Plan your Travels to Mljet
Forest-shrouded Mljet is one of the most seductive of all the Adriatic islands. The establishment of a national park in 1960 at its western end put the island on the tourist map, but Mljet is anything but overrun. Visitors are almost entirely drawn to the tourist enclave around Pomena. The remainder of the island retains the unspoilt air of tranquillity that, according to legend, captivated Odysseus for seven years.
Mljet Island is located in the southeastern part of the Adriatic Sea, around 45 km (28) miles from Dubrovnik. The entire western section of Mljet is a national park, where you’ll find two sublime cobalt-colored lakes, an island monastery and the sleepy little port of Pomena, which is as pretty as a bouquet.
Trip to Mljet FAQs
When to visit Mljet
Mljet has a warm temperate climate with idyllic summers and short cool winters. The best time to visit Mljet is between June and September. The hottest month of the year is July with an average daily maximum of 33 C and an average low of 23 C.
How to get to Mljet Island and move around?
Since Mljet is an island, the only possible way to get there is by boat. There are 3 ferry ports on the island: Pomena, Polače, and Sobra from where you can get a ferry to and from Dubrovnik, Split, Lastovo, Hvar, Korčula and Pelješac peninsula. Since Mljet is an island, the only possible way to get there is by boat (duh). There are 3 ferry ports on the island: Pomena, Polače, and Sobra from where you can get a ferry to and from Dubrovnik, Split, Lastovo, Hvar, Korčula and Pelješac peninsula.
Buses on Mljet will take you around the island. There’s a bus line number 18 which goes from Pomena to Sobra (through Goveđari, Pristanište, Polače, Ropa, and Babino Polje). Or you can rent a bike.Once you arrive on the island, the best thing to do is to visit St. Mary Island. There are 2 places from where you can take the boat to St. Mary: Pristanište and Small Bridge.
What are the essential sites to see in Mljet?
Mljet National Park
Covering 5400 hectares of land and sea at the western end of the island of Mljet, this national park offers shady walking and cycling tracks, a ruggedly beautiful coastline, ancient ruins and saltwater lakes. The main hubs are the villages of Pomena and Polače, which buzz with visitors on summer days but quieten down again once all the boats leave.
From
Matilda Your Croatia Expert
Sveta Marija
Tiny St Mary’s Island lies on Veliko Jezero, not far from its southern shore. Boats (included in the park admission price) head here at least hourly during park opening hours from Mali Most, the bridge near the channel between the two lakes, and from Pristanište. The island’s Benedictine monastery was founded in 1198 but has been rebuilt several times, adding Renaissance and baroque features to the Romanesque structure.
The monastery was closed in 1809 following the Napoleonic conquest and housed state offices up until 1960. It was then converted into a hotel, which closed in 1991 during the war. It has since been returned to the Catholic Church, which is in the process of restoring it. The complex includes a large church, a couple of tiny chapels and the old monks’ quarters, which now has a restaurant in its basement. There are also ruins of a Roman building in the island’s centre and stables with a donkey.
Roman Palace
It’s hard to miss this impressive structure on the Polače waterfront; it’s so large that the road now passes through the centre of it. Built around the 5th century, this palatial residence has a rectangular floor plan and towers on the front corners separated by a pier. Other ancient ruins scattered around the town include a late Antiquity fort and an early Christian church.
How many days do you need at Mljet?
If you are in Dubrovnik for more than a couple of days, you MUSTN’T miss the opportunity to visit Mljet National Park on Mljet Island! Mljet is Croatia’s greenest island with over 84% of the island covered by forest. It’s still intact and doesn’t see many visitors, making it the perfect escape from the crowds in Dubrovnik. It is considered to be among the most beautiful islands in the Adriatic Sea and it is an easy day trip from Dubrovnik.
