Our pickSmall-group cave boat
Morning or afternoon
- Duration
- 4 hrs
- Rating
- 4.88
- Reviews
- 1,156
- Price
- from $69
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Compare · Koločep or Biševo
The Blue Cave near Dubrovnik, and how it differs
Search for the Blue Cave in Croatia and more than one place comes up: Biševo near Vis and Koločep near Dubrovnik. They are far apart, very different to visit, and easy to confuse.
Check availabilityfrom $137 · cancel at no cost
Editorial team, blue-cave-hvar.comUpdated October 25, 20266-minute read22 sources
A name shared by more than one cave
The name causes real confusion. The famous Blue Cave, Modra špilja, is on the islet of Biševo, in Balun cove, 4.5 nautical miles (8.3 km) off Komiža on Vis.1 Boats from Hvar and Split go there. Far to the south, near Dubrovnik, the island of Koločep has its own Blue Cave, a sea grotto that boats from Dubrovnik visit.2 Many searches for the Blue Cave near Dubrovnik are really about this second cave.
They are different trips, not alternatives on the same day. Biševo belongs to the outer islands of central Dalmatia, reached from Hvar on a 7.5-hour speedboat day. Koločep is one of the Elaphiti islands, the closest of them to Dubrovnik and a 25-minute ferry ride from Gruž port.3 If you are staying in Dubrovnik, the Koločep cave is the realistic choice; if you are on Hvar, Biševo is the one to aim for.
This page is written for travellers who are deciding between them, or who have booked one and want to know what the other is like. We cover how each cave is visited, what the tours from Dubrovnik include, and when it is worth travelling up the coast to Hvar for the Biševo cave instead. Both are worth seeing, but they offer very different experiences in the water.
The Blue Cave on Koločep
Koločep is small, green and quiet, the nearest of the three inhabited Elaphiti islands, alongside Lopud and Šipan.6 The Dubrovnik Tourist Board calls the Blue Cave, a mesmerizing sea grotto accessible by boat, one of the island's highlights.2 Snorkelling and diving are popular around Koločep thanks to its clear water and underwater caves.7 Its Blue Cave is one of those caves, and tours usually pair it with a cluster of green caves nearby.
The big difference from Biševo is how you get inside. One Dubrovnik tour says that to see the caves, including the island's Blue Cave, guests get off the boat and swim or snorkel in. Another says the activity requires swimming skills. So this is a cave for swimmers: you float in the blue light yourself, rather than sitting in a boat. That is a wonderful experience, but only if you are comfortable in deep water.
If you cannot swim well, think twice, or choose a tour that also offers time on a beach. Ask the crew about life vests and whether you can stay on board while others swim. Bring a mask: the light is best seen with your face in the water, looking down at the colour beneath you. On calm days the water around Koločep is clear enough to make even the swim to the cave a highlight.
Minutes
Time at each stop on our Dubrovnik pick
min
Side by side
Biševo against Koločep
| Cave | Biševo | Koločep |
|---|---|---|
| Near | Vis & Komiža | Dubrovnik |
| Getting inside | Small cave boats | Swimming |
| Swimming inside | Forbidden | Yes |
| Typical tour | 7.5 hrs from Hvar | 4 hrs |
| Ticket | 18 or 24 euros | Ask your boat |
Biševo as its official site, the Komiža Tourist Board and the Hvar listing state it; Koločep as the Dubrovnik Tourist Board and the Dubrovnik listings state it.14582
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Biševo or Koločep?
Pick the cave that fits your trip
The Blue Cave, a mesmerizing sea grotto, is one of the island's highlights, accessible by boat.
Blue Cave tour from Dubrovnik: what is on offer
Most of the boats are short half-day trips. A popular Blue Cave tour from Dubrovnik lasts 4 hours, rated 4.87 from 2,776 reviews, from $63. Its itinerary runs 15 minutes by speedboat to Koločep's Blue Cave for 30 minutes, then to the three green caves on Koločep and on to Šunj beach for 1.5 hours. It is a shared tour, and the listing is clear that you need to be able to swim.
The tour this page recommends is a small-group boat, rated 4.88 from 1,156 reviews and starting from $69. It lasts 4 hours, visits the three green caves on Koločep for 45 minutes and Šunj beach for an hour, and saves the Blue Cave for last, with 30 minutes there. It runs morning and afternoon departures and leaves from Cavtat and Srebreno as well. Its guides, transport and value for money all score between 4.8 and 4.9.
For a whole day, an Elaphiti islands boat stops at Koločep's Blue Cave and then visits Koločep, Šipan and Lopud over 8 hours, rated 4.77 from 751 reviews and from $58. A speedboat version covers the Blue Cave, the green caves and Šunj in 2 to 4 hours, rated 4.88 from 521 reviews, from $64. The price range is narrow, so choose by length and by how much swimming you want.
Map
From Hvar harbour to the Blue Cave on Biševo
The speedboat route from Hvar town past the Pakleni islands to the caves and coves of Vis, a closer look at Komiža and Biševo, and where Split, the ferries and Dubrovnik sit on the coast.
1Hvar Town2Palmižana3Green Cave4Budikovac5Stiniva6Blue Cave7Komiža8Vis town
6Blue Cave7Komiža9Pritišćina
10Split11Split Airport12Stari Grad1Hvar Town8Vis town6Blue Cave13Dubrovnik14Koločep
- 1Hvar Town
The Kabina Boats office on the harbour, where the Vis and Blue Cave speedboat starts.
In Google Maps ↗ - 2Palmižana
ACI Marina Palmižana, about 2.5 nautical miles from Hvar town.9
In Google Maps ↗ - 3Green Cave
On the islet of Ravnik, a protected monument of nature since 1967.10
In Google Maps ↗ - 4Budikovac
The Blue Lagoon swim stop named on the Hvar listing.
In Google Maps ↗ - 5Stiniva
A pebble bay ringed by limestone cliffs, reached by sea or steep paths.11
In Google Maps ↗ - 6Blue Cave
In Balun cove on Biševo, 4.5 nautical miles (8.3 km) off Komiža.1
In Google Maps ↗ - 7Komiža
13 km from Vis town, a 15-minute bus ride.12
In Google Maps ↗ - 8Vis town
Linked to Split by a ferry that runs all year.13
In Google Maps ↗ - 9Pritišćina
The other swim stop the Hvar listing may use instead of Budikovac.
In Google Maps ↗ - 10Split
Catamaran line 9602 calls at Milna, Hvar town and Vis.14
In Google Maps ↗ - 11Split Airport
A private catamaran reaches Stari Grad in one hour.15
In Google Maps ↗ - 12Stari Grad
Hvar's main car ferry terminal, 20 minutes by road from Hvar town.16
In Google Maps ↗ - 13Dubrovnik
Koločep lies 25 minutes by ferry from Gruž port.3
In Google Maps ↗ - 14Koločep
Its Blue Cave is a sea grotto reached by boat.2
In Google Maps ↗
Checklist
For a Koločep cave trip
01
Bring
- Swimwear, mask and towel
- Reef-friendly sunscreen
- A life vest if you need one
02
Check
- Everyone can swim in deep water
- Morning or afternoon departure
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours
Cost calculator
A Dubrovnik cave boat for your group
Starting totals by group size
People
Total from$137
per participant from $69
Check availabilityfree cancellationTotals take the cheapest per-guest starting fare shown on GetYourGuide for each boat and multiply it by the number in your party, at the ECB exchange rate of the day; cave tickets are extra and checkout gives the final figure.
Video
The Elaphiti islands by boat: the Koločep Blue Cave, Lopud and Šunj
No YouTube code runs on this page until you press play.
Biševo: a cave you enter by boat
The Biševo cave works the other way round. To protect it and for safety, it can only be visited accompanied by the concession holder, in its small boats.4 Bathing, swimming and diving are all forbidden inside.5 You sit in a boat that slips through an entrance 1.5 m high and 2.4 m wide, and the glow comes up from the sandy floor around you.1718
It is also busier and more organised. The Komiža Tourist Board counts about 50 000 visitors a year.19 A ticket is required, 24 euros for adults in high season and 18 euros off season.8 The visit lasts about 40 minutes from Mezoporat cove.20 In return you see a cave whose light has drawn visitors since 1884, when Eugen Ransonnet introduced it to the world.21
Reaching it takes more effort from the south. From Hvar the speedboat day lasts 7.5 hours and includes the Green Cave, Stiniva and a lagoon swim too. Boats link Hvar with Dubrovnik and the other islands, so you can combine both caves on a longer trip along the coast.22 Our pages on getting to Hvar and on tours from Hvar explain the details.
Which Blue Cave should you choose?
Choose by where you are and how you like the water. If you are based in Dubrovnik for a few days, the Koločep cave is a half-day trip from the city and comes with beach time at Šunj. If you love to swim and snorkel, it is also the more hands-on experience. The tours start low, from $58 for a full Elaphiti day.
If you are on Hvar, or travelling along the coast anyway, the Biševo cave is the one with the famous light and the long history. It sits in a protected landscape of caves and coves around Vis, and a day there also takes in the Green Cave on Ravnik and the cove of Stiniva. It suits non-swimmers better too, because you see the inside of the cave from a boat.
Some travellers do both. A week on the coast can include a few days on Hvar with a Biševo day, then a boat or a drive south to Dubrovnik and a half-day to Koločep. If that is your plan, do Biševo when the sea forecast is good, since the open water west of Vis is more exposed than the sheltered channel around the Elaphiti islands.
Practical tips for the Dubrovnik cave
Check your swimming before you book. The Koločep tours are built around getting into the water, and one listing states that swimming skills are required. If someone in your group does not swim, ask whether the boat stays nearby and whether there are life vests on board. Confident young swimmers will enjoy it; younger children may be happier on the sand at Šunj.
Think about the time of day. The tour this page recommends runs both morning and afternoon departures. If you can, pick the departure that reaches the Blue Cave nearer the middle of the day, when the sun is high over the water. Bring a mask, reef-friendly sunscreen and a towel, and leave valuables at the hotel.
Finally, mind the weather and the booking terms. Both of our top Dubrovnik picks allow free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead. Skippers can change the route in rough weather, so a cave stop is never a promise. Book a day with a calm forecast if you can, and keep your evening free in case the boat runs late.
Into the blue
From Hvar harbour to the glowing cave
7.5 hours, up to 12 guests, two caves and swims; cancel free up to 24 hours before.
You ask,we answer.
Is there a Blue Cave near Dubrovnik?
Yes, on Koločep. The Dubrovnik Tourist Board lists the Blue Cave as one of Koločep's highlights.2
Is it the same as the Biševo cave?
No. The Biševo cave lies off Komiža on Vis, far to the north-west.1
Can you swim into the Koločep cave?
Yes, on the tours. One Dubrovnik listing says guests swim or snorkel to visit the caves.
Can you swim in the Biševo cave?
No. Swimming, bathing and diving are forbidden there.5
How long is a Koločep cave tour?
Usually 4 hours. The most reviewed tours run 4 hours from Dubrovnik.
How far is Koločep from Dubrovnik?
25 minutes by ferry. It is the closest Elaphiti island to the city, from Gruž port.3
Do I need to be a good swimmer?
Yes. One listing states that the trip requires swimming skills.
Sources
What this guide is based on
- 1Komiža Tourist BoardBLUE CAVE (ISLAND BIŠEVO)↩
- 2Dubrovnik Tourist BoardNatural sights↩
- 3Dubrovnik Tourist BoardNatural sights↩
- 4Town of Komiža, Biševo Visitor Centre (official Blue Cave site)Visit the Blue Cave↩
- 5Town of Komiža, Biševo Visitor Centre (official Blue Cave site)Code of Conduct↩
- 6Dubrovnik Tourist BoardNatural sights↩
- 7Dubrovnik Tourist BoardNatural sights↩
- 8Nautički centar Komiža (Blue Cave concession holder)Cjenik usluga / Price list, Modra špilja / The Blue Cave - Island Biševo (PDF linked by the Komiža Tourist Board as the prices for 2026)↩
- 9Hvar Tourist BoardNautical↩
- 10Vis Archipelago UNESCO Global GeoparkProtected natural monuments and significant landscapes↩
- 11Vis Archipelago UNESCO Global GeoparkProtected natural monuments and significant landscapes↩
- 12Town of Komiža, Biševo Visitor Centre (official Blue Cave site)How to reach us?↩
- 13Town of Komiža, Biševo Visitor Centre (official Blue Cave site)How to reach us?↩
- 14Town of Komiža, Biševo Visitor Centre (official Blue Cave site)How to reach us?↩
- 15Hvar Tourist BoardHow to reach Hvar↩
- 16Hvar Tourist BoardHow to reach Hvar↩
- 17Komiža Tourist BoardBLUE CAVE (ISLAND BIŠEVO)↩
- 18Town of Komiža, Biševo Visitor Centre (official Blue Cave site)Visit the Blue Cave↩
- 19Komiža Tourist BoardBLUE CAVE (ISLAND BIŠEVO)↩
- 20Town of Komiža, Biševo Visitor Centre (official Blue Cave site)Visit the Blue Cave↩
- 21Town of Komiža, Biševo Visitor Centre (official Blue Cave site)Visit the Blue Cave↩
- 22Hvar Tourist BoardIsland hopping↩
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