National Park Mljet

What is useful to know if you want to visit the National Park Mljet?

How to get on Mljet

The island of Mljet is situated near Dubrovnik, in a group of southern Dalmatian islands, and National Park Mljet covers his north western part.

You can get on National Park Mljet by a ferry from Dubrovnik and by numerous tourist charter boats from Korčula, Hvar and Split, which dock in Pomena and Polače.  You can also choose the ferry which dock in Sobra (the main port on the island) but from here you will need a car to come to National Park.

Entrance fee

Entrance to the park

Visitors can enter the Park only through official entrances of the National Park Mljet: Crna Klada, Pomena and Polače.

The settlements of Pomena and Polače are connected to the lakes by a system of forest paths.

Visitors who come on organized one-day trips must stay with the group and route, while individual visitors may visit the park as they wish – as long as they comply with National Park regulations.

When is the best time to visit park

The NP Mljet is beautiful sight through the whole year, walking along the shores of two world-renowned Lakes will make your stay very pleasant, hiking and biking paths are spread through the whole territory, always in a shadow, so even in a summer it is not too hot to take a trekking route. Sightseeing from Montokuc and other peaks offer beautiful view over the entire National Park, and the open sea of the South Adriatic.

Excursions

From the entrances, there are marked paths to the Great Lake, the Small Lake and of course to the isle of St. Mary so it is quite easy to find you way around on your own hand, but to get the most out of your visit you might want to pay a bit extra for having a guide with you.

• SIGHTSEEING – walking and biking tours The Great Lake and The Small Lake are the salt lakes which are a unique geological and oceanographic phenomenon of worldwide importance. They originated approximately 10,000 years ago. Until the Christian era, they were freshwater lakes, but since then a narrow passage, Soline bay, has connected them to the sea.
• Along the shores of the lakes, as well as in the forest, there are walking and biking paths.
• Please keep in mind that within the borders of the National Park visitors are not allowed to go beyond the area intended for sightseeing and visiting.

• SIGHTSEEING of the little isle of St. Mary in the Great Lake
  • • • walking to the Great lake (covering an area of 145 ha, with a maximum depth of 46 m)
      • a road by boat to the little isle of St. Mary
      • a visit to an ancient Benedictine monastery and a church dating from 12th century
      • After sightseeing you can enjoy in various activities
  • • • Swimming in the lakes is possible at 3 seasons of the year; the small lake usually offers swimmers nice temperature water from April to October.
      • Visit Polače – settlement and harbour which is placed in protected bay, and have various cultural and historical monuments like roman palace and ancient catholic basilica.
      • In Pomena you have on your disposal various sport fields, diving and sailing schools, you can rent bicycles, canoes and boards.
      • Interesting cultural events are:
      • Mljet cultural summer – it is manifestation of Christian holiday of Velika Gospa(Great Madonna),and Gospe od Jezera( Madonna of the lake), celebrations starts in middle of July and ends at the 15^th of August. On the island of Saint Mary in that period there are various concerts and exhibitions in the monastery, all income is going for the restoration of monastery, so please support it.
      • Mljet Half Ironman triathlon race– it is traditional (annually) international race, which is combine of swimming, bicycle riding and running. The race itself is held on beautiful locations across the National Park Mljet, in October.

Accommodation

Hotels

The following hotel is located in picturesque harbour Pomena in the heart of the NP Mljet.

HOTEL ODISEJ *** – 157 accommodation units, 2 suites (312 beds)

Campsites: Campsites are only in the surrounding area s(Dubrovnik, peninsula Pelješac, island of Korčula …)

CAMP PRAPATNO **** (960 camping units) is located at the very beginning of Pelješac peninsula, near town Ston

CAMP SOLITUDO *** (for 1000 persons on a land plot of 5 hectares)  is located near Dubrovnik

Private accommodations

There are plenty of private accommodations (rooms, apartments) out side of borders of the NP Mljet.

Eating out

Restaurant Melita – in breathtaking ambient of the islet of St. Mary there is fish restaurant with variety of specialties from Dalmatian cuisine.

Other things which might be useful to know

• The use of cars and motorcycles is strictly forbidden within the basic phenomenon of the National Park!
• It is forbidden to sail into the lakes with your own boat (exception below), only ones allowed to do so, are the official tourist boats from the National Park.
• Entering the lakes by boat is allowed only by the use of paddles.
• ANCHORING – allowed only in the bays of Pomena and Polače.
• Recreational fishing- is allowed everywhere except in the lakes who are protected by the law (the Great Lake, Small Lake and the Soline channel). You need a special permit for fishing.
• Scuba diving is allowed on the certain distance from the island.
• It is forbidden to pollute or damage the marine ecosystem in any way, carrying and using firearms or any other means which can be used for hunting.
• Camping is not allowed
• You can bring your own bicycles

Driving distance to Dubrovnik (the nearest town to park) from major towns

• Sibenik – Dubrovnik           KM     285     Time 4.5 to 5 hour 20 minutes
• Zadar – Dubrovnik             KM     353     Time 5-6 hour 10 minutes
• Spilt – Dubrovnik               KM     211     Time 4-5 hours
• Zagreb – Dubrovnik           KM     605     Time 8 hours 30 minutes
• Rijeka – Dubrovnik            KM      560    Time 9 hours 10 minutes

Ferry Schedule – Dubrovnik to Mljet

There are two car ferries going to the Mljet Island, one ferry leaves from Dubrovnik to Sobra (Mljet), the other from Prapratno (Peljesac) to Sobra, here you can see ferry schedules:

Official contact detail of the National park

Nacionali Park Mljet
20226 Goveđari
Pristanište 2, Croatia
Tel: +385 20 744 041  or +385 20 744 058
Fax: +385 20 744 043
E-mail: np-mljet@np-mljet.hr or turizam@np-mljet.hr

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