Boat trips
Mljet National Park
Two salt lakes in the middle of a pine forest and a Benedictine monastery on an islet: the western part of Mljet, reached by boat from Dubrovnik or Korčula.
- Duration
- Full day
- Korčula (NM)
- 14
The national park takes up the western part of Mljet. The lakes Veliko jezero and Malo jezero are in fact sea inlets, connected to the open sea by the narrow Soline channel. In the middle of Veliko jezero is the islet of Sveta Marija with its Benedictine monastery.
You leave the boat in Polače or Pomena, which are four miles apart by sea. The lakes are a short walk or bicycle ride away, and a park boat runs to the islet. Polače takes its name from a Roman palace, whose walls still stand right by the shore.
What to see
- A swim in Malo jezero, which is warmer than the sea
- The islet of Sveta Marija and its monastery
- The Roman palace in Polače
- The cycle path around Veliko jezero
Departure points
| Departure point | Distance | By speedboat | By sailboat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubrovnik Boat rental: Dubrovnik | approx. 32 NM | 77 min | 5.3 h |
| Korčula Boat rental: Korčula | approx. 14 NM | 34 min | 2.3 h |
Distance one way. Travel time is calculated at about 25 knots for a speedboat and about 6 knots for a sailboat, without stops.
With your own or a rented boat
The boat must have a national park ticket. Anchoring is allowed in the harbours of Polače and Pomena and prohibited in many other bays. Boats may not enter the lakes.
Good to know
- The ticket for the boat does not include a visit to the lakes: for that you buy a ticket per person.
- In the park you may anchor only in Polače and in Lokva bay at Pomena, and within 150 metres of the shore the speed limit is 5 knots.
- From Dubrovnik it is 32 miles to Polače, so it is a full-day trip for a faster boat or an overnight stop for a sailboat. From Korčula it is 14 miles to Pomena.
Boat trips
Other trips
The Blue Cave on Biševo
The best-known sea cave on the Adriatic, five miles from Komiža. Around noon the sun fills it with blue light through an underwater opening.
Open tripThe Blue Lagoon at Drvenik Veli
The shallow turquoise bay of Krknjaši between Drvenik Veli and two islets, six miles from Trogir: the most popular half-day trip in central Dalmatia.
Open tripThe Pakleni islands off Hvar
A chain of some twenty islets just off Hvar harbour: turquoise bays, Palmižana and Vinogradišće, restaurants under the pines and swimming from spring to autumn.
Open tripSafety
Emergency at sea
Croatia's national maritime search and rescue coordination centre (MRCC Rijeka) is on watch 24 hours a day. Save the number before you set off.
- 195Maritime search and rescue
- VHF 16Distress and safety calls
- 112Single emergency number
Before you call, have ready the boat's position (coordinates or the nearest headland, island or bay), the number of people on board and a description of the problem. A call to 112 is put through to the maritime rescue centre.
Get out on the water yourself
Find a boat directly from its owner and arrange the rental with no commission.
The information is for guidance only and does not replace official nautical charts, pilot books or forecasts. Check the current conditions and regulations before you set off.