Croatia Mljet Tours

Mljet Tours cover one of the greenest islands on the Croatian coast, most of it covered in dense pine forest and centered on a national park that protects two saltwater lakes connected to the open sea by a narrow, tidal channel. The island lies south of Korčula and within reach of Dubrovnik, and it draws visitors looking for a quieter pace than the busier harbor towns elsewhere on the coast.

Mljet forms part of many longer Croatia itineraries along the southern Dalmatian coast, usually reached by ferry from Dubrovnik or as a stop between Korčula and the mainland.

Veliko Jezero and the Benedictine Monastery

The larger of Mljet's two saltwater lakes, Veliko Jezero, holds a small islet known as St. Mary's Island, where Benedictine monks built a monastery and church in the 12th century. A short boat crossing from the lakeshore reaches the islet, and the surrounding water stays several degrees warmer than the open sea, making it a common stop for swimming.

Walking and Cycling the National Park

Marked paths and rented bicycles circle both Veliko Jezero and the smaller Malo Jezero, passing through pine and holm oak forest that covers most of the park. The two lakes connect to each other and to the sea through narrow channels, and the tidal flow through these passages is strong enough to draw snorkelers and, at the right moment, swimmers riding the current.

The Odysseus Legend

Local tradition places Mljet as the island where Odysseus was held for seven years by the nymph Calypso in Homer's Odyssey, and a cave on the southern coast near Babino Polje still carries her name. Whatever its literary claim, the coastline around the cave remains one of the less developed stretches of the island.

Reaching Mljet by Boat

Mljet appears on several multi-day sailing routes through the southern Adriatic, including the 5 Days Sail Croatia Blue Cruise Tour, which links the island with Dubrovnik and Split.

Pomena and Polače

Most visitors enter the national park through Pomena, a small harbor within walking distance of Veliko Jezero, while ferries from the mainland typically dock at Polače, a fishing village a short drive from the park entrance and home to the ruins of a Roman-era palace complex. Both settlements offer a handful of guesthouses and restaurants for travelers staying overnight.

Best Time to Visit Mljet

May, June and September bring mild temperatures well suited to walking and cycling around the lakes, before or after the heaviest summer heat. Ferry schedules to the island are more frequent between June and September, when demand from Dubrovnik is highest.