A near-enclosed sandy lagoon at the eastern tip of Mljet — a rocky barrier closes the bay and leaves only an eight-metre passage to the open sea
The bay is known locally as Blaca; the beach inside it is called Limuni — which is simply the Croatian word for lemons, translated directly into the English name Lemon Lagoon. It sits at the very eastern tip of Mljet, a short distance around the headland from Mala Saplunara and about fifteen to twenty minutes on foot from the village. What sets it apart from every other bay on the island is a low rocky reef that runs across the mouth of the bay at an angle, leaving only a gap of roughly eight metres through which the sea passes. The bay is not a true enclosed lagoon, but it is close enough that boats cannot enter — the water inside is too shallow to navigate — and the visual impression from outside the barrier, looking through that narrow opening at a stretch of pale sand and pine forest beyond, is unlike anything else on the Mljet coastline. The boat anchors outside. Guests reach the beach by swimming through the gap, or by dinghy.
The restricted exchange between the interior and the open sea has a measurable effect on the water temperature. The lagoon heats faster than the open Adriatic and cools more slowly — on a warm day in May or early June, when the sea outside is still fresh, the water inside can already be comfortable for swimming. Later in the season, in July and August, the difference is less dramatic but still present. The floor is sandy throughout, which keeps the water clear, and the depth stays shallow across most of the lagoon. There are no facilities of any kind on the beach — no kiosk, no hire equipment, no shade structures. The pine forest behind the sand provides natural cover, and everything else comes from the boat.
The local etymology is uncertain. Croatian limuni means lemons, and the village of Saplunara nearby has a reputation for lemon and pomegranate trees, so the connection is plausible, but not formally documented. The bay's other name, Blaca, is the established topographical term used on maps. Both names circulate, and both are correct depending on whether you are referring to the whole bay or the beach inside it. For guests arriving by private boat the practical situation is straightforward: the skipper knows the anchorage outside the barrier, the passage is visible and navigable by swimmers, and the beach on the other side holds roughly four hundred metres of sand with a dense pine canopy behind it. It is, most days, very quiet.
The boat anchors on the seaward side of the reef. The gap in the barrier is visible from the water — roughly eight metres across, with the pale sand of the lagoon visible beyond it. Guests swim through into a space that feels closed off from the rest of the island. The transition takes about thirty seconds.
The barrier limits how much water the lagoon exchanges with the Adriatic. Sun heats the interior faster than the open sea, and the shallow sandy floor holds the warmth. In May and June, when the sea outside is still cool, the lagoon is already comfortable for swimming — noticeably so.
There is nothing on this beach. No kiosk, no café, no chairs for hire. The shade comes from the Aleppo pines behind the sand. Everything else comes from the boat. For guests who want an hour of quiet in a place that is still largely as it was — this is it.
Blaca is the topographical name for the bay. Limuni — lemons — is what the beach inside is called locally, translated into English as Lemon Lagoon. The village of Saplunara nearby is known for its lemon and pomegranate trees, which may explain the name, but no formal record confirms the connection.
Saplunara is the main sandy beach on Mljet — roughly a kilometre long, with a small village behind it, a seasonal restaurant and a café. Lemon Lagoon is around the headland: smaller (about four hundred metres of sand), almost entirely enclosed by a rocky barrier, with no facilities whatsoever. The two are connected by a coastal path; the lagoon is quieter, more enclosed, and warmer.
The rocky reef across the bay entrance restricts how much water cycles in and out. The interior heats faster than the open Adriatic and loses heat more slowly. The effect is most noticeable in May and June — when the sea outside is still cool from winter, the lagoon is already a few degrees warmer and comfortable for swimming.
The Croatian name for the beach is Limuni, which means lemons. The English name is a direct translation. The village of Saplunara nearby has lemon and pomegranate trees growing in its gardens, which may be the origin, but the etymology has not been formally recorded. The bay itself is called Blaca on maps and by most locals.
It is among the quietest beaches on Mljet. Boats cannot enter the lagoon, and the walk from Saplunara takes fifteen to twenty minutes — both factors limit traffic significantly. Croatian Survivor was filmed here, which brought brief attention, but the beach has returned to its usual state of being largely empty on most days.
Private speedboat tours from Dubrovnik that include a stop at Lemon Lagoon.
