Mljet

• Mljet National Park is located within the administrative municipality of Općina Mljet.
• Veliko jezero and Malo jezero are deep bays referred to as lakes. The Solinski Channel connects them to the open sea.
• A Benedictine monastery and the Church of St Mary are located on the island of St Mary in the southern part of the Great Lake.
• Sobra is the only ferry terminal on the island of Mljet.

The Mljetska planinarska obilaznica runs from the area of the national park to the centre of the island. Trail markers and stamps at checkpoints mark the route. If you are interested in a hike, you can assess this route based on its described markings; no specific walking time or distance is given.

For a walk, the route from Babino Polje to Odysseus’ Cave is a separate option: it is considered easy and is also suitable for parents with small children. Another way to experience the lakes is the “Biciklom kroz park” tour, a cycling route around Veliko jezero and Malo jezero. The two options therefore differ in their mode of travel and the route described.

Experienced divers also have a specific destination: Štit Reef lies in the southwest of the island and is considered an attractive dive site with abundant marine life. Experienced divers may find red coral jewellery there. The reef can be reached by boat from Pomena. If you are more interested in the coast from a nautical perspective, the deeply indented bay of Polače is a popular nautical base; the bay is surrounded by four islets.

The Benedictine monastery on the island of St Mary was built between 1177 and 1198. The central section of the church building has retained its Romanesque style. Those interested in the history of religious architecture will find a clearly identifiable connection between monastery and church at one location in the southern part of the Great Lake.

Polače is home to the remains of a Roman palace and an early Christian church dating from the 5th to 6th century. In Babino Polje stand the Church of St Blaise, dating from the 15th century, and the 16th-century princely palace, locally known as Palac. Prožura is marked by Kaštio, a square defensive tower dating from the 17th century. These buildings offer different historical reference points: Roman and early Christian remains in Polače, ecclesiastical and aristocratic buildings in Babino Polje, and a later defensive tower in Prožura.

In Prožura, the feast day of St Roch is also commemorated each year on 16 August with a procession.

Mljetski makaruli is a traditional pasta dish. It is prepared with homemade goat’s cheese, garlic and olive oil. Eel is also a regional dish: eels from Mljet’s natural saltwater lakes are grilled or prepared as brodet, among other ways. This means you can find both a pasta dish with cheese and olive oil and different ways of preparing eel.

“Toast from the Host” takes place in Pomena every year at the end of August. This eno-gastronomic event features regional specialities and wine tasting. If you would like to plan your travel dates around a culinary event, this is a specific date to bear in mind.

For information about individual places on Mljet, visit the town pages for Polače Polače, Babino Polje Babino Polje, Prožura Prožura and Sobra Sobra. You can also find town pages for Mljet Mljet, Saplunara Saplunara, Maranovići Maranovići, Korita Korita, Ropa Ropa, Okuklje Okuklje, Blato Blato, Kozarica Kozarica and Govedjari Govedjari.

Where is the Benedictine monastery located?

It is located on the island of St Mary in the southern part of the Great Lake.

Which walking route is also suitable for parents with small children?

The walking route from Babino Polje to Odysseus’ Cave is considered easy and is also suitable for parents with small children.

How do you reach Štit Reef?

The reef can be reached by boat from Pomena.

To the higher-level travel overview: Mljet.