Nestled in the heart of the Adriatic Sea, Mljet is renowned for its lush forests, clear lakes, and a serene atmosphere. A day trip to Mljet National Park from Dubrovnik or Korčula is an idyllic escape for nature lovers and those seeking tranquility.
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Just a short ferry ride from Dubrovnik or Korčula, Mljet beckons adventurers and nature enthusiasts alike. Join me as I recount my exhilarating Day Tour to Mljet National Park, exploring on two wheels and by foot. Read our blog post here for more ideas on planning a week in Dubrovnik and Korčula.
Check availability of a private tour to Mljet below:
Arrival and Bikes
We took an early morning ferry to Pomena on Mljet. There are also ferries to Polace, but the ferry times there did not work as well for us, and it is not as close to the national park entrance as Pomena is. Croatia Ferries has a great overview of the various ferry schedules (you can book directly here or on the individual ferry sites such as the TP Line). The ferry from Korčula takes about 30 minutes, while the one from Dubrovnik takes 1 hour and 20 minutes.
Our ferry docked at Pomena, a quaint port that serves as the gateway to Mljet’s unspoiled beauty. We were met immediately by the bike rental company we reserved with. We pre-booked our mountain bikes through Prozura Travel Agency, and found their customer service, friendliness, and bikes to be excellent. Once set up with our bikes, we set off to explore the western part of the island, home to the famed Mljet National Park.
We recommend also a great Bike and Boat tour from Dubrovnik, which will arrange bikes for you.
Cycling Through Greenery into the National Park
Before leaving Pomena, we stopped at the national park office to get our map and pay our entrance fee. Current fees are 13.50-22.50 EUR for adults, depending the season. Children aged 8-18 are 5-8 EUR, and children under 8 are free. The ferry to the monastery is an additional 5 EUR. See the national park site for more options and latest fees. Tickets are good for 7 days.
We headed into the national park, cycling towards Veliko and Malo Jezero, which are the large and small saltwater lakes. We came across the small lake first. This is a great spot to bike or walk around, and would also be a good spot for a swim. We chose to walk around it. You can swim in the lakes when the water is warm enough. We were there in April, and no one was in the water at that point. There are also restrooms between the two lakes.
We got back on our bikes and headed out around the south shore of the big lake. There are great views of the monastery here. The path extends beyond the lake, with nice views at the end. Retracing our path a bit, we crossed to the north shore and biked to the small town Soline at the end of the path. There are a few restaurants to choose from if you’d like to have lunch here. We had brought food along, so continued on our way.
Montokuc
We decided to have our picnic lunch on top of Montokuc, though there were plenty of spots along the lake that would have been perfect for a picnic. This moderately challenging trail promised panoramic views of the park and beyond. It is 2.7 miles (4.3 km) roundtrip, with 734 ft (223 m) of elevation gain. We biked as far up the road as we could, then switched from pedals to foot. The ascent was a continued uphill on rocky paths and with lush greenery.
The view from the summit was breathtaking – a 360-degree view of the entire national park, the Adriatic Sea, and the neighboring islands. The different colors of the waters juxtaposed with the green landscape created a mesmerizing canvas. We enjoyed our lunch at the shelter on top of Montokuc.
St. Mary Monastery
After retracing our steps, we biked to the visitor center next to the big lake. We had not bought ferry tickets yet, and were able to buy these at the visitor center. We parked our bikes and took a short ferry ride across Veliko Jezero to the small islet of St. Mary, boasting a charming 12th-century Benedictine monastery. There is a small café serving food on the island, which we’d recommend for a coffee or tea break. We wandered around the island, enjoying both the monastery itself and the gardens.
Wrapping up our Day Trip to Mljet National Park
In hindsight, an e-bike wasn’t really needed for our day trip to Mljet National Park (regular bikes would have been fine). There are rolling hills but nothing too big. That said, we cut it too close trying to make it back for our scheduled ferry. Using the electric on the e-bike got us there just in time. We enjoyed a late dinner in Korcula a short 30 minutes later.
Other Activities and Tours to Explore on Mljet
If you prefer a private boat to the ferry, check out these highly rated tours below:
- From Korcula island: Mljet Island Yacht Day Trip with Lunch
- From Dubrovnik: Private Speedboat Cruise to Mljet
There are plenty of other things to do on the island if you have more time, including:
- Kayaking and canoeing in the park
- Odysseus Cave
- Blato Village
- Beaches
Whether you’re pedaling through its landscapes or hiking its trails, Mljet island offers a unique blend of adventure and tranquility. If you’re seeking a day trip that combines physical activity with natural beauty, Mljet is a destination that should be high on your list.
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Travel Resources
We recommend booking through our preferred travel booking sites below.
Air Travel | SkyScanner |
Lodging | Booking.com, VRBO.com, Expedia.com, Hostelworld |
Tours and Activities | Viator.com, GetYourGuide.com |
Car rentals | Discovercars.com |
Travel insurance | Squaremouth |
Bike and scooter rentals | BikeBookings.com |
Train tickets | Trainline, RailEurope |
Bus tickets | Flixbus, Busbud |
Beautiful guide to Croatia! Montokuc looks stunning and is so bucket list worthy
Thanks, hope you’re able to visit Mljet sometime.
Oooh this looks so fun! Cycling around Mljet National Park is a great way to see a lot of the area in a single day. I especially love the views from Montokuc – what a great lunch spot!
Thanks, we were just talking about visiting Mljet again! Hope you’re able to visit sometime.
Mljet National Park is a place I would love to explore by bike! Looks and sounds like a perfect day trip from Dubrovnik or Korčula in Croatia.
Thanks, it’s been one of our best island biking experiences (Favignana off Sicily was a pretty close 2nd to Mljet)
Wow I love the color of the water here! Such a pretty blue color and the mountains in the background… so pretty! Would love to visit someday.
Thanks, hope you’re able to visit!
Wow, so many stunning views. Croatia is definitely on my bucket list! Saving this day trip idea for later!
Great, hope you can visit!
I would love to explore this part of the world.. eps by boat! the national park is esp. welcoming and those water views!
The water colors were just amazing in the Adriatic and in particular around Mljet.
This looks like a beautiful trip. I’ve been to Croatia but missed out on this gem. Adding to the list next time we visit.
This looks so perfect! It is one of my favorite things to discover a new place on bike! So glad you made it back in time and the e-bike came in handy!
Croatia has not been high on my must-travel list but your articles are slowly changing that. I had no idea what a beautiful region it is. The Mljet National Park is something everyone visiting the country should experience.
This island looks beautiful, might have to check it on whenever I make it to Croatia
I missed this part of Croatia and now I have to plan another extensive trip there and do the water activities as well.
Mljet National Park sounds like a dream! I haven’t been to Croatia yet, but would love to visit soon. Glad to see that I’d be able to take a ferry ride across Veliko Jezero to the small islet of St. Mary. Would love to visit the Monastery, while also enjoying the surrounding areas.
Wow, I never heard about Mljet, but it looks absolutely amazing! And a great day trip… Saving it for future 🙂
I had no idea this was in Croatia but now I would love to visit! The views from the summit are spectacular! What a beautiful place!
Those views are breathtaking! I really need to put Croatia higher on my travel destinations list!
A day trip to Mljet National Park looks and sounds so perfect! Would love to explore on bikes or hike the trails. The views are stunning!
I love Croatia! Haven’t visited this island yet so will have to add it to my list!
Wow what a beautiful town! Adding this to my list of stops in Croatia! Thanks!
Ah, that looks like a wonderful place to escape to! Perhaps a walking/hking adventure, camping or staying at inns or homes along the way?
This looks so beautiful, I’ve been to Plitvice but this might be the next Croatian national park on my list!
We really want to spend some time in Croatia. Mljet National Park looks like a lovely spot to plan to visit by ferry. Cycling around the park sounds like a lot of fun. And even if not needed, we would have appreciated having an e-bike to ride. We have one at home and quite love them.