I traveled in Croatia for over a month and Omis was one of my favourite Croatian destinations.
Out of all the best things to do in Omis, the hike to the Starigrad Fortress trail was by far my favourite!
The Starigrad Fortress was built in the 15th century to defend against Ottoman invaders. It is perched on the highest point directly above the town, making it the best viewpoint in Omis.
You’ll have great views of the striking mountains, the town below, and the ocean and its nearby islands. The fort is also a great piece of history to explore. You can enter inside and climb up a unique set of stone steps to the top.
In this guide, you’ll find information on where the trailheads are, which path is best to take and why, when to go (especially during high season), and what to expect.
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How to Hike the Omis Fortress Hike: Everything You Need to Know
What is the Starigrad Fortress?
Starigrad fortress 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.
Which Trail to Take on the Starigrad Fortress Hike?
There are actually 2 different routes you can take to the Starigrad 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:
Starigrad Fortress Hard Route
The hard route will take you about 45 minutes to reach the Starigrad Fortress. This includes time for a couple short breaks.
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“.
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.
Starigrad Fortress Easy Route
The easy route is less steep than the hard route. It is still entirely uphill though. 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.
The Best Way to Hike 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:
- Doing it this way, you’ll be protected by shade while hiking the uphill portion.
- You’ll get to do a round-trip loop instead of hiking there and back on the same trail.
- 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.
- 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.
Tips for Hiking to the Starigrad Fortress
Entrance Fee:
There is a small entrance fee to visit inside the fort. It is only 30 kuna each and you will need to pay with cash.
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.
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.
Be Prepared:
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 Mirabela 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 Mirabela 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 Mirabela 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.
Final Thoughts on How to Hike the Omis Fortress Hike (AKA Starigrad Fortress):
The Omis Fortress hike to Starigrad Fortress is an absolute must when visiting Omis, Croatia. The trail is not particularly hard due to the shorter length and the views you get at the top are absolutely breathtaking. They were some of the best views I saw in the whole month I spent travelling around Croatia.
The trail is very easy to find and access if you know what you are looking for. With this guide, you have ALL the information to easily complete the hike to Starigrad Fortress with no confusion. I have included everything that I would have loved to read before completing the hike myself.
If you have any questions or things to add, please feel free to comment below! And hit that subscribe button to show some support.
Happy adventuring!
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This hike looks super cool! Thanks for sharing, I will be sure to save this for my Croatia itinerary.
WOWOW how breathtaking this hike looks! Great tips now I must add this to my bucket list. Thanks for sharing
I love when hiking guides include hard and easy routes. This is so helpful when hiking with groups. Thank you!