Dubrovnik Locals Tell Where They’d Go by Boat

10 Locals Reveal Shocking Boat Destinations from Dubrovnik

There’s something sacred about asking a local, “If you had just one day on a boat… where would you go?”

Not because TripAdvisor doesn’t know what it’s talking about. But because locals, the skippers, the shop owners, the café servers live the rhythm of this coast. They know when the sun hits a cave just right. When the tourists disappear. 
Where the sea tells stories you won’t find on Google Maps.

So, we asked 10 Dubrovnik locals, “Where would you go on a boat if it were just you, the sea, and no tourists?”

And the answers? Some expected. Some are emotional. Some are completely surprising.

What we expected about blue cave, Lopud, maybe Lokrum ?

And yes, those came up.

But what followed wasn’t a checklist of pretty spots. It was a map of memories, of lost beaches, of places they said “don’t tell too many people.”

We won’t spoil it all but here’s what they shared with honesty:

1. "I’d go before sunrise and I’d go to Koločep.” — Ana, Barista

"You think it’s just another Elaphiti island. But at 5:30 am, with fog hugging the trees and the church bells echoing through silence… it’s not a place, it’s a feeling."

Koločep isn’t just peaceful. It’s almost untouched in the early hours. The sea reflects like glass. Dolphins sometimes pass. There’s a tiny stone dock where Ana says she’d “sit with her feet in the water and remember who she was before Wi-Fi.”

Insider Tip: Book an early-morning private boat with Garitransfer. Ask for a sunrise slot to Koločep, it’s not on the menu but they’ll customize it only for you.

2. "Everyone chases the Blue Cave, but Betina Cave is where I breathe." — Marko, dive instructor.

Betina Cave is a hidden swim spot only reachable by boat. There are no tours blasting music. No bars. No shops.

Just a shallow rock mouth you slide into, like nature’s own secret doorway.

“It’s quiet. The acoustics make even a whisper bounce. 
You jump into that water and the world disappears.”

Betina Cave swimming tours are one of the most booked hidden gems.

3. "I’d skip islands. I’d drift near Štikovica, nobody thought to stop there." — Ivana, retired schoolteacher.

A quiet bay near Zaton, Štikovica is where locals take their grandkids to swim — but never mention it to tourists.

“The water’s deeper. The air smells like pine.
 And the fisherman still waves when they pass you.”

Why It’s Underrated: Tour companies don’t go there. Which makes it perfect for custom boat                        
                                     rides with locals like Garitransfer who will take you… if you ask.

4. "I go where the ruins sleep: Kupari." — Luka, Garitransfer skipper.

Ruins. Ivy. Broken windows. And a beach with clear blue water and a ghost-town backdrop.

Kupari used to be a luxury resort for Yugoslav military elites. 
Now? It’s surreal. Abandoned hotels line the coast, echoing with silence,
 but the beach is safe, warm, and open.

“I anchor, I swim, I stare. It’s beautiful and haunting. Like history in pause mode.” 

Tour Tip: Request Kupari as a side stop on your Dubrovnik private boat tour.

5. "There’s a cave no one knows, not even most guides. I won’t say where." — Petar, sea cave explorer.

Petar refused to name it. But he said this:

“It’s not a Blue Cave. It’s not Green Cave. It’s smaller. But inside, the light comes in through a crack so thin it looks like magic. I’ve only taken three people there in five years.”

Why did we include this ?: Not to frustrate you but to remind you that some things can’t be Googled.

You have to know someone who knows someone. Or… ride with a company that is “someone.”

(Yes, we’re talking about Garitransfer again.)

What the locals taught us?

In every answer, one thing was obvious:

It’s not just the destination. It’s the silence,
 the timing, the company, the freedom.

Locals don’t rush through islands. They glide.
 They don’t blast music. They listen to the sea.
 They don’t follow maps. They follow memories.

And none of them, not a single one recommended a water taxi or group tour.