The Mljet National Park is a vast area of incredible protected natural beauty, which covers the entire north-western section of the Island of Mljet, not too far from the city of Dubrovnik. Put under protection in 1948, it was officially made a national park by the Croatian government in 1960. Bordered by two saltwater lakes known as Veliko and Malo Jezero, the Large and Small Lake, most of the area is covered in rich forestry and paints a vivid image with the lush greens set against the azure seas, rich blue lakes, and endless skies. Breathtakingly beautiful, peaceful, and a wonderful place to stretch your legs and have a bit of an adventure, it is an ideal spot for a day-trip if you have found a vacation rental in Dubrovnik and are looking to venture out of the city for some fresh air and refreshing views.
There are lots of activities that can be enjoyed while visiting this well-maintained and run park. Both of the lakes are ringed by paths with lots of well-marked routes to choose from that are ideal for hiking or cycling and offer pleasant shade from the trees as you go around; something that is especially valuable during the hot summer months. For the best views in the area, be sure to take on of the routes that will lead you up to the hills and from where you can take in an amazing panorama over the Mljet coastline and the park down below. To hike you simply need to wear some sensible shoes and those looking to cycle are also in luck as you don't have to bring your own bicycle along with you: there are great facilities to rent bikes in Pomena, Polače and at Mali Most.
At Mali Most, you can also rent canoes and kayaks to explore and paddle around the lakes themselves. You can, furthermore, take a ferry across the large lake (or kayak if you're up for the challenge), to the small islet Melita in the middle, on which there is a large former Benedictine monastery that was built in the 12th century and houses a nice café and restaurant.
Those who are interested in the beauty of the setting but aren't interested in working up a sweat and, instead, want to take things in a more relaxed manner will also find plenty to entertain them as the park is just ideal for swimming and sunbathing. The water in the lakes is much warmer than the sea and usually offers swimmers pleasantly warm waters from April to October. Sunbathing, too, is nice here as there is plenty of shade to stop you from going lobster-red.
So, if you have time to kill on your trip to Dubrovnik and want to get out of the city to enjoy the landscape of Croatia, this is an excellent place to relax, unwind and have some fun in the most extraordinarily beautiful natural setting. To get to the island of Mljet you can simply take a Jadrolinija ferry from Dubrovnik, either a car ferry taking two and a half hours or a faster catamaran ferry that takes around ninety minutes.
Park Opening hours:
During the High Season – Every day from 8 am to 8 pm
During the Low Season – Every day from 9 am to 5 pm
Entrance fees:
Adult: (low season) 70 Kuna, (high season) 125 Kuna
Children & students: (low season) 50 Kuna, (high season) 70 Kuna
Children under age the age of 7 go free
Bonus:
A return ferry ticket to Melita costs 30 kuna
A guided tour of the park costs 400 Kuna and lasts around two hours
At Mali Most, you can also rent canoes and kayaks to explore and paddle around the lakes themselves. You can, furthermore, take a ferry across the large lake (or kayak if you're up for the challenge), to the small islet Melita in the middle, on which there is a large former Benedictine monastery that was built in the 12th century and houses a nice café and restaurant.
Those who are interested in the beauty of the setting but aren't interested in working up a sweat and, instead, want to take things in a more relaxed manner will also find plenty to entertain them as the park is just ideal for swimming and sunbathing. The water in the lakes is much warmer than the sea and usually offers swimmers pleasantly warm waters from April to October. Sunbathing, too, is nice here as there is plenty of shade to stop you from going lobster-red.
So, if you have time to kill on your trip to Dubrovnik and want to get out of the city to enjoy the landscape of Croatia, this is an excellent place to relax, unwind and have some fun in the most extraordinarily beautiful natural setting. To get to the island of Mljet you can simply take a Jadrolinija ferry from Dubrovnik, either a car ferry taking two and a half hours or a faster catamaran ferry that takes around ninety minutes.
Park Opening hours:
During the High Season – Every day from 8 am to 8 pm
During the Low Season – Every day from 9 am to 5 pm
Entrance fees:
Adult: (low season) 70 Kuna, (high season) 125 Kuna
Children & students: (low season) 50 Kuna, (high season) 70 Kuna
Children under age the age of 7 go free
Bonus:
A return ferry ticket to Melita costs 30 kuna
A guided tour of the park costs 400 Kuna and lasts around two hours
Photo credits
Picture 1: Jaganjac / CC BY-SA 3.0
Picture 1: Jaganjac / CC BY-SA 3.0