Riviera Omiš

Amidst the region of Dalmatia, between Split and Makarska, where the idyllic Cetina River makes its way through the canyon and flows into the Adriatic Sea, lies the picturesque town of Omis, surrounded by high, steep mountain slopes and craggy rocks. In addition to this stunningly natural backdrop, Omis is full of cozy comfort hanging in streets and alleys, thus inviting its visitors to a wonderful and unforgettable vacation. The Riviera Omis begins in the northwest of Jesenice and goes by the towns of Duce and Omis leading on to the southeast. As it goes along in the direction towards Makarska Riviera, it passes a number of idyllic small fishing villages, which have now grown into smaller and larger resorts and settlements subsiding mainly from tourism. A few miles behind Omis are Nemira and Stanici, Lokva Rogoznica is a little further away and there are also the towns of Medici, and Mimice, and Marusici, all of which feature beautiful pebble beaches. The last town of the Riviera is Pisak, a typical Dalmatian fishing village with a large selection of accommodation deals and secluded beaches. Overall, the Omis Riviera extends over a length of 35 kilometers.

The area to the west has the towns of Omis and Duce, which both have sandy beaches with gentle slopes directly leading to the sea- suitable for families with smaller children. Since 2012, Omis has attracted a number of visitors to its small amusement park called Dino Park. The little ones in particular enjoy its wide range of attractions such as bouncy castles, carousels, paddling pool, trampolines and- how could it be otherwise- faithfully recreated dinosaurs, which are partly accessible. This Dino park is certainly a welcoming change and a fun one at that. From Omis in the southeast, however gravel beaches are predominant. Originally, the towns on the Omis Riviera were all small fishing villages that have indeed preserved their charm. In the hilly to mountainous hinterlands, where the Cetina River makes its way through its canyon towards the sea, you will find Omis a popular destination for athletes looking for rock climbing, hiking, paragliding but especially for rafting (rafting in rubber boats).

At the many beaches you can come across a wide range of water sports, especially jet skis, surfboards, and beach sports such as volleyball. In Omis there is also a mini golf course and major sporting facilities providing the equipment to get some sports in: tennis courts, basketball courts and football pitches. For the vacationer, it is a tough decision choosing between a vacation relaxing on beautiful beaches at the foot of the steep mountains or active holidays- it all depends on your preference. In Omis the long promenades along the Cetina River or the small harbor lure you to take a walk around the area. The old town of Omis, with all its winding streets and charming stone houses makes for a good walk and invites you stay by its wide selection of cafés, taverns and restaurants, especially in the evening.

The diversity of the Riviera with all its tourist offers, its Venetian flair and comfort make this Dalmatian Riviera one of the most popular destinations for a Croatian vacation. Also, arriving here is not nearly as troublesome as it was a few years ago because Dalmatia is now connected to the central European motorway network. This means the drive to Omis from Munich is only about 8-9 hours now. While in Omis you will also have a good starting point to explore the wider sweeping areas, such as the cities of Makarska, the Dalmatian capital Split or the UNESCO jewel Trogir. The Omis Riviera, however, has more to offer than just the beach. Its cultural heritage in concern to the fortresses of Mirabela and the Fortica in Omis belong on the list of attractions that are a must-see. Omis was part of the semi-autonomous Republic Poljica until and a little after the 19th century. When the Republic of Poljica was founded it was under the protection of the Kingdom of Hungary and later under Venice, but was ruled by the local nobility. The Fortica Fortress is located on the rugged sloping and rocky mountains directly above the city. At the time when pirates still roamed the high seas, this place was of immense strategic importance. The fortress offers superb views over the bay of Omis, the sea to the islands of Brac, and further to the north west, the island of Solta. The Mirabela Fortress is located not so far up, but a little above the town on a steep rock located right on the river. In the past, it was used as an alarm to warn the city of the threat of enemy ships. Today it is one of the most famous sights of the region and definitely worth a visit.