01Best Beaches in Lopud

Lopud has two main beaches, and they suit different kinds of stays. Šunj is the destination beach. Lopud Beach is the everyday beach by the village.

Šunj Beach: the best sandy beach near Dubrovnik

Šunj is a sandy beach in a deep bay on the south coast of Lopud. It is one of the very few sandy beaches in the Dubrovnik area. The water stays shallow for a long way out, which makes it the best choice on the island for small children.

Walk from the village
20–30 minutes each way along a paved path.
Buggy shuttle
about €3 each way.
Sunbeds
about €10–15 per set.
Food
a beach restaurant sits directly on the sand, and lunch typically costs €12–22.
Accommodation
none directly on the beach. Everyone sleeps in the village.

In mid-June to late August the central part of the bay fills with day-trippers, especially between 11:00 and 15:00. The edges of the bay are quieter. The best months to swim are May to October.

Lopud Beach: the beach next to the harbour

Lopud Beach lies right beside the ferry pier and the palm-lined seafront promenade. It mixes sand and pebbles, and the water is calm and clear. It is the best beach for a quick swim before a ferry or for a late-afternoon dip. Cafés and restaurants line the promenade behind it.

For sandy swimming, Šunj is clearly the better beach. For convenience, Lopud Beach wins, because most apartments are within a few minutes' walk of it.

02Beachfront Apartments in Lopud

Lopud is car-free, so every apartment is reached on foot from the ferry pier. Most guesthouses sit along the seafront (Obala Iva Kuljevana) and in the lanes just behind it. Many are within 50–200m of Lopud Beach.

Apartment prices in Lopud

Typical high season (July–August)
€60–110 per night for two people, with a kitchenette.
Budget rooms and small apartments
from about €35–45 per night outside peak weeks.
Larger villas with pools
well above €200 per night, and some luxury villas cost far more.
Hotels
around €60–65 per night on average, higher in July and August.

There are no hostels on the island, and the supply of rooms is small. Book high-season dates (July–August) several months ahead.

Apartments close to Lopud Beach

  • Apartments Zoran (Getina 10): about 47m from Lopud Beach and 181m from the village centre.
  • Apartment Dino: a 3-star apartment with a balcony, 100m from Lopud Beach.
  • Apartments Cervelin (Getina 5): about 169m from the beach.
  • Apartments Storelli (Miha Pracata 18): about 189m from the beach.
  • Beach front AmF Holiday Home: a beachfront holiday home with a private beach area and a garden, 600m from Lopud Beach.
  • Lopud Sunset Apartment (Obala Iva Kuljevana 24): a beachfront property with a pool.
  • Family Apartments Dominkovic (Ulica Miha Pracata 13): a beachfront property close to the village centre.

Apartments closer to Šunj Beach

Casa Bella is an 11-minute walk from Šunj and less than 1km from Lopud Beach. Villa Pincevic, in the village centre, is about 10 minutes on foot from Šunj. The lanes marked "Od Sunja" lead toward Šunj, and apartments there cut the walk to roughly 5–10 minutes.

03Where to Stay: Decisive Advice

For most visitors, an apartment on or just behind the seafront is the best choice. It puts Lopud Beach, the ferry and the restaurants within 200m. Choose the Šunj side only if you plan to spend every day on the sand. Walking luggage uphill in summer heat is the main downside of that area.

04How to Get to Lopud

The passenger ferry runs from Gruž port in Dubrovnik to Lopud village and takes about 50–60 minutes, because it stops at other Elaphiti islands on the way. Fares are roughly €3.40–5.40 one way, or €6.80–10.80 return depending on the line. Water taxis and private speedboats from Dubrovnik take about 30 minutes and can drop passengers at Šunj. Boat tours from Dubrovnik also include Lopud on Elaphiti island routes.

05Local Tips for Lopud

Take the first ferry.
An early arrival gives 2–3 hours at Šunj before day-trip crowds arrive.
Stay overnight.
A night on the island gives access to Šunj in the evening, after the last day-trippers have left.
Carry cash and water.
Shops are small, and there is only a tiny supermarket in the village.
Pack light.
There are no cars or taxis, only walking and buggies.
Check ferry times in advance.
The last ferry back to Dubrovnik leaves in the evening, and winter schedules are much thinner than summer ones.

06Best Time to Visit Lopud

May, June and September combine warm sea water with fewer visitors and lower apartment prices. July and August are the busiest and most expensive months. A full day is enough for the village, the walk to Šunj, swimming and lunch. Two to three nights suit a slower beach stay.