Slano is another of the small villages, towns and settlements that dot the coastal road on the drive up from Dubrovnik to the Peljesac Peninsula and beyond. Located just under 40km up the coastline from Dubrovnik, Slano enjoys a pretty, sheltered bay that’s slightly inland from the Adriatic and home to several beaches as well as a marina. Although it has a population of under 600 people, there’s a good selection of accommodation here. With its peaceful atmosphere and pretty scenery, it’s a lovely place to base yourself in in the Dubrovnik region.
History of Slano
In the wider Slano region exists Illyrian burial mounds, as Illyrian tribes ruled this part of the coast in the early centuries BC. They eventually were defeated by the Romans and the walls of a Roman fortress still exist in Slano today. Slano came under the control of the relatively powerful Republic of Ragusa in 1399 and the village became the centre of the Primorje region.
Slano sadly suffered severe damage during the Homeland War in the 1990s. The village, of course, has been fully rebuilt and today there is little trace of that time.
Getting There
The nearest airport to Slano is Dubrovnik Airport. You would first need to transfer to the main bus station in the city (using one of the regular airport shuttle buses) and then from there use one of the local buses.
Local bus number 12 travels from Dubrovnik to Slano, making stops in Zaton Mali and Zaton Veliki, Orasac and Trsteno (for the Arboretum) along the way. You can see the timetable of this bus on the Libertas Dubrovnik website – look for “Suburban timetables West”.
Local bus number 15 travels from Dubrovnik to Ston, stopping in Slano. You can also use this bus to make the short hop to Ston.
What to See and Do
Sights
When Slano came under the control of the Republic of Ragusa, a palace was built in the settlement for the Rector (or Count) to control Slano and the surrounding region administratively. The Rector’s Palace that you can see today is actually one that was reconstructed in the 19th century, to a design by engineer Lorenzo Vitelleschi, due to extensive damage to the previous structure as a result of the 1667 earthquake. The Palace was once again severely damaged during the Homeland War in the 1990s, but was restored by 2017. It is quite a glorious building these days, and a great place to visit if staying in the town.
The Heritage House Dubrovacko Primorje is a small museum dedicated to the heritage of the local area. If you’d like to know more about the history of the region, pay the museum a visit.
The House of Honey and Traditional Products is located in nearby tiny Majkovi and run by the Dubrovnik primorje Majkovi Beekeeping Association. You can stop here to learn more about local honey production and beekeeping, as well as stocking up on some tasty products.
Churches
There are several churches located in this small village including the 18th-century Church of St Blaise and the 13th-century Church and Monastery of St Jerome.
Activities
The village is a good base for walks, hikes and bike rides in this part of Southern Dalmatia. The tourist office has a map guide to such activities in Slano. They also have a map guide to bike routes visiting the local stecci, the intricately carved medieval tombstones.
Beaches
The majority of beaches in and around Slano are of the pebble variety, but this of course makes for some superbly clear waters. Beach Karmelska is an excellent small beach with some pine shading and a long stretch of fairly shallow water. Beach Banja is further round to the eastern side of the bay, and again offers a good amount of seclusion; there are also changing facilities and showers here. On the western side of Slano Bay is Beach Grgurici which has also beach facilities, including beach furniture rental and water sports activities, and is within easy walking distance of refreshments.
Day Trips
We’d of course recommend a day trip back to the wonderful Dubrovnik – if you’re staying in Slano, you’re likely here to enjoy that gem of a place!
We would also recommend that you utilise the local buses (as mentioned above) to make journeys to the lovely natural Trsteno Arboretum and the interesting little town of Ston at the base of the Peljesac Peninsula. Ston’s town walls rival Dubrovnik’s, and the town is famous for the local oyster production. Come up to Ston to enjoy a not-so-taxing walk and then reward yourself with a plate of oysters and a nice glass of local Peljesac wine.
Slano Boat Excursions can help you organise trips to Dubrovnik (by boat) or to the wonderful Elafiti Islands.
Eating and Drinking in Slano
Restaurant Kolarin has an excellent location overlooking the bay (try and get a table outdoors!) and offers excellent fish and seafood dishes.
Pizzeria Lavanda serves up huge and very tasty pizzas that they make with the freshest ingredients. They also offer plenty of top pasta dishes too.
Restaurant Mirkaul is a local gem, with excellent typically Croatian meat and fish dishes.
Head to Fast Food Riva for a beer or cocktails right by the sea!
Bite Bay is where you need to head to if you’ve got a sweet tooth – they do excellent treats, cakes and ice cream.
Events in Slano
The town enjoys its own summer festival festivities – usually live music, dancing and other similar types of entertainment – in the main square.
Accommodation in Slano
There are a couple of hotels here as well as a good selection of private apartments. The five-star Admiral Grand Hotel has fabulous views out to sea, is located on the beach, has both an outdoor and an indoor pool, a spa and fitness centre and has two restaurants and a bar. The four-star Hotel Osmine is also in a great location on the beach and also has two pools, a restaurant and a bar.
Campers should look to the small Autocamp Banja which has capacity for 21 people and is located near the beach. Mini Camping Budima is also situated nearby.
For apartments and villas, take a look at what’s available for Accommodation in Slano on Booking.com, or search using the map below:
Good to know and more info
- There are several ATMs in town, but no banks
- There are only small supermarkets here. If you need to stock up, head down the coast towards Dubrovnik for a larger choice
- Take a look at the helpful Slano Tourist Board website for further information about the village