This tiny island is worlds away from the hustle and bustle of Dubrovnik. Known locally as Kalamota, this peaceful island is a car-free haven, providing a tranquil getaway less than 30 minutes from Dubrovnik.
I enjoyed a relaxing 4 day stay on Kolocep Island, but you could easily visit as a day trip from Dubrovnik. The order of the day is swimming, hiking, relaxing and having a drink whilst enjoying the stunning views. There really isn’t much more to do than that! The views are magnificent in every direction. It’s well worth taking one of the weaving paths through the island to explore its hidden beaches and two tiny villages.
So if you’re looking for a relaxing island to visit near Dubrovnik, make sure to consider this pretty little island. Whether it’s on a Croatia road trip, or you’re enjoying a Dubrovnik city break, it’s a charming island to visit. This Kolocep island guide covers everything you need to know, including how to get there, what to do, where to eat, and also where to stay if you plan on going for a few days. Read on to find out more!
Kolocep Island Guide: Essential info
Location
Kolocep Island is one of the three main Elefati Islands, and is actually the closest island to Dubrovnik. At just 2.6 sq km in size, the tiny island is dominated by fragrant pine forests and a rugged coastline, with small walking tracks criss-crossing its land. There are two main villages on the island. These are known as Gornje Čelo (Upper) and Donje Čelo (Lower), and around 160 people call this island home throughout the year.
The island has barely been touched in terms of development. In fact, only one larger hotel (the TUI Blue Kalamtoa Island) stands tucked away near Donje Čelo. Otherwise, Kolocep is extremely basic and rustic, dotted with a few churches dating back to the 9th and 11th centuries and a handful of other facilities.
Twinkly turquoise waters surround the island, and lazy days can be spent swimming in its small coves and sandy bays.
A little island history
Kolocep has a far bigger backstory than its size suggests. From the 1500s, the island belonged to the Republic of Ragusa (as Dubrovnik was then known). Kolocep became something of a summer retreat for its citizens. At its peak, more than 2,000 people lived here, most involved in shipping. In fact, the island’s fleet once ran to around 65 larger ships sailing the Adriatic and Ionian Seas, supported by a proper shipyard and a local tradition of coral farming. That maritime industry eventually declined, and the population went with it.
The island’s other name, Kalamota, is thought to come from the Greek word kalamos, meaning fishing rod. And locals still refer to a fishing rod as a kalamuča today. In 1571, the island was attacked by the Ottomans, who forced Ragusa to pay a large ransom to free its residents!
How to get to Kolocep Island?
The main way to get to Kolocep Island is by ferry from Dubrovnik. Ferries run several times a day from Gruz Port, direct to Donje Čelo on Kolocep Island, taking around 30 minutes on Jadrolinija Lines. Check out the schedule on their website here. Prices are around EUR5.40 one way per adult.
Alternatively, you can arrive by private speedboat to either Donje Čelo or Gornje Čelo.
The other option is to visit Kolocep on a day trip from Dubrovnik, likely on a tour taking in the Elafiti Islands. A full day tour takes in several islands on the Archipelago, including Lopud and Sipan, giving between 1-2 hours at Kolocep.
A few suggestions include:
- Elaphiti Islands Boat Tour from Dubrovnik (around £78/$105 per person)
- Hop-On-Hop-Off Elaphiti Islands Boat Tour from Dubrovnik (around £28/35 per person)
- Hiking & Swimming on Koločep Island Day Trip from Dubrovnik (around £76/$103 per person)
If you’re coming from further afield, such as Split, Hvar, Korčula, Brač or Mljet, there’s no direct route to Kolocep. So you’ll need to get a ferry to Dubrovnik first and change onto the Kolocep service from there.
How to get around Kolocep Island?
The island is completely car-free, and also quite steep. The best way to get around is by foot, but should you arrive with luggage, you can easily organise a local with a golf buggy to give you a ride for a nominal fee. This could be anything from EUR20-50 depending on the time of the day, the amount of things you have and their mood on that day!
It takes around 25-30 minutes to walk between the two main villages on the island. Along the way, you’ll spot charming little homes, the tiny island school and a basketball court. There are also a handful of local vendors selling fresh figs or olive oil, so make sure to bring cash with you! If you fancy a proper walk rather than just the village-to-village stroll, you could hike to the island’s two high points, namely Kameno Brdo (97m) and Križ (125m). These both offer some easy, gentle hiking with good views back over both bays and a nice way to see more of the island’s pine forest interior. I did spot a small snake on one of our hikes, which made me jump out of my skin!
When to visit Kolocep?
The best time to visit is from May to October, when the sea warms up enough for proper swimming (typically above 20°C). July and August are the busiest months, largely with families on holiday. And May, June, September and October offer milder weather that’s ideal if you’d rather hike or kayak without the summer heat.
Spring and autumn temperatures on the island generally sit around 20°C, while July and August can push towards 40°C. Winters bring the cold, gusty Bura wind, and Gornje Čelo in particular tends to catch the Jugo (Sirocco) wind more than Donje Čelo does. So bear that in mind if you’re choosing which side of the island to base yourself on during this time of year.
Where to stay on Kolocep Island?
As mentioned, there is one larger hotel on the island which is called TUI Blue Kalamota Island. This adult-only (16+) hotel caters well to guests from a range of European countries. You can also spend the day there as a guest, paying a fee of around EUR50 per adult to enjoy its facilities and unlimited food and drink.
On the other side of the island is the other main hotel, called Kalamota Beach House. This gorgeous upscale property is located in the cove at Gornje Čelo, and offers a luxurious stay with stunning views back across towards the mainland. It has a stunning rooftop swimming pool, and an expansive waterside decking area, with cabanas for guests and plenty of seating for eating and drinking. Rates can vary from £175 per night in lower season to upwards of £400 in high season. Book your stay at Kalamota Beach House here!
The other main option is to stay in an apartment although there are only a handful of stays on Kolocep! We enjoyed a wonderful stay at this Airbnb in Gornje Čelo. The views were excellent, although it is only accessed by a steep staircase so not suitable for everyone.
A few other options include:
- Casa Maja (from around £101 per night)
- Villa Baburizza (three bedroom villa from around £500 per night)
- Villa Sea Dream (from £120 per night)
Where to eat on Kolocep Island?
There aren’t too many places to eat on the island, so I’d recommend to book a table ahead of time.
In the larger village of Donje Čelo, there are a handful of seafood restaurants along the water’s edge. We ate in Konoba Stari Miri for breakfast one morning, and for dinner one evening. The coffee was pretty good but the evening meal was so-so. We were a group of six, and some meals that came out were delicious and some less good. I’d recommend their salads though, for sure!
Our preferred meals were on the other side of the island in Gornje Čelo. I would highly recommend dinner at Konoba Skerac, a tiny family run restaurant with beautiful views across the bay. Their fish dishes are as fresh as they come, and are cooked on a brick oven right on the terrace. They also serve up delicious homemade deserts including fig strudel! It’s an all-round very authentic Croatian experience, and the family (and their dog) who run it, are lovely.
Just nearby is a sunset beach bar, super relaxed and simple. You can order coffees, beers, ice cream and snacks here throughout the day, and enjoy the fantastic views.
Kalamota Beach House is also excellent, and I enjoyed many morning coffees here and a few late night cocktails too. Their menu is really good and they’re very welcoming to non hotel guests too.
There is one small village shop in Donje Čelo, but its supplies are fairly limited. Although, every morning around 10am, the bakery in Donje Čelo receives a delivery from the mainland. So this is the perfect time for a morning walk to pick up some fresh bread! Otherwise, I recommend doing a food shop at the ferry port before coming over if you’re planning on staying a few days.
Lastly, it’s all worth nothing that cash is preferred across the island. Kalamota Beach House is the main place that accepts card payments. There is an ATM near the small ferry port but I recommend to bring a good amount of cash with you for spending.
Things to See and Do on Kolocep Island
If you’re after tranquil beaches, excellent swimming and hiking through fragrant forested trails, then Kolocep will not disappoint. Days here are slow and peaceful.
For families, some of the beaches are ideal with shallow, safe waters and soft sands underfoot. Other beaches or coves are far rockier, and we’d recommend wearing water shoes to avoid sea urchins.
You can also rent kayaks or paddleboards, and enjoy exploring different coves and the rugged coastline. We actually flew out paddleboards from the UK as sporting equipment. This meant we could spend hours on them every day rather than hiring every time we wanted to go out. We just left them inflated in front of our accommodation during the evening.
And that’s it really! There isn’t too much else to do on Kolocep Island .It’s all about slowing down and enjoying lazy days on and near the water. Except for day trippers being dropped off for an hour or two at a time, the island is so quiet and peaceful. It’s just worlds away from the manic beach resorts around Europe!
Kolocep for families
Worth calling out on its own: this is a genuinely easy island for families with young kids. It’s entirely car-free and the walking between villages is gentle and safe. The sandy beach at Donje Čelo in particular suits younger children well, and evenings are quiet with no real nightlife or noise to worry about. If you’re looking for a calmer alternative to busier islands like Hvar or Korčula, this is one of the better options within easy reach of Dubrovnik.
Kolocep Island Guide
So there’s my guide to this awesome island in Croatia. As you can see, it makes for a perfect day trip from Dubrovnik, or well worth a longer stay too!
I hope this guide to Kolocep Island is useful for planning a trip to Dubrovnik. If you need other guides to the region, I have the following posts on planning a Croatia road trip, which may be helpful. I also have a guide to Obonjan, which is a private island luxury glamping experience near Split, which I highly recommend!
For more information, feel free as always to reach out via email and I’ll get back to you as quickly as I can.
Disclaimer: This is an independent guide to Kolocep Island and is based on a personal trip. There was no gifting or hosted involvement from any local companies or the tourist board.
