In this guide
💡 The Short Version: Four of the six trips stay in Croatia and need no passport: Lokrum (boat with entry, €30, Lokrum Reserve), the Elaphiti Islands (Jadrolinija line 807, €3.40 one way to Lopud in winter and €5.40 from 29 May to 27 September, Jadrolinija), Cavtat (bus 10, €4.00) and Ston (bus 15, €6.40), both on the Libertas price list. Kotor (Montenegro) and Mostar (Bosnia and Herzegovina) need a passport and a border crossing each way, and the bus to either costs more than a tour. Or book a tour: From Dubrovnik: Mostar and Kravica Waterfall Day Tripad (from €30, 4.6 stars from 10,771 reviews) covers the road, the border and a guide for the day.
⚠️ Kotor and Mostar are in other countries, so bring a passport. Neither Montenegro nor Bosnia and Herzegovina is in the Schengen area, and Montenegro’s land border crossings can close at short notice (UK government).
The six trips compared
| Trip | Getting there | Cost | Passport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lokrum | Official boat from the Old City Port, hourly 10:00 to 15:00 from 9 November 2026; last boat back 16:00 | €30 adult, includes entry | No |
| Elaphiti Islands | Jadrolinija line 807: Koločep 30 minutes, Lopud 55 minutes, Šipan 1 hour 15 minutes | €3.40 adult to Lopud from 1 Jan to 28 May and 28 Sep to 31 Dec, €5.40 from 29 May to 27 Sep | No |
| Cavtat | Libertas bus 10, departures 05:00 to 00:00 | €4.00 one way | No |
| Pelješac and Ston | Libertas bus 15 at 10:45, 15:15 and 20:30, about 67 minutes; the first two do not run on Sundays | €6.40 one way; Walls of Ston €5 (November to February) or €10 (March to October) | No |
| Kotor, Montenegro | Coach from Dubrovnik bus station, about 2 hours 30 minutes; or a tour | €37.59 one way by bus | Yes |
| Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina | Coach from Dubrovnik bus station, about 3 hours 40 minutes; or a tour | €33.59 one way by bus; Kravica waterfall 20 KM | Yes |
Sources: Jadrolinija for the islands, Libertas bus 10 and bus 15 for the timetables, Dubrovnik bus station for the Kotor and Mostar coaches, and the Society of Friends of Dubrovnik Antiquities for the Ston walls. The bus station’s fares include a reservation and a station fee.
Lokrum, off the Old City Port. Photo: Bernard Gagnon, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Tours from Dubrovnik
For Kotor and Mostar a tour is the sensible default: the bus costs €33.59 to €37.59 each way, the Montenegro and Mostar day trips below start at €58 and €30 for the whole day, and the operator deals with the border queue. For the islands, Cavtat and Ston the public boat and bus are cheaper and simple.
Montenegro: Kotor and Perast
From €58 · 4.4 stars from 5,929 reviews · 11 hours · pickup available · free cancellation
From Dubrovnik: Montenegro Day Tripad drives you across the border to Kotor Old Town, with the choice of Perast or a short boat trip to Our Lady of the Rocks. It suits visitors who want Montenegro in one day without arranging the crossing.
Mostar and Kravica waterfall
From €30 · 4.6 stars from 10,771 reviews · 11 to 12 hours · skip the line · pickup available · free cancellation
From Dubrovnik: Mostar and Kravica Waterfall Day Tripad combines Mostar with a local guide and the Kravica waterfalls, with hotel pickup and drop-off.
Elaphite Islands cruise
From €25 · 4.7 stars from 5,966 reviews · 7.5 to 8 hours · pickup available · free cancellation
Dubrovnik: Elaphite Island Cruise w/ Drinks & Optional Lunchad is a boat day calling at Lopud, Šipan and Koločep, with free time to swim and drinks included. It suits visitors who want one boat for the whole day instead of choosing a timetabled ferry.
Ston oysters and wine
From €155 · 5 stars from 130 reviews · 4 hours · pickup available · free cancellation
Dubrovnik: Oyster, Mussels, and Wine Tasting Tour in Ston (Lunch)ad takes you to the Ston and Mali Ston area for a tasting with lunch, a half-day alternative to the bus.
Official transport or tour: the prices side by side
The GetYourGuide figure is the cheapest option in each product. The transport column is one way.
| Trip | Official or public transport | On GetYourGuide | What the tour adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elaphiti Islands | €3.40 or €5.40 to Lopud, Koločep or Šipan | From €25 | A cruise past all three islands with drinks and an optional lunch |
| Ston | €6.40 by bus, plus €5 or €10 for the walls | From €155 | A tasting of oysters, mussels and wine with lunch |
| Kotor | €37.59 by bus from the bus station | From €58 | Return transport and border handling for the day |
| Mostar | €33.59 by bus from the bus station | From €30 | Return transport, the border and the Kravica waterfall |
Border rules for Kotor and Mostar
- Montenegro: the UK government asks for a passport issued less than 10 years before you enter and valid for 3 months after you leave. Canada also asks for 3 months. Stays of up to 90 days need no visa (UK government, Canada).
- Bosnia and Herzegovina: the UK government asks for a passport issued less than 10 years before you arrive and valid for 90 days after you leave. Canada asks for 3 months. No visa is needed for up to 90 days, and both governments say to get your passport stamped on entry (UK government, Canada).
- Returning to Croatia: the EU’s Entry/Exit System can ask you for a photo and fingerprints at the border, and the UK government says to allow extra time (EU, UK government).
Details are on the Kotor page and the Mostar page; the Croatian entry rules by nationality are on the Dubrovnik guide.
Which trip suits which day
- A few hours: Lokrum, with a last boat at 16:00 from 9 November 2026.
- A day on an island: Lopud or Koločep on line 807. The ticket reserves a place on a named departure, so choose your return sailing when you buy (Jadrolinija).
- A quiet harbour town: Cavtat, on bus 10 with departures from 05:00 to 00:00.
- Walls, oysters and wine: Ston, on a Libertas bus with three departures a day. On a Sunday only the 20:30 Libertas runs, so take the 11:00 FlixBus.
- Another country: Kotor or Mostar, best on a tour. The bus station lists Kotor coaches at 07:15, 11:00, 15:00 and 17:30, returning from Kotor at 10:10, 14:40 and 18:00. For Mostar the bus station lists one morning coach, at 08:00, and returns at 10:15 and 12:30, so there is no same-day return.
The Elaphiti Islands off Dubrovnik. Photo: dronepicr, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.
Stari Most in Mostar. Photo: Berthold Werner, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Hotels for a day-trip base are listed in where to stay in Dubrovnik.
What to see next
- Lokrum Island day trip: the nearest island and its boat times.
- Elaphiti Islands day trip: line 807 timetable and fares.
- Dubrovnik sea kayaking: a half-day on the water.
- Getting around Dubrovnik: Libertas buses and tickets.
- 3 days in Dubrovnik: where a day trip fits.
Common questions
What is the easiest day trip from Dubrovnik?
Lokrum. From 9 November 2026 the official boat leaves the Old City Port hourly from 10:00 to 15:00, the €30 adult ticket includes the return crossing and entry to the reserve, and the last boat back leaves the island at 16:00.
Which day trips from Dubrovnik need a passport?
Kotor in Montenegro and Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Neither country is in the Schengen area, so you pass border control on the way in and again when you return to Croatia.
Can I reach the Elaphiti Islands without a tour?
Yes. Jadrolinija passenger ship line 807 sails from Dubrovnik to Koločep, Lopud and Šipan. On the 2026 tariff an adult fare to Lopud is €3.40 from 1 January to 28 May and from 28 September to 31 December, and €5.40 from 29 May to 27 September.
Can I get to Cavtat by public transport?
Yes. Libertas bus 10 runs from Dubrovnik to Cavtat for €4.00 one way, with departures from 05:00 to 00:00. Some departures do not run on Sundays and holidays.
How do I get to Ston without a car?
Libertas bus 15 leaves Dubrovnik at 10:45, 15:15 and 20:30 for €6.40 one way. Only the 20:30 runs on Sundays and holidays, but FlixBus also runs to Ston at 11:00 and 18:00 and back at 17:26.
Is there a public bus to Kotor or Mostar?
Yes, from Dubrovnik bus station. A one-way ticket to Kotor is €37.59 and to Mostar €33.59 on the station's timetable. The Kotor buses allow a same-day return; the Mostar timetable does not, because the last return leaves Mostar at 12:30.
