Hiking & Walking Holidays in Croatia – Some Fantastic Walks
There are many wonderful places to visit for a walking or hiking holiday in Croatia. This post is about places I’ve visited that offer good walking options. This includes the mountains, lakes, and the Croatian coastline.
I have enjoyed walks in Croatia in all four seasons. Some summer hikes can be draining, and you need to carry plenty of water. A bit of planning goes a long way toward choosing rest stops to avoid overheating.
Places In Croatia With Good Walking or Hiking Trails
Lošinj Island
Mali Losinj and Losinj Island are fantastic for a holiday with lots of walking. The island has over 170 miles of trails to choose from. Many of these are signposted; however, you can find more routes on the Komoot app.
From the town centre, there are many trails for hiking. A favourite of mine is hiking to the viewpoint that overlooks the town and island. The hike here is waymarked and covers some challenging terrain. The views at the top are well worth the effort.
Walking along the west coast from Mali Lošinj is a fantastic walk with some challenging spots. However, there are many coves and bays to enjoy along the way. A shorter 3-4 hour route is to Veli Lošinj and back via Valdarke Bay.
On the east coast of the island is Cikat Bay, a beautiful place and excellent for a coastal walk. This side of the island includes the forest park and some fantastic coastline. Overall, Lošinj Island is an excellent place to visit if you enjoy long walks in beautiful surroundings. After a good hike on the island, there are many restaurants.
Krka National Park
One of my all-time favourite hikes was to the waterfalls in Krka National Park near Sibenik. Entry to the park requires a fee that varies by season. I visited in March, and it was pretty inexpensive. The area near Skradinski Buk was wonderful; apparently, these are the most beautiful waterfalls in the park.
I took the waymarked route that takes you through the waterfalls and enjoyed the epic views. You can also choose various trails here to more remote parts of the area. There are 47 miles of hiking trails to choose from.
Cres Island
Cres is an island in the North Adriatic Sea off the coast of Croatia and has many hiking trails. This includes coastal walking trails and some inland trails, too. It is one of the biggest islands in the country, and before the channel separated it from Lošinj, it was the biggest. A good place to stay here is Cres Town, a beautiful little coastal town.
From Cres Town, there are many walks to do, including along the beautiful coastal paths. You can find walking routes on Cres Island on the Komoot website or use their app to plan your own route. During our visit, it was very hot, so I stuck to shorter circular routes near the sea to cool down.
Ogulin For Lake & Countryside Hikes
Ogulin is an inland town in northwestern Croatia and is easily reached by train. We visited for a week and really enjoyed getting out into the countryside. There are flat and hilly walks in Ogulin. One of the top walks here was from Ogulin to Jezero Sabljaci, which is an enormous lake with hiking trails around it. It’s also a beautiful place for some wild swimming to cool down when hiking.
The country lanes from Ogulin along the River Dobra are lovely for a walk from the city. From here, there are hiking trails into the hills. This walk offers views of the area’s main mountain peak, Klec. Klec is one of the most popular mountains to climb locally. There are many routes on the mountain.
After a long walk, Ogulin has some wonderful bars and restaurants for refreshments. These tend to serve hearty, meaty platters which are ideal for sharing.
Split For Coastal Trails
Split is a beautiful city by the sea, famous for its Roman history and iconic old town. It’s a great base camp for a walking holiday. There are many things to see in the city to keep you engaged.
In the city centre, you can jump straight on trails along the coast or into Marjan Forest Park. Marjan Forest Park is a beautiful place for a walk, with many trails to choose from. The views and scenery here are beautiful. We thoroughly enjoyed exploring the peninsula and found some fascinating spots.
Near Split are many mountains with hiking trails, too. You can reach these by local bus or taxi. Mosor is the main and most popular mountain near Split in Croatia. The highest point on the mountain is 1339 metres. The mountain is big, measuring 25 kilometres from end to end.
After a day out hiking in Split, the local seafood restaurants are wonderful to wind down and rest those legs. Overall, Split in Croatia is a great base camp for adventure holidays near the coast.
Stari Grad on Hvar Island
Another place I liked getting out to stretch my legs in the Croatian countryside was Stari Grad on Hvar Island. Most of the countryside near the town is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Stari Grad Plain. It has lots of interesting sights along the way, including examples of ancient farming.
Most of the routes here pass through vineyards and olive groves, which are rather nice. I enjoyed the views throughout, including into the hills and the sea. I did a circular route from the town centre. However, there are many other options for longer trails.
Fuzine: A Village For Mountains & Lakes
We opted to visit Fužine to connect with Croatia’s countryside and wind down after some epic travel. Fuzine is a small village in the mountains of Croatá, and its key feature is its lakes. The lakes are excellent for walking and have a few bars with views.
The country lanes from Fuzine are also good for a long walk, including to the nearby villages. You can also stay off the road in lots of the area, as it has forest trails.
One of my favourite routes was walking from Fuzine to the cave attraction. This route took me around the lake and upstream on the river. I then headed back around the other side of the lake.
Fuzine has a few village restaurants for refreshments after a long day of walking. These tend to serve locally produced food.
Karlovac: For Beautiful River Walks
Karlovac has the moniker “the city of parks”; thus, it is great for short walks within the city. It also has 4 rivers running through the city, many of which have trails along them. There are also many spots where you can swim in the river, an ideal way to cool down after a long walk. The route from the centre to Dubovac Castle is beautiful if you follow the riverbanks and then go into the forest. There are many routes to extend this walk in the lovely countryside surrounding the city.
One of my favourite walks in Karlovac was from the centre, across the wooden bridge, then into the villages. The halfway point was the Homeland War Museum. I found some fantastic village bars on this walk.
Osijek: For River & Countryside Routes
Osijek is an interesting city in the Slavonia region of Croatia, known for its farmland and countryside. The river Drava runs through the city and is the starting point for many walks.
My favourite place for walking in Osijek was on the opposite bank of the river. There are various trails to enjoy the countryside here. You can also do longer walks in the local countryside, including to where the River Drava meets the River Danube.
After enjoying the local walks in the Slavonia countryside, you can try Slavonian cuisine in the restaurants of Osijek. These are hearty and delicious, including Slavonski Čobanac, a spicy beef stew.
Pula Including The Camino Istria
During our visit to Pula in the Istria region of Croatia, we found plenty of walking options, especially along the coastline. Many of these were easy-to-navigate trails, including some to former Austrian hill forts. A great walk with views and forest is the Marina Veruda hiking trail to the north of the city. This one is 6.5 kilometres and takes about 2 hours.
Pula is also on the Camino South Istria route and has many signs and places to get your credentials stamped. This includes areas near St Anthony’s Church and next to the Pula Amphitheatre. The Camino South Istria is a 192-kilometre walk that should take 8 or 9 days.
Walking Equipment & Outdoor Shops Croatia
If you need hiking or outdoor gear, there are various shops that carry it in the major cities. During my visits, I’ve been shopping for hiking boots and clothing at various outdoor stores in Croatia.
Hervis For Walking Shoes
Hervis is a good outdoor shop that is present in the bigger cities. I’ve visited the branches in Zagreb and Rijeka to replace hiking shoes over the last few years. You can also find Hervis stores in Split, Zadar, Osijek and Pula. They also stock a good range of hiking clothes and equipment. For those who enjoy water sports, there is also a good section for kayaking and paddleboarding.
Decathlon: For Hiking Boots
Decathlon is another European chain of outdoor equipment stores with a presence in Croatia. I’ve visited the branches in Zagreb and Rijeka. They have a wide selection of outdoor shoes and, from my observations, are more likely to carry larger sizes. My favourite purchase from Decathlon is my Arpenaz NH500 hiking shoes.