How to Hike to the Starigrad Fortress in Omis

Wondering how to hike to the Starigrad Fortress in Omis? You’re in the right place.

I recently hiked to the Omis Fortress, aka Starigrad Fortress, on my one month trip to Croatia. I hiked both of the two trails that lead to it. I met the friendly undertaker who accepts the small entry fee and admired the highest viewpoint in Omis.

In this guide, you’ll find ALL the information you need to hike to Starigrad Fortress in Omis. Including where exactly the trailheads are, what the best route is (I recommend making it a loop), wen to go, and what to expect.

What is the Starigrad Fortress?

Starigrad fortress in Omis was built in the 15th century as a stronghold against the Ottomans.

Local legends say that Omis defenders were able to face off against much larger forces because of the echo effect the surrounding mountains, river, and canyons created. They would strategically beat their weapons and shout causing the echoes to sound like they were a much larger defense to contend with.

The fortress sits at an elevation of 262 metres (860 feet) above the town. Starigrad was used until the 17th century, when threats from invaders diminished.

Today, hiking to the Starigrad fortress is the best thing to do in Omis. It is a slightly strenuous uphill climb for about 45 minutes, but trust me, once you get there it is so worth it.

The fortress has views over the entire town of Omis and out to islands on the Adriatic. There is a tower you can climb up into to get the highest vantage point.

👋 You May Also Like: 51 Best Things To Do in Split, Croatia

How Many Trailheads Are There?

There are actually 2 different routes you can take to the Omis fortress. They are known as the “easy” and the “hard” trail.

Now right away, I’m sure you’re thinking, why would I choose the hard path when there’s an easy route available? I’ll give you some info on both and then I’ll tell you which way to do it:

The Hard Route

📍Location: “Nordroute zum Fort Starigrad“

⌛ Time: 45 minutes

The hard route took me about 45 minutes to get to the top of the mountain where Starigrad Fortress sits. That included a couple short breaks to drink water.

The hard route is steep and entirely uphill. There is a short “scramble” section near the top where you’ll crawl hands-and-feet up giant rocks.

The trail is mostly shaded with the last 15 minute scramble exposed to the sun. If you are a quick hiker you can even make it up in just 30 minutes.

The trailhead can be found behind the first parking lot you come across on the other side of the big tunnel in Omis. On google maps you can find it as “Nordroute zum Fort Starigrad“.

👉 IMPORTANT TIP: Don’t be confused by the “Starigrad Fortress Trailhead” that you will also find on Google Maps. This is not the trailhead. This is the start of the Mirabela Fortress hike, a completely different place. This was what confused us the most when we started out on our hike.

The Easy Route

📍Location: Put Borka – You’ll see signs pointing to “Starigrad Fortress” here.

⌛ Time: 1 – 1.5 hours

The easy route for Starigrad Fortress is less steep than the hard route. It is still entirely uphill though with no shade whatsoever.

The trail is estimated to take about 1.5 hours to get up to the Starigrad Fortress, but most people complete it in an hour. There are amazing views of the city from this trail and it is a very enjoyable walk.

You can find access to the easy trail by following the signs for the Starigrad fortress in the city. The trail starts with a walk through the city streets and along the road.

After a short time, you will come across a dirt trail that winds its way uphill towards the fortress. The trail is not too steep and the terrain is not much of a challenge. However, it is completely exposed to the sun for the entire hike.

👋 You May Also Like: Dubrovnik vs Split? The Ultimate Breakdown

Which Route to Take to Starigrad Fortress?

The best way to complete the Omis fortress hike is to take the hard trail up and the easy route back down.

It is considered the best for multiple reasons:

1. Doing it this way, you’ll be protected by shade while hiking the uphill portion.
2. You’ll get to do a round-trip loop instead of hiking there and back on the same trail.
3. It is really nice to get the hike up over with so you can enjoy the fortress and a leisurely stroll back down with the amazing views.
4. Hiking down the steep trail can be hard on the knees.

The easy trail is estimated to take about 45 minutes going down. However, you can definitely do it quicker than this.

When to Hike to the Starigrad Fortress

If you are hiking during peak season in the summer then you’ll want to start on the trail early in the morning or late in the afternoon/evening for two reasons. For one, this is the best way to avoid any crowds. And most importantly, it is the best way to avoid the crazy summer heat.

For such a physically demanding hike, the extreme heat is super draining.

We started the hike at 8:30 am and thought it was a great time to start. There were very minimal people on the trails and at the fortress.

If you are visiting during off-season, from fall to spring, then you likely won’t come across these problems as much and can go anytime during the day.

👋 You May Also Like: 26 Amazing Things to Do in Hvar Croatia

Tips for Hiking to the Starigrad Fortress

Entrance Fee:

There is a small entrance fee to visit inside the fort. It is only a few euros each and you will need to pay with cash in either kunas or euros.

There is a man who sits near the entrance inside the fortress grounds. When you pass by he will come to tell you the fee and take the payment. I have heard that he is not always there in the off-season, but it is better to be prepared with cash just in case.

Wear Sturdy Shoes:

This is not a hike where you can get away with flip-flops or sandals. The hard route trail is quite rocky and steep so a sturdy pair of running shoes or hiking boots is highly recommended.

Walking down the easy route, sturdy shoes will help with not losing your footing on the dusty dirt trail.

There are no facilities:

It is important to note that there is nowhere to buy water around the fortress. You will need to bring your own with you for the journey. And you will definitely need some with how steep the trail is and how hot it can get.

There are also no bathrooms at the top either, so this is good to keep in mind before you leave for the hike.

How Long Will the Omis Fortress Hike Take All Together

If you decide to take the recommended route I mentioned above then you can expect approximately 45 minutes there and 45 minutes down for the hiking portion.

Aside from the awesome views, there is not a ton to explore in the fortress. We spent maybe half an hour to 45 minutes at the top.

Don’t Mistake the Mirabella Fortress for the Omis Fortress Hike

When we first arrived in Omis, we could see a fortress towering over the city. We were confused because it didn’t look as high up as we were expecting.

Upon further research we realized that there are actually two fortresses and the Mirabella is on a much shorter hill that only takes about 15 minutes to walk to the top.

If you have the opportunity, I would definitely add the Mirabella fortress to your itinerary as well. The views you’ll get from this fortress will be completely different than the ones you get from the Starigrad Fortress so it is worth doing both. You also get to climb up a cool ladder to get to the top.

You can access the fortress by following clearly marked signs pointing towards it in the city. It is not hard to find, especially with it being pretty visible up above the city.

👋 You May Also Like: The BEST 4 Day Dubrovnik Itinerary: A Full Guide

Can You Hike Starigrad Fortress As Day Trip From Split?

Yes, you can!

Omis is only 45 minutes drive from Split so can be easily done as a day trip. You could head to Omis to hike to the fortress, explore Mirabella, and spend time at the beach too. I always recommend a day trip to Omis as one of the best things to do from Split.

There are direct buses between Split and Omis. They run several times daily in peak season and still everyday in shoulder seasons. You can book your bus using BusBud.

🚗 If you are renting a car for your trip to Croatia, I highly recommend using AutoEurope. They gather all the best prices from local car rental companies to show you the best deals. Plus I don’t find them sneaky with additional fees.

My Review of Starigrad Fortress in Omis

I LOVED the hike to Starigrad Fortress and the views it gave above the city. I’m a regular hiker, so I didn’t find the hike too challenging.

I was surprised that you can’t actually see the town of Omis super well at the top, because the mountain peak blocks it. You can see the outskirts of town, back behind into the mountain ranges, and over the Adriatic to see islands.

I liked the view better from Mirabella fortress than Starigrad fortress, but I liked the overall experience of hiking up to the top and down better for Starigrad. That’s why I loved doing both!

Read Next: What Else to Do in Omis

The hike to Starigrad Fortress is just one of the many incredible things to do in Omis. I already mentioned that you NEED to visit Mirabella as well, but you also should visit Velika plaža (the main beach in Omis.

I also recommend rafting down the Cetina River or zip lining over it! The zip lining was my favourite activity in Omis.

👉 You can read more about what to do in Omis, Croatia here!