The Blue Cave, also known as the Blue Grotto, is one of the most renowned natural attractions in Croatia and a sight to behold. Located on the secluded island of Bisevo, reaching the Blue Cave requires a bit of effort, but this doesn’t deter the crowds.

As you enter through a narrow rocky entrance, the inside of the cave shimmers with an ethereal blue hue, casting a magical glow all around you. The interplay of light and water creates a magical ambiance I can’t even begin to describe.

I have been fortunate enough to visit the Blue Cave before its fame or crowds and I can not begin to explain how incredible it was! These will always be cherished memories. However, my second visit there was worlds removed from the memories I had. 

Although the Blue Cave has become a bit of a tourist hotspot, its mesmerizing blue beauty remains unparalleled and if you do it wisely, the Blue Cave will be an experience you won’t soon forget!

In this article, I’ll provide all the necessary information to plan your visit wisely, from transport options to tour suggestions and the best times to visit so that you can make the most of your visit.

What and where is the Blue Cave

The Blue Cave, known locally as Modra Spilja or Blue Grotto, is a sea cave on the island of Bisevo known for its incredible blue color. At certain times of the day, light spills in through a crack in the rock and shines off the water, illuminating the cave in a warm, blue glow.

The Blue Cave lay undiscovered to all except local fishermen until it was shown to painter Baron Eugen Von Ransonet in 1884. Von Ransonet suggested blasting a hole in the cave using dynamite to make an entrance for boats, and this is how you can still access it today.

This blue cavern is a phenomenal sight for nature lovers and photographers, but do bear in mind that it’s incredibly popular and can get very busy during peak season.

Where is the Blue Cave Croatia?

The Blue Cave is located in a small inlet called Bisun Bay on the tiny island of Bisevo near Vis Island in the Adriatic Sea. Bisevo Island is about 33 miles (70 km) southwest of Split and just a few miles west of Vis Island, the closest inhabited Croatian island.

Getting to the Blue Cave Croatia

Getting to the Blue Cave in Croatia can be a little complicated, which you’d think might deter tourists, but alas, it doesn’t stop the large crowds. However, with a little planning, you too can marvel at this natural wonder.

The simplest (and in my opinion best) way to get to the cave without any hassle is to take an organized speedboat tour. It’s easiest to get there from the nearby islands of Vis and Hvar, however, there are also Blue Cave tours from Split and Trogir.

To get to the cave you first need to go to the ticket office at the small marina on Bisevo from where you’ll hop onto the small boat that takes you into the cave. This is where you’ll be dropped off if taking one of the many speedboat tours.

If you have your own boat for getting to the caves in Croatia, bear in mind that you must moor at the marina in Bisevo. You’ll then need to buy a ticket before being transported on one of the official, smaller boats to the cave.

Best time to visit the Blue Cave

The best time to visit Croatia’s Blue Cave is on a sunny day as the cave only glows when the sun shines through the crack.

Try to get there first thing in the morning, and if you can, visit off-season to avoid the worst of the crowds (unless you love crowds of course, in which case I recommend a Sunday afternoon in August).

Some say the best time to visit is around 11AM or 12PM because of the sun angle but this changes with the seasons. And honesty, as long as it’s a sunny day you’ll get that mesmerising blue glow throughout the day.

Blue Cave Croatia from Split or Trogir

Travel time: 1hour30min – 2h by speedboat one way

Taking a Blue Cave tour from Split, or nearby Trogir, is one of the most popular ways to get there, and you’ll definitely want to include Split on your Croatia itinerary. Just remember that you’ll be spending several hours on a speedboat and it can be a bit choppy sometimes, so if you have the option to visit from a closer island (like Vis or Hvar) that makes more sense.

Best Blue Cave Tours from Split

I highly recommend this 5 island tour from Split to the Bisevo Blue Cave for the best value. It includes several stops allowing you to break up the ride and experience more of Croatia. You’ll stop in Komiza and Stiniva bay on Vis Island, snorkel in the Blue Lagoon on Budikovac Island, and finish off with a visit to Hvar.

Opt for this luxury tour for a more comfortable ride on a bigger, more comfortable vessel. You’ll also be able to visit Komiza town, Stiniva Bay, snorkel in the Blue Lagoon on Budikovac Island, cruise past Palmizana on Pakleni Islands and finish off with a visit to Hvar.

If you’re into food (and who isn’t?) this fantastic Blue Cave gastro tour is perfect for you. It includes a grilled lunch (and ice cream!) as well as plenty of drinks onboard. This tour offers slightly different stops than most other tours so you’ll visit Vis, Hvar and Solta islands on top of the Blue Cave.

Blue Cave Croatia from Hvar

Travel time: 45-50min by speedboat one way

Visiting the Blue Cave from Hvar is an excellent option as it’s a shorter journey than from Split. And you really should spend a bit of time on Hvar for its secluded beaches, rich history and lit party scene.

Best Blue Cave Tours from Hvar

When starting from Hvar I recommend this boat tour to the Blue Cave. On the way, you’ll explore other beautiful coves, beaches, and bays like the Green Cave and Stiniva Cove.

If you want to visit several islands, this is a great option. You’ll visit the Blue Cave on Bisevo, Stiniva Cove on Vis Island, Green Cave on Budikovac Island, snorkel in the turquoise waters off of Ravnik islet, and finish it all off with lunch on the Pakleni islands.

If you want the comfort of a private Blue Cave tour from Hvar, this is a fabulous option. Since there aren’t other tourists on the boat, the captain, Daniel, is usually quite flexible if you want to make minor changes to the itinerary.

Blue Cave Croatia from Dubrovnik

Alright, so this is a tricky one… There are several Blue Cave tours from Dubrovnik, the only catch is, that it’s a different Blue Cave! This one is located on Kolocep which is one of the three inhabited islands in the Elafiti archipelago. 

While I can’t speak for the glow, the Blue Cave on Kolocep near Dubrovnik has one huge advantage – you can swim in it!

Best Blue Cave Tours from Dubrovnik

I highly recommend you book this Elafiti Islands cruise which takes you to all three islands as well as to the Blue Cave on Kolocep. It offers a comfortable boat, lunch, and unlimited drinks for a very affordable price, and you get to explore multiple islands and bays where you can snorkel or swim.

Blue Cave Croatia from Vis

Travel time: 1hour15min by ferry one way

Getting from Vis to Blue Cave is simple as it’s the closest island to Bisevo. There are daily foot passenger ferries from Komiza on Vis to Bisevo during peak season and three or four sailings per week the rest of the year.

There’s no option to book online, so you’ll need to buy your tickets at the port in Komiza, and if you wish to join a tour from Vis, you’ll also need to book that in situ.

Best Blue Cave Tours from Vis

The Alternatura tourist agency offers half-day group tours from Vis and has hourly ferries across the short straight. There’s a booking form on their website or you can pop into their offices in the center of Komiza.

How to pick the best tour of the Blue Cave

You’ll be happy to know there are a ton of tours to the Croatia Blue Grotto, but be aware that some are better than others. Certain tour companies can be pretty shady and just want to milk tourists dry (some don’t even offer water on board) and you’ll definitely want to avoid these.

I’ll recommend some of the best ones below to get you started, but keep the below factors in mind when booking.

Disclaimer: Although I haven’t been able to do all the tours, I’ve gone through the reviews, spoken to operators and checked with other travelers. Below I only recommend worthwhile experiences with trustworthy operators.

Consider your starting point (the closer, the better)

Picking the best Blue Cave tour will depend largely on where you are staying in Croatia. If you’re staying on Vis or Hvar, great, this means you can avoid the queues by getting there nice and early.

It also pays to be a bit closer as the speedboat ride can be bumpy, and no one wants a load of puke in their hair before visiting such a beautiful landmark (or ever, really)!

Find a comfortable vessel and read the reviews

Although the waters of the Adriatic are generally calm, it can get a little choppy so the larger the boat, the smoother the ride.

The speedboat rides can be a lot of fun though, so if you prefer a more high-octane way of reaching the Croatia caves, this is the option for you.

If you have back problems or tend to get seasick you’ll definitely want to opt for a larger vessel! If this is the case I recommend you take the ferry to Hvar or Vis and only do the last stretch on a tiny, unstable speedboat.

Check the forecast at sea

Depending on where you are starting out, it can be a long ride to Bisevo and if the weather is bad the ride can get even rougher than usual.

It doesn’t happen often, but if the waves are too big, it’s possible the tour might be canceled as the boats won’t be able to access the cave through the small opening.

If this is the case, your tour will be rescheduled for a calmer day so you don’t need to worry about becoming a castaway. That being said, it’s best to check before booking what options are available in the event that it’s too rough to go out and your Croatia itinerary doesn’t allow for rescheduling.

Keep in mind that visiting the Blue Cave is only worthwhile if it’s sunny as the whole spectacle only happens when the sun reflects off the blue waters of the cave.

Are the blue caves worth it?

Whether the Blue Cave is worth it will largely depend on your ability to tolerate crowds (an ability that I lack). There’s no denying it really is a beautiful sight, but with queues that stretch for miles (there could be up to 700 people in front of you), it does reduce the magic of the place somewhat.

I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to book the earliest tour possible and if possible visit out of season.

With all that being said, most people who visit the Blue Cave have a great time, especially as some tours include food and drinks, visits to secluded beaches and snorkeling making for an incredible day out at sea and a memorable experience.

Blue Cave FAQ

Can you swim in Blue Cave?

Unfortunately, it’s not possible to swim in the Blue Cave itself, and with the conveyor belt of tourist boats coming in and out it just wouldn’t be safe to do so. You can swim near the ticket office while waiting for your turn and most of the Blue Cave tours include swimming at some gorgeous beaches, so if you’re intent on getting wet, you can do so.

How long is the Blue Cave tour?

When you visit the Blue Grotto you’ll get about five minutes inside the cave to go “ooh” and “ahhh” before the boat turns around and lets the next lot of cattle, I mean people, in. The busier it gets, the shorter the time you’ll have inside, so do bear that in mind when booking a tour.

However, most tours are either “half-day” or “full-day” tours since it’s a long ride and they stop at several other destinations, not to mention the wait times which can stretch for hours.

Why is the Blue Cave in Croatia blue?

The Blue Cave in Croatia is blue thanks to sunlight that through pierces the cave roof and illuminates the water. This then reflects around the cave causing it to glow blue. There’s also a green cave in Croatia that’s similar but sees way fewer tourists (and you can even swim inside).

How long is the wait at the Blue Cave Croatia?

The wait to get inside the Blue Cave Croatia can be anything from ten minutes (if you’re lucky to be one of the first) to up to two or three hours depending on the season. Obviously, during peak season the wait is going to be longer.

How do I get to the Blue Cave in Croatia?

The best way to get to the Blue Cave in Croatia is to take an organized tour. Tours depart from Split, Trogir, Hvar and Vis.

Since Split and Trogir are quite far and the speedboat ride can be rough, I recommend spending a few days on Hvar and doing the tour from here. You can also take your own boat to the island of Bisevo and go to the ticket office to book a place.

Best time to visit Croatia

The best time to visit Croatia is in late spring or early autumn when the weather is pleasant and the crowds (and prices) are manageable. September is the best month to visit Croatia since the weather is pleasant, the sea is warm and it is not as busy as during the summer holidays.

Croatia is a stunning country best known for its beautiful coastline, breathtaking islands, historic coastal towns and lush National Parks filled with lakes and waterfalls. You’ll want warm and sunny weather to best enjoy the beautiful landscapes. However, summer can get incredibly hot and even more crowded so keep this in mind if visiting in July or August.

Planning a trip to Croatia?

Croatia is a stunning country with countless gorgeous islands, charming roman towns, beautiful nature, and delicious food. To help you plan your trip I’ve prepared a series of Croatia travel guides. And for an easy plug & play solution make sure to check out my Croatia itinerary (coming soon).