On Mljet, you can explore nature, hiking and cultural heritage through specific places and different routes. These include the flooded karst valleys in the northwest, the island of Sveti Marija in Veliko jezero and historical traces in Polače. When choosing your holiday apartment, consider whether you would like to focus more on landscapes, longer hikes or historical sites.

Karst Lakes and Protected Landscapes

Mljet National Park covers the northwestern third of the island and encompasses 5,375 hectares of land and sea. It is the oldest marine protected area in the Mediterranean. Veliko jezero and Malo jezero on the northwest side are flooded karst valleys filled with seawater. In the karst landscape, they form a rare geological and oceanographic phenomenon. Veliko jezero is also home to the world’s largest recorded bush coral reef of the species Cladocora caespitosa.

Hiking with Different Time Frames

You can start the hiking tour in Mljet National Park in Pomena, Polače or Goveđari, and complete it in full or in sections. The Mljetska planinarska obilaznica (MPO) is another named hiking route: it is 43 kilometres long and can be completed in three to four days. The practical difference for your planning is clear: the national park tour can be done in full or in sections, while both the total distance and a multi-day time frame are specified for the MPO.

A marked hiking trail leads from Babino Polje to Odysseus’ Cave. It was formed when the roof of an underground karst chamber collapsed. A tunnel about 20 metres long connects the cave to the open sea. Alongside the hiking routes, it offers a geological focus for exploring Mljet’s landscape.

Monastery Island and Historical Traces

The 0.5-hectare island of Sveti Marija lies in the southern part of Veliko jezero. The Benedictine monastery on the island was built between 1177 and 1198. The Church of Saint Mary is a single-nave Romanesque building of Apulian influence.

A Roman town with a palace in the style of a country villa developed in Polače in the first century. The remains of three Early Christian basilicas have also been preserved there. The two places offer different ways to explore the cultural heritage: Polače focuses on Roman urban history and Early Christian basilicas, while Sveti Marija is defined by its Benedictine monastery and the architecture of its church.

Saplunara and Local Traditions

Saplunara is protected as an area of significant landscape value. It includes the two sandy bays of Velika Saplunara and Mala Saplunara, surrounded by dense pine forest and Mediterranean vegetation. Both the bays and the surrounding plant life shape the character of this landscape.

Eels were caught in Prožurska Blatina for centuries. This longstanding fishing tradition is a distinct link to local food culture. The eno-gastronomic event Noć vina takes place in Pomena every August. Check the exact event dates when planning your trip. Prožurska Luka is popular with boaters.

Discover more destinations: Prožura, Ropa, Sobra, Maranovići, Polace, Saplunara, Babino Polje, Govedjari

For the main travel overview: Mljet.