Omiš in Croatia – the pirate town on the Cetina River

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated: August 2026 | What to see and do in Omiš, Croatia? The small town in Dalmatia has a spectacular location where the Cetina River flows into the Adriatic Sea, surrounded by steep mountains. Here you can stroll through the old town, climb up to old pirate forts, sunbathe and swim or go on adventures in the dramatic Cetina river landscape.

Omiš in Croatia

We visited Omiš by camper van and were immediately captivated by the combination of the charming old town and the magnificent nature. We managed to experience the Mirabella fortress, the beaches and a boat trip up the Cetina – and discovered that the old pirate town has much more to offer than we had initially expected.

Things to see and do in Omis

Although Omiš is a relatively small town, there is a lot to see and experience. Here are our top tips.

1. Stroll through the old town

The old town of Omiš is small and compact, with narrow alleys, stone houses, small squares and plenty of restaurants, outdoor terraces and cafes. It is nice to simply stroll around without any particular plan and see what you find. You may also want to take a look at one of the small shops – for us, this included shopping for a dress.

One of the sights is the Church of St. Michael, the town's parish church, located in the middle of the old town. The old town also contains historical buildings and remains of the fortifications that once surrounded Omiš. The dense alleys are a legacy of the time when the town needed to be contained within its defensive walls.

2. Go up to the Mirabella Fort

Fort Mirabella, or Mirabela, is located on the cliffs above the old town and is strongly associated with Omiš's pirate history. From the fort, you could watch out for ships out on the Adriatic Sea.

You can get up to the fort via stairs that start at St. Michael's Church in the Old Town. There is a small entrance fee and there are quite a few steps, but it is definitely worth it. Once you are up, you have a fantastic view of the mountains, the Cetina River and the Adriatic Sea.

3. Hike up to Fortica – Starigrad

Even higher above Omiš lies Starigrad, also known as Fortica, a more than 500-year-old fort that served as a lookout and defense point. Its location made it possible to detect enemies approaching from both the sea and the land.

From the center of Omiš, a marked hiking trail leads up to the fort. Expect to hike up for about an hour, depending on your pace. Once there, you will be rewarded with a fantastic view of Omiš, the Cetina Canyon, the Adriatic Sea and the islands of Brač, Hvar and Šolta. Bring water and good shoes, especially on hot days.

4. Discover the Cetina River

The Cetina River is just over 100 kilometers long and flows into the Adriatic Sea in the middle of Omiš. Just behind the town, the river cuts through the mountains and forms the dramatic Cetina Canyon, which is a protected natural area.

It is the combination of the river, the steep mountains and the sea that makes Omiš so special. Along the Cetina you can choose between peaceful nature experiences and much more adventurous activities – from walks and boat trips to rafting, kayaking, canyoning and ziplining.

5. Take a boat trip on the Cetina

We chose to try a leisurely boat trip up the river. After we jumped aboard at the mouth of the river in Omiš, the boat slowly trudged up the river, in a small boat together with about 20 other tourists. The river is surrounded by high mountains and the landscape is intensely green – very, very beautiful!

After about 45 minutes we docked at Radmanove mlinice, and here we had an hour before we had to return to the boat. We used the time to walk through the dense, green vegetation and follow the river a little further upstream.

Others chose to have lunch at the large lunch restaurant which was strategically located by the pier.

6. Try rafting, canyoning or zipline

For those who want more speed and adventure, there are several activities along the Cetina. A little higher up the river you can try rafting and if you prefer to cross over the river, you can try ziplining.

There are also opportunities for hiking, climbing and canyoning in the area. Along the coast you can also try all kinds of water sports.

7. Sunbathe and swim on the beaches of Omiš

Omiš also has something so unusual (in Croatia) as sandy beaches. Among other things, there is a long, fine sandy beach that runs along Camp Almissa. We thought it was really nice to swim here, and in some places we experienced that the water became extra fresh and wonderful, when cool water from the Centina River flowed out and mixed with the sea water. You can find these beaches in Omiš:

• Camp Almissa Beach is a long sandy beach that lies along Camp Almissa and also continues outside the campsite.
• Velika Plaza (big beach) is about 700 metres long and is located in the centre of the city.
• Slavinj Beach and Brezet Beach are two small gravel beaches located just south of the centre.

8. Have dinner in the old town

We were feeling in a good mood and were a bit excited by the Saturday atmosphere in town – there were weddings and parties going on all around us. We decided to take advantage of it and head out on the town.

To celebrate our arrival in the pirate town of Omiš, we had dinner with a luxurious "fish platter". Most restaurants in the Old Town serve fish, meat and grilled food. If you want, you can also look for one of the restaurants along the river Cetina.

Omiš – Croatia's old pirate town

It's not just a nickname – Omiš was actually a powerful pirate stronghold in the Middle Ages. Especially in the 12th and 13th centuries, the pirates from Omiš had great power along this part of the Adriatic. They were led by princes from the Kačić family and attacked merchant ships from Venice, Dubrovnik, Split and Kotor, among others. Papal ships on their way to the Holy Land were also attacked.

The location at the mouth of the Cetina River was perfect for the operation. The pirates used fast and agile boats, so-called arrows, and were able to retreat towards the river once they had attacked a ship.

Ships passing through Omiš could also be forced to pay tribute in order to sail past without being attacked. At the same time, the Mirabella fort kept watch over the sea and could detect approaching merchant ships.

The rise of pirates naturally created enemies. After several conflicts, including with the Crusaders and Venice, the Kačić princes were defeated by the Venetians in the second half of the 13th century. This greatly reduced their power, although piracy did not disappear overnight.

Today, pirate history is still a big part of Omiš's identity – and when you see the steep mountains, the narrow mouth of the Cetina and the forts above the town, it's not hard to understand why this particular location worked so well as a pirate's nest.

Omiš by motorhome

When we visited Omiš, we stayed at the then Kamp Galeb, which is now called Camp Almissa. The campsite is beautifully situated by the sea, within walking distance of the town.

When we drove into the campsite, we found a place next to a Norwegian. To make us "feel at home" he strolled over with a bottle of Norrlands Guld and a nubbe O.P. Andersson. But then ... can you get a better reception?

When is the best time to travel to Omis?

Omiš can be visited all year round, but for a holiday with sightseeing, nature experiences and swimming, May, June and September particularly pleasant months. The weather is usually warm then, but it is often calmer than during the most intense summer season.

July and August is best suited for those who want a real high summer with warm sea, beach life and a wide range of activities and events. It is also the most visited period of the year. During the summer, cultural events are arranged, the traditional klapa festival and various events related to the city's pirate history.

Spring and autumn can be especially good for hiking, for example up to Fortica, and for activities around Cetina.

Getting to and around Omis

Omiš is located about 25 kilometers southeast of Split, which makes the city relatively easy to reach. The nearest airport is Split Airport, which is located in Kaštela, about 40 kilometers from Omiš. From the airport, you can travel on via Split or take a taxi, transfer or rental car.

By car or motorhome You can reach Omiš via the coastal road D8, which runs between Split and Makarska. Keep in mind that traffic along the coast can be heavy during high season, so the travel time from Split can be significantly longer than the distance on the map suggests.

There are regular buses. between Split and Omiš, both from Split's main bus station and with local bus lines. There are also bus connections further south along the Dalmatian coast.

Omiš itself is small and the old town is best discovered on foot. The beach, the Cetina estuary and the Mirabella fortress are also within walking distance of the centre. However, to reach Fortica you have to expect a considerable walk uphill.

More to see in the neighbourhood

Do you have time and opportunity to explore the area around Omiš? Then there is a lot to choose from. Here are suggestions for some nice and interesting excursions:

• The historic city of Split
• Island of Brac
• The medieval town of Trogir
• Makarska Riviera