Should youโre visiting Croatiaโs coast, you shouldnโt miss the prospect for a day journey to one of many islands โ after we had been in Cut up, that meant Hvar, however when youโve acquired a number of selections for a day journey from Dubrovnik, I couldnโt resist a day on Lokrum with children.
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So why select a go to to Lokrum island with children over a cruise to the Elaphiti Islands (which had been on my wishlist too)? Partly simply how simple it’s, a 10-minute boat trip from the Previous Port and the prospect to comply with our personal schedule, plus the very fact you may spot wild peacocks, uncover a monkish curse, a hyperlink with royalty and swim within the Lifeless Sea.
Tempted? You ought to be. This was probably the most enjoyable elements of our journey, not only for getting out on the water, however as a result of the entire island feels so deliciously laid again โ good if your loved ones is searching for a break from the crowds in Dubrovnik. Right hereโs the way to fill your day on Lokrum with children.
Spot the peacocks (and bunnies)
As a nature reserve, itโs no shock that you simplyโll see loads of wildlife right here โ there are wild rabbits on the islands, though sadly they had been all tucked up of their burrows after we visited, so that you may need higher luck in the event you enterprise to quieter areas or go to when itโs much less sizzling.
Nonetheless, we noticed too many peacocks and peahens to rely, together with one peacock sliding down the hillside to strut by the water on the Lifeless Sea (learn on for extra about that).
Youโll most likely see your first one virtually as quickly as youโre off the ferry, and whereas theyโre wild animals, chances are high a few of them will method you โ one peahen appeared to take a liking to our neighbourโs towel on the seashore, and apparently wished to say it for her personal. No-one was fairly certain why!
The cutest factor was seeing peachicks with their moms, tiny and fluffy hiding underneath her wings. One peahen even managed to have 5 tucked away as she strutted alongside.
In addition to the wild peacocks and shy bunnies, we noticed lizards and numerous smaller birds hopping by the undergrowth. Should youโre very fortunate, you may even spot a Hermannโs tortoise
Swim within the Lifeless Sea
Certainly one of my favorite issues to do on Lokrum with children is to take a dip in Mrtvo Extra, aka the Lifeless Sea โ donโt anticipate the identical form of salinity as its better-known namesake, the place you may float with no effort, however his little saltwater lake is a superb spot for a dip.
Thereโs some shade on the pebbly seashore in addition to within the water, and whereas the water is cool (particularly at first!), it was beautiful and refreshing within the Could sunshine, with some hotter patches as you swam out to the sunny bit.
Itโs nicely price bringing water sneakers because itโs very pebbly till you get a bit of means out, or be ready to go away sandals/flip flops on the shore, hobble out a bit of means after which swim as quickly as you may lie flat. You should buy water sneakers by the port (on the similar place promoting ice lotions), but it surelyโs cheaper to carry your individual.
We had been warned to look out for sea urchins however didnโt see any round this space. You can even swim on the fabulously named Hidden Cove (not that hidden in the event youโve acquired Google Maps), in addition to Lokrum Predominant Seashore by the rocks and a few different seashores additional north (each handily referred to as Lokrum seashore).
By the way, the seashore within the south-east, referred to as FKK Rocks, is a nudist seashore.
Stroll by the rocks
Not removed from the Lifeless Sea, you will get all the way down to the water on Lokrum rocks โ a bit flat rocky space just a bit means down from the island correct, with a number of little coves the place you may sunbathe.
Enjoyable for teenagers to wander over, youโll additionally discover individuals sunbathing right here, in addition to ladders down into the ocean itself for anybody who desires a extra energetic swim than within the Lifeless Sea.
Discover the ruins of the monastery
One of many first buildings youโll come throughout as you discover โ or the stays of buildings no less than โ the monastery was initially constructed within the early eleventh century. The story tells that an amazing fireplace broke out in Dubrovnik in 1023, with the townโs inhabitants vowing to construct a monastery if the town was spared.
A lot of the ruins you may see immediately are from later buildings, principally fifteenth and sixteenth century, with the monastery additionally broken throughout the 1667 earthquake which hit Dubrovnik.
At this time, itโs very atmospheric to wander by; youโll see hovering arches from rooms which now not exist, the form of different rooms picked out on the ground, and also youโll wander by what was as soon as the cloisters.
DID YOU KNOW? The island of Lokrum has its very personal curse, set by the monks who as soon as lived right here โ within the early nineteenth century, a French military basic ordered the monastery closed and the monks expelled. Itโs mentioned that on their ultimate evening on the island, they walked thrice across the island, holding their candles the wrong way up to go away a path of wax, chanting โWhosoever claims Lokrum for his personal private pleasure shall be damnedโ.
At first, individuals werenโt postpone โ however a path of demise and monetary catastrophe has adopted anybody who owned it. The legend says the curse will solely be lifted when each final drop of wax is picked up. At this time itโs owned by the Republic of Croatia, slightly than any particular person, and the pleasure is shared with everybody who visitsโฆ
Sit on the Iron Throne
Like many locations elsewhere in Dubrovnik and Croatia, youโll discover filming places for Recreation of Thrones on the island, together with within the monastery ruins which doubled as Qarth.
And thereโs now a bit of exhibition about filming, plus some pictures of the varied places, inside one of many intact rooms from the outdated monastery.
There are a number of of the opposite Lokrum legends talked about too in case your children do not know about Recreation of Thrones, however you donโt must be a fan to need to pose on the Iron Throne. Be able to queue however in Could all of it moved fairly rapidly, and everybody was thoughtful when it got here to taking pictures and letting others have their flip.
Stroll by the botanic gardens
Created by Austrian Archduke Maximilian I in 1858, the botanic gardens are like a individually little unique world contained in the island.
Filled with timber together with eucalyptus, in addition to flowers and cacti, itโs beautiful to wander by, particularly in late spring/early summer time when the flowers are blooming and scenting the air.
There are data boards dotted round as nicely in the event youโre eager to study extra about what youโre seeing or you may simply stroll alongside the winding paths as you discover.
Discover a number of the landmarks
There are numerous landmarks dotted across the island, useful in case your children prefer to have a aim once youโre strolling.
These vary from Charlotteโs nicely, not removed from the Lifeless Sea, to Fort Royal, round 45 minutesโ stroll from the ferry port at Portoc within the north of the island, and the Lazaret, a seventeenth century quarantine station barely additional north โ stroll up the Path of Paradise to get there.
The fort is the most important landmark; constructed by the French when Napoleonโs forces briefly occupied Dubrovnik and the encircling space, it stands on the very best level with some incredible views down over the island and again to the town. Finest tried early within the day or later within the afternoon!
Hear the story of Richard the Lionheart
Thereโs an sudden hyperlink to one in all Englandโs Plantagenet kings on Lokrum too โ itโs mentioned that Richard the Lionheart was caught in a storm on the Adriatic Sea, whereas travelling dwelling from the Third Campaign.
Fearing for his life, he vowed to construct two church buildings devoted to the Virgin Mary if he was saved โ one on the primary place that he stepped on land, the opposite again in England. Escaping demise, he was shipwrecked on Lokrum and set about fulfilling the primary a part of his vow.
Listening to that royalty was on the island, a delegation of Dubrovnikโs main residents had been despatched to Lokrum to ask him into the town and persuaded him to fund a church in Dubrovnik as an alternative, in the event that they constructed a smaller church on Lokrum. Each saved their facet of the discount with Richard forsaking a small fortune which helped construct of Dubrovnikโs cathedral, whereas you can too see the small Church of the Annunciation on the island.
Lokrum with children: have to know
As Lokrum is a protected pure reserve, youโll discover very restricted improvement on the island โ however in the event youโre planning a day on Lokrum with children, youโll be glad to know there are a number of amenities to make your journey simpler.
What amenities are there?
There are some bathrooms on the island, on the port and across the eating places/cafes, with a number of locations to get meals โ some are fancier, some are locations simply to seize snacks and an ice cream.
Lacroma Snack Bar is among the closest to the ferry dock, or for drinks (and ice cream), Lake Cocktail Bar close to the Lifeless Sea is an efficient choice. Alternatively, if you would like a correct meal, Lacroma Restaurant and Rajski Vrt (Eden Backyard) restaurant are each near the monastery ruins, though youโll discover value tags to match.
We had been instructed playing cards might not be accepted and to take money, however had no drawback utilizing a card to purchase an ice cream โ thereโs nowhere to get money on the island, so itโs a very good plan to have some with you simply in case.
There are additionally loads of locations to eat a picnic, together with picnic tables within the shade, so you may carry your individual foods and drinks โ simply made certain to eliminate all of your garbage (or take it dwelling), and donโt feed the peacocks, who’re very keen on making an attempt to peck up any crumbs. The Olive Grove is a beautiful shady spot.
Thereโs additionally a small playground and a bit of soccer pitch subsequent to it in case your children have power to burn โ carry your individual ball if you would like a kick round although.
Youโll additionally discover a small vacationer data workplace close to the port, which sells maps, though there are additionally larger maps dotted across the island with key factors of data, so I simply took a photograph of these and navigated by it.
What you receivedโt discover is anyplace to remain โ itโs unlawful to remain in a single day on Lokrum (and the final ferry leaves at 7pm).
How lengthy to spend on Lokrum with children
Permit no less than two hours โ even in the event you donโt discover the entire island, youโll want time to wander previous a number of of the principle spots in addition to time to sit back out by the water or underneath a shady tree.
Thereโs one thing within the air which makes you need to decelerate, so donโt anticipate to hurry round, and you may calm down on the little seashores for so long as you need.
If you wish to uncover each nook of Lokrum Island with children, youโll want longer, particularly in the event youโre strolling as much as the fort or planning to go to Lokrum seashore within the north.
We spent round three hours, which felt lengthy sufficient to discover a number of of the important thing areas and have probability for a swim, but it surely was then too sizzling to need to do any extra strolling.
What does it price
Thereโs a payment to enter the protected reserve however your return boat fare contains the price of visiting the island โ at present, itโs 30 Euros for adults, 5 Euros for teenagers.
There aren’t any charges to do something on the island, except youโre shopping for meals/drinks/snacks so when youโve arrived, itโs all free!
Easy methods to get to Lokrum Island with children
The ferries run from the outdated harbour in Dubrovnik โ the Ploce Gate is the closest and also you want the longer pier (by Pokliskar restaurant).
Thereโs a sales space the place you will get tickets close to the place the wood ferries depart, or look out for the QR code to scan on the wall close by to purchase tickets on-line so you may skip the queue, which is a good suggestion as it may be a bit frantic on the ticket counter.
Boats run every day from April to November. Timings appeared a bit tough to seek out out with a number of the data on-line being old-fashioned and nothing displayed across the port, so itโs price doublechecking in the event youโre visiting exterior peak season.
Ultimately we did discover a summer time timetable for boats to Lokrum โ in Could/June, the ferry was operating each half-hour (on the hour and half hour departing Dubrovnik and at quarter previous and quarter to from Lokrum). The ferry journey itself solely takes about 10 minutes to succeed in the island and there are some beautiful views on the way in which.
Should youโre feeling extra energetic, you may kayak to the island โ understand that even the shortest route between the town and the island is a number of kilometres, so it should take some paddling to get there (and might be uneven).
Youโll want to rent kayaks for the entire day, and pay the doorway payment on arrival โ finest for households with older children, who’ve some sea kayaking expertise! There are numerous kayaking excursions from Dubrovnik, though most will solely paddle previous Lokrum slightly than cease.
Disclosure: This publish incorporates affiliate hyperlinks โ any purchases you make are unaffected however I’ll obtain a small fee
Predominant picture courtesy of Depositphotos, all different pictures copyright MummyTravels
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