Ston is one of the best day trips you can take if you’re visiting the south of Croatia. We visited Ston on our way from Korcula to Dubrovnik. If you’re doing a similar route and need a stop along the way, Ston will be perfect for you. Keep reading to find out how you can spend a perfect day in Ston!
This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you.
WHERE IS STON?
Ston is a small town located on the Pelješac peninsula in Croatia. It’s known for its ancient walls, great seafood, and amazing wine. The town of Ston is about 56 kilometers northwest of Dubrovnik, so you can easily reach Ston by car or bus from Dubrovnik or other nearby towns on the Dalmatian coast.
Read more >>> BEST DAY TRIPS FROM DUBROVNIK
IS STON WORTH VISITING?
Ston is absolutely worth visiting, especially if you are a foodie. People often have some reservations because of its size, and they fear they won’t have much to do there. I am honestly telling you, Ston is a must-visit town in Dalmatia. However, if you need some more convincing, here are a few reasons why you should add Ston to your itinerary –
Firstly, the town is famous for its impressive defensive walls, which date back to the 14th century. The walls are huge and offer panoramic views of the town, surrounding landscapes, and the nearby salt pans. They’re also pretty cheap, especially compared to Dubrovnik.
Read more >>> ULTIMATE DUBROVNIK TRAVEL GUIDE
Secondly, you can explore Ston’s Saltworks, which have been in operation since ancient times. There, you can walk through the salt pools and hear the story of how the salt is made.
Finally, after exploring the landmarks and attractions, you can have some of the most delicious seafood for lunch. Ston offers some of the freshest seafood dishes, oysters being their most popular dish.
Along with food, the Pelješac peninsula, where Ston is located, is known for its excellent wines, especially Dingač and Postup, so you can visit local wineries for wine tasting.
These reasons are definitely enough to make you stop in this small, picturesque town!
HOW TO REACH STON?
Reaching Ston is relatively easy, especially if you have a car. Tourists usually visit Ston from Split or Dubrovnik, but with a car it doesn’t matter where you are staying. Here’s exactly how you can reach this lovely town:
SPLIT TO STON
The most convenient way to reach Ston from Split is by car. The journey takes around 3-4 hours and Croatian highways are great, so the time will pass quickly. Once you reach Ploče, continue your drive across the Pelješac peninsula to Ston.
If you don’t drive or don’t have a car, there are regular bus services from Split to Ston, but they usually involve a transfer in Dubrovnik or another nearby town, which means it will take much longer to reach Ston. I would suggest booking a transfer if you don’t have a car, just for your own comfort.
DUBROVNIK TO STON
Ston is really close to Dubrovnik, so if you drive, it will take you around 1 hour to reach this small town. Driving is definitely the quickest and easiest way to reach Ston from Dubrovnik.
If you need public transport, there are regular bus services from Dubrovnik to Ston, with several departures throughout the day. The bus journey takes about 1.5 to 2 hours, so it’s not too bad and still a great option to reach Ston.
HOW TO SPEND A PERFECT DAY IN STON: WHAT TO SEE AND DO
Ston may be a small town, but it offers a rich history, stunning landscapes, and unique experiences that make it worth a visit. We always visit Ston as a day trip on our way to Dubrovnik, and here’s how you can have the best day in Ston:
CLIMB THE WALLS OF STON
The Walls of Ston are the town’s biggest and most important landmark. They are the second-longest walls in the world after the Great Wall of China, so they’re definitely worth checking out. The walls offer panoramic views of the town, salt pans, and the surrounding countryside, and the tickets are 10 euros per person. You can buy them online or in Ston. The walls are around 5.5 km long and it will take you 1.5-2 hours to explore them.
VISIT THE SALT PANS
Ston is famous for its salt production, which has been active for over 2000 years. If you wish, you can visit the salt pans to learn about the traditional methods of salt harvesting and enjoy the scenic views of the shimmering salt fields. The tickets are 7 euros per person.
EXPLORE THE OYSTER FARMS AT MALI STON
Ston Bay is famous for its delicious oysters. While there aren’t any in Ston, there are several oyster farms and excellent restaurants in Mali Ston, a village right next to Ston. There you can visit one of the local oyster farms and seafood restaurants to taste fresh oysters and other seafood delicacies. We always stop at Vila Koruna restaurant where we eat fresh oysters with butter and lemon, as well as oyster soup which is excellent.
TAKE A WINE TOUR ON PELJEŠAC PENINSULA
The Pelješac peninsula, where Ston is located, is very well-known for its vineyards and high-quality wines. You can take a wine tour at one of many local wineries and taste Dingač and Postup wines, which are the famous types of wine on Pelješac. Some of the popular wineries are Matusko Winery, Milos Winery, Korta Katarina Winery and Saints Hills Winery.
ENJOY SOME OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Finally, use the rest of your day to explore the natural beauty of the Pelješac peninsula by hiking or taking nature walks. There are several hiking trails that offer breathtaking views of the mountains, coastline, and vineyards. If you prefer relaxing at the beach, you can visit Prapratno Beach located near Ston, which is a popular spot for swimming and relaxing by the sea.
