State line 501 connects Brodarica with the small island. Different times and fares apply in 2026 depending on the season – and the car stays on the mainland.
Krapanj begins not with a ferry, but with a small boat
Krapanj lies about 400 metres off Brodarica, south of Šibenik. State passenger line 501 connects the two shores; the official notice gives a journey time of five minutes each way. This is not a car ferry. For a day trip, that means leaving the vehicle in Brodarica and continuing on foot on the island.
The operator describes the circuit simply: the boat travels from Krapanj to Brodarica, allows passengers and cargo to change, and returns to the island. For visitors, the published Brodarica times are therefore the departures to the island; the Krapanj times determine the return to the mainland.
In 2026, the season runs from 29 May to 27 September
The official timetable separates two periods. The season runs from 29 May to 27 September 2026. The off-season covers 1 January to 28 May and 28 September to 31 December. Within both periods, Monday-to-Saturday services differ from Sundays and public holidays.
Anyone planning a September trip must therefore check not only the day of the week, but also whether it is 27 or 28 September. The timetable is expressly subject to change; before travelling, save the current PDF from the operator or the Coastal Shipping Agency on your phone.
In season, the last boat from Brodarica leaves at 24:20
From 29 May to 27 September, the timetable lists departures from Brodarica between 06:25 and 24:20 from Monday to Saturday. On Sundays and public holidays, the service starts later, at 08:20; the last published departure from Brodarica is likewise at 24:20. For the return from Krapanj to the mainland, the last Krapanj departure is at 24:00.
These late services are useful, but not a reason to plan the entire day without checking for changes. Weather, operational reasons or an updated notice may alter a published annual timetable. Anyone with an onward journey or accommodation on the mainland should not deliberately rely on the very last boat.
Outside the season, the day ends considerably earlier
In the off-season, the last published boat runs from Monday to Saturday at 21:30 from Krapanj and 21:40 from Brodarica. On Sundays and public holidays, the choice is smaller: the timetable lists the final service at 20:00 from Krapanj and 20:10 from Brodarica.
This Sunday and public-holiday rule is the classic timetable trap. A screenshot taken in August will not help with a November visit. The small stretch of water makes the crossing short; the consequences of missing the last boat are still significant.
Line 501 · Brodarica–Krapanj
Four things to check before boarding
€1.50 in season, 70 cents outside it
For adults, the 2026 tariff states €1.50 each way in season and €0.70 outside the season. Children aged three to twelve pay €0.40. Children under one travel free without their own ticket; travel is also free between the ages of one and three, but a ticket is issued.
The fares apply in both directions and, according to the tariff, include port charges and VAT. Tickets are treated separately for the outward and return journeys: the price in the table does not automatically include a return ticket.
Bicycles, dogs and luggage have their own rules
Hand luggage weighing up to 20 kilograms is carried free of charge. A bicycle costs the price of an adult ticket. Pets generally travel free, but must not pose a danger or cause serious disturbance to passengers or the vessel; they may enter enclosed passenger areas only if the operator permits it.
Anyone travelling with a pushchair, larger luggage, several bicycles or a large dog should confirm the practical arrangements before a busier service. Permission to carry an item does not automatically mean that unlimited space is available in every situation.
What fits into a relaxed day on Krapanj
The official tourism website describes Krapanj, with an area of 0.36 square kilometres and an average elevation of about 1.5 metres, as a particularly small and low-lying island. It is known for its sponge-diving tradition and Franciscan monastery. Paths and waterfront can be explored without a car; the short distance from the mainland is precisely what makes a half-day or full-day visit plausible.
Opening hours for the museum, monastery, restaurants and other attractions are seasonal and are not part of the boat timetable. A good plan therefore combines secure outward and return services with only a few fixed points on the island – and leaves enough time for a walk along the waterfront.
How to keep five minutes from becoming a return-trip trap
Before departure, first check the seasonal period and day of the week, then mark both the outward and return services. The car is left in Brodarica; Golden Beach promises neither a free parking space nor a fixed parking price because neither follows from the official line documents. Allow extra time for the walk to the landing stage.
On Krapanj, choose an earlier return service as your personal cut-off if a long drive still lies ahead. In wind or under a weather warning, check directly with the operator. The crossing is very short – the planning should remain simple too, but never careless.
Evidence
Sources & date
Sources support the facts. Planning notes and recommendations are Golden Beach editorial assessments.
- State shipping line 501 Krapanj–Brodarica: 2026 timetable and tariffCoastal Shipping Agency · 2026 timetable, checked 26 August 2026seasonal periods, departures, five-minute journey notice, adult and child fares, and rules for luggage, bicycles and pets
- Shipping line 501 Brodarica–KrapanjGradski parking Šibenik · operator page, checked 26 August 2026operator, circuit description and official download of the 2026 timetable
- KrapanjŠibenik Tourist Board · live tourism page, checked 26 August 2026distance from Brodarica, area, low elevation, sponge tradition and monastery as island context
