Bucket list experience:
Mljet, Dalmatia, Croatia
Stop by the picturesque 12th-century monastery
For those in search of peace and pristine nature, this stunning national park covers one-third of the remote island of Mljet. Besides hiking and mountain biking through magnificent forests of Aleppo pines and holm oaks, you can swim or kayak in two emerald-blue saltwater lakes; one is home to a picturesque islet crowned by a 12th-century monastery.
Unusually, there’s great food too – there are plenty of small waterside restaurants and cafés within the park (most are in Pomena), serving up the famous Mljet lobster, renowned throughout Croatia.
There is only one hotel on the island (the comfortable, three-star Hotel Odisej), but many locals rent out private rooms and apartments to visitors during the summer.
Want more recommendations in this destination?
Destination Guide >There are organised tours to the park, but it is just as easy (and much cheaper) to visit independently. Catch the high-speed catamaran from Dubrovnik’s Gruz harbour, Korcula or Lastovo to Polace on Mljet (June-September).
Day trips by ferry give you up to five hours, or you can stay overnight. Pick up a map at one of the National Park kiosks in Polače or Pomena, where bikes can be hired too; within the park there are marked hiking paths. Kayaks can be hired on the spot at Mali Most, where the two lakes are joined by a narrow channel.
The park gets packed out in high season (July to August) with tours from Dubrovnik and Korčula, but most have left by mid-afternoon. Stay overnight and savour a few hours to yourself.
Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity
Dubrovnik
€150 | Rating 4.97 / 5 [147 ratings]
Tour supplied by:
Dubrovnik
€990 | Rating 5 / 5 [16 ratings]
Tour supplied by:
Destination guides including or relevant to this experience
Dalmatia, Croatia
A magical, unspoilt archipelago of a thousand-plus islands stretching along Croatia’s southern coast. A heady mix of sea, mountains, adventure sports and medieval buildings
Dalmatia, Croatia
Dazzling Dubrovnik offers UNESCO-listed heritage set against the pure blue backdrop of the Adriatic.
Our writer’s recommendations of other bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination, closest first
Dubrovnik, Dalmatia, Croatia[15.3 miles]
Sample some of Croatia’s finest red wines at the vineyards on this mountainous peninsula. A one-hour drive up the coast from Dubrovnik.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free | 4
