A perfect day at Ston Croatia: Travel Guide to climb the 'Great Wall of Europe'

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Ston in Croatia, in my opinion, is an underrated destination. Even hardcore Game of Thrones fans visit Split and Dubrovnik and not this town in between, where the fortifications around King’s Landing were filmed. We went on a scenic drive from Split to Dubrovnik and covered Ston Croatia in a day en route. Here is a travel guide to explore Mali Ston and Ston Croatia in a day.

Ston is located in southern Dalmatia and is famous for 3 things: Ston walls of Croatia, the salt mines and the oysters. We encountered all these in Ston Croatia.

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Scenic drive through Makarska Riviera

I am sure you have dreamed of driving down the Amalfi coast in Italy, zipping through its nerve-wrecking bends and taking in the ocean views that stretch to the horizon. Makarska Riviera is a fabulous stretch that you cross when you do the Split to Dubrovnik drive. Or when you drive the other way, from Dubrovnik to Split. This 60-km stretch down the South Dalmatian coast is as picturesque as the Amalfi coast but without the crowds.

You will see the sun glinting over the blue waters of Adriatic Ocean one one end and a mountain range towering over on the other end. Makarska Riviera stretches from the town of Brela in the north to Gradac in the south.

With beautiful towns lined up on the coast, Makarska Riviera offers its visitors a year-round escape of Mediterranean vibe. It is also cheap, much cheaper than its glitzy counterparts in France and Italy. Besides spending time on the beaches and in the ocean, there are other activities to do. You can hike on dramatic trails up on the rocky slopes of Biokovo mountain range. Towns such as Makarska and Tucepi have interesting history and cultural sites to be viewed.

We rented a convertible in Split town. This road drive, with the convertible top up – the sun in my eyes and wind in my hair – was amongst the most beautiful memories of our Croatian trip in 2 weeks.

Not a practical car for a family trip, but it was just for a day!

A short time in Bosnia

Croatia’s coastline is interrupted by a 9-km stretch of Bosnia-Herzegovina territory. We had our passports ready as we approached the border to Bosnia and Herzegovina. The guards, however didn’t even check as we enter the Neum Corridor. No entry or exit stamp on our passports, and without a Bosnia-selfie, no real proof that we have been to this country!

The next checkpoint for re-entry was into Croatia, and it does have passport checking and stamping.

Other ways of reaching Ston Croatia

Besides renting a car and driving down to Mali Ston and Ston towns, you can also opt for a bus transfer. From Dubrovnik you have a few daily buses to Ston. There are fewer options from Split for taking a bus to Ston.

If you are staying in Dubrovnik and wish to make an excursion to Ston, you have several daily tours.

Lunch at Mali Ston

Mali Ston is a small town located on the Peljesac peninsula of Croatia. When you drive from Split to Dubrovnik, it comes before Ston which is the bigger town. Mali Ston is famous for local oysters and the best way to have them is fresh.

Mali Ston Bay is where you will find the oyster beds that produce what are often said to be the most delicious oysters in the world!

Ston croatia, mali ston croatia, ston croatia wall, split to dubrovnik drive — My first time trying oysters.

We ate excellent oysters and seafood at Kapetanova Kuca, one of the waterfront restaurants here. There are also many other traditional Croatian dishes that you can enjoy at Mali Ston and Ston.

There was time for a quick tour of the 15th century fortress built to protect the city from Ottoman rulers. We then drove to the town of Ston.

Climbing the Ston walls

Upon reaching Ston, we parked win the old town centre and ambled a bit to see its architecture. We then went on to climb the longest wall in Europe. Climbing Ston walls and taking the stunning aerial views over the area has to be the best thing to do in Ston Croatia. These famous walls were used to depict the city walls of King’s Landing. And being a fan of the HBO series, visiting one of the iconic Game of Thrones filming locations in Croatia was awesome for me.

It is nicknamed ‘European Wall of China’ or the ‘Great Wall of Europe’.

The well-preserved Ston Wall Croatia dates back to the 13th century when they were built by the Republic of Ragusa to protect the city from invaders. Today, the Walls of Ston are one of the world’s longest preserved fortification systems, comprising of 40 towers and 5 fortresses. It stretched for 7 km when it was built and today about 5.5 km of the Ston wall still stands. The walls were built using materials from the nearby Pelješac peninsula and were constructed to protect the valuable salt pans.

We bought tickets to the walls that covered entry to Fort St Jerome, a square castle. The area was uncrowded, complete opposite to our experience of walking the walls in Dubrovnik. The weather in early June when we visited was not too hot. The sun was bright and it took us about 20 minutes to go up the walls. We did the less demanding walk on the Pentagon shaped city wall of Ston. From the top, you have a great view of Ston and the salt pans.

It takes about 30 more minutes to trek to Mali Ston, if you are so inclined. You need to wear comfortable walking shoes and keep yourself hydrated. Use sunscreen and a cap for protection against the sun.