01How Island Hopping Works in Medulin
Medulin sits on the southern tip of the Istrian peninsula, about 10 km from Pula. The coast south of town holds an archipelago of around 11 uninhabited islets, including Levan, Fenoliga, Ceja, Trumbuja, Bodulaš, Šekovac and Finera. There is no public ferry between them. Every route runs on a tour boat, a private skipper, a speedboat or a rented boat.
Most boats leave from Medulin Harbour. Shared tours ask guests to arrive 30 minutes before departure. Tours run mainly from late spring to early autumn, and the sea is calmest from June to September.
02Which Islands Are Worth Visiting?
Levan Island
Levan is the most popular stop. It has a sandy beach, which is unusual in Istria, and a seasonal beach restaurant. The crossing from Medulin by speedboat takes about 15 minutes. Sunbeds, umbrellas and food are paid on the spot, and cash is the safest option.
The island works well for families because the entry into the water is gradual. It is also the most crowded stop in July and August, mostly between 11:00 and 16:00.
Fenoliga Island
Fenoliga is known for fossilised dinosaur footprints in the rock. Speedboat tours include it as a short stop for photos and a swim. Plan around 20–30 minutes there. Footprints are easier to spot on calm days with low sun, so earlier departures work better.
Ceja Island
Ceja is a quieter swim stop with clear water and rocky shores. Full-day shared tours combine it with Cape Kamenjak and a lunch served on board, usually from about €27–30 per person when booked online.
Porer Lighthouse
Porer is a small islet at the southern end of Cape Kamenjak. The lighthouse dates from 1846, the Austro-Hungarian period. Boats pass it rather than land. It is the visual highlight of the longer tours.
Cape Kamenjak and Golumbera Cave
Cape Kamenjak is a nature park on the mainland, not an island, but nearly every island trip includes it. Tours stop for a guided swim at Golumbera, a sea cave under the cliffs. The sail from Medulin to Kamenjak takes about 1 hour on a slow tour boat.
03Types of Island Hopping Tours and Costs
Shared tour boats
This is the cheapest option. Half-day and full-day tours to Kamenjak, Porer and Ceja start around €27–30 per person on the lower end. All-inclusive versions with drinks and a meal usually run around €45–50. Durations are 3–6 hours. Sunset dolphin cruises last about 3 hours and include dinner. Dolphin sightings are common in season but not guaranteed.
Speedboat tours
Speedboats cover more islands in less time. Small-group tours that include Fenoliga, a sea cave, a cliff jump and a lighthouse pass run about €80–100 per person. Smaller boats feel waves more, so people prone to seasickness should choose a larger vessel.
Private boat with captain
A private 6-hour tour from Medulin Harbour, 11:00–17:00, costs from €350 for 1–8 guests, €400 for 9–10 and €450 for 11–14, with captain and fuel included. For groups of six or more this is cheaper per person than most shared tours and allows a custom route. Larger pirate-style boats for up to 40 guests are priced from about €1,400.
Self-drive boat rental
Small 5 m boats with a 6 hp engine can be driven without a boat licence. Rental runs around €130 per day for up to 6 people. Low engine power limits range, so stay inside the sheltered bay near Medulin and Levan rather than heading for Kamenjak's open water.
Longer trips: Brijuni
The Brijuni islands lie north of Pula. A private 8-hour combination of Levan, Ceja, Kamenjak and Brijuni departing from Fažana costs about €1,250 for up to 11 people. It is a large day for the price. Most visitors based in Medulin are better off skipping it and spending that day on the local archipelago.
04Best Time to Go
- June and September
- Calm sea, warm water, fewer boats at Levan. This is the best balance.
- July and August
- Hottest weather and busiest beaches. Book shared tours a day or more ahead.
- May and October
- Quieter, but the water is cooler and some beach restaurants on Levan may be closed.
- Time of day
- Morning departures reach Levan before the crowd peaks. Sunset cruises avoid the heat completely.
05Opinion: Skip the Biggest Boat, Book Early or Late
The long, all-inclusive pirate-ship trips are good value for families, but they spend much of the day sailing and eating. Visitors who mainly want to swim and see islands get more from a speedboat or a small private charter. For a group of four to eight, the €350 private tour beats a shared boat on both price per head and time spent in the water.
06Local Tips
- Bring cash for Levan. Sunbeds, beach bar drinks and food are not covered by tour prices, including on private tours.
- Bring water shoes. Many swim spots at Fenoliga, Ceja and Kamenjak have rocky entries.
- Choose the weather window. Skippers can change or cancel trips in rough seas, and a refund or new date is normally offered. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure is standard on most listed tours.
- Use the speedboat transfer for Levan. A taxi-boat crossing to Levan or Kamenjak takes about 15 minutes and costs from roughly €30 per person. It suits a beach day more than a full tour.
- Pack sun protection. There is little natural shade on the islets.
- Meeting point. Shared tours gather in Medulin Harbour, by the boat. Arrive 30 minutes early.
07Combine Islands with Land Stops
Cape Kamenjak can also be reached by land from Premantura, a few kilometres from Medulin. Pairing a boat tour with a separate bike or car visit to the park gives two views of the same coast. Pula, with its Roman amphitheatre, is a 20-minute drive away and fits an afternoon after a morning boat trip.
08Booking Checklist
- Confirm departure point and time at least a day ahead.
- Check what is included: drinks, lunch, snorkelling gear and sunbeds vary widely.
- Ask whether the tour lands on Levan or only passes it.
- For private tours, ask for the route in advance, since skippers adjust it to wind and swell.
- Children are generally welcome on shared boats, but wheelchair access is limited on most vessels.
