Pomena – The dwarf hamlet of Mljet Island

Pomena is a little settlement about 29 kilometers from Sobra, on the west coast of Mljet Island. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations during the summers for many reasons. With a rich history as well as a sheltered cove for its visitors, Pomena seems like a destination that was built to be used for travelers. 

Little tit-bits about Pomena

With a small population of only 50, Pomena is one of the smallest settlements in all of Croatia. You would think that these people would live in huts or something, but you would be wrong.
With modern houses and the local population surviving on the tourist trade, fishing and farming, Pomena is one of the more sheltered locations in all of the country. If you are in Mljet Island, here are some tit-bits that will be helpful for your journey.

The entrance to Mljet’s National Park

Pomena is one of the two most commonly used entrances to the national park of Mljet. This national park is one of the eight rare reserves preserved by UNESCO. The biggest reason Pomena is so famous is that it offers the tourists an entrance to the beautiful national park. But it isn’t the only reason – or this guide would just end here!

It swells up in summer

Just like your favorite Nokia’s battery, Pomena’s population swells up during the summers. Summer is the time where the national park is at its peak and many people pass through this entrance to get to the location. But many do stop and look around and spend at least 10 hours of their time to make sure they are getting their time’s worth of enjoyment. 

It is connected to Polače

The little settlement of Pomena is directly connected to Polače through a system of forest paths. If you come in through your own private charter, you can even go around and see the entire path through the waters. 

There is only one major road

One of the main reasons why Pomena has such a small population is the fact that its major road runs through the pines and oak trees. The already small population does not have enough labor to spend on making more roads. But that’s one of the selling points of this destination too. Go through either the forest or through the major road that connects to Polače, you will definitely enjoy the ride. 

It rains the most in November and December

If you want to have a rainy ride, you should definitely visit the location in November, as this is where the precipitation is at its peak: over around 200 mm. In December, this figure usually falls to about 170, though it is still respectable. If you hate rainfall, July is the best month for you to have your sailing holidays in. 

Locations to visit in Pomena

Though Pomena is small, here are some locations in this small settlement that you should absolutely visit when you get the time.

Malo Jezero

Malo Jezero is perhaps the biggest and most popular destination in all of Pomena. This is a saltwater lake that offers kayaking in its natural habitat. If you came here through a luxury cruising private charter, you would love doing manual boating through these kayaks. 
Malo Jezero is also pretty high-rated by its visitors and is usually pretty crowded in the summers. During other times though, you will mostly see enthusiasts and the locals going for skinny dipping and kayaking. Yes, you are allowed to swim in the waters of this region. 

Santa Maria di Meleda

One of the more beautiful and prominent buildings in all of Pomena is the monastery of Santa Maria. This monastery is joined with a church, and the overall structure is pretty pristine. This will make for some pretty Instagrammable pictures for your Christian friends. If you decide to climb the tower, you will also get a pretty good view of the settlement and the water surrounding you. 

Mali Most

Mali most or Mali Most is a bridge that connects Malo Jezero. Though not very popular, Mali most is a nice spot to relax in. If you are feeling a little seasick or stressed after your Mediterranean long journey, consider closing your eyes and resting away for a few minutes in this place. 

Rimska Palača

Though the location is located in Polača, you can still get a pretty good view of Rimska Palača: one of the most beautiful places to visit in all of the islands. Rimska Palača is one of the oldest palaces in the region, though calling it a palace now would be somewhat of a stretch. Little remains of the site due to the test of time, but any lover of forlorn scenery will absolutely love checking this place out. 

Where to eat at?

More and more shops and restaurants are opening up in the region, making it very easy to spot a restaurant to eat good food. in We have compiled a list of a few Mediterranean restaurants that you would love:

• Agroturizam Dalmatino – This fancy restaurant is very popular for its prawns and seafood. If you visit Pomena around noon, this place should be open. Although it does close pretty early, the food is the best for a heartfelt evening brunch. 
• Konoba Herc – If you want to enjoy a good, tummy filled snack while sitting near Mali most, enjoying other people swimming or just admiring nature, you will be addicted to the food from Konoba Herc. Even the locals love eating at Konoba Herc because of its all-around balanced food that is always consistent in its taste. They offer both dine-in and takeaway. 
• Konoba Ribar – Rated at the top of TripAdvisor’s list of restaurants in the location, Konoba Ribar is a premium seafood restaurant that offers European and Mediterranean food. Though their wine is nothing to write home about, it will still do the trick for a fancy evening. 

Random other things to do for fun

Here are some other random things that you would want to do in Pomena:

• Buy gifts through one of the many souvenir shops that haunt the main market of Pomena. Though the gifts are relatively expensive, you will love their hand-crafted goods. 
• Spend a fancy night in Pansion Pomena – the official trusty hotel for a relatively affordable fee. 
• If you are feeling like spending another day, rent out their Guesthouse Sanela and enjoy sipping premium wine while having a great view of the locals. 
• Go Scooba diving in the Diving Centre Aquatica, which is one of the most popular sports other than kayaking in the region. Do note that you might be required to have a little skill Scooba diving beforehand. Nonetheless, even if you don’t want to Scooba dive, just seeing other people do it is a fun activity. 

Final Thoughts

Even though it is a small destination, Pomena is one of the most fun destinations to ever sport around. Depending on the time of the year, you will either find it busting with tourists everywhere or find it to be a desolate settlement where you’re the only tourist around.

Visiting only this location is not worth it, which is why you would want to invest in a 7-day customized tour to all the nearby places too. If you are looking for such luxury cruising sailing holiday experience on a small cruise ship, we have everything you will ever need.