Velika Saplunara Beach is 150 metres long; Mala Saplunara and the beach at Blace (Limuni) are also considered sandy beaches. Saplunara is one of Croatia’s few remaining coastal sand habitats; Blace is home to Croatia’s largest and best-preserved sand dunes. This gives you a clear focus on beaches and coastal nature when choosing where to stay. The beach length refers to a single stretch of shore; the habitat and dunes also place the coast in a broader natural context.
Sandy coast and local orientation
Saplunara Beach is classified as a natural and sandy beach and has free parking; a restaurant and an anchorage are nearby. Individual facilities may change; check their current status before your visit.
Harbour origins and the story behind the name
After the Second World War, Saplunara was established as a harbour for the residents of Korita. Local tradition links the place’s name to Saint Paul: after a shipwreck, he is said to have landed on Mljet and given Saplunara its name. The two accounts serve different purposes: the founding story places the settlement in time, while the story behind the name belongs to local tradition and is correspondingly uncertain.
Mljet in a broader context
The wider destination of Mljet includes Veliko jezero and Malo jezero, two deep bays called lakes that are connected to the open sea via the Solinski Channel. A Benedictine monastery and the Church of Saint Mary stand on the island of Saint Mary in the southern part of the Great Lake. The monastery was built between 1177 and 1198; the central part of the church has retained its Romanesque style.
Other places on Mljet also reflect different historical periods: Polače is home to the remains of a Roman palace and an early Christian church dating from the 5th to 6th century. In Babino Polje are the 15th-century Church of Saint Blaise and the 16th-century Prince’s Palace, locally called Palac. In Prožura, Kaštio, a square defensive tower from the 17th century, is a prominent feature. The dates therefore span Roman and early Christian traces through to buildings from the 15th to 17th centuries.
Hiking and cycling on Mljet
For an active day on Mljet, the Mljetska planinarska obilaznica route runs from the area of the national park to the centre of the island and is marked with hiking signs and stamps at checkpoints. Check trail conditions before setting out. The “Biciklom kroz park” tour is a cycling loop around Veliko jezero and Malo jezero. The main difference for planning is the route format: the hiking route runs from the national park area to the centre of the island, while the cycling tour loops around the lakes. Conditions and bike rental availability may vary for the cycling tour.
One of Mljet’s culinary specialities is Mljetski makaruli, a traditional pasta dish with homemade goat’s cheese, garlic and olive oil. Whether an individual restaurant serves the dish depends on its menu.
Discover more destinations: Polace, Govedjari, Kozarica, Babino Polje, Sobra, Prožura, Korita, Okuklje.
For the wider travel overview: Mljet.
