrum

What to Do on Lokrum Island

This small island of Lokrum is a solo travel paradise. The lack of tourists offers so much free space to enjoy some time with yourself. If you’re an adventure traveller, history buff, or a fan of empty beaches: this is the island for you!

I’ve gathered the top 11 things to do on Lokrum Island for you to explore.

1. Kayak from Dubrovnik

If you have a kayak or rent one, you can turn a visit to Lokrum from Dubrovnik into an adventurous day trip.

Head across the Adriatic, paddling through the rich blue waters, to get some exercise and see the area from a different perspective. Challenge yourself by kayaking around the island and hunt for the best beach to stop at for a dip.

You can swim on all of the beaches in Dubrovnik, so paddle up close and enjoy the private rock beaches you can create.

2. Hike through the Pines

Lokrum Island is a nature reserve with well-maintained walking trails for visitors. Pack your sneakers and hike through the forest to see the black ash, pine and olive trees that cover the island.  The paths take you through the Aleppo Pine Forest and the Forest of Holm Oak and Manna Ash.

The trails are well maintained with only a few hills. They get more difficult after you pass the fort and head towards lookouts over the Adriatic Sea.

Be sure to pack water as the well-cleared paths leave lots of room for the sun to beat down. If you visit in summer, try to hike early in the morning to avoid the strong Croatian sun.

Remember to dress properly for hiking.

3. Adventure to Fort Royal

Most hiking paths on Lokrum Island lead to the historic Fort Royal, the highest point on the island.

When I visited I actually mistook it for the Monastery (which was odd since I passed the monastery on my way to the fort) and kept trying to figure out how it could have been a popular city in Game of Thrones.

In reality, the fort was a military base on Lokrum Island that has since fallen into ruin. It was created by Napoleon during the French occupation of Croatia in the 19th century.

You can explore the fort, even climbing to its highest point for views above the pines into the old town.

4. Visit the Ruins of a Benedictine Monastery

History buffs and Game of Thrones lovers should head to the ruins of the Benedictine Monastery on Lokrum Island.

Scenes from the famous series were filmed at the monastery. When you wander the cloisters you’ll find yourself in the city of Qarth. If you’re looking for more Game of Thrones information, check out the museum that now resides in the former basilica.

The monastery was abandoned in the 18th century until Maximilian Habsburg purchased the island to use as a summer residence in the 19th century. You can see the evidence of his neo-Gothic remodel when you visit.

5. Walk the Path of Paradise

When I call Lokrum paradise, I’m not joking!

The island is home to the “Path of Paradise”, the centre-most of three tree-lined paths through the island. They were created during Maximilian’s time on the island.

Looking for even more greenery? Check out Maximilian’s gardens.

When Maximilian purchased Lokrum, he built up the botanic gardens to surround his summer home with exotic plants. Stroll through the botanic gardens to spot foreign greenery and beautiful flowers.

The path through the gardens is almost as long as the hiking trails on the north end of the island. You can easily spend an hour or two admiring the gorgeous plants that have flourished on Lokrum Island.

6. Spot Wildlife on Lokrum Island

Gardens and neo-Gothic architecture aren’t all that Maximilian brought to Lokrum. He also brought peacocks!

The brightly coloured birds are widely considered the pride of Lokrum Island, Croatia and take up most people’s camera rolls when they visit the island.

The peacocks are gorgeous with their spectacular blue necks and brightly coloured plumage. Be careful though: they’re wild birds.

And if you’re showering in one of the outdoor stalls, you may just get an unexpected guest, like I did. It’s definitely a surprise when a giant bird decides to wander into your stall. But at least I can say I’ve now showered with a peacock! That’s pretty cool, right?

Aside from peacocks, Lokrum Island is home to a lot of wildlife. You can spot fluffy bunnies, turtles, geckos, and all manner of lizards roaming the island freely.

Try to spot a few of the island’s inhabitants while you explore. (But maybe don’t shower with a peacock. They’re not great about sharing conditioner.)

7. Enjoy the Untouched Rock Shore

My favourite part of Lokrum was the beach. Lokrum’s coast is a dappled array of sand and rock beaches that circle the island. I never knew this until I visited, but I much prefer a boulder beach to a sand one.

The sand beaches in the country are spectacular. They feature the rich white sand that Croatia is known for. Because they’re so gorgeous, they draw more of a crowd. Lokrum isn’t nearly as crowded as Dubrovnik’s beaches, but they do get more people – and more screaming children.

If you’re looking for a natural experience, head to one of the island’s nudist beaches.

I’m still dealing with far too much Catholic body shaming from my schooling to be comfortable enough with my body to try them, but they’re supposed to be quite freeing!

I prefer the large rock boulders with ladders into the Adriatic Sea. You can easily fit two adults per rock and they’re really comfortable when you have a towel. The large pines offer shade from the sun and the crash of the waves against the shore is the perfect soundtrack for a good book.

People often snorkel off these less populated shores. Locals prefer these areas, especially older people who want to avoid the tourists at the sand beaches.

If you’re looking for a relaxing place to spend a day, be sure to visit the rock beaches of Lokrum. Bring a good book, some snacks, and a bathing suit. You’ll never want to leave!

🏝 I recommend this tour of Lokrum

8. Lounge Beneath Olive Trees

Lokrum Island is one of the greenest places I visited in Croatia, and I working on a ranch in the countryside for over a month.

The nature reserve means a lot of untouched grassy areas that have become popular places for people to spend their days.

Pack a picnic or bring a notebook and spend your day lounging on the grass. If you’re still and quiet, you may even have a bunny hop close to you.

It’s the perfect place to work on your travel journal.

9. Get Scenic Views of Dubrovnik

Some of the best views of Dubrovnik come from Lokrum Island.

The shores of Lokrum offer perfect views of the historic city walls, and the orange roofs of the city’s old town. Be sure to bring your camera to get amazing photos that aren’t full of tour groups.

The Lokrum ferry or kayaking from Dubrovnik offers even more opportunities for stunning photos of the deep blue Adriatic against the orange terra cotta of the city. This is one of the most common reasons tourists visit Lokrum and one of the best things to do for photography lovers.

🏝 I recommend this tour of Lokrum

10. Float in the Croatian Dead Sea

Yes, you’re right: the main Dead Sea isn’t in Croatia.

But they do have their own.

Lokrum Island is home to a small inlet the gets rich, salty water from caves fed by the Adriatic. Bring your bathing suit and float to the surface of this salty pool near the monastery.

Don’t spend your day at the Dead Sea – it’s pretty, but gets crowded by midday. Take your dip then head to the unique boulder beaches for a more relaxing day trip.

11. Visit the Site of King Richard the Lion Heart’s Shipwreck

Allegedly, King Richard the Lion Heart was shipwrecked at Skalica, the oldest port on Lokrum.

To thank the locals for their assistance during his time of need, he offered to build a church on the island. The locals convinced him to instead build it on the mainland so more could use it.

There aren’t any monuments to the event on the shores of Skalica Port, but you can view the northernmost point of Lokrum Island and get vast views of the Adriatic Sea. It’s an interesting historical thing to do in Lokrum.

The Curse of Lokrum Island, Croatia

You’ll notice I don’t mention anything about staying overnight in this post. That’s because of the curse on Lokrum Island.

It is believed that the Benedictine monks placed a curse on the island when they were forced to leave. Anyone who tries to claim the island for themselves will be damned!

To this day, there are no houses on the island. No one is permitted to live on Lokrum or stay the night. If you do, the curse shall befall you.

So be sure to catch the last ferry or you’ll have the wrath of 18th century monks to deal with!

If you’d rather visit a non-cursed Croatian island, check out these amazing things to do in Hvar.

How to Get to Lokrum from Dubrovnik

Ferry to Lokrum Island

It’s extremely easy to get to Lokrum from Dubrovnik. Head to the docks in Dubrovnik to catch the ferry for a 15 minute (with docking) ride to Lokrum.

The Lokrum ferry leaves every 30 minutes, but it only runs from April to November – when Lokrum Island is open to tourists.

You’ll arrive in Lokrum at Portoc Bay, where many people choose to stay for the duration of their day trip to Lokrum. I recommend heading into the island to see more of its history and to enjoy more secluded beaches.

The ferry costs 150 Kn. This is round trip and covers your entrance fee to the nature reserve.

Plan your visit around the ferry times. You can buy tickets at the dock, but there is usually a short line up.

Ferries leave at 9 am and return by 7:15 pm in the high season or 5:15 pm in the low season.

Remember to make the ferry or you’ll be cursed!

Kayak to Dubrovnik

Another option to get to Lokrum Island from Dubrovnik is to kayak. You can rent kayaks individually or take a day tour that will teach you more about the island’s history.

Kayak rentals are available to rent by the hour for 150 Kn per hour if you don’t book a tour.

Taking a kayak across the Adriatic is an epic day trip. You’ll be able to enjoy the fresh blue waters, have a convenient dip, and explore the caves around Lokrum Island’s shores.

🏝 I recommend this tour of Lokrum

Lokrum Island & Game of Thrones

Like everywhere else in Croatia, Lokrum Island is a featured spot in Game of Thrones.

While there are large tours running through Split and Dubrovnik to tell you about the city’s involvement in certain episodes, Lokrum is quieter about the show. They have a small museum that you have to hunt to find, but otherwise revel in their overgrown nature.

Before you visit Lokrum, learn what spots you need to visit to pretend you’re in Game of Thrones:

• Island of Lokrum was used as a stand-in for the city of Quarth
• Garden scenes filmed in Lokrum’s gardens and th Former Benedictine Monastery

Why You Should Visit The Island of Lokrum

Lokrum is the cheapest day trip you’ll find in Croatia. Once you pay for the ferry ticket, you won’t have to pay for anything else (unless you decide to visit one of the small cafes or the museums) on the island.

I recommend packing a picnic to avoid overpriced, not amazing food at the few places on the island.

Lokrum Island is very much worth visiting. It’s full of lush greenery, gorgeous peacocks, amazing history, and the best beaches in Croatia.

I very nearly wrote this whole post waxing poetic about the gorgeous boulder-rock beaches of Lokrum. They were the high of my nearly two months in Croatia, and to this day, are what I dream of when I picture a beach vacation.

Seriously, I spent most of my day happily lounging on these giant rocks by the sea. I saw maybe four other people the entire time I was there, three of whom were locals.

I’m not a huge fan of water, but I was constantly getting up from my travel podcasts and my book to dive (well, cannonball gracelessly) into the Adriatic to cool off, body surf the waves and detox from a month of farm dirt.

If it weren’t for the curse, I would have happily spent weeks on the island and abandoned by Airbnb in Dubrovnik entirely.

🏝 I recommend this tour of Lokrum

Closing Thoughts

Lokrum is the most relaxing place in Dubrovnik, and technically it’s not even in the city.

The day trip I took to lounge, hike, and read was the best decision I made in Croatia. It totally recharges you after the busyness of the Dubrovnik city walls and hunting for a restaurant in the old town.

Take a trip off the beaten path to visit Dubrovnik’s secret island paradise: Lokrum Island.

🏝 I recommend this tour of Lokrum

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