Boat Trips from Medulin: Dolphins, Cape Kamenjak and Levan Island

From the water, the southern tip of Istria looks quite different again: limestone cliffs, small islands, hidden coves with turquoise water and, with a bit of luck, a pod of dolphins alongside the boat. For many guests, a boat trip from Medulin is one of the highlights of their holiday. Here you will find out which tours are on offer, what to look out for when choosing and what to bring.

What boat trips are there from Medulin?

In season, Medulin harbour is full of excursion boats – from large tour boats with music to small speedboats. The offers can be roughly divided into four types.

1. Sunset dolphin tours

The classic: the boat heads out in the early evening, the crew actively looks for dolphins, and at sunset there is often dinner and drinks on board. Many tours last about three hours. Bottlenose dolphins live in the Adriatic – the skippers know their favourite waters, but a sighting is never guaranteed. Reputable operators say so openly.

2. Day trips to Cape Kamenjak and Levan island

Full-day or half-day tours take you through the Medulin archipelago and along the coast of the Cape Kamenjak nature park. Typical highlights according to the operators:

• Passing the Porer lighthouse off the southern tip
• Swimming in a sea cave (one operator mentions the Golumbera cave, for example)
• A swimming stop at Levan island
• Lunch and drinks on board, often “all inclusive”

3. Speedboat and private tours

Smaller groups, more flexibility: a speedboat whisks you quickly to the wild cliffs of Kamenjak and to coves such as Portić. Private tours can often be tailored to you, for example with snorkelling stops or at sunset. There are also glass-bottom and transparent boat trips around Levan.

4. Archipelago tours with a nature focus

Some operators combine the boat trip with nature and history. One local operator, for example, offers a four-hour tour through the Medulin archipelago that also calls at the island of Fenoliga. According to Pula’s tourism website, there are numerous dinosaur footprints on Fenoliga.

How much does a boat trip in Medulin cost?

Prices vary widely depending on length, type of boat and what is included. On one comparison site, dolphin tours in Medulin start at around 25 euros per person; full-day tours with food and private tours cost correspondingly more. Children travel at a reduced rate with many operators. All prices as of 2026 – please check with the operator.

How to find the right tour

• Group size: big boats are cheap and sociable, small boats quieter and more flexible.
• What’s included: is food included? Drinks? Snorkelling gear?
• Swimming stops: how many, and for how long? This matters especially with children.
• Honesty about dolphins: good operators don’t promise a sighting but describe their chances realistically.
• Reviews: a look at recent reviews on the big booking platforms helps.
• Weather: in windy conditions a tour may be postponed or changed – ask about the cancellation terms.

Watching dolphins: how to behave

Dolphins are wild animals. A good skipper keeps their distance, does not head straight for the pod and lets the animals choose whether to come closer. Feeding and swimming with the dolphins are off limits. Keep your camera ready, but enjoy the moment without a screen too.

What to bring

• Sun cream, a hat and sunglasses – the sun is stronger on the water than you think
• Swimwear and a towel for the swimming stops
• A light jacket for sunset tours
• If you are prone to seasickness: eat lightly beforehand and, if necessary, get something from the pharmacy
• A waterproof pouch for your phone
• Cash or card, depending on the operator

Boat trips with children

Half-day tours with fixed swimming stops are best for families. Children love going into the sea cave and jumping off the boat into the deep, clear water. When booking, ask about life jackets in children’s sizes and shade on board – an open sun deck soon gets hot at midday. Pirate-ship tours from Medulin often include entertainment for children. For very young children, a shorter evening trip is often more relaxing than a whole day on the water.

Going it alone: boat hire or water taxi

If you want to skipper yourself, you will also find boat hire in Medulin; depending on engine power you may need a boating licence – check this directly with the rental company. For a simple beach day on Levan, there are also water taxis. You can get even closer to the water in a kayak or on a SUP – tips in our guide to SUP, kayaking and diving around Medulin.

More boat trips in the region

• Brijuni: the national park’s boats sail from Fažana to the Brijuni islands, and there are also tours around the archipelago from Pula. Everything you need to know is in our guide to Brijuni National Park.
• Rovinj: several operators sail from Pula to Rovinj, the Red Island and the Lim Fjord – see Rovinj day trip.
• Cape Kamenjak from Pula: according to one operator, the trip from Bunarina harbour in Pula to the cape takes about 45 minutes.

Best time for a boat trip

Most tours run during the warm season; please ask the operator about timetables outside the summer. In June and September the sea is already or still warm and the boats are less crowded. Evenings are popular for dolphin tours, and mornings for swimming tours, when the sea is often calmer.

From Little Dream

Medulin harbour is only around 5 km from Little Dream in Pomer. By car you are there in a few minutes, and the route is also easy to cycle. In high season parking in Medulin is in demand – arrive in good time before departure. There is also a marina in Pomer itself; feel free to ask locally whether operators pick up guests there.

Out with the dolphins into the sunset in the evening, then back to the peace of Pomer: send an enquiry for Little Dream.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best time of day to see dolphins?

Many operators in Medulin head out in the early evening to look for dolphins and combine the tour with the sunset. There is never a guarantee: dolphins are wild animals, and even experienced skippers do not find them on every trip.

Where is the best place to see dolphins in Croatia?

Bottlenose dolphins live in the Adriatic, and they are regularly sighted around the southern tip of Istria too. There are plenty of dolphin tours from Medulin, Pula and Fažana – the chances are good, but not guaranteed.

What is a must-do in Medulin?

Get out on the water at least once: a boat trip through the Medulin archipelago with a swimming stop at Levan island or in the coves of Cape Kamenjak. Add a day on Bijeca sandy beach and a dinner of fresh fish.

Which boat trips in Croatia are the most beautiful?

That depends on what you want: nature lovers choose tours along wild coastlines such as Cape Kamenjak or to national parks such as Brijuni. Half-day tours with a swimming stop suit families, while the quieter sunset cruises are ideal for couples.