Dubrovnik's Hidden Grottos Became Secret Swim Spots
Looking for secret sea caves beyond the tourist trail? Discover Dubrovnik’s hidden underwater grottos locals still love. Swim, snorkel & escape the crowds
Uncover the secret sides of the sea, where locals slip away for
peace, thrill and something timeless.
There’s something about the sea that keeps secrets well. Maybe it’s the way light shifts beneath the waves or maybe it’s because the locals know: the best stories don’t always shout.
Some whisper quietly from the cracks in the cliffs from caves carved by time.
If you’ve seen the brochures, you’ve heard about the Blue Cave. Maybe even the Green Cave. Beautiful? Of course.
Is it worth it? Yes.
But truthfully? They’re not really secrets anymore.
On most summer days, you’ll share those glowing waters with a dozen other boats, music playing and people yelling across the water.
This blog isn’t about that. It’s about where the locals still go when they need to breathe. It’s about the hidden underwater grottos near Dubrovnik… places you won’t find on TripAdvisor’s front page but ones that stay in your bones long after the salt dries.
First: What exactly is a Grotto?
A grotto is a small cave, often with a partially submerged opening, where sea and stone meet in secret. They’re natural, not manmade. The Adriatic coast around Dubrovnik has dozens of these, not just the famous ones.
Some are wide enough to swim through. Some you can only float into on your back. Others, you discover by chance, tucked behind seaweed-swirled boulders, invisible until the light hits just right.
Locals have known about them for generations. Some call them “Morske špilje” sea caves. Others don’t call them anything at all. Just a place to go when the noise is too loud.
#1: The hidden swim-through near Koločep’s southern cliffs:
While most tourists head to Koločep for the well-known Blue Cave, those in the know ride a little farther south, near the sea-carved cliffs that rise like folded paper above the waves.
Here, at just the right tide, you can find a narrow swim-through grotto which is unnamed, unmarked, unforgettable. The entry is a vertical slit in the cliff. From afar, you’d think it’s just a shadow. But up close, you see the shimmer inside.
Swim through slowly. Let the water echo. If you’re lucky, you’ll catch beams of sunlight slicing through from the other side and lighting up schools of tiny fish like flecks of silver.
How to Get There: Ask Garitransfer for a custom Blue Cave & Hidden Swim Safari: they’re one of the few operators who know this exact spot.
#2: Betina Cave: not just a beach !
Betina Cave often gets listed as a beach but calling it just a beach is like calling the Sistine Chapel “a room.”
Yes, you can sunbathe on the pebbles but what makes this place unforgettable is the wide, open grotto ceiling that curves overhead like a giant natural shell. The water here is calm, clear and deeply photogenic which is perfect for swimmers who want safety and magic.
This cave is only reachable by sea. Most boats pass it by. That’s why, even in the high season, it stays relatively quiet.
If you’re brave, try floating on your back under the ceiling and humming.
The acoustics? Heavenly.
Discover our Betina Cave & Hidden Beaches Tour: a Garitransfer exclusive.
#3: Šipan’s coral tunnel (locals’ legend):
Tucked between Šipan’s rocky southern coast and a coral shelf rarely explored by tourists, this tunnel isn’t listed on most maps. It’s narrow. A bit darker but ask any local diver and they’ll tell you: this is where you find the purple fire corals because it’s a rare sight in the Adriatic.
Locals believe this tunnel has spiritual energy. Not the Instagram kind, it’s the ancient kind. Fishermen used to drop coins into the tunnel’s mouth before storms as a kind of offering.
Swimming here is only for confident snorkelers or divers but it’s worth every goosebump.
#4: The love arch near Lopud:
Locals jokingly call this the “Love Arch”- a split rock formation that forms a heart-shaped silhouette when you swim beneath it.
Located just west of Lopud island, this cave isn’t deep but it’s filled with smooth stone and soft light. Couples often swim in, stay silent and just float. So, you get it? it’s that kind of spot.
It’s also home to harmless jellyfish (the translucent kind) which glow faintly in the right light. Don’t be scared.
They’re beautiful to observe and make for amazing underwater footage.
So why are these places still hidden?
Simple: they’re not on most operators’ scripts. Large group tours focus on convenience. They anchor at the Blue Cave, snap the pic and move on.
But with a private tours (like those from Garitransfer), your skipper can slow down to show you what’s around the next cliff or lead you to a cave you’d never see on a Google map.
How to explore these grottos without the stress ?:
If you're serious about seeing these places, here’s what you need to know:
1. Book a private boat, not a group tour: You’ll get time, space and silence.
2. Ask for a local skipper: At Garitransfer, our skippers were raised on these waters. They don’t follow GPS, they follow memory.
3. Bring snorkel gear: You will want to dive in. We recommend a full-face mask and reef-friendly sunscreen.
4. Go early or late: The best time for grotto swims is sunrise or just before sunset. Light matters.
Learn more about Garitransfer’s private tours around Elaphiti Islands & hidden coves
Final Reflection:
Some parts of Dubrovnik whisper to you.
The sound of water slipping through stone. The hush of a cave after laughter fades. A light that bounces off coral and finds your face.
These are not the moments you plan, these are the ones you allow.
So if you’ve come to Dubrovnik looking for more than selfies.
If you’re here to feel something then choose the caves, the grottos and the quiet spaces.
They’re still here.
Still waiting and still worth every salt-kissed second.
+385916001201
