Things To Do in Lopud Island

It’s easy to lose track of the hours at this pleasant seafront café and bar. Have a pre-dinner gin and tonic or unwind after your meal with a few bottles of Karlovačka beer. For something stronger, try Pelinkovac, a local liqueur that packs a punch.

After the sun’s gone down, and the daytrippers have caught the last ferry back to the mainland, people settle down in the restaurants, bars and pubs along Lopud’s harbour. There’s plenty of good conversation and great local wines like Peljesac and Plavac. After a drink or two, the bar staff might crack out their tamburicas – the guitar-like instrument that’s the cornerstone of Croatian folk music.

Culture vultures can’t seem to get enough of this festival that’s been going strong since 1950. Theatre, classical music and opera are staged in Dubrovnik’s smartest venues, like Fort Revelin and the Dominican Church. The ticket office is on Stradun in the old town.

This 15th-century monastery and church is on the far side of Lopud’s bay. Its bell tower is silhouetted against the V-shaped mountain peaks. The church houses priceless Renaissance religious paintings, plus an ornately carved altar.

Whoever put the ‘sun’ in Sunj Beach was right on the money as this serene stretch of sand gets a whopping 2,500 hours of it every year. Fringed with pine trees, it’s an idyllic spot to stretch out on a sunlounger with a good paperback. When you want to exercise your legs, you can wade into the bay’s shallow waters, or try joining in a game of pigigin – a mix of volleyball and tennis – with the local Croatian families.

From rustic Croatian konobas housed in stone villas to upmarket restaurants with astonishing views of the bay, there’s a lot to recommend when it comes to Lopud’s dining scene. For a light snack, try prsut i sir – ham and goat cheese. If it’s something more substantial you’re after, order a plate of grilled fish with Swiss chard and lima beans. Afterwards, stop off at Palma Ice Cream Bar.