Municipality of Dubrovačko Primorje

Viewpoints and trails in the hinterland

The summit of Neprobić is 963 metres above sea level. From there, the view extends across Slano Bay, the Elaphiti Islands, Mljet, Pelješac and the Herzegovinian mountains. The Gajina viewpoint in Gornji Majkovi is 420 metres above sea level and offers views of Pelješac, Mljet National Park, the Elaphiti Islands and the Strait of Otranto. The two viewpoints therefore offer different perspectives: Neprobić’s panorama also includes Slano Bay and the Herzegovinian mountains, while Gajina’s includes, among other things, the Strait of Otranto.

Gajina is best reached on foot or by bicycle. There is a rest area and a self-service bicycle station nearby. If you would like to plan a route, an interactive map shows hiking and cycling trails between Banići, Slano and Majkovi. The Dubrovnik Coast Tourist Board also lists the “Dubrovačko primorje Medieval tombstones cycle track”. The map and the named cycle route offer different starting points for choosing a tour; plan your excursions according to the route you would like to explore.

Nature, cultural heritage and regional discoveries

In Majkovi, Lokve was declared Croatia’s first herpetological reserve. The reserve serves to protect the population of European pond turtles. If you are interested in native animals and their habitats, you can make nature conservation another focus of your visit, alongside the viewpoints and trails.

The cultural sites also differ significantly. In Ošlje stands the Rotonda, a circular building with eight apses arranged on both the inside and outside. It is one of only two buildings of its kind in Croatia. The site is accessible by car; afterwards, you can walk freely through the surrounding grassland, which is bounded by dry-stone walls. Another historic site is “Vlaško greblje” in Smokovljani. There are four stećci there: one box-shaped and three gable-shaped tombstones. They feature semicircular blind arcades as well as vine and rope friezes. The region thus offers both an unusual circular building and tombstones with clearly visible stone ornamentation.

The Linđo of Dubrovačko Primorje is part of the intangible cultural heritage and was recognised as such on 19 October 2011. In the upper villages, the performed dance has retained its integrity and has not been altered by authorial or staged presentations. For travellers who want to discover local traditions as well as the landscape, the Linđo is a cultural point of interest in its own right.

A culinary speciality can be found in Bistrina Bay in the Malostonski Channel: oysters of the Ostrea species, renowned for their excellent quality, have traditionally been cultivated there. At the House of Honey in Majkovi, visitors can taste different types of honey and bee products, as well as observe a bee colony. The oyster tradition and bee products represent different sides of the region’s food culture; the House of Honey combines a tasting with an insight into a bee colony.

What experiences would you like to shape your stay?

When choosing a holiday apartment, you can first decide which interests you would like to focus on during your stay: hiking and cycling, views, nature watching, the history of architecture and tombstones, dance traditions or regional products. The experiences described offer concrete points of interest, though they are not all alike. If you enjoy walking, you can use Gajina and the trails as a guide; if you are looking for cultural sites, Ošlje and Smokovljani offer different forms of cultural heritage. If you are also arriving by boat, the public harbour of Janska in Slano accommodates boats with a draught of up to 4 metres. The harbour in Slano also provides water and electricity services for vessels.

Other place pages in the municipality include Štedrica, Doli, Topolo and Mravinca.

For the broader travel overview: Dubrovnik-Neretva County.

More destinations in the Municipality of Dubrovačko Primorje

More places to help plan your trip:

Banići.