Island of Mljet (General Overview)

While writing the article about the islet of Saint Mary on the Great Lake of Mljet, and since we have already published an article about Odysseus Cave and had an article in preparation about the famous Mljets beach Saplunara, the need arose to say a word or two about the island of Mljet in general, because Mljet is by no means just a sum of a few attractive locations.

Below are a few general impressions of the island…

The Island

Still unspoiled by mass tourism, a visit to Mljet is a special experience in every way! From waiting for the ferry in Prapratno, spectacular viewpoints along the road across the entire island, staying in the sleepy Babino Polje, hidden swimming spots on the cliffs, the picturesque Sutmiholjska and the “famous” Saplunara, visiting the national park and the islet of Saint Mary, to the magical Odysseus Cave. Mljet is a miracle!

Waiting for the Ferry in Prapratno

Waiting for a ferry is usually associated with negative feelings. However, waiting in Prapratno remains in our memory in a totally different way. Swimming in the perfectly clear sea at the pier itself, jumping, and relaxing. Prapratno also has a beautiful beach. We visited it, but the pier itself absolutely thrilled us!

The Ferry Ride

The crossing is relatively short. The landscape is interesting. As you approach Mljet, the excitement grows. The feeling that you are arriving at a special place is present the whole time. I don’t know why, but associations with Jurassic Park kept popping up (similar to parts of Dugi Otok). There’s probably something in that isolation and dense vegetation.

Spectacular Views

We are used to incredible views because we live in an incredible place and have traveled to other incredible places. And yet, Mljet does not leave you indifferent! Those who aren’t used to it should consume it slowly and carefully 🙂

Babino Polje

There are islands that have towns and cities worth visiting and admiring. We don’t count Mljet among such islands, so we had no expectations, nor was our goal to get to know the island’s architecture.

Babino Polje seemed the most rustic to us, so we booked accommodation there. The warmth of this sleepy place with a view of the open sea is incredible. The “teraca” (terrace) of the house where we stayed is the archetype of the terraces of our grandfathers and grandmothers in the villages of Dalmatia and Herzegovina, and the night sky above it is a splendor that takes your breath away!

Sitting on the low wall of the local church at the end of the day and watching the sunset persistently took me back to my childhood in the village with my grandma and grandpa. Anyone who didn’t grow up with something like that will surely have a different impression of this place. For me, Babino Polje is something I would always choose over the lights of any world metropolis, without any hesitation!

Hidden Spots

Mljet is one large hidden spot, but if even those few tourists you meet at the more famous locations on the island annoy you, there are countless hidden locations at your disposal that you can explore and swim at, without a living soul for miles around!

The Lakes

We mentioned the lakes in the article about the islet of St. Mary. There is the Great and Small Lake. They are a specificity of the island of Mljet, although some other Croatian islands also have lakes. The most famous is Lake Mir on Dugi Otok.

The water temperature in the lakes is always a few degrees higher than in the sea, so they are a favorite destination for those sensitive to the cold, especially in the shoulder seasons.

The lakes are connected by a channel through which the water exchanges with a strong current driven by the high and low tides. Floating with the current from one lake to another is hilarious fun for many swimmers!

The lakes are surrounded by dense pine forest, and around them are paths suitable for walking, running, and cycling.

What we didn’t like was the muddiness of the lake bottom. This is common for lakes, backwaters where the water is still, and rivers that are not in karst areas.

Beaches

Mljet has them, but they are not its main assets. If we had to choose between swimming on beaches or on the rocks, on Mljet we would always choose the rocks! Not because the beaches are so bad, but because the rocks are so good!

Of the beaches/bays, Sutmiholjska impressed us. It has that something special, especially at dusk…