Ploče

Ploče (pronounced as Ploche), during SFR Yugoslavia named Kardeljevo (after E. Kardelj), is a modern town on the Adriatic coast just north-west of delta of the Neretva River, in the most south county of Croatia the Dubrovnik-Neretva County of the Dalmatia region. Ploče has a population of approximately 6,500 inhabitants. It is a notable regional cargo seaport. Near the town are Baćina Lakes, along the branches of the mountain of Biokovo.

Saefront panorama of Ploče and Biokovo mountain range

Ploče view, small harbour and center with unfinished church

Get in

Town is situated in approximately half of distance between Split and Dubrovnik. The most important feature of town is its position that is naturally connecting through the valley of the Neretva River to the central Bosnia and Herzegovina with the Adriatic Sea (railway and road) and traffic along the Adriatic coast (roads and seaways), as well as being the entrance point to the main modern A1 highway to Zagreb and inland.

By train

After the breakup of Yugoslavia, Ploče ended up in the unfortunate situation of being completely separated from the rest of the Croatian rail network, as the only connection is with Bosnia and Herzegovina.

There are year-round trains from Sarajevo to Čapljina, the last town in Herzegovina to the Croatian border.

• 1 Ploče railway station. (updated Jul 2022)

Seasonal summer trains from Sarajevo train station to Ploče (price around €13 (25 KM)):

• 07:15 from Sarajevo arriving in Ploče at 10:36
• 18:26 from Ploče arriving in Sarajevo at 21:51

International tickets cannot be bought on the Bosnian railways website, but buying one in the train itself is no problem (which might also be necessary if the queue at the Sarajevo ticketing office is too long).

By bus

Buses to Ploče run regularly from Dubrovnik and Split (take 1½-2 hr). Almost every hour, until evening, but might not stop in smaller towns and villages along the way. Some local bus info is available in Croatian language here, otherwise check Split bus info here.

Depending on border crossing it takes similarly long (1½-2 hr) to Mostar, and around 4 hr to Sarajevo by bus, which runs approx 2-4 times a day depending on a season.

By boat

There are at least four daily ferries, more during the summer season, from Trpanj on the Pelješac peninsula. The ferries are operated by Jadronlinija with a journey time of one hour. 2 Ploče port is located at King Tomislav square 26 (Trg kralja Tomislava 26).

See

Baćina Lakes and Delta of Neretva river are the most attractive natural sights of Ploče area. Town has few monuments and buildings from the time of SFR Yugoslavia worth seeing, as well as few summer festivities worth checking out if you stay in proximity.

Do

This commercial port is a great jumping-off point for tours to the old city of Mostar and Međugorje in Herzegovina.

Buy

Ploče have fresh food market (including fish market) and are micro regional shopping hub with big Lidl, Plodine and Tommy stores, as well as smaller stores for house supplies, with bigger in near by town of Opuzen for furniture, equiptment and similar including JYSK and others.

Eat

Center is packed with fast food options and pizza places, but for finner and local cuisine one needs to drive a bit out of the city and enjoy more local food in family restaurants. Oldest one on the road is Teta Olga and for a finner one Villa Neretva.

Drink

Local vines and liquers are available in most restaurants, but for finer and more options one should do a day excursions in neighbouring and famous Pelješac peninsula or even more continental Herzegovina, both recognized as vine growing regions.

Sleep

Hotel offer is limited but there exists a number of smaller bed and breakfasts scattered in the town and in nearby villages.

• 1 Hotel Tolero, Petra Krešimira IV 1, ☏ +385 95 349 41 03, hoteltolero@foteinos.hr. The only proper hotel in Ploče. Pleasantly located next to the harbour. (updated Nov 2023)

Go next

• Neum in direction south-east to Dubrovnik
• Međugorje in direction north to Mostar
• Makarska in direction west to Split