Coast, vineyards and stone-walled villages just south of the airport. The half-day that turns into a long lunch.
Konavle is the slim, southern slice of Croatia between the Adriatic and the mountains of Montenegro. For most of its history it has been a place of vineyards, olive groves and stone-walled hamlets, looked after by the Republic of Dubrovnik as carefully as the Old Town itself. A morning here is one of the gentlest introductions to Croatia you can have — and it begins at Cavtat, fifteen minutes from the airport and forty from the Old Town.
Cavtat is the prettier-than-Dubrovnik secret. The town curls around a quiet horseshoe bay shaded by Aleppo pines, with two beaches, a 16th-century rector's palace, and the Bukovac House — the studio of Croatia's most celebrated painter, Vlaho Bukovac. We start with coffee on the promenade and a slow loop of the headland, with Dubrovnik visible across the water and the airport runway disappearing into the cliffs behind.
From Cavtat the road climbs into Konavle, where vineyards open out below and traditional stone houses are clustered around tiny squares. Your driver knows two or three families who keep working farms — usually we visit one for a tasting of homemade rakija, a sip of red and a plate of local cheese, with the host explaining how the silk and wine traditions of the valley survived the wars. If you'd like, we can finish with a stop in a folklore village like Čilipi or a short hike along the Konavle stream.
The whole route is paced for half a day — early start at 9am for a midday return, or a 1pm pickup that finishes at golden hour. Children are very welcome, and most of the konobas have animals or a vine-shaded courtyard to wander. It's the kind of trip that quietly becomes a highlight of the holiday — guests routinely write back asking how to send wine home from the family they visited.
A sample day — your private driver will adapt timings to suit your group on the morning. Linger longer, skip a stop, swap a viewpoint. The schedule belongs to you.
Mercedes at your accommodation. The driver runs through the day and any preferences you'd like to add as you go.
Walk the seafront, the Račić family mausoleum on the headland, and the Bukovac House if you'd like to see his studio.
Scenic road through Močići and Pridvorje, with viewpoints over the valley as you climb.
A working farm — homemade rakija, a sip of red, soft cheese and prosciutto, hosted by the family.
Čilipi, Pridvorje or Gruda — a short stroll, the church and the centuries-old graveyard.
Coastal road past Cavtat back to Dubrovnik, with one last viewpoint over the Old Town.
Back at your accommodation with the rest of the day free for the beach or the Old Town.
Tiered rates: one price for 1–3 guests in an E-Class, another for 4–7 guests in a V-Class. The price is for the whole vehicle, not per person.
Generic reasons help no-one. Here's what specifically sets this trip apart from a coach tour or a self-drive — for this destination, on this route.
Four hours is the right amount — coffee, a tasting, a village walk, and you're back for the afternoon.
We've worked with the same Konavle families for over twenty years. You're a guest at the table, not a tour group at a counter.
Cruise-port pickup at Gruž available; the schedule fits inside any standard Dubrovnik port-day window.
Short drives, animals to see, child seats included. The most kid-tested trip in our roster.
Nearly three decades on the same coastline. The same operator runs nine boats and the same office takes every call.
Real reviews from travellers who have done exactly this trip. We publish them unedited.
"Did the Cavtat & Konavle trip with Boat Dubrovnik and it was hands down the highlight of our holiday. The driver knew every viewpoint and every place to stop. Worth every euro and more."
"Five-star service from first email to drop-off at our hotel. Pace was perfect, English perfect, knowledge of the area exceptional. Booked their boat tour for the next week too."
"We're already planning the next trip back. The flexibility of having our own driver — stopping for photos, changing the schedule mid-day, asking for a slower lunch — was the best part."
Want oysters and wine instead? Try Ston & Pelješac. Want to add Montenegro? Combine the two into a tailor-made.
Medieval salt walls, fresh oysters from Mali Ston Bay, and tastings at two of Croatia's most decorated wineries.
UNESCO Kotor, baroque Perast and the man-made island of Our Lady of the Rocks. The coastal road that ranks among the most scenic in Europe.
The questions guests most often ask us about this specific trip. If yours isn't here, write to us — we'll add it.
Send your date and group size. We'll come back with a tailored offer, pickup time and a draft schedule for this trip.
