Croatia is known as a Mediterranean country with a breathtaking coastline and more than 1,200 islands, islets, rocks, and ridges. This time, we’ll put our focus on the country’s second-largest Peninsula called Pelješac.

This peninsula is Mediterranean heaven – it has amazing beaches, pine tree forests, historical and cultural monuments, traditional cuisine, amazing recipes, and high-quality local wine. With that mix, Pelješac is an ideal destination during summer and autumn.

We are here for all the details and we’re bringing you a 4-day itinerary on what to see, where to go, what to do, eat, and drink in order to truly experience the enjoyment of this Mediterranean beauty.

Let’s travel!

General Info About Pelješac Peninsula

Pelješac Peninsula is located in Dalmatia, in the south of Croatia. It is a part of the Dubrovnik-Neretva county. Pelješac is 77 kilometers long and has 348 square kilometers. The peninsula is mostly covered in black pine forest and Mediterranean vegetation. A large part of it is under olive groves and vineyards so the production of virgin olive oil and high-quality red wines has been a long-lasting tradition of the local people.

The shores of the Pelješac Peninsula are intertwined with coves and white beaches which are overgrown with the rich Mediterranean and subtropical vegetation. This combination of nature, beaches, and crystal clear sea is the perfect mix for a beautiful Dalmatian trip through the breathtaking landscapes.

Pelješac is divided in 4 counties – Ston, Janjina, Trpanj, and Orebić. It stretches almost parallel to the direction of the coast – from the mainland in Mali Ston to the end of cape Lovište. The terrain of the peninsula is hilly with a lot of karst fields.

You can arrive at Pelješac by taking a couple of different roads and transportation, depending on your final destination or on the road trip you wish to take.

How To Get Here

There are a couple of ways to get to the Pelješac Peninsula. You can choose any type of ride that feels comfortable to you. However, do have in mind that the best way to get around the peninsula is by car.

Car ride

The peninsula has a great traffic connection. You can take the usual car route from the north. You can go on the old road and drive through the Dalmatian coastline or the A1 highway. After that, you take the Adriatic tourist road from Ploče.

Now, from Ploče, you can take the Pelješac bridge or go to Ston. Ston is a beautiful place to visit as it has walls that are, along with the Great Wall of China, the longest preserved fortification system in the world. Now, if you want to visit the town as the first stop of your road trip through the peninsula, have in mind that you need to cross the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina. Croatia is split there by about 20 kilometers.

Short Ferry Ride

In case you don’t want to be in a car that long, you can take a ferry to Ploče. The ferry will take you to Trpanj, Pelješac, in just one hour.

Airplane Flight

The closest airports are Split and Dubrovnik. These towns are beautiful attractions on their own too. And they are connected by ferries and roads to the Pelješac Peninsula.

What To Know About Peninsula’s Food & Wines

Is Pelješac Peninsula a good destination for foodies? Absolutely! Here is what you can expect.

Traditions, Local, Fresh

When it comes to the flavors that will seduce your palate while visiting, you can expect a lot of freshness, tradition, and local ingredients. First things first – Pelješac is an oyster paradise. And you’ll eat them fresh out of the sea, only with a couple of drops of lemon. And that is a true delicacy!

Besides oysters, expect the rhapsody of the Mediterranean flavors and seafood – mussels, brudet, grilled or salted fish, octopus, risotto, and all kinds of other recipes and dishes with a focus on freshness and – Adriatic Sea.

But not everything is focused on the seafood – expect lamb, peka, and barbecue too! Local cheese, prosciutto, olives, and more. Much, much more. To taste all the flavors, aromas, and nuances, you have a lot of restaurants and taverns that will seduce you within seconds.

Region Of Red Wine

Wine tour through the Pelješac Peninsula? Who can say no to that! Pelješac is an empire of red wine and the wine tradition goes back to the 13th century.

The peninsula’s wineries are among the best red wine producers in Croatia. The grapes are cultivated by hand, as nature doesn’t allow the usage of machines. Pelješac has about 250 registered wine producers while Plavac Mali, Dingač, and Postup are some of the best wines there.

There are a lot of small wine producers that can offer you high-quality wine. But if you want to be really original with the tasting, visit Edivo. This winery is known for the world’s original wine – Navis Mysterium, a wine aged at the bottom of the sea.

4-Day Travel Guide: Here Is What To Do, See, Visit, Drink & Eat

Now, the final itinerary depends on the way you come to Pelješac (from which side of the word to be exact). However, if you want to travel through the peninsula and see what it has to offer, we recommend you to work your way from Ston.

Here is where to go, what to see, what to taste, and where to enjoy in order for you to truly meet Pelješac and its beauty!

Day 1

Explore Ston. Ston is a settlement and municipality located at south of the isthmus of the Pelješac Peninsula. The Walls of Stone (Stonske zidine) are a series of defensive stone walls. Originally, they were more than 7 kilometers long. They surrounded and protected the city of Ston, while the city was a part of the Republic of Ragusa. You can take a nice walking tour of the walls, that activity lasts for about an hour and a half. The tour has an easy to the medium difficulty level.

After Ston, take a ride to Prapratno. This little cove is located only 3 kilometers away from Ston. This is one of the most beautiful bays in this part of the peninsula. The sandy beach and crystal clear Adriatic Sea are great for refreshment under the sun or under the shadows of pine forest. Prapratno also has a big camping spot and a ferry port for the Mljet island.

Konoba Mandrač is an excellent place for lunch. The restaurant is located near Ston next to the sea and you can enjoy some of the most traditional dishes of this region – oysters, grilled groupers, mussels, lobsters, calamari, and other fresh beauties from the depths of the Adriatic Sea.

If you’d love to learn more about the local traditions and culture, visit the first Croatian museum of viticulture and winemaking, located in Putniković. The museum exhibits a long history of viticulture and winemaking, you can see valuable exhibits, as well as taste different wine varieties.

If you’re interested to know more about oyster cultivation, you can take a special boat ride later in the day, that will take you to the oyster farm. There, you will learn more about oyster cultivation and taste them freshly sprinkled with a few drops of lemon juice. Of course, oysters are combined with a glass of Pelješac wine, and the story of the local shellfish farmers. Quite an unforgettable experience!

Day 2

While traveling through the Pelješac Peninsula, there are many beaches that can offer you relaxation and refreshment. Beaches Vučine, Zuljana, Kremena, Drače, and others are surrounded by crystal blue sea. Whichever beach you choose, you can truly enjoy the beauty of the Mediterranean while being surrounded by the music of crickets and waves.

You can spend the morning relaxing and chilling and afterward, start your afternoon at the Taverna Domanoeta.  This is a stone-walled restaurant located at Janjina. The restaurant offers a rhapsody of flavors and nuances served in Mediterranean dishes and traditional recipes. You can enjoy in barbecue and seafood, or a vegetarian meal selection. What makes this restaurant stand out is the fact that it presents a rustic cellar and its offer is based on local wine and traditional dishes. The entire time, you’ll be surrounded by stone pieces, vines, dried herbs, and greenery.

After that, visit Winery Bezek, located in Janjina too. This winery has a long tradition of producing native Dalmatian grape varieties. Enjoy some local and autochthonous wine nuance, taste their freshness, full body, and different notes that emphasize the fullness of the flavors and aromas.

Once you’re ready to get going, make sure to visit Tunnel Dingač, near Potomje. This village is known for its wines and Dingač is a local high-quality wine that is cultivated on the other side of the mountain. For easier access, the local wine producers excavated a 400 meters long tunnel in 1976. The tunnel is entirely excavated by hands. It is quite an experience to visit it! When you’re coming from the Potomje side, you will be amazed by the view that breaks once you get to the other side – a breathtaking panorama of Mljet, Korčula, and nearby islands and islets.

Want to enjoy the sunset? Walk the Napolean road. Officially, this road connects Ston and Orebić, but you can walk by the path from outside of Putniković. The road presents one of the most valuable testimonies of Napoleon’s rule in the South Dalmatian area. The road will take you to the most beautiful paths and cultural sights of the Pelješac region. You can take the road with bikes too!

Day 3

Let’s travel to the parts of the peninsula that have a lot of sights to visit which will certainly seduce you with their beauty of peace, Dalmatian spirit, and historical nuances.

Visit Trpanj, a beautiful coastal town on the northern coast of Pelješac Peninsula. The town faces the Croatian mainland and while it used to be a fisherman’s village, it is now a popular holiday spot. This is a really picturesque place with a lot of outdoor activities – walk through many trails, visit the beautiful waterfront promenade, and enjoy the view from Trpanj bay which is characterized by the large monument of the Lady and rock formations that surround the town. Rent a bike and spend a couple of hours exploring the nearby beaches such as Divna and Duba (these are one of the most beautiful beaches in Croatia too).

If you’re not interested in cycling but relaxing only, visit Blace Bay. This lagoon is full of therapeutic mud and it will help you get on with that health journey of yours!

Once the clock hits noon, it’s time to enjoy some traditional dishes. Tavern Škojera has been attracting guests for many years thanks to its ambiance, outstanding cuisine, and traditional dishes prepared with homemade and local ingredients. Need some wine with that? Oh, nothing to worry about. The tavern has an amazing selection of local wines that beautifully emphasizes the tasty nuances and flavors of the tradition.

Orebić is a port town and municipality. The town sits on the southern coast of the Pelješac Peninsula. Orebić is known as the town of sailors and captains, and through the centuries, it developed as the town of the maritime industry. Orebić should definitely be on your intinerey as it has a lot to offer – explore the Maritime Museum where you will be taken back in 1584 and visit the ancient Franciscan Monastery of Our Lady of Angels. Need some adventure time? Trek up Mount St. Ilija, a 961-meter-tall peak, the highest mountain of the peninsula. You can trek with a local tour guide and learn more about the region’s culture and history. Once you’re at the top of the mountain, you can enjoy a breathtaking view of the island of Korčula and the canal of Pelješac. Need extra adventure? At the top of Mt. Ilija, there is a paragliding center!

Day 4

Ready to hit the road and fall in love with the rest of the Pelješac Peninsula? We’re going to take it easy for day 4!

From Orebić, drive along the coastline, enjoy the view, and get to Viganj. Viganj is a small village located in the west of the Pelješac. It is known for the Maestral wind and thanks to that, it is great for windsurfing opportunities. Such competitions are regularly held there during the summertime, so you can get a true treat while visiting. Of course, you can try and learn to windsurf with certificated trainers! Now, wouldn’t that be a great morning!

When you’re ready (and hungry) keep on driving until you get to Estravaganca, a restaurant located near village Lovište. You can visit this restaurant both by car and boat. Estravaganca is the only building in this small bay. The sitting tables are right next to the beach so you’ll have an amazing view and natural music – waves combined with the crickets from the nearby forest. This is a true oasis of fresh Mediterranean dishes and amazing natural beauty.

Lunch and rest will give you plenty of energy to explore a bit more! Visit Lovište, the village in the far north-western part of the Pelješac Peninsula. This place is known for the production of figs, almonds, and carob, so you’ll have pretty good dishes and recipes to try out while visiting! Nearby, there are a lot of small coves (Križica, Česminova, Pržina) with small pebble beaches. Ideal for relaxation and enjoyment to end your trip through this beautiful Croatian peninsula.

Ideas For Day Trips From Pelješac

If Pelješac is your base point, you can use that as your advantage to visit some nearby towns and islands! Even though Pelješac has a lot of activities, spots, and sights that will really seduce you within seconds, you can definitely visit and enjoy some additional trips too. Especially if you’re visiting the peninsula for a bit longer than just 4 days! Or if you wish to change up a bit of your itinerary and do some island hopping. Here are a few ideas for day trips from Pelješac Peninsula.

Korčula is Just 15 Minutes Away

Take a ferry in Orebić and you’ll be on Korčula island in just 15 minutes (the ferry to the island goes quite frequent during the summer months)! By taking a little drive, you can visit beautiful Korčula Town and wander through the streets of the old town, visit Lumbarda, a breathtaking sandy beach, or drive along the coastline and just relax in one of the many coves of the island. You can even visit Vela Luka, a town on the other side of the island that has one of the longest mosaics in the world. You can join this art project and make your own mosaic which will then be built into the town’s promenade.

Take a Drive to Dubrovnik

Drive along the coastline of the Croatian mainland and visit Dubrovnik, the pearl of the Adriatic. Dubrovnik is an excellent choice for a day trip as you can visit the old town, walk on the town’s walls, visit Stradun, explore Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque churches and monasteries, or the set of the Game of Thrones series. This is great because once you’re done, you can go back to the peaceful ambient of the Pelješac Peninsula since Dubrovnik is often overrun with tourists and visitors.

Ferry Ride to Ploče

From Trpanj harbor, you can take a ferry and visit Ploče, a town located on the shores of the Adriatic Sea, somewhere between Split and Dubrovnik. There, you can take great hiking routes, try watersports such as kite surfing or windsurfing, visit the Church of the Queen of Heaven and Earth (one of the most beautiful modern churches on the Croatian coastline), or enjoy the natural sights that surround this beautiful city. Neretva Delta is one of the most popular places there too. It is just 15 minutes away from the city of Ploče and you can walk around on sandbars, or do some kitesurfing (have in mind that you need to pass a basic course to start with that adventure, there are some schools in the vicinity too).

Explore Bosnia & Herzegovina

From Ploče, you can go and visit Baćina lakes. This lake group consists of 7 lakes and it is located only a couple of kilometers away from Ploče town. You can take a kayaking tour, stand-up paddling, or a traditional boat expedition. Baćina lakes are beautiful to explore and enjoy nature, and you can always look for refreshments in the cold water of the springs.

Organized Tours

If you’re not too keen to take adventurous trips by yourself, there are a lot of tours, excursions, and trips you can take in the tourist agencies. That way you’ll go on a professionally organized trip with an experienced guide. You can go island hopping, on wine and food tours, on cultural and historical excursions, and more. Just pick what you’re interested in and have a blast!

FAQ: Additional Details on Traveling to Pelješac, Croatia

Before going to Croatia, there are a couple of things you need to know and consider. We’ll cover a couple of important questions, tips, and facts about traveling to Pelješac, as well as a few general questions on traveling to Croatia.

• The current currency in Croatia is KN (kuna). However, the country is transferring to EURO at the moment so a lot of shops already use both currencies. On the other hand, EURO usage will be mandatory from January 2023. With that being said, have in mind that a lot of smaller shops with souvenirs or food still use only KN (kuna).
• Regarding money, in a lot of smaller shops and stands, you won’t be able to pay with your credit card, only with physical money. So make sure to have enough cash for this shopping possibility.
• To get to Pelješac by car and by following the coastline on the Croatian mainland (in case you don’t want to go through the Pelješac Bridge), you will need to pass the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina, drive through that country for about 20 kilometers, and then re-enter Croatia.
• In the summer, Croatia is a really popular destination for a vacation. That includes Pelješac Peninsula too. Due to that, you need to make accommodation reservations a couple of months in advance.
• If you wish to avoid crowds of tourists, try going in September. This time of the year is still hot, the sea is warm, and there are a lot less tourists and visitors. Also, in September, accommodation is cheaper.
• Rent accommodation with locals. Vacation rentals are a better choice than hotels and they offer better value for the money.

• Most of the local people speak English (at least a little) so you won’t have a problem with communication.
• Croatia isn’t that cheap, as most people assume. Many things, for example, groceries, are quite expensive. The prices have gone up a lot in the last couple of years so you need to prepare for that.
• Some places don’t allow people to walk around the town only in their bathing suits. The police have really high fines for that. Smaller towns and villages don’t implement this but popular tourist spots such as Dubrovnik, Split, Hvar, Makarska, Vodica, and Novalja do.
• Most beaches in Croatia are pebbly or rocky, so if you want to protect your feet, get a pair of swimming shoes.

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