Home » Did you know? » 🌉 Pelješac Bridge – Croatia’s Coastal Icon

🌉 Pelješac Bridge – Croatia’s Coastal Icon

25.07.2022
Did you know?

PLAN YOUR DREAM TRIP

TO CROATIA

On July 26, 2022, something big changed in Croatia. For the first time ever, travelers could drive from the north of the country to the deep south without crossing international borders — all thanks to the long-awaited opening of the Pelješac Bridge.

Stretching elegantly over the sapphire waters of Mali Ston Bay, the bridge connected land and people, culture and possibility. It’s more than just a structure. It’s a symbol.

🎉 A Day to Remember

In the lead-up to the opening, Croatia buzzed with excitement. Locals from Dubrovnik to Metković gathered in Brijesta, where orchestras played, folklore dancers took the stage, and the air felt electric.

Then came the spotlight moment: two Croatian-made cars — the sleek electric supercar Rimac Nevera and a racecar driven by Croatian motorsport legend Niko Pulić — moved across the bridge from opposite sides. They met in the middle, greeted by a symphony of fireworks, klapa singers, and hundreds of boats beneath them, their horns echoing up through the evening sky.

Right after them, 40 motorcyclists from the First and Fourth Guard Brigades rode across in formation, saluting a united Croatia. That image — two shores, one road — captured what the bridge truly meant.

🛠️ Pelješac Bridge: A Modern Marvel of Engineering

You don’t have to be an engineer to appreciate the scale of the Pelješac Bridge. It’s the longest in Croatia, stretching a dramatic 2,404 meters, with six soaring pylons and thirteen elegant spans.

At 55 meters high, it allows even large ships to pass underneath, preserving access to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s port of Neum. The foundations reach over 100 meters into the seabed, designed to withstand clay, silt, and seismic risk zones — a true feat of precision and stability.

🔧 Did you know? The Pelješac Bridge was built by the China Road and Bridge Corporation, marking one of the largest Chinese infrastructure projects ever completed in the European Union.

🚗 What It Means for Travelers

The bridge has made the Pelješac Peninsula more accessible than ever. What once felt like a detour is now a smooth, scenic route through vineyards, salt pans, hidden beaches, and family-run konobas.

Here’s what changed since the opening:

– 🚦 No more border control queues near Neum — especially useful in peak summer
– 🚗 Reduced travel time to Dubrovnik by up to 30 minutes
– 🏝️ Day trips to Korčula, Mali Ston, and Pelješac wineries now fit easily into any itinerary
– 🛶 Local tourism in Ston, Orebić, and Trpanj has flourished
– 📈 Over 5 million vehicles have crossed the bridge in its first two years — and the number keeps growing

🗺️ Tip: Use Google Maps to see how the Pelješac Bridge now replaces the old Neum Corridor route. You’ll instantly spot how much easier the journey to southern Dalmatia has become.

📸 Best Views from the Pelješac Bridge

Whether you’re driving south at sunrise or north at sunset, the panoramic views are breathtaking. On one side — the shimmering Adriatic Sea; on the other — the rugged Pelješac mountains.

For the best photo ops, slow down as you approach the sweeping arc over Mali Ston Bay. The light here dances off the water and stays in your memory.

🗣️ A personal note from me

As a Croatian, I can tell you — this bridge means more to us than you might think. For years, traveling to Dubrovnik from the rest of the country meant passing through another nation. It felt… fragmented.

But crossing Pelješac Bridge? That’s unity. That’s pride. It’s our way of saying: Welcome. You’re home.

We’re proud of our country and proud to welcome you to it. Even if we don’t speak the same language perfectly, you can count on us to help you, guide you, and make you feel like you belong here — because you do.

🧭 Plan Your Trip to Pelješac

✔️ Discover more in our [Things to Do Pelješac]

✔️ Browse the [Travel Resource Pelješac]

💼 Need help planning? Create your personal itinerary here

Your CTC Team ❤️

Ethical Manifest

“We promote Croatia — but we don’t sell its soul.”

At ComeToCroatia.Holiday, we believe that the beauty of Croatia — its hidden beaches, forests, villages, and cliffs — is not a commodity, but a legacy.

That’s why:

We promote responsible travel: respect for nature, people, and local culture.
We share only what can withstand attention — not every trail, not every cove.
We encourage visits to lesser-known places, but never at the cost of their authenticity.
We support the local economy — small businesses, local products, and family-run stays.
We educate travelers to leave a mark of the heart, not a trail of trash.