Hiking In Croatia: 14 Amazing Coastal And Mountain Trails — Our Wanders
What?! Hiking in Croatia? This country is famous for its fabulous beaches and ancient coastal cities, and less famous for its breathtaking hiking trails, even though it has many. On the coast, in the mountains and on the islands!
In this post, we show you our favorite trails from many different regions — based on many different visits to Croatia throughout the years. Whether you’re looking for an easy beach trail (some of the best beaches require walking!), a majestic coastal panorama or pretty waterfalls, day hikes, half day hikes or leisure walks, we have something for you.
Since you most likely visit Croatia on a road trip or as a beach holiday, we highlight one trail near each larger/popular city. If you’re curious about the beach hikes, scroll to the end of this post.
General good-to-knows when hiking in Croatia
Trail navigation. Trails are well-marked and signposted, you find huts along longer mountain routes. But easy navigation doesn’t mean you can complete the trails in your beach sandals, without any preparation.
here’s a mountain to hike: mighty Biokovo towering above Makarska
Proper footwear. First of all, the Croatian coastline is rocky, and trails are often uneven. We recommend wearing proper hiking shoes even on the beach trails, because you don’t want to accidentally kick into rocks barefoot.
Sun protection. Many trails, especially in the coastal mountains, are not shaded. Cover your head and shoulders, apply plenty of sunscreen regularly and drink lots of water. 2 liter per person per day is the bare minimum. If you choose a strenuous trail, count with 3 liters.
Ticks. It’s wise to cover up on forest trails, too. Ticks are a risk in some wooded areas. The most effective way to protect yourself? Check every inch of your skin while taking a shower at the end of the day. If you find a tick, remove it with a tweezer as soon as possible. We often actually swept ticks off our arms or legs right on the spot. Light clothing makes it easier to notice them.
Check the weather forecast. The Croatian coast might be sunny throughout the summer months, but mountains can be hit by sudden storms. Rocky trails get slippery when wet. Also, don’t expect any trail to be passable year-round, mountains get snow in winter.
The best day hike in Croatia: Plitvice Lakes National Park loop
With 16 perfectly emerald terraced lakes joined by waterfalls, Plitvice Lakes National Park is one of the most fabulous ones in all of Europe! If you only have one day for hiking, spend that day hiking in Plitvice National Park. Walking by the crystal clear lakes and with small waterfalls thundering at your feet, this is an unforgettable water wonderland.
The highest waterfall in the park is 78 meters tall Veliki Slap (Great Fall). But honestly, the waterfalls of Plitvice don’t enchant with their size, but with their beauty. They look so pretty and are located in such a stunning setting that you won’t care that most of them are not particularly high waterfalls.
You don’t have to hike that much to see the most famous sights in the park, if you can’t or don’t want to. Ferry routes link the Upper and Lower Lakes areas where easy trails and boardwalks take you to most of the waterfalls. But we recommend a full day loop hike to truly experience the park — and find some solitude on the way.
Route K: 6–8 hours loop around the park
This is a place where you don’t even need a trail map. The boardwalks are straightforward, the connecting trails are well-marked, and the national park provides pre-planned visiting routes which are available to download from their website, as well. These visiting tours are marked with letters, from A to K, and their length varies from 2–3 hours to 6–8 hours.
Surely choose route K, the longest one! It takes a full day, but it leads you to every highlight in the park, and also to some quieter paths which are not included in the shorter routes. You can start at both Entrance 1 or 2, it’s a loop trail, so it makes little difference.
The Great Fall, the Upper Lakes and Lower Lakes are the busiest areas, but they’re incredibly picturesque, too. Between them lies Lake Kozjak, and instead of the ferry, you hike along its western shore on the way from the Lower to the Upper Lakes. After exploring the Upper Lakes area an electric boat takes you to the eastern shore of Lake Kozjak where you hike back to your starting point.
When to go?
This is a park that’s wonderful any time of the year. However, hiking trails are closed in the winter season, you can only visit the Lower Lakes area on boardwalk. Fall colors are spectacular though, late spring is just as colorful, and summer is lush green and crowded. Hiking around the lakes of Plitvice is pleasant even on hot summer days, but you better purchase your ticket in advance (here) if you visit in the summer. It’s the busiest time, and visitors numbers are limited, so if you just go to the entrance and try to buy a ticket, there might not be any available time slot to enter that day.
The best half day hike in the Velebit mountains: Veliki Zavižan, Northern Velebit National Park
Do you want to combine wonderful coastal views with dramatic mountain views? Are you road tripping along the Adriatic coastline? Then don’t miss a stop in Northern Velebit National Park when you drive through the Lika-Senj region.
Velebit is a 145 kilometers long mountain range in the Dinaric Alps that towers above the coast, and actually, it’s the border between continental and Mediterranean Croatia. It’s a very special place as such. After looking up to its white, bare rocks from the coast, you wouldn’t expect the greenery you’ll find on the other side of the mountain that doesn’t face the sea. After the sunny and warm weather on the coast, you wouldn’t expect that an extra sweater and a windbreaker could still feel not enough up there.
It’s rich in karst formations and amazing coastal vistas, but you have to hike for them, and there are not many easy and short trails in this park. The most well-known trail is the 57 km long Premužić Trail that spans through the whole park. What if you only want to get a taste of it, then continue your scenic drive on the coast? We asked the same question, and our answer turned out to be the trail to Veliki Zavižan peak.
How to reach Veliki Zavižan peak?
If you drive up from the coast, then this trail starts with an amazing scenic drive for you. Take the narrow, winding road towards Oltari, and enjoy a better and better view after each hairpin curve.
You can drive to the Babić Sića parking and tourist information. This is the place to pay the entrance fee to the national park, and start the trail towards Veliki Zavižan. The beginning is an easy forest trail, but soon you reach large meadows and rocky peaks — and the first panoramic views!
It’ll likely get very windy as you get higher. Velebit is famous for its “wind tunnels”, and it was crazy to experience how accurate this name is. There are areas where the wind is extremely strong, and we got chilled to the bone as we hiked through these “wind tunnels”.
Optional detours on your way to Veliki Zavižan are Vučjak peak and Velika Kosa peaks. The reason we skipped them was that it started getting foggy, and we wanted to reach Veliki Zavižan before the fog did. We didn’t succeed. Hence the best views we’ve seen were the panoramas at lower areas. We could only imagine how perfect that panorama from the peak would be. We waited some time and had snacks, but the peak was so windy, and the fog was only getting more dense, so we turned back.
How hard is this trail?
That’s how Velebit is though: harsh and unpredictable all year, but such a stunning, untouched wilderness. Just dress up well, no matter how hot it is on the coast.
It’s a steady uphill hike partly on forest paths and partly on uneven, rocky terrain. There’s a steeper section right before Zavižan peak. We did this hike with Tomi who had just learned to walk at that time. He could practice his walking skills on the forest trail in the beginning, and Csaba carried him later. Older kids can do this trail on their own if they have the stamina.
The best hike near Zagreb: Sljeme, Medvednica Nature Park
Medvednica Nature Park is only 30 minutes drive from Zagreb, Croatia’s capital. Neither Zagreb, nor Medvednica are among the jaw dropping Insta stars of Croatia, but that’s exactly their charm. We enjoyed casually strolling through Zagreb on an early spring long weekend trip, and we took a day trip to hike to Sljeme, the highest peak of Medvenica, too.
This park is the prettiest in early spring when crocuses bloom, and in the fall when the seasonal forest turns yellow and orange. In summer, it offers shaded forest trails, and it’s the place where you find locals, not tourists.
Bikčevićeva Trail to Sljeme peak
Medvednica Nature Park offers a large network of well-marked hiking trails, and we chose the one that took us up to the highest peak: 1033 meters high Sljeme. Not being a particularly high mountain, Sljeme is a good hiking destination almost all year. It does get snow in the winter, but it’s still easily accessible, because there are ski slopes at the top.
Even though one could drive up to Sljeme, where’s the fun in that? Leave your car in the parking lot at Bikčevićeva staza, and follow the forest trail along a small creek, and then through wildflower meadows. Sljeme peak in the end offers nice views of the surrounding landscape.
Bikčevićeva staza is also the name of the bus stop, and yes, it’s easily reachable from Zagreb by bus, as well.
The best hike near Rijeka: Veliki Risnjak, Risnjak National Park
Risnjak is one of the least known national parks of Croatia, and it could be a delightful stop on your way from Zagreb to Dalmatia or Istria. Continental and Mediterranean climate collide here, and it’s a forest kingdom, with giant rocky peaks rising above and offering views all the way to the Adriatic Sea. It’s also home to Croatia’s most beautiful river: River Kupa.
Actually, if you only have half a day to visit Risnjak National Park, we recommend taking a short hike to the source of River Kupa and then along the river. However, if you have a full day, you can choose to conquer 1528 meters high Veliki Risnjak, with an astonishing 360 degrees panorama of the surrounding mountains and the Adriatic Sea in the distance.
The trail to Veliki Risnjak starts from the park administration in Crni Lug. You can do it as a loop, hiking on Horvat Trail on the way there (it’s steeper, so easier to do when you ascend), then on Markov brlog trail on the way back to Crni Lug. The most impressive part of this hike is definitely the last, steep ascent from the mountain hut to Veliki Risnjak peak. Giant rock formations and panoramic views impress near and far. Otherwise it’s a steadily ascending/descending forest trail, narrow at times, but not technical.
The best hike near Zadar: Mala and Velika Paklenica canyons, Paklenica National Park
A full day loop hike through Mala and Velika Paklenica canyons is thrilling and spectacular — and also challenging. But don’t miss Paklenica National Park in any case if you visit the Zadar area. It has the most astonishing karst river canyons in Croatia!
Just do the trail in Velika Paklenica if you want to make it easier — or you’re with small kids or a baby in the carrier. Because the loop trail through the two canyons is for experienced hikers only and involves a lot of rock scrambling, mainly in Mala Paklenica canyon. The path through Velika Paklenica is easier, wide and ascends evenly for the most part. It gets more steep and narrow towards the end of the canyon, but that’s where you get the best views.
However, we recommend that you decide whether you do both canyons or only Velika Paklenica before you start your day. In case you do both of them, start with Mala Paklenica, because it’s the harder one, and it’s better to do it on your way up. We have a detailed hiking guide to this loop here, read it before you go!
The best hike near Šibenik: waterfall walk in Krka National Park
Even though Plitvice gets most of the fame, Croatia has another impressive waterfall park: Krka. It’s located very close to Šibenik, but it’s suitable for a day trip from Zadar, too. So the question is: would you like to walk along the emerald green Krka River and its picturesque travertine waterfalls? This one is really more of a walk than an actual hike, you can even wear your beach sandals.
Easy forest paths and boardwalks take you around Skradinski buk, the main highlight of the national park. It’s the longest of the waterfalls on Krka River, and it’s actually a series of 17(!) waterfalls with a drop of 50 meters in total. But it’s not the size that’s the most impressive here (again), rather the beauty of the travertine terraces, little islands and pools that separates the waterfalls.
Skradinski buk is one of the seven travertine waterfalls in the park, and they’re among the prettiest natural karst phenomenon in the Dinaric karst region. An easy walking trail is established in the area so that you can have plenty of views of all the waterfalls from many different angles.
You can start the walk from the park entrance (Entrance Lozovac, which is the main road entrance), or you can take the free shuttle directly to Skradinski buk. The walk is lovely and not at all demanding though (~800 meters), so don’t miss it. Walking around the waterfalls may add another kilometer. It’s a pleasant stroll in any season.
And what if you want to hike more? Read our detailed guide about Krka National Park here, with more hiking options.
The best hike near Omiš: Kula peak, Omiška Dinara Mountains
How about a scenic half day coastal hike in Central Dalmatia? Kula peak (863 m) is the highest peak of the Omiška Dinara, and while 800-something meters doesn’t sound impressive, this trail is! It’s a rocky terrain, barely any trees block your views of Omiš, the Adriatic Sea and the islands below you. And it’s topped with a breathtaking 360 degrees panorama from Kula peak at the end.
Park your car past the village of Borak. There’s no parking lot, just a few pullouts by the road, suitable for a few cars. (Our car was the only one.) You’ll already have quite nice views of Omiš and the coastline, and giant white rocks tower above you.
Prepare for a sweaty uphill hike, with some steeper and slippery sections. This is definitely one of the trails where proper hiking boots are a must! The final ascent to Kula peak is the most challenging, we hopped from rock to rock at some places, and rock scrambling is also involved in conquering the summit. But we got the reward — no complaints. 🙂
This hike offers barely any shade, so if you do it in the summer, aim for early morning or late afternoon. We enjoyed fabulous sea sunset views on our way down!
The best hike near Makarska: Vošac, Biokovo Nature Park
view of Biokovo from Makarska (publishing pictures taken in the nature park is not permitted)
Biokovo Mountains are the dramatic backdrop for any beach on the Makarska Riviera. You can conquer Biokovo from the coast (very strenuous trails!), or you can drive up to Biokovo Nature Park. It’s accessible by paved road, but expect it to be a challenging drive.
The road to 1166 meters high Sveti Jure is extremely narrow and has countless hairpin curves. You often have to back up when someone arrives from the opposite direction. However, short and easy trails take you to amazing viewpoints from this road.
Our favorite is Vošac peak that can be reached in 30 minutes from the roadside parking area, and offers views of the Makarska Riviera and the islands from above. Sveti Jure summit can compete with those views, but it’s not even a hike, just a short walk from the parking lot at the end of the road. You can do both as part of a half day visit to Biokovo Nature Park.
Keep in mind that Biokovo is just as bare as it looks from the coast, so there will be no shade. Visit early or late in the day in the summer months.
Best beach trails in Croatia
If you travel to Croatia in the midst of summer, you might not want to do many (or any) hikes, because you’d rather spend your time on the beaches. My suggestion: at least pick some beach hikes!
One reason is that beaches that require some walking or hiking never get as crowded as the most easily accessible ones. On the other hand, these beach trails that I’m showing you are incredibly pretty. Start them early in the morning, so that you can reach the beach by the time it gets too hot, then spend the rest of the day there.
Here are my favorite beach hikes, from north to south along the Adriatic coastline:
Coastal trails at Cape Kamenjak, Istria
Are you looking for the most crystal clear, unspoilt beaches in Istria? Head to Cape Kamenjak Nature Park! It’s home to some of our favorite beaches in all of Croatia. Though most beaches are accessible by a short walk from their own parking lot, many of them are also connected by a coastal walking trail. Grabbing your backpack to explore all the bays along the coastal path and stopping for a swim as many times as you want in the meantime is a great itinerary for the day.
There are two routes that we found the most scenic, and they also include the best beaches of Cape Kamenjak: hike from Pinižule Bay to Njive Bay (see on the map here), and hike from Radovica Bay to Sv. Mikule Dražica cove (see on the map here). Along the first route we liked the turquoise cove of Plovanije the most, and we had too many favorites along the second route: secluded Radovica cove, then Mala Kolombarica and Velika Kolombarica for snorkeling.
Even though both of these walks are short (about 1.5 hours there and back), dedicate two separate days to them if you want to spend time swimming, snorkeling, sunbathing or just chilling out on the beaches.
Please note that entrance fee is payable for each motor vehicle that enters Cape Kamenjak Nature Park. Parking is included in the entrance fee, so no separate fee for parking or toilets within the park. Walkers and cyclists can enter free of charge.
Hike from Baška to Vela Luka Bay, Krk Island
Vela Luka Bay is one of the most remote beaches on Krk. Beautiful, unspoilt. But to access it you either need a boat, or do a 2 hours hike from Baška. The trail is scenic, it led us through a wild, rocky landscape, with pretty views of Baška Bay, the coastline, the mainland and other islands on the way. But start it early, because there’s no shade.
Our favorite viewpoint was that of Vela Luka and nearby Mala Luka Bays from above. Since we visited Krk in September, and it was a chilly, rainy day, we didn’t descend to the beach, but did another short hike in the area instead. The perfect “hot summer day itinerary” definitely includes swimming in this crystal clear bay though.
Hike from Baška Beach to Bag, Krk Island
This is a weird kind of beach hike, because you start and end at the beach, and you don’t need to hike for it. But there’s something else that’s worth the effort here. If you visit Baška Beach, we recommend hiking up to Bag viewpoint either at the beginning or at the end of the day. There’s absolutely no shade on the trail, but it also means astonishing scenery all the way.
A moderately difficult path takes you up from Baška Beach to 185 meters high Bag peak. Optionally, you can continue a bit further to 220 meters high Ljubimer peak. Bag viewpoint was the better of the two though. 🙂 And as ridiculous as a 100-something high peak sounds, the views from there are breathtaking! The rocky coastline and the uninhabited island of Otok Prvić in contrast with the deep blue Adriatic Sea — it looks stunning.
We chose a different path on our way back. It was not directly on the coast, but among the large rocks, offering incredibly close views of them, and also some views of Baška Bay.
A final remark: there’s a reason that these coastal hills are completely bare. It’s windy! Trees and bushes can’t survive the salty winds, and you need to stand it on the peak, too. You might be grateful for it on a hot day, but pack a windbreaker on cloudy days.
Hike from Ručica Beach to Beriknica Beach, Pag Island
Ručica Beach is one of the most popular beaches on Pag island, but it has a hidden sister that we liked even more: Beriknica Beach. It’s located in the next bay, but there’s no road to it, only a walking trail from Ručica Beach.
It’s a 30 minutes walk, but don’t do it in flip-flops or sandals. The terrain is rocky and uneven, and there’s a steep downhill to Beriknica Bay at the end. However, the landscape makes all the effort worth it. With the yellow and white cliffs and absolutely no plants around, it feels like you’re on planet Mars. Only there’s the Adriatic Sea to jump in at the end.
However, there’s no shade on the trail or on the beach. Take a compact beach tent with you, if you want to have some shade throughout the day. Also, Beriknica Beach has larger pebbles than nearby Ručica, so wear your water shoes in order not to hurt your feet. But it’s much less crowded, and the beach views, including the giant rock formations towering above you, are more special than those from Ručica Beach. All in all, we vote for Beriknica Beach, but you can also share your day between the two as they’re so close.
Hike to Nugal Beach from Makarska
Even though Nugal beach technically belongs to Makarska, one of the most popular beach towns on the Dalmatian coast, it feels remote. Because it’s remote, and you need to hike about an hour to reach it. But what a trail it is!
It starts from the harbor of Makarska and runs along the coast, with views of turquoise bays and through vibrant green pine forests. And it ends at one of the most special Croatian beaches: pebbly Nugal Beach, backed up by a giant, vertical rock wall.
You might read that Nugal Beach is a nudist beach, and earlier it was. But no matter how out of town it is, this beauty attracts crowds and tourists, so it’s not a hidden place for nudists anymore. With that said, half of the beach is still officially a nudist beach. What does that look like? There’s a separator sign in the middle of the pebbly beach, and on one side stays everyone who wears swimsuits, on the other side everyone’s naked. It’s a bit strange, yes.
But honestly, after a few weeks in Croatia after the high season, we bumped into nudists anywhere that was just a little bit out of sight, so we kinda got used to it by then.
At the end of the day, hike above Nugal Beach. It’s a short, steep detour to a viewpoint called Gradac which is the best place to take pictures of the beach from above (not just because you don’t really take pictures on the beach, respectful of the nudists, but because it’s the very best angle!).
Time your hike a bit before sunset, so that you can marvel at the colors on your way back, and reach the harbor lights just as darkness falls.
Coastal trail in Mljet National Park, Mljet Island
Our favorite beach on Mljet? No, not the famous salt lakes, nor any of the sandy beaches (they would be Tomi’s favorite, but we visited Mljet before his arrival to the family). We loved them, but what really knocked us off our feet was the hidden rocky coves with their azure water in Mljet National Park.
Right, you need to hike to reach them. But it’s a pretty coastal trail, and you can stop at several places to jump in — almost anywhere, actually, because the trail runs directly on the coast. However, it’s a rocky coastline, and these coves don’t have a smooth beach entrance.
You need water shoes, and also consider the wind conditions, because some coves can be dangerous if the waves are too big. In exchange, you’ll most likely meet no one, and the water is so clear that you see everything underneath even without a snorkeling mask. But don’t forget the snorkeling set if you have it, because the coves are great for snorkeling, too.
How to get there? The paved road ends past the village of Pomena, and you can leave your car in the parking lot there. Then just follow the coastal path. This map gives a good idea of the trail, however, not all the possible routes are marked here. You can get a bit further along the coast if you scramble on the rocks.
Which is the best time to hike in Croatia?
We think that September is the absolute best time to visit Croatia if you want to take advantage of all the things it offers: beaches, hiking and sightseeing. Summer crowds have thinned out by September, the weather can still feel like summer, and the Adriatic Sea is as warm as it can get after the hottest months (~23°C / 73°F).
However, May is just as perfect for hiking. Whether you’d actually swim at the end of the beach hikes depends on your cold tolerance. Sea temperature is around 17–19°C (62–66°F) by May, but hiking is surely more enjoyable than in hot July or August. Also, it’s not tourist season yet, so the coast is quieter — and the prices are lower.
While September can feel like summer, October won’t. It’s more chilly and rainy, so pack sweaters and rain jackets for your visit. April can be similarly whimsical, but still suitable for hiking. Visiting before or after summer also means you’ll pay less for national park entrance fees. In some cases you can save parking fees, too, because some parking lots charge only in the summer.
What about winter? While the Adriatic coast typically doesn’t get snow, it gets strong winds and storms which makes it not such a pleasant place in the winter months. The continental area has proper winter, and it’s the season for skiing in the mountains (like Sljeme in Medvednica Nature Park).
Would you read more about Croatian beaches, national parks and cities? Check out all of our Croatian destination guides here! Disclosure: Affiliate links are used in this post, and at no additional cost to you, we earn a commission if you make a purchase. If you are ready to book your trip and would like to support this website in some way, here’s your chance. Thank you! 🙂
Originally published at https://ourwanders.com on April 24, 2022.