Odysseus Cave
A collapsed sea cave on Mljet where local tradition wrecked Odysseus, reached down a rough path and a ladder.
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The cave lies on the southern coast of Mljet below Babino Polje: a sea cave whose roof has partly collapsed, so light comes down into the water from above and the interior glows blue when the sun is high. Mljet is one of several Mediterranean islands claimed as Ogygia, the island of Calypso where Odysseus was held for seven years, and the local tradition puts his shipwreck at this cave - which is a claim of the same kind as the several others made around the Mediterranean, and is not evidence. The path down from the village is rough, ending in a ladder and a swim or scramble into the cave.
What you actually see
- A partly collapsed sea cave - light falling in from above.
- Blue water when the sun is high - the reason for the timing.
- A local Ogygia claim - one of several around the Mediterranean.
- A rough path and a ladder - the way down to the water.
When to go
June to September, around the middle of the day for the light. Three hours.
Honest expectations
The path is rocky and steep and the final descent is a ladder onto rocks - entry to the cave means swimming. The sea has to be calm; in any swell it is dangerous. Nothing on the route offers shade or shelter, and there are no facilities at either end.
Nearby
Mljet national park is at the western end of the island; Babino Polje is above.
What to pack for Odysseus Cave
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.