Starigrad fortress hike (Omiš Castle), Croatia

Starigrad fortress hike (Omiš Castle), Croatia

A detailed hiking guide to the Starigrad Fortress viewpoint in Omiš, Croatia.

Looking for the best viewpoint hike with breathtaking views over the city of Omiš? I have you covered.

In this guide, I will outline everything you need to know about the hike to Starigrad Fortress, also known as Omiš Castle or its modern name Omiš Fortica. I will tell you about the three different routes to the fort and include some of the photos I took on my trip.

About the StariGrad Fortress

Starigrad literally means “Old Town”, but is more commonly referred to as Omiš Fortica by locals and Omiš Castle by tourists.

This is a beautiful fortress perched 303 meters above sea level and served as the primary viewing point over the entire Brač Canal and the Cetina hinterland. It was built in the early 15th century and protected the settlement for hundreds of years.

In fact, many historians say that Omiš was not conquered by the Ottomans in its long history because of this fortress.

More information about Starigrad Fortress in Omiš can be found on the Omisinfo website.

Where is Starigrad Fortress?

The Starigrad Fortress lies on a 303 meter high limestone ridge of the Omiš-Dinara range directly above the village.

Below I have recorded the exact location of the fort. However, remember that these limestone cliffs are very steep and therefore you have to follow a specific path to reach the top.

How to hike to Omiš Fortica

In addition to the epic Cetina River rafting and the famous Omiš Zipline Polygon, a hike to Starigrad Fortress is a must in Croatia's adventure capital!

There are three main routes to reach the beautiful Starigrad Castle in Omiš. These include a via ferrata, a steep route, an easy route.

Below I go into a little more detail about each route.
alt=“Girls hiking in Omis, Croatia”>

1. Omiš Via Feratta to Starigrad Fortress

If you're up for an adventure, one of the best ways to reach the fortress is on a guided via ferrata route.

Via ferrata means iron path and is a mixture of hiking and climbing over screwed steel steps. You will be circumcised the entire time, making this a safe but exciting experience.

You can book the via ferrata tour from Omiš or from Split online via Viator (Tripadvisor).

2. The “hard” route

The “hard” route, elegantly painted on the rock surfaces, is a steep route that starts after the large parking lot in Omiš. You can find this by typing “Planovo Omis” into Google Maps.

From the parking lot you have to go through the tunnel. From here you will see a red sign indicating the trailhead.

The way up is rocky and quite steep (which is why they call it the hard route). However, it is shaded by pine forests for most of the trail and has several waymarks (red circles called the Knafelc Waymark) leading to the top of the ridge.

All in all, expect to take around 45 minutes to reach the summit. Since I was staying near the other trailhead, I took this route down. However, I think it would be a better idea to hike up this way and hike down the easy way.

3. The “easy” route

The second option for hiking up to Starigrad Fortress is the “easy” route, which starts a short walk from the town on “Put Borka” street. This route is mostly exposed to the sun, but winds up the back of the ridge on a much gentler slope

GPS coordinates: 43°26’35.0″N 16°41’45.0″E

Although less steep, this route is slightly longer (about 1.5 kilometers to the top), but should take between 30 and 45 minutes. This option is also very easy to follow due to the many red trail markings.

Arrival at the fortress

When you reach the fortress, enter through the back doors and climb a set of wooden stairs.

From here you will see a crudely painted sign indicating the entrance fee. At first I thought I would get away without paying, but as soon as you enter the fort you will see a man who will collect the fee.

Omis Fortica entrance fee: 20 kuna per person

Opening hours: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday to Sunday

There is also an excellent viewpoint next to a rock face that offers a great sunset spot without actually entering the fort.

Don't Miss: The Best Things to Do in Dubrovnik, Croatia

Exploring Omiš Fortica

After paying the entrance fee, you can explore Starigrad Fort. It has predominantly Gothic features with additions from the early Renaissance. Apparently this fort has been damaged by storms and repaired several times in its history.

The existing fortress is said to have been built on the original Onastina Fortress. This is evident in the older and larger stone blocks on the lower parts of the structure.



The best viewing point of Starigrad Fortress is the tall tower at the northern end. You can freely climb this section and enjoy the magical views over Mount Cetina, the Adriatic Sea, the town of Omiš and, on a clear day, even beyond Brač and Hvar.
alt=“Aerial view of Omis Fortica, Croatia”>

Accommodation in Omiš

While most travelers stay in the larger city of Split, the adventure town of Omiš is a great alternative for those more interested in adventure than partying.

These are the top-rated accommodation options in Omiš for every budget.

• Damianii Luxus-Boutique-Hotel– Nur eine kurze Fahrt vom Zentrum von Omis entfernt bietet dieses 5-Sterne-Boutique-Hotel alles, was Sie brauchen. Jeden Morgen wird ein kontinentales Frühstück serviert und es verfügt über eine eigene Spa-Einrichtung vor Ort. Es liegt gegenüber vom Strand.
• Hotel Plaža – Dieses Hotel liegt im Zentrum von Omis. Es ist von Cafés, Restaurants und Bars umgeben und liegt in der Nähe des Flusses Cetina. Es bietet ein außergewöhnliches Frühstück und Blick auf den Ozean.
• Apartments Nature – Perfekt in der Stadt Omis zu einem günstigen Preis gelegen. Nur 7 Gehminuten zum Strand. Dieses Apartment verfügt über große Schlafzimmer mit eigenem Bad, Küche und Bergblick.

Read more Croatia travel guide

I hope you enjoyed this short hiking guide to the Starigrad Fortress viewpoint in Omiš, Croatia.

Below are some more quick guides that I am sure you will find useful for your Croatia itinerary!

.