Where to stay in Mljet
Mljet is a heavily forested, elongated island where steep limestone ridges plunge into the Adriatic. Settlement clings tightly to the coast and the main inland valley. Choosing where to stay dictates your daily rhythm: stay near the western saltwater lakes for pine-shaded swimming and cycling, or base yourself on the eastern and central bays for working ferry ports, local fish taverns, and practical driving access to the rest of the island.
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Compare car rentals in MljetPomena
Pomena feels like a sleepy, pine-fringed fishing hamlet that largely empties out after the last afternoon catamaran leaves. It is completely walkable, revolving around a single waterfront strip lined with konobas. From your doorstep, you can walk straight onto the shaded footpaths leading to the Great Lake, or rent a kayak to reach the 12th-century Benedictine monastery on St. Mary's Isle.
Sobra
Sobra is the island's main ferry port, stretching narrowly along a deep, horseshoe-shaped bay. It lacks the fairytale isolation of the national park, offering instead a utilitarian strip with a couple of grocery stores, a post office, and car rental desks. Everything is walkable along the coastal road, and it acts as a straight-shot base for driving to both ends of the island.
Polana
Polana sits in a fertile agricultural depression surrounded by dense hills, a short distance from the western lakes. It feels deeply rural, quiet, and removed from the sea breezes, featuring old stone farmhouses and quiet lanes. It is entirely walkable to the Polače ruins and hiking paths climbing up toward Montokuc peak, making it ideal if you prefer dirt tracks to concrete promenades.
Okuklje
Okuklje is built around a protected, nearly circular emerald bay backed by steep, scrub-covered cliffs. It feels like a genuine maritime refuge where the primary sounds are clinking mast rigging and waves lapping against the stone docks. The village is tiny and fully walkable along the water's edge, anchored by a handful of family-run seafood restaurants serving catches straight from the local nets.
One thing to think about
Avoid booking accommodation in remote agricultural hamlets like Babino Polje without renting a car or scooter. While picturesque and centrally located on the map, the steep terrain, lack of sidewalks on the main road, and sparse public bus service make getting to the beaches or restaurants on foot punishingly difficult.
Other places to stay in Croatia: lastminute.com · Megabon
Once you have a bed
The things that sell out first in Mljet are the small-group tours and the skip-the-line tickets.
Top tours & activities
Common questions
Do I need to rent a car to stay on Mljet?
Renting a car, scooter, or e-bike is practically essential unless you are content staying strictly within Pomena or Sobra. Public buses are infrequent and designed around the ferry schedule rather than sightseeing, meaning you will miss out on the island's best isolated bays and inland trails without your own wheels.
Which side of the island has the best swimming spots?
The western end inside Mljet National Park features the calm, warm saltwater lakes of Veliko and Malo Jezero, which are ideal for floating and paddleboarding. For dramatic cliffs and open-sea swimming with crystal-clear water, the rocky shores around Saplunara at the southeastern tip are unmatched.
How do I get to Mljet from the mainland?
High-speed passenger catamarans run daily during the summer season from Dubrovnik, stopping at Sobra and Pomena, and connecting to islands like Korčula and Hvar. If you are traveling with a car, you must take the car ferry operated by Jadrolinija from Prapratno on the Pelješac peninsula directly to Sobra.
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