Metković

A port town on the lower Neretva river, close to the delta and the Hutovo Blato wetland. It grew under Austro Hungarian rule as a river trading post and gives its name to the Neretva mandarin groves that fill the valley.

Metković sits in Dalmatia, a part of Croatia with its own character, and the city & town is the reason most people stop.

Shoulder season, May or September, gives you the charm without the cruise ship crowds. Wander off the main street, the best cafés and doorways are one alley over.

Practical info

• Entry: look up the current price and opening hours before you go. Both change through the year, and a few spots close completely out of season.
• How to get there: Tap the map above for exact directions. In Croatian towns parking is usually signposted and paid, look for the blue P zones. If you are island hopping, leave buffer time for the ferries.

Timing your trip

Metković rewards a visit between May and October. The sweet spot is June or September, when the water is warm and the crowds thinner than in July and August. Come in winter and you find a quieter, cheaper country, at its most likeable inland.

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