The Elafiti Islands are an archipelago situated close to – and slightly northwest of – Dubrovnik. There are actually six islands in the archipelago, not including any small islets, although the three main ones to visit and stay on are Kolocep, Lopud and Sipan.
Two of the three islands, Kolocep and Lopud, are entirely car-free, which means they’re an excellent place to base yourself on if you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. (Or perhaps just the hustle and bustle of Dubrovnik for one day!)
To give you an idea of just how small and quiet they are – in total, the three main islands have a population of less than 1,000 people. (Sipan has around 450 people, Kolocep around 300 and Lopud just over 200.)
They’re easily reachable by public ferry – Jadrolinija has a daily ferry service that travels to each of the islands in turn. TP Line also operates a catamaran to Sipanska Luka on the island of Sipan.
Alternatively, you can also join an organised tour if you’d like to see the trio of main islands in the Elafiti group. Enquire at a local agency whilst in Dubrovnik – many companies offer this particular day trip. Some agencies offer tours in whimsical old-fashioned-style boats! Alternatively, take a look at the options below:
Both tours take you to Kolocep, Lopud and Sipan and allow you some time on each island, including time for you to enjoy some swimming and sunbathing.
History of the Elafiti Islands
The islands get their name from the Greek word elafos, meaning deer; in ancient times the islands were apparently home to a large deer population. The islands are particularly famous as the most skilful mariners came from here. Given their strategic importance due to their location out to sea in front of Dubrovnik, you can perhaps imagine why.
The Elafiti islands came under the control of the Republic of Dubrovnik in 1272. During this time, they were governed by a Rector whose base was split between Lopud and Sipan. In 1571, the islands were attacked by the Turks, after which all defences on the islands were strengthened.
The Elafiti Islands
Read on in our individual guides to each of the islands:
More info
Do check out this gallery of Photos of the Elafiti Islands by one of our readers – it is stunning!