Mljet
The mountain in the open sea
Steep hills, lakes, forests, winding roads with vertiginous slopes, few tourists even in midsummer… You’d think you were in the mountains. And yet we’re on an island in the heart of the Adriatic. Mljet, off Dubrovnik, is a small UFO in Croatia.
Steep hills, lakes, forests, winding roads with vertiginous slopes, few tourists even in midsummer… You’d think you were in the mountains. And yet we’re on an island in the heart of the Adriatic. Mljet, off Dubrovnik, is a small UFO in Croatia.
Legend has it that Ulysses was kept on Mljet for seven years by the nymph Calypso, determined to make him forget Ithaca. When discovering Mljet, pronounce “crumb”, we say to ourselves that the mythical hero must not have been bored there. It is certainly not very big, but enough to live a beautiful odyssey there.
The beauty of the island attracts many naturalists, but also curious travelers attracted by untouched nature. The typically Mediterranean vegetation covers 70% of its surface, making it the most wooded island in the Adriatic. There are no less than five types of forest where mongooses, wild boars, mouflons, fallow deer live in total freedom.
Considered one of the most beautiful in Croatia, Mljet is usually the island of choice for travelers. Far from the tourist hustle and bustle, “the green island”, a paradise of tranquility and natural setting, lives up to its nickname. But it’s the permanent shades of green AND blue that really stand out. Wherever we are. A pure ophthalmic delight that varies with the day and the walks.
Considered one of the most beautiful in Croatia, Mljet is usually the island of choice for travelers. Far from the tourist hustle and bustle, “the green island”, a paradise of tranquility and natural setting, lives up to its nickname. But it’s the permanent shades of green AND blue that really stand out. Wherever we are. A pure ophthalmic delight that varies with the day and the walks.
The national park, which covers around 1/3 of the island’s surface area, is THE island’s special feature. In its center a first lake, very deep blue; then a second, just as blue and on which sits a small island where the Benedictines – who had a sense of solitude – built the Sainte Marie convent, a sober jewel of the 12th century. Even in the middle of summer, you quickly feel off the beaten track as the park is full of small isolated coves with warm waters. We then jump from one to the other by bike or canoe while taking a lunch break in one of the restaurants at the water’s edge in Soline . Many hikes are also possible here, including to the Montokuc viewpoint.
The national park, which covers around 1/3 of the island’s surface area, is THE island’s special feature. In its center a first lake, very deep blue; then a second, just as blue and on which sits a small island where the Benedictines – who had a sense of solitude – built the Sainte Marie convent, a sober jewel of the 12th century. Even in the middle of summer, you quickly feel off the beaten track as the park is full of small isolated coves with warm waters. We then jump from one to the other by bike or canoe while taking a lunch break in one of the restaurants at the water’s edge in Soline . Many hikes are also possible here, including to the Montokuc viewpoint.
At the other end of this long island, the landscape is very different with a few sandy beaches (a fairly rare occurrence in Croatia), in particular the pleasant beach of Blace with its air of the end of the world.
Mljet is the green stopover par excellence: a nature bath in unspoilt pine forests, a serene national park, a few sandy beaches for lounging and local restaurants with their feet in the water. Quite simply, a mythical island.
Mljet is the ultimate green stopover, a nature soak in untouched pine forests, a serene national park, a few sandy beaches for lounging and swimming in the glistening water, and local restaurants right by the water . A mythical island, quite simply.
Mljet is
37 km long by 3 km wide
Accessibility
Lodging capacity
Animation
Where is Mljet? Mljet is Croatia’s southernmost island, off Dubrovnik. Together with the islands of Vis and Lastovothe Adriatic Blue Corridor, one of the last remaining paradise oases of biodiversity in the Mediterranean, and the region with the most crystal-clear waters in the world, according to the famous oceanographer Jacques-Yves Cousteau.
Where is Mljet? Mljet is Croatia’s southernmost island, off Dubrovnik. Together with the islands of Vis and Lastovo, it forms the Adriatic Blue Corridor, one of the last remaining paradisiacal oases of biodiversity in the Mediterranean, and the region with the most crystal-clear waters in the world, according to the famous oceanographer Jacques-Yves Cousteau.
How to get to Mljet? Mljet can be reached from the ports of Dubrovnik and Trstenik in 1h20.
How to travel on the island ? With its very steep relief and all in length, one moves by scooter or by car. To cross the island from north to south (1h), just follow the unique panoramic road which overlooks a perfectly jagged coastline with small doll’s bays below. Some rental companies are at the ports of Sobra and Polace. In the national park, you can get around on foot or by bike (rental companies at the park entrance).
How to travel on the island ? With its very steep relief and all in length, one moves by scooter or by car. To cross the island from north to south (1h), just follow the unique panoramic road which overlooks a perfectly jagged coastline with small doll’s bays below. Some rental companies are at the ports of Sobra and Polace. In the national park, you can get around on foot or by bike (rental companies at the park entrance).
Where to sleep and eat? There is no main village on the island but various small residential hamlets. The entertainment is thus concentrated in the bays of Pomena, Prozurska Luka and Okuklje where you can eat as well as find apartments to rent. There are also 2 hotels on the island (theHotel Odisej and the Pine Tree) and a supermarket.
Some addresses : grand appartementin Govedari on the heights near the national park, a stone with swimming pool in the center of the island, at Bobino Polje, The Sea Star stone house and swimming pool in Bobino Polje. Maestralrestaurant in Okuklje Bay, MSrestaurant overlooking the bay of Saplunara, Tavern Barbain the small bay of Prozurska Luka, where you can choose your fresh fish directly from the stall before the grill, Konoba So, in Soline, right in the heart of the national park, on the water’s edge.
Where to sleep and eat? There is no main village on the island but various small residential hamlets. The entertainment is thus concentrated in the bays of Pomena, Prozurska Luka and Okuklje where you can eat as well as find apartments to rent. There are also 2 hotels on the island (theHotel Odisej and the Pine Tree) and a supermarket.
Some addresses : grand appartementin Govedari on the heights near the national park, a stone with swimming pool in the center of the island, at Bobino Polje, The Sea Star stone house and swimming pool in Bobino Polje. Maestralrestaurant in Okuklje Bay, MSrestaurant overlooking the bay of Saplunara, Tavern Barbain the small bay of Prozurska Luka, where you can choose your fresh fish directly from the stall before the grill, Konoba So, in Soline, right in the heart of the national park, on the water’s edge.
The book to pack in your suitcase? The Walnut Palace by Miljenko Jergovic.
The song to include in your playlist? I wish I knew how it would feel to be free by Nina Simone.
And above all, where to drink your Spritz? At the end of the day, our favourite spot is the Konoba Herc in Pomena, where you can enjoy the sunset from the comfort of your sofa.
And above all, where to drink your Spritz? At the end of the day, our favourite spot is the Konoba Herc in Pomena, where you can enjoy the sunset from the comfort of your sofa.
If I had known, …
I would have re-trained myself in driving the scooter. The slopes towards the bays are quite steep, and at night some playful roadside goats gave us quite a scare.
I absolutely would have tried a dish “ under the Peka/ ispod peke ”, the pinnacle of cooking over a real fire and Dalmatian tradition (via a heavy bell and a cast iron lid). This method gives dishes an incredible juicy flavor and a rich aromatic smell that will leave you speechless and will certainly be remembered for a long time. Cooking this type of meal can take 2 to 4 hours, so reservations are essential.
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