Ston

Day 1: Walls, salt and oysters
Arrive and get your bearings in Ston’s compact grid of streets, with the walls towering above. Today focuses on why this place mattered for centuries: defending “white gold” and enjoying the bay that still feeds locals.

• Morning: Start as the gates open to beat the heat; buy your ticket at the entrance near Veliki Kaštio and walk the battlements from Ston to Mali Ston (about 1 km; 45–60 minutes). Carry water, wear proper shoes, and pause often for views of the salt pans on one side and Mali Ston Bay on the other; the descent into Mali Ston is the day’s big reveal.
• Midday: Reward the climb with a long seafood lunch by the water in Mali Ston; try a few raw oysters with just lemon and a glass of Pošip or Dingač. If seas are calm and time allows, join a short boat run to an oyster farm for a tasting at source (book ahead in summer).
• Afternoon: Stroll back to Ston via the flat seaside road (about 15–20 minutes) and visit the saltworks visitor centre for a guided look at traditional production; pick up fleur de sel as a meaningful souvenir. In late Aug/early Sep, you might catch the hand-harvest in action.
• Evening: Take an easy passeggiata along Ston’s Placa, then photograph the walls from the road towards the D414 in golden light. Dine in Ston on classic Dalmatian fare (black risotto, mussels buzara), lightly seasoned, of course, with local salt.

Day 2: Forts, churches and backstreets
Today goes deeper into the culture that underpins the stones: quiet churches, monastic cloisters, and less-frequented viewpoints. Keep plans flexible—some hill paths or fort interiors can be intermittently closed during restoration.

• Morning: Hike the path towards Pozvizd Fortress for commanding vistas of the entire isthmus; go early for calm air and soft light (check locally if access is open and safe). Alternatively, choose the shorter Ston town-walls loop for an easier, lower-level circuit.
• Midday: Explore Ston’s Franciscan Monastery and Church of St Nicholas, then the Lapidarium and Rector’s Palace area to trace the Ragusan “mini-Dubrovnik” plan. Break for coffee and a slice of cake at a café under the plane trees.
• Afternoon: Walk up to the pre-Romanesque Church of St Michael above town; ask the parish office for access to see the famed 11th‑century fresco and linger for views. Prefer something flatter? Amble the old Napoleon Road segment for a different historic perspective and wide panoramas.
• Evening: Find a konoba and try local grilled fish or slow-cooked meats paired with peninsula wines; staff are proud to recommend small producers. If you’re here in September, cheer runners at the Ston Wall Marathon and soak up the festive local vibe.

Day 3: Slow peninsula day and hidden angles
Use your final day to connect the dots between sea, salt and stone at an easy pace. This is the day for unhurried tastings, photo hunting, and any missed highlights.

• Morning: Head along Mali Ston Bay to meet an oyster-farming family (Hodilje and nearby villages often host) for an unhurried boat tasting and talk on mariculture traditions. Bring a wind layer—mornings on the bay can feel cooler than in town.
• Midday: Return to Mali Ston for a light seafood lunch, then wander its tiny grid and harbour beneath the Koruna fortress for low-angle photos of the walls spilling down the hill. In March, time your visit for the Oyster Festival around St Joseph’s Day.
• Afternoon: Back in Ston, pick up salt at the solana shop and stroll the back alleys to spot old coats of arms and wells that most day-trippers miss. If restoration works allow, explore another short section of the northern branch of the walls for quieter views.
• Evening: Catch sunset from a turnout just outside Ston for your final, wide panorama of walls and salt pans; the warm light makes the stone glow. Celebrate with a leisurely dinner—order simply, let the ingredients shine, and toast the town that built its liberty on salt.

Notes and seasonal tips

• Summer: Start wall walks at opening or late afternoon; there’s no shade on the ramparts—carry at least 1 litre of water per person, hat and sunscreen.
• Winter: Shorter hours and some closures; the peace is sublime—check DPDS for current wall times.
• Tickets: Ask about combined options with Dubrovnik’s walls if you’ll visit both within the validity window.
• Footwear: Uneven, often slippery steps—trainers or walking shoes only (no flip-flops).

By Air

• Dubrovnik Airport (DBV) is the closest major airport. Drive time to Ston: about 1–1¼ hours. From DBV you can:
  • Take the airport shuttle to Dubrovnik’s main bus station (Gruž), then a regional bus to Ston.
  • Hire a car or arrange a transfer/taxi direct to Ston.
• Split Airport (SPU) is a useful alternative with broader flight options. Drive time: about 2½–3½ hours via the A1 motorway and Pelješac Bridge.
• Mostar Airport (OMO, Bosnia & Herzegovina) is roughly 2–3 hours by car (border crossing required). Limited flights.

By Train

• There is no rail service to Ston or Dubrovnik. The nearest practical railhead is Split.
• Typical route: train to Split (from Zagreb or elsewhere), then bus to Ston (approx 3–4 hours). Check HŽPP for trains and Split bus station for onward buses.

By Bus

• From Dubrovnik (Gruž bus station): several daily regional buses to Ston/Orebić; journey 1–1½ hours. Operators include Libertas Dubrovnik and Arriva (tickets also via GetByBus).
• From Split (Split bus station): direct or connecting services towards Pelješac (via Pelješac Bridge) often stop at Ston; 3–4 hours, a few departures daily (more in summer).
• From Zagreb: long-distance buses typically 7–9 hours; usually change in Split or Dubrovnik.
• Cross-border services (e.g., from Mostar/Sarajevo) exist but are less frequent; carry valid ID/passport and check schedules/seasonal variations.

By Car

• From Dubrovnik: D8 coastal road then D414 to Ston; approx 55 km, 1–1¼ hours.
• From Split: A1 motorway to Ploče (Karamatići exit), Pelješac Bridge to Brijesta, then D414 south to Ston; about 200 km, 2½–3 hours. The bridge avoids the Neum (BiH) corridor.
• From Zagreb: A1 to Ploče, Pelješac Bridge, D414; about 550 km, 5½–6½ hours. A1 is tolled.
• Parking: paid public car parks just outside Ston’s centre; spaces can be tight in peak season.

By Ferry

• No ferry to Ston itself. Nearby Prapratno (about 5 km from Ston) has a car ferry to Mljet (Sobra). Orebić (further along Pelješac) links to Korčula (Dominče). Use these only if combining island travel with a road leg to Ston.