Hidden Sea Spots in Dubrovnik Locals Keep Off the Map

The most instagrammable sea spots near Dubrovnik (That don’t show up on google maps):

Not all beauty is on the map !

We all want that shot of Turquoise waters, when no one is around or maybe a cliff dive, a bikini flick or a solo boat moment that screams “main character energy”.

But if you found it on Google Maps or a “Top 10 Dubrovnik Beaches” list… so did a thousand other tourists.

This list isn’t that.

These are the real hidden sea spots around Dubrovnik. The ones that don’t show up on Google but will blow up your Instagram.

First, Grab your secret weapon: a private boat

None of these spots are walkable. That’s the point.

To get there, you need a local skipper who knows the sea like the back of their hand.

 Enter Garitransfer.  They offer private boat tours where you skip the scripted routes and ask:

“Can you take me somewhere nobody goes?”

That’s when the magic begins !

1. The sea tunnel of koločep:

Not on Google Maps | Only reachable by small boat

A narrow sea tunnel hidden in the cliffs of Koločep Island. The light here is wild, refracting turquoise and deep blue as if you’re floating inside a gemstone.

Instagram shot idea:

• Wear something white.
• Have your skipper drift slowly inside the tunnel.
• Capture the moment where the light shifts and dances around you

Tip: Go between 10–11 a.m. for peak glow inside the cave.

2. Blue cave but not the one everyone visits !

Near Zaton Bay | Unmarked on most tourist maps

There’s a touristy Blue Cave near Lokrum but the one locals really love is tucked on the side of Zaton Bay. It’s less known, quieter and equally mesmerizing.

Instagram shot idea:

• Snorkel under the cave ceiling as light streams in.
• Frame it with a GoPro from below for surreal underwater vibes.
• Or sit at the edge with your feet in, backlit by the glow.

Tip: Ask Garitransfer for the Zaton Blue Cave, not the Lokrum one.

3. The “mirror bay” of Lopud:

Unmarked inlet on the south side | Boat access only
A cove so still and protected, the water looks like glass. Locals call it “Mirror Bay”  but it’s not listed on any official guide. You’ll need a skipper to anchor you there.

Instagram shot idea:

• Floating or lying on a paddleboard in the middle of the bay.
• Capture the reflection of your body, boat, and sky all at once.

Tip: Wear bold colors (red, yellow). So, the contrast against the still water is the chef's kiss.

4. The private arch near Sipan island:

Not on tourist routes | Found by locals only

A natural rock arch that opens into the sea. When the boat slides through it slowly, it feels like entering another dimension.

Instagram shot idea:

• Capture a drone shot as your boat crosses through the arch.
• Or sit at the front of the boat like royalty mid-passage.

Tip: Sunset is unreal here, the light filters through the arch and hits the water like liquid gold.

5. Secret sandy beach: “šunj’s sister” !

Beside Šunj Beach (but unmarked) | Lopud Island

Šunj Beach is famous, but just around the corner is a secret crescent of sand known only to skippers and a few locals.

No signs. No bars. 
Just sand, sea, and you.

Instagram shot idea:

• Wide-angle shot of footprints leading to the water.
• Or a minimalist towel-and-hat layout with nothing else in sight.
  
  

Tip: Bring snacks. There’s nothing there and that’s the whole point.

6. Cliff lagoon below Dubrovnik walls:

Not technically legal to swim | Ask a local boatman

There’s a tiny lagoon right beneath the southern cliffs of the Old Town. Locals sometimes call it “The City’s Secret Edge.” You’ll never spot it from land.

Instagram shot idea:

• Boat anchored with the Old Town walls towering behind you.
• Floating in the water with medieval stone in the background.
  
  

Tip: You must go by boat and you must go with someone who knows where to safely stop.

7. Heart-shaped rock pool near Lokrum:

Shaped by the sea itself | Off the eastern cliffs

Not many know this but there’s a naturally carved rock pool shaped almost perfectly like a heart. It fills and empties with the tide.

Instagram shot idea:

• Stand at the edge, looking down into the heart.
• Or float in the pool with a drone overhead.

Tip: Only accessible when the tide is low, So, don’t forget to check with your skipper.

How to get to these hidden spots (without crashing someone’s yacht) ?

You need a private boat with a local.
No group tours will take you here.

That’s where Garitransfer comes in:

• Message them in advance: “I want the most Instagrammable hidden spots near Dubrovnik, not touristy.”
• Book a 4-hour private boat trip
• Bring your gear: tripod, drone, waterproof phone case
• Dress for the shot, because the background’s already perfect
• Best light: 10 a.m.–12 p.m. or golden hour (6–7:30 p.m.)
  
  

And don’t worry, you won’t look like “trying-too-hard influencer” energy.
The Adriatic wants to be photographed.

Wrap-up: the map doesn’t know your vibe, but your boat will.

Let everyone else fight for the same crowded beach view.
 You’re smarter than that.
 You’re the one who finds the unfindable.

Because real magic?
 It’s not on Google Maps
 it’s just offshore.