Mljet
Accommodation in Mljet
Mljet combines distinctive karst landscapes with hiking trails and important cultural sites. When planning your trip, you can therefore decide whether lakes and nature, a multi-day hike or historic sites should take centre stage.
Key facts about Mljet
Mljet National Park covers the northwestern third of the island and comprises 5,375 hectares of land and sea. It is the oldest marine protected area in the Mediterranean. The island’s distinctive landforms include Veliko jezero and Malo jezero: the two lakes on the northwest side are flooded karst valleys filled with seawater. In this karst landscape, they form a rare geological and oceanographic phenomenon.
What shapes the landscape on Mljet?
Veliko jezero is home to the world’s largest recorded bushy coral reef of the species Cladocora caespitosa. The lake is therefore not only a striking karst feature, but also a habitat for this exceptional reef. Together, Veliko jezero and Malo jezero define the distinctive karst landscape in the northwest of the island.
Saplunara offers a different landscape: it encompasses the two sandy bays of Velika Saplunara and Mala Saplunara. Dense pine forest and Mediterranean vegetation surround the bays. Saplunara is protected as an area of significant landscape value. When planning a trip to Mljet, you can thus distinguish between the karst lakes in the northwest and Saplunara’s unique landscape character.
Which hikes can you plan?
The Mljetska planinarska obilaznica (MPO) is 43 km long and can be completed in 3 to 4 days. These details make it a multi-day hiking option; its length and timeframe should be considered together when planning. A separate option is the hiking tour in Mljet National Park, which can start in Pomena, Polače or Goveđari and be completed in full or in sections. This offers two distinct approaches to planning: a multi-day island route and a tour with a flexible length.
A marked hiking trail also leads from Babino Polje to Odysseus’ Cave. The cave was formed when the roof of an underground karst chamber collapsed and is connected to the open sea by a tunnel about 20 metres long. For geology enthusiasts, this is a specific reason to combine a visit to the cave with exploring Mljet’s geological history.
Which cultural sites and local topics are there?
A Benedictine monastery stands on the island of Sveti Marija, in the southern part of Veliko jezero. The island covers 0.5 hectares; the monastery was built between 1177 and 1198. The Church of St Mary is a single-nave Romanesque building with Apulian influences. The Romanesque church provides a cultural counterpoint to Mljet’s karst lakes and nature.
Polače also has a long history: a Roman town developed there in the 1st century, with a palace in the style of a country villa. The remains of three Early Christian basilicas have also been preserved. In Pomena, Noć vina, an eno-gastronomic event, takes place every August. Prožurska Blatina is associated with another local tradition: eels were caught there for centuries. Prožurska Luka is popular with boaters.
Which location pages can you compare?
If you would like to explore pages for other locations in addition to Mljet, you can also find Korita, Okuklje, Prožura, Blato, Maranovići, Saplunara and Sobra here. When choosing a hotel on Mljet, you can first decide which themes matter for your trip: nature, hiking, culture or nautical interests.
FAQ
How long is the Mljetska planinarska obilaznica?
The MPO is 43 km long and can be completed in 3 to 4 days.
Where does a marked hiking trail to Odysseus’ Cave begin?
A marked hiking trail leads from Babino Polje to Odysseus’ Cave.
When does Noć vina take place?
The eno-gastronomic event takes place every August in Pomena.
For the broader travel overview: Mljet.
More about the destination
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