Reviewed · SPEEDBOAT TOURS

Private Speedboat Tour

★ 5.0 · 40 reviews From $737 Operated by Dubrovnik Tour Guide · Bookable on Viator
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Get out on the Adriatic. This private speedboat tour gives you a lively change of pace from Dubrovnik’s crowded lanes, with clear-water swimming, cave visits, island villages, and fine views of the city from offshore. I especially like the private boat for up to six people and the freedom to adjust the stops to suit your group.

The tour includes snorkeling equipment, water, soda, and alcoholic drinks, which keeps the day simple. Captain Damir is repeatedly praised for his friendly manner, local stories, and willingness to adapt the trip. The main consideration is the price: at $737.53 per group, it makes the most sense when shared by a full group, and the four-hour schedule means you must choose your stops wisely.

Key points at a glance

Private Speedboat Tour - Key points at a glance

  • Private speedboat for up to six: You avoid a large shared boat and spend the outing with your own group.
  • Flexible island route: Blue Cave, Green Caves, Sunj Beach, Lopud, Sipan, and Bowa Restaurant are possible stops, but you choose how to use your time.
  • Swimming and snorkeling included: Gear is provided, so you can get into the water without arranging extra equipment.
  • Captain Damir gets high praise: His friendly personality, local knowledge, humor, and flexible approach are major parts of the experience.
  • Drinks are included: Water, soda, and alcoholic beverages are supplied during the boat ride.
  • Weather matters: Poor conditions can lead to a new date or a full refund.

Why leave Dubrovnik by boat?

Dubrovnik is easy to admire and easy to tire of. The Old Town can feel packed, particularly when several cruise ships are in port. From the water, you get a different view of the city walls, rooftops, and nearby Lokrum Island, while the noise of the streets fades behind you.

That change is the real point of this outing. You are not simply being transported from one port to another. You get several hours outdoors, with room to swim, look into sea caves, stop in a small harbor, or simply enjoy the ride along the Croatian coast.

I like the contrast. The Old Town is built for walking and sightseeing, while the Elaphiti Islands offer a slower day shaped by the sea. The speedboat lets you cover more ground than a beach visit on foot, but the private format keeps the outing relaxed and personal.

Start at Dubrovnik’s Ribarnica street

Private Speedboat Tour - Start at Dubrovnik’s Ribarnica street

The meeting point is Ribarnica ul. 1, 20000 Dubrovnik. The tour begins and ends there, and the activity is near public transportation. Confirmation is sent when you book, so keep that information handy on the day.

The advertised duration is about four hours, with roughly three hours listed for the island portion and its stops. That leaves a useful amount of time for the boat ride itself, including the views around Dubrovnik and the open-water runs between islands.

One detail deserves attention: several experiences described by the captain and guests lasted longer, including a five-hour outing and an afternoon from 3pm to 7pm. Your booking details should be the final word, so check the exact departure and return times before you commit to other plans.

The ride past Dubrovnik and Lokrum

Private Speedboat Tour - The ride past Dubrovnik and Lokrum

One of the nicest parts of the trip happens before you even reach the Elaphiti Islands. The boat passes Dubrovnik from the water, giving you a broad view of the city that you cannot get from the city walls or the crowded waterfront.

You may also pass Lokrum Island. The combination of Dubrovnik’s fortified shoreline, the open Adriatic, and Lokrum’s wooded outline makes this a strong photo moment. Captain Damir also provides information about Dubrovnik, Croatian culture, and the country’s past, so the ride is not silent transport.

The speedboat itself adds some fun. You get the sensation of covering the coast quickly, but you still have time to stop for swimming and sightseeing. If you prefer a very calm, slow boat ride, the speed and open-air setup may not be ideal. For most people, though, the motion is part of the appeal.

Blue Cave and Green Caves: swim, do not just look

The caves are among the main reasons to book this tour. The Blue Cave and Green Caves offer a chance to see the coast from the water and, depending on conditions, swim into or around these sheltered spots.

The supplied snorkeling equipment matters here. You do not need to arrange masks and other gear before arriving, and the equipment makes it easier to explore the water rather than only taking photographs from the boat.

The Green Cave can be a good example of why a private tour works better than a fixed group outing. One family described their 11-year-old being nervous about entering the cave. Damir went back a second time so the child could try again when ready. That kind of flexibility is difficult on a tightly timed shared excursion.

Still, cave visits depend on the sea and on how busy the area is. The boat can help you arrive before larger companies at times, but there is no guarantee that every cave will be quiet or accessible on your date. If swimming inside a cave is important to you, ask the captain about current conditions at the start.

Sunj Beach on Lopud Island

Private Speedboat Tour - Sunj Beach on Lopud Island

Sunj Beach is known for its sandy shore, which makes it a pleasant change from the rocky coast common around the Adriatic. A stop here gives you the choice of swimming from the boat or spending some time on the beach.

The beach is especially useful for mixed groups. Strong swimmers can use the open water, while children or anyone who prefers land can enjoy the sand. The tradeoff is time. A four-hour tour cannot give you a long beach visit, a full cave circuit, a leisurely lunch, and several island stops all at once.

If Sunj is your priority, tell Damir early. The private format means the day can be arranged around what your group most wants to see, rather than following a fixed public schedule.

Lopud harbor and the Elaphiti rhythm

Private Speedboat Tour - Lopud harbor and the Elaphiti rhythm

Port of Lopud offers a chance to step away from the boat and see an island settlement at a slower pace. The harbor is a pleasant place for a short walk, a look at local life, or a break from swimming.

Several outings gave people time to explore Lopud harbor without feeling rushed. That is important because island visits are not only about checking off a beach or cave. A short stop in a port gives you a sense of how the islands function beyond the day-trip route.

Do not expect a full island tour during this experience. The time is divided among several possible stops, and the official route lists Lopud alongside caves, Sunj Beach, Sipan, and a restaurant option. You will need to choose between breadth and depth.

Sipan’s fisherman village

Sipan adds a more local note to the day. The planned stop is described as a fisherman village, giving you a look at a small coastal community rather than another swimming location.

This stop may appeal most if you want more than scenic water and beach time. It adds a human scale to the outing and lets you see the Elaphiti Islands as lived-in places, not just pretty backdrops.

Again, the four-hour limit matters. If your group wants maximum swimming time, Sipan may be less important than the caves. If you enjoy local settings and short village visits, it could be one of the most worthwhile parts of the route.

Lunch at Bowa Restaurant is optional

Your captain can recommend a local restaurant, and Bowa Restaurant is listed as one possible stop. Food is at your own expense, so budget separately for lunch.

A restaurant stop can make the day feel more complete, especially if you are out over the middle of the day. One account praised a restaurant arranged by Damir, describing it as exceptional. That suggests his local recommendations can be useful, but you should still confirm the restaurant, menu, timing, and expected cost before sitting down.

Lunch also uses valuable tour time. If you want to visit several caves and swim at multiple locations, a restaurant meal may leave less time for the water. If a relaxed meal is central to your plan, make that clear when you meet the captain.

The value of a $737.53 private boat

The price is $737.53 per group, with a stated maximum of six people. That sounds steep beside a standard group excursion, but the comparison is not quite fair. You are paying for a private boat, a captain, a flexible route, included drinks, and snorkeling equipment.

For six people, the cost works out to about $123 per person. For four people, it is about $184 per person. For only two people, the per-person price becomes much harder to justify unless privacy and personal service matter more to you than keeping costs low.

The private setup is the strongest value point. You can ask for more time at a swimming spot, return to a cave if someone needs another try, or skip a stop that does not interest your group. You also avoid sharing the day with strangers.

The advertised capacity is up to six, so plan around that limit. One account described five adults and two children fitting on the boat, but that does not change the stated maximum. If your group includes more than six people, contact the provider rather than assuming everyone can join one boat.

What Captain Damir adds

The captain is a major reason this tour receives such strong praise. Damir is described as warm, funny, attentive, and well informed about Dubrovnik, Croatian culture, and local history. He also appears comfortable adjusting the day when a group changes its mind or needs more time.

That combination matters. A speedboat tour can easily become a simple transport service, with a captain who points at a few sights and watches the clock. Here, the captain is also part guide, host, and trip planner.

You should still speak up about your priorities. Tell him if your group wants caves, beach time, snorkeling, village visits, lunch, or a little of everything. The more clearly you explain your interests at the beginning, the better the flexible format can work for you.

Some experiences also included pickup from a hotel, with one account praising the timing and organization. The stated meeting point for this tour is Ribarnica ul. 1, however, so do not assume hotel pickup is included unless it is confirmed in advance.

Drinks, equipment, and comfort

Water, soda, and alcoholic drinks are included. That is a useful touch on a warm day, and it means you do not need to organize every refreshment before boarding.

Snorkeling equipment is also supplied. You will want to bring whatever personal swim items you prefer, but the provided gear removes one common nuisance from a water-based outing.

The boat has been described as modern and clean, and one family specifically appreciated the plentiful cold drinks. These details may sound small, but they shape a half-day on the water. A clean boat, working equipment, and cold refreshments make the ride easier for everyone.

The tour is not built around a formal meal or a long guided walk. It is best understood as a flexible coastal outing with swimming, sightseeing, and short island stops. That distinction helps you set the right expectations.

Who should book this experience?

I would recommend this tour most strongly to families, couples, and small groups of friends who want control over the day. Families benefit from the ability to change the pace, repeat a cave visit, or choose beach time over a village stop.

It also suits people who have only a short stay in Dubrovnik and want to combine several coastal sights in one outing. You can see the city from offshore, pass Lokrum, reach the Elaphiti Islands, and fit in swimming or snorkeling without arranging several separate activities.

The tour is less suitable if you want a low-cost excursion, a long walking tour, or a fixed cultural program. It may also disappoint anyone expecting a full-day island expedition, since the advertised duration is about four hours.

Good weather is essential. If poor conditions cause cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. For that reason, I would avoid placing this tour on the final few hours of your Dubrovnik stay if seeing the islands is especially important to you.

Should you book the private speedboat tour?

Book it if you want a personal boat day and your group can share the cost. The strongest reasons are the flexible route, the chance to swim and snorkel at caves and beaches, the views of Dubrovnik from the sea, and Damir’s friendly, adaptable guiding.

Think twice if you are traveling alone or as a couple on a tight budget. The price is built for a group of up to six, and the value improves sharply when the boat is full.

For the best day, decide your priorities before departure. Ask for caves if swimming is your main goal, choose Sunj Beach for sand, include Lopud or Sipan for island life, and reserve time for Bowa Restaurant only if lunch matters more than another water stop. Used that way, this tour offers a welcome escape from Dubrovnik’s crowds without giving up the city views that brought you there.

FAQ

Where does the private speedboat tour begin?

The tour begins at Ribarnica ul. 1, 20000, Dubrovnik, Croatia.

Where does the tour end?

The activity ends back at the meeting point.

How long does the tour last?

The advertised duration is approximately four hours.

How many people can join the private boat?

The tour is private for a group of up to six people.

Which places can the tour visit?

Possible stops include the Blue Cave, Green Caves, Sunj Beach, Port of Lopud, a fisherman village on Sipan Island, and Bowa Restaurant.

Can I choose the stops?

Yes. The stops are optional, and you can choose your itinerary with the captain.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment is included.

Are drinks included?

Yes. Water, soda, and alcoholic beverages are included.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The experience requires good weather. If it is canceled because of poor conditions, you will be offered a different date or a full refund. You can also cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the start time.

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