How to get to Lokrum from Dubrovnik
Understanding how to get to Lokrum starts with the Old City Port in Dubrovnik. This is the departure harbour for the official island service. If arriving at Dubrovnik Airport (DBV), first reach the mainland city, continue on foot to the Old Port and then board the boat. A road transfer and the crossing are separate stages.
Choose your mainland transport around your arrival and accommodation, rather than around a tight ferry connection. Ploče is a useful named stop on the airport shuttle route; Gruž is the bus-station terminus. They are different places, and the official Lokrum boat leaves from the Old City Port. Read the ferry and admission guide before choosing an outward sailing.
Shuttle to Ploče and the walk to the Old Port
The airport shuttle runs from DBV via Ploče Gate to the main bus station in Gruž. Its stated journey is about 30 minutes to Ploče and 35 minutes to Gruž, depending on traffic. Departures are described as about 30 minutes after flight arrivals. That describes the relationship to incoming flights, rather than a fixed half-hourly service.
Ploče Gate and the Old City Port are separate locations. Allow for the walk from the shuttle stop to the harbour, finding the sales point if needed and getting ready to board. Keeping those tasks separate makes the route easier to follow, particularly with luggage. If staying overnight on the mainland, the accommodation area guide explains how the named districts relate to an island day.
A guided walk with Lokrum connection
This walk starts in Dubrovnik; ferry and island admission are extra.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
An island-themed walk starting in Dubrovnik
Meet a professional guide at Brsalje for a walking tour with Lokrum; ferry travel and island admission are additional.
Taxi and Transfer from Dubrovnik Airport (DBV)
A taxi or prearranged transfer is another way to reach the mainland Old Town area from DBV. Arrange a permitted drop-off point near the Old Town and continue on foot to the Old City Port. Give the driver the road destination rather than describing the whole journey simply as a transfer to Lokrum.
Compare the quoted road service with the shuttle according to where you need to get out and how your luggage will be handled. The walk and boat still need their own time. For an arrival late in the day, plan to reach your mainland accommodation first if the island schedule does not fit. Avoid building the journey around an assumed immediate ferry connection.
Shuttle tickets and the airport return
The shuttle price published for 10 September 2026 was 10 EUR one way or 15 EUR return. The return ticket was valid for 15 days. One suitcase is included, and a smartphone QR code can be used. Advance booking is recommended; tickets are also sold locally, but not by the driver.
The airport-origin ticket can be used for a departure on the selected day. For the journey back to DBV, consult the separate daily departure schedule from the bus station and Old Town. Do not work backwards from the incoming-flight departure rule. If combining an island visit with a flight, leave room between the ferry return, the walk and the mainland airport journey.
Car rental and parking for mainland travel
Lokrum is car-free. A rental car belongs in a plan for arriving overland or continuing around the mainland, while the island part remains a passenger boat trip. Before driving towards the Old Town, check the permitted access and where you will leave the vehicle. Parking near the city and reaching the boat are separate tasks.
The special traffic zone around the Old Town has seasonal rules. Its application for the 2026 season ended on 1 November 2026, following the municipal notice of 30 October. That change does not provide general permission to drive through pedestrian areas. Choose parking using the conditions applying on your visit date, rather than treating a route to the Old Town as a route to the pier.
A guided visit once you reach Dubrovnik
The island-themed walking tour starts at Brsalje 2 in Dubrovnik and includes a professional guide. Ferry travel and Lokrum admission are additional costs. This is a sightseeing choice after reaching the city, so include the trip to its meeting point in your own arrival plan.
For an independent visit, use the regular boat arrangement and choose your own time ashore. For an organised island day, compare the Lokrum tours and their actual starting points. In either case, use the current boat schedule and the day’s weather when deciding whether your arrival leaves enough time for the island.
Frequently asked questions
Does the airport shuttle take me to the Lokrum pier?
It stops at Ploče Gate on the route to Gruž. Continue on foot to the Old City Port for the separate island boat. Allow for this stage when planning your arrival.
Is Gruž the departure harbour for the official Lokrum boat?
Use the Old City Port for the official Lokrum service. Gruž is the airport shuttle’s main bus-station terminus, so keep the two locations distinct.
Can I drive onto Lokrum?
Plan to leave the vehicle on the mainland and visit the car-free island by passenger boat. A rental car can serve a wider mainland itinerary.
How should I plan an arrival with a late flight?
Compare the arrival time with the actual island boat schedule, including the road journey and walk. Use a mainland base when the crossing does not fit, then plan Lokrum for another day.