Where to Stay for Mljet National Park: Pomena vs Polače

Where to stay for Mljet National Park? If you’re planning a visit and wondering where the best place to stay is, there are two main options: Pomena and Polače.

While visiting Mljet on a day trip from Dubrovnik is definitely doable, staying overnight lets you really experience this beautiful island. If you’re anything like me and love nature and relaxed island vibes, it’s well worth spending a little longer here.

I spent two nights on Mljet as part of my month-long Croatia solo budget backpacking adventure, and I’m so glad I did. Exploring Mljet National Park is an experience that definitely stood out on my trip!

After arriving in Dubrovnik from Makarska, I realised I wasn’t quite ready for busy city life yet. So after one night in a hostel, I hopped on the morning ferry to Mljet. (If you’re planning time there too, check out my Dubrovnik solo budget travel guide.)

The ferry stopped first at Sobra and then at Polače, a small harbour village just by Mljet National Park. That’s where I got off, and where I’d spend the next two nights.

There were a mix of day-trippers and overnight visitors on the ferry, but the moment we arrived on Mljet, I knew I’d made the right decision to spend more than just a day here!

So I stayed in Polače, which I loved, but another popular base for exploring Mljet National Park is Pomena. So the question is: where should you stay for visiting Mljet National Park – Polače or Pomena?

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Pomena vs Polače: Where to Stay for Mljet National Park

Polače and Pomena are the main gateways to Mljet National Park, and each has its own ferry port, making them easy to reach from the mainland or other islands via ferry links.

📍 Pomena vs Polače – Quick Pick
Pomena → best for convenience & easy lake access
Polače → best for peace, hiking & better value
➡️ View accommodation in Pomena
➡️ Check stays in Polače

Both Pomena and Polače are located right on the waterfront on the northwestern coast of Mljet, with Pomena slightly further west and Polače just a short distance along the coast.

The two villages are only about 4-5km apart, but they offer a slightly different vibe, style of accommodation, and location in relation to the park. The best choice depends on the kind of experience you’re after on Mljet!

Pomena is home to the main entrance to Mljet National Park, giving it the most direct access to the park’s most popular area – the saltwater lakes of Veliko Jezero and Malo Jezero. You can see their location relative to Pomena and Polače on the map above.

Polače also has a park ticket office, but it’s located further from the lakes. Instead, it’s more of a gateway to some of the park’s hillier hiking trails and most impressive viewpoints, while still being within walking or cycling distance of the lakes.

Pomena vs Polače: Quick Comparison

Feature	Pomena	Polače
Distance to lakes	Closest	Slightly further
Atmosphere	Busier	Quiet
Restaurants	More	Fewer
Accommodation	Hotel + apartments	Mostly apartments
Best for	Short stays	Relaxed stays

Where to Stay for Mljet National Park – Polače

Why Stay in Polače for Mljet National Park

Polače is tranquil and relaxed. While there’s a bit of buzz when the ferry arrives from Dubrovnik, you generally don’t feel like you’re in a busy tourist hotspot, and the evenings especially are peaceful.

This small village sits in a stunning scenic bay, with crystal-clear water glistening on sunny days, yachts gently bobbing in the harbour, and smaller islands scattered just offshore. Polače is easily one of Croatia’s most beautiful harbours.

While it has a lot of beauty, it is small and simple, but that’s part of its charm. There isn’t a whole lot going on, which makes it feel far removed from Croatia’s more crowded destinations and like a true welcome to a slower-paced island life. So if that’s the vibe you’re after, Polače is for you.

What makes Polače a great base, beyond its easy access to Mljet National Park, is that despite its size, it has everything you actually need for a short stay. There’s a ferry port, bakery, small supermarket, a handful of restaurants and cafés, a beach, bike hire, a tourist information office, a Mljet National Park ticket office, direct access to hiking trails, and a range of accommodation options.

Best Places to Stay in Polače

Accommodation in Polače is mostly family-run guesthouses, private rooms, and self-catering apartments.

Most stays are right on the waterfront and just a short walk from the ferry port, making them easy to get to on arrival. The properties here are also very well-rated on Booking.com (the website I use to book my stays), so it’s easy to find somewhere worth staying.

Some of the top-rated options in Polače include Apartments Palma (great for waterfront views), Apartments Angelo (modern and well-equipped), and Guest House Radulj (a consistently highly rated and reliable choice).

When I was planning my trip, I found some really good-value options in September. Polače isn’t big, though, and I imagine places fill up quickly in summer – so it’s worth booking ahead if you’re visiting in peak season.

A Great Budget Stay in Polače (Where I Stayed)

One of the most budget-friendly stays in Polače is Guest House Busurelo, where I stayed. It was ideal for my visit!

I spent two nights here, and for just €38 per night (in mid-September), I had a private double room that offered excellent value for money.

The room was spacious and comfortable, with a small outdoor seating area and a large shared balcony overlooking the bay. For the price, it was a steal – especially compared to Dubrovnik, where some hostels were charging similar prices just for a dorm bed.

If you’d like kitchen facilities, Guest House Busurelo also offers studio and one-bedroom apartments. When I booked very last minute, these were already sold out, so it’s worth reserving in advance if you want one.

I actually managed to lose my room key while out on the trails, but the owner came to my rescue and was very kind about it – extra bonus points for being welcoming!

Whether you’re a budget traveller or just after a peaceful base to explore Mljet, Polače has something for everyone.

My Experience Staying in Polače

Why I Chose Polače

Travelling to Mljet as a solo budget backpacker, my reasons for choosing to stay in Polače were simple: the ferry was cheaper than going to Pomena, and it also had the most budget-friendly accommodation available on my dates.

Exploring Mljet National Park from Polače

From my accommodation in Polače, it was easy to reach the lakes, forest trails, and even Mljet National Park’s highest point, Mount Montokuc, all on foot (or by bike, though I stuck to walking!). The trails are well signposted, making it easy to explore the park.

I explored Mljet National Park entirely on foot during my stay, and it worked perfectly for me. One of the things I loved most about staying in Polače was the easy access to the hiking trail up to Mount Montokuc. The trailhead is close by, and I actually hiked it twice – the views from the top really are stunning!!

While on the trail I also came across another viewpoint, which almost felt like a secret spot – Veliki Gradac. This may actually have been my favourite spot!!

I love hikes and viewpoints, and having these quieter trails right on my doorstep really felt like a dreamy island nature escape. I didn’t mind at all that it was around a 4km walk to reach Mali Most, the small bridge between Veliko and Malo Jezero – the walk itself is part of the island adventure.

Honestly, I sometimes prefer staying somewhere like Polače – a little further from the ‘main’ area (in this case, the lakes). It encourages you to explore more rather than just sticking to the busiest spots, and I definitely wasn’t disappointed!

If you’re looking for a peaceful island escape with easy access to hiking trails – including the route to the island’s best panoramic viewpoint – and great-value accommodation right by the water, Polače is a perfect choice.

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Where to Stay for Mljet National Park – Pomena

Why Stay in Pomena for Mljet National Park

Pomena is the main visitor hub for Mljet National Park, and a very popular place to stay. It’s a relatively small and relaxed waterfront village, but there’s a slightly higher energy here, especially during the day when visitors are strolling to and from the lakes.

✨ Being the more popular base, Pomena can get busy in peak season, so booking accommodation ahead is advised. Explore Pomena accommodation options here ➡️

Like Polače, Pomena is set in a beautiful bay, with clear turquoise water and boats dotted along the shoreline. A small uninhabited island, Otok Pomeštak, lies just in front of Pomena, adding to the scenery and helping keep the waterfront sheltered.

Pomena is slightly larger than Polače and offers many of the same amenities, including apartments, guesthouses, a ferry port, small supermarket, bike rental, and a national park ticket office (this is actually the park’s main entrance). What makes it livelier, though, is that there’s a hotel, and therefore more people staying overnight. There are also more dining options, attracting visitors during the day and at night.

The biggest draw for Pomena is its prime location for visiting the lakes, with Mali Most and some of Mljet National Park’s most popular swimming spots less than 10 minutes away on foot. This makes it super easy to enjoy relaxed lake days without needing to venture far from your accommodation.

If you’re after an overall livelier base with easy access to swimming spots and lakeside walks, Pomena is a great choice. It’s especially suited to travellers looking for a more relaxed experience of Mljet National Park – those who don’t wish to walk or cycle too much – while having everything they need close by.

Best Places to Stay in Pomena

Pomena has a wider range of accommodation options than Polače, with something to suit most budgets – alongside apartments and guesthouses, there is also a hotel. Most properties come with sea views and are all close to the park entrance, lakes, cafés, and rental shops, making it an easy base for exploring Mljet National Park.

Most places to stay are also just a short walk from the harbour, making arrival and check-in quick and easy.

Thanks to Hotel Odisej, the only hotel on Mljet, the accommodation capacity in Pomena is significantly higher than elsewhere on the island. The hotel sits right on the waterfront, and is a very popular choice for travelers looking for convenience and a prime location for Mljet National Park.

If you prefer to have a little more space and self-catering facilities, there are several excellent options to choose from. Some of the top rated ones include Apartments Lorena Mljet, Apartments Slavica,
and Mljet Sunset Apartments, all offering comfortable accommodation with kitchen facilities, and quick access to the waterfront and lakes.

For one of the most budget-friendly options in Pomena, you can check out Guest House Kiko. It offers more basic double and twin rooms, as well as studio and apartment options, just steps from the entrance to Mljet National Park.

My Experience in Pomena

While I didn’t stay in Pomena, I walked there from Polače and know that had I stayed, I also would have loved it. I noticed a different vibe almost immediately – the village gives off more ‘holiday vibes’ with its livelier atmosphere, and it’s easy to see why many people choose to stay here.

After walking to the lakes from Polače, I was able to really see just how convenient Pomena is for reaching them. I’d actually say the section between the lakes and Pomena was the busiest trail I walked, with people casually strolling for a relaxed lake day. It had a really easygoing feel to it – not quite my hiking girl vibes I was giving off when I was setting out from Polače!

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Is Mljet Good for Solo or Budget Travellers?

Having visited Mljet as a solo budget backpacker, I can say it’s a great place for travellers who don’t want to spend much (as well as those who do, of course!). It’s the kind of island where you’re out in nature, not spending money partying the night away, which makes it easy to keep costs down.

Mljet doesn’t have any backpacker hostels, but there are budget-friendly accommodation options in the form of guesthouses and apartments. From my experience, Polače tends to be slightly more affordable than Pomena, although prices vary depending on the season and availability. Honestly, it’s the perfect excuse for a little break from hostel life!

Aside from accommodation, there is an entrance fee for Mljet National Park, but once you’re in, it’s easy to explore without spending much more. Many visitors rent bikes, which typically cost around €15-20 per day. While that’s not too expensive, it can add up over multiple days.

However, one of the easiest ways to save money is to hit the walking trails instead. Polače and Pomena are both well connected to the park by hiking trails and quiet roads, making it easy to get around without a bike. That’s what I did, and I still managed to see a lot. If you want a mix, you could always rent a bike for one day and walk on another.

Food is another area where costs can add up. There are bakeries and small supermarkets in both Polače and Pomena, but prices on the island are higher. If you’re travelling on a budget, it’s worth stocking up on some essentials in Dubrovnik before you arrive (cheaper food, and more choice!) – I actually didn’t do this, and quickly realized I should have!

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Final Verdict: Should You Stay in Pomena or Polače?

In my opinion, you really can’t go wrong in either Pomena or Polače!

• Pomena is ideal if you want to be closest to the lakes, enjoy a livelier atmosphere, and have more dining options.
• Polače is perfect for those who love hiking, peaceful evenings, and a quieter, more local-feel stay.

I personally would have been happy in either, but for the quick access to the hiking trails up Mt. Montokuc, and the ultimate chill, peaceful vibes, I’m glad I ended up staying in Polače! It suited my travel style very well!

Whichever village you end up in, you’ll have easy access to Mljet National Park’s stunning lakes, trails, and viewpoints.