Blue Cave Cres — How to Visit by Boat from Opatija

What is the Blue Cave?

The Blue Cave (Plava Grota) near Cres Island is one of Kvarner's most spectacular natural attractions. When sunlight enters through an underwater opening, it illuminates the water inside the cave with an intense, almost electric blue glow. The effect is mesmerising and completely natural — no artificial lighting needed.

Best Time to Visit

The Blue Cave is at its most impressive in the morning hours, when the angle of sunlight creates the strongest blue effect. Your skipper will time the visit for optimal light conditions, typically between 9:00 and 11:00 AM.

The cave is accessible from approximately May through October, weather permitting. Calm sea conditions are essential — if waves are too high, entering the cave is not safe and your skipper will suggest alternative stops.

How to Get There

The Blue Cave is located on the eastern coast of Cres Island, approximately 25-30 minutes by speedboat from our base in Ičići. It's one of the first stops on our popular Cres Island day trip.

What to Expect

Your skipper navigates the boat carefully into the cave entrance. Inside, the cave opens up to reveal the glowing blue water beneath you. You can swim in the cave (the water is deeper than it looks) and take photos — though be warned that no photo truly captures the intensity of the colour in person.

The visit to the cave itself takes about 15-20 minutes, after which you can continue exploring the Cres coastline — griffon vulture cliffs, Lubenice beach, hidden bays, and Cres old town.

Combine with a Full Cres Day Trip

The Blue Cave is best experienced as part of a full-day Cres Island adventure: Blue Cave in the morning, griffon vulture cliffs, lunch in Cres town, and afternoon swimming at Lubenice or one of the hidden western bays.