Mljet – National Park, Coves and Island Culture

National Park, Coves and Island Products

One of Mljet’s distinctive landscapes is Saplunara, with its two sandy coves, Velika Saplunara and Mala Saplunara. The area was protected as a significant landscape in 1965. This offers a different natural attraction from the trails in the national park: here, the focus is on two named coves, while there, it is on hiking and cycling trails. Mljet is also known for its white and red wines, goat cheese and honey. These products give the island a culinary character alongside its landscapes.

There is a daily ferry service between Mljet and Dubrovnik. In summer, there are also ferry connections with Korčula and Lastovo. When choosing your accommodation, these connections may be part of your travel plans for the island; no specific departure times are implied. The location that suits you best depends mainly on whether you want to focus on Mljet itself and its nature, or explore other places in the region.

More Nature and Cultural Experiences in the Region

Dubrovnik-Neretva County encompasses a coastal area with islands such as Korčula, Mljet and Lastovo, as well as the Lower Neretva Valley and its coast. Lastovo has more than 200 km of hiking trails. The hiking and mountain trails are marked with wooden signposts. The night sky is another distinctive feature: Lastovo 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 lower-powered telescope. These details can help you narrow down your interests: here, Mljet stands for its national park and coves, while Lastovo is known for marked trails and an exceptionally dark sky.

Lastovo’s cultural history is also reflected in specific places. Lučica is a preserved Baroque fishing village and an important cultural and historical site dating from the Middle Ages. Lučica is a ten-minute walk from the village of Lastovo. Rača Cave, on the island’s south coast, is an archaeological site with traces of Illyrian and Roman presence; it has been protected since 1965. Those interested in prehistoric archaeology can also visit Vela Spila, another cave site. Visitors can reach it via a 2.5 km road from Kale Bay in Vela Luka, or along a 950 m walking trail over Pinski Rat.

Other cultural destinations are spread across the region: a Franciscan monastery stands on Badija, opposite the town of Korčula, and Dubrovnik’s Old Town is protected by UNESCO. Between Ston and Mali Ston, fortification walls extend for 5.5 km; they are protected by around 40 towers and 5 fortresses. For ten years, the Ston Salt Festival has brought together the history of the Ston saltworks with art, local customs, educational activities and gastronomy. Visitor experiences include guided tours of the saltworks, insights into salt production and the harvesting of fleur de sel, as well as wine from the Pelješac Peninsula and local specialities to taste.

Delta Experiences and More Destinations

In the Lower Neretva Valley, traditional boats travel through narrow canals and side channels. Hosts show visitors how people along the Neretva fish and grow citrus fruits. Mandarin-picking packages in the Neretva Delta may include a boat ride, picking mandarins directly from the plantations and tasting freshly harvested fruit. This can help you choose a holiday destination based on whether you are more interested in island nature and trails, or cultural experiences and the river delta.

Other destinations in the same broader area: Lošinj, Sisak-Moslavina County, Hvar, Osijek-Baranja County, Dugi Otok, Čiovo, Šibenik-Knin County.

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