Mljet

Mljet National Park is the oldest marine protected area in the Mediterranean. It has trails for hiking and cycling. Mljet is also home to the two sandy bays of Velika Saplunara and Mala Saplunara; Saplunara was protected as a significant landscape in 1965. The island is known for its white and red wines, goat cheese and honey. There is a daily ferry connection between Mljet and Dubrovnik; in summer, there are also ferry connections with Korčula and Lastovo.

The national park makes hiking and cycling fitting themes for a stay on Mljet. The trails offer a way to experience the protected nature actively; no specific trail lengths or routes are implied. Saplunara offers a different landscape: Velika Saplunara and Mala Saplunara are the area’s two sandy bays. It has been protected as a significant landscape since 1965.

The island’s cuisine is also part of Mljet’s character. White and red wines, goat cheese and honey are regional products you can discover as you explore the island. Together with the national park and protected bays, they create a nature-and-island theme that differs clearly from a trip focused on urban history or archaeological sites.

Dubrovnik-Neretva County includes a coastal zone with islands such as Korčula, Mljet and Lastovo, as well as the Lower Neretva Valley and its coast. The offerings therefore vary by location. Lastovo has more than 200 km of hiking trails; hiking and mountain trails are marked with wooden signposts. The Lastovo Archipelago Nature Park comprises 46 islands, islets and reefs, including Lastovo and Sušac.

Alongside hiking, Lastovo offers a special view of the night sky: the island has one of the darkest night skies in Europe. The Milky Way is visible to the naked eye, and other galaxies can be seen with a low-powered telescope. The island’s cultural sites include the preserved Baroque fishing village of Lučica and Rača Cave on the southern coast. The cave has been protected since 1965 and is an archaeological site with traces of Illyrian and Roman presence. Lučica is a ten-minute walk from the village of Lastovo.

Other places in the county appeal to different interests. Vela Spila is a prehistoric archaeological cave site. You can reach it by a 2.5 km road from Kale Bay in Vela Luka or by a 950 m footpath over Pinski Rat. On the island of Badija, opposite the town of Korčula, there is a Franciscan monastery. Dubrovnik’s Old Town is protected by UNESCO.

At Ston, the fortification walls stretch 5.5 km between Ston and Mali Ston; around 40 towers and 5 fortresses protect them. The Ston Salt Festival connects the history of salt production with art, local customs, educational activities and gastronomy. Festival experiences described include guided tours of the salt pans, insights into salt production and Fleur de Sel harvesting, as well as wine from the Pelješac Peninsula and local specialties.

On trips in traditional boats through the Neretva’s narrow canals and side channels, hosts show how people there fish and grow citrus fruits. Mandarin-picking packages in the Neretva Delta may include a boat trip, picking mandarins directly in the orchards and tasting freshly harvested fruit. These experiences add a different regional perspective to the nature and island themes.

If you would like to compare other destination pages, you can find Osijek-Baranja County, Ciovo, Varaždin County, Sisak-Moslavina County, Korcula and Krk here. The page Mljet is also available for the island destination of Mljet.

What ferry connections are available to Mljet?

There is a daily ferry connection with Dubrovnik. In summer, there are also ferry connections with Korčula and Lastovo.

What can you do on Mljet?

The national park has trails for hiking and cycling. Saplunara comprises the two sandy bays of Velika Saplunara and Mala Saplunara.

Which regional products is Mljet known for?

Mljet is known for its white and red wines, goat cheese and honey.

For the broader travel overview: Croatia.

Useful information for planning your trip:

Mljet in Croatia: national park, salt lakes and island nature.