If you are a serious adventurer and outdoor thrill-seeker then hiking in Croatia must be on your bucket list if you ever plan to visit this country. Famous mostly because of the beautiful and clean Adriatic Sea, Croatian mountains are always kind of in a secondary list of usual travelers to Croatia. We can understand that most of the people visiting Croatia come here in summer and only truly wild-spirited ones will choose to climb a mountain instead of chilling in the sea while temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius are scorching the land.
That is only one of the reasons we always say that Croatia is much better to visit in preseason or postseason. That’s in case you are not looking only for a Sun & Sea combination, like 98% of other tourists coming to Croatia. Trust us, visit Croatia in May or September, and thank us later.
Back to the topic of this post. We are currently preparing for a hiking tour tomorrow and thought about how we haven’t written an article about hiking in Croatia. Tomorrow we plan to do a hike that will last around 10 hours straight and in it, we are going to visit 2 famous peaks of Biokovo Mountain – Sv. Ilija and Šćirovac (which is believed to be one of the most secluded mountain peaks in Croatia).
You could say that we are addicted to hiking. It’s our first love when it comes to outdoor activities. Recently we started to hike more and more and it seems we have started to use most of our free time for hiking adventures. And it’s good. We use hiking as stress relief, the more we walk, the better we feel and it all culminates when we reach the top, drink some warm coffee and suddenly the world becomes a better place.
Enough with hiking philosophy, let’s start with our list of top Croatian mountains and trails you must visit if thinking about Croatia hiking.
Why Even Hike in Croatia?
Let’s answer this question first. There are many much more famous hiking destinations in Europe and most of them are close to Croatia – Slovenia, Austria, Switzerland. The Alps mountain range that stretches through these countries makes some unbelievable stunning landscapes and we enjoyed many hikes in these countries.
When it comes to Croatian mountains, these are a bit different than the ones in the countries we mentioned. Mountains in Croatia tend to be rocky and with high and steep cliffs. Of course, there are some parts with a lot of vegetation, but overall barre rock prevails. Croatia is a stunning combination of mountains and the sea and we believe that to be one of the main advantages when it comes to hiking.
Let’s see what other reasons might persuade you to hike in Croatia instead of Switzerland, for example.
- Breathtaking Scenery: Stunning views of the Adriatic Sea from mountain ranges such as Biokovo and Velebit. Stunning rock formations are also part of many hiking trails in Croatia (Bijele and Samarske Stijene for example)
- Rich wildlife: Wolves and bears and a lot of other wild animals. Don’t worry, most of the animals in Croatia are benevolent and you’ll probaly won’t encounter bears and wolves on your hikes in Croatia.
- Historical Trails: Some very old paths made by our ancestors (Biokovo Mountain), military routes (‘Tragom bunkera’ trail near the city of Ploče), and shepherd’s trails with historical significance.
- Accessible Trails: There are many trail options for all skill levels, ranging from short walks to multi-day adventures.
The 3 Most Famous Mountains in Croatia
There are quite a few mountains in Croatia, but three of them are the most famous – Biokovo, Dinara, and Velebit. These are also the largest mountains in Croatia with the highest peaks and most accessible trails. This trio is also among the most chosen mountains for hiking in Croatia when it comes to visitors from abroad.
1. Biokovo Mountain
Biokovo is the closest mountain to where we live and, logically, we explore it most. Biokovo mountain is the second-highest mountain range in Croatia with the highest peak being Sv. Jure with its 1762 meters above sea level. It’s truly a magnificent mountain, wild, crude, and highly potential for true adventures.
Part of the Biokovo mountain that is near Makarska is also a nature park and a good thing is you can drive on a paved road to the highest peak of this mountain. If you are planning to do this in the summer be advised that many people want to do the same so the small Biokovo road often gets congested. That’s the reason we don’t run our Biokovo hiking and photo safari tour in high season.
Apart from the highest peak, some other peaks are reachable by this road with our favorite being Vošac, a peak just above Makarska. If you ask us, this peak has a much better view than Sv. Jure although it is a bit lower. If you want to hike, Vošac Peak is also reachable from Makarska and it would take you about 4 hours to reach it and admire the view. If you are keen on doing any of Biokovo hiking trails in summer, take a lot of water and start your ascent early in the morning.
Fun fact: There’s a hiking challenge in which you need to walk through the whole Biokovo mountain in winter conditions. It’s called Biokovski Vuk (Wolf of Biokovo Mountain) and we have written a blog post about it. We’ll conclude the Biokovo topic with our favorite peak of this mountain and that is Sv. Ilija. Stunning views on both sides of the mountain, beautiful landscape, Biokovo chamois along the way – mountain at its best.
- Location: Dalmatian Coast, stretching along Makarska Riviera.
- Highlights:
- Biokovo Nature Park with the Biokovo Skywalk attraction,is a glass platform made in front of a cliff that has great panoramic views.
- Sveti Jure, the highest peak (1,762 meters), is accessible by road or by hiking.
- Rich wildlife, with both Mediterranean and Alpine plant species.
- Best For: Experienced hikers looking for challenging trails as well as beginners (lower parts of Biokovo mountain).
2. Dinara Mountain
Dinara is the highest Croatian mountain and its peak Sinjal reaches 1831 meters above sea level. We have done numerous excursions to this mountain and have been the highest-standing persons in Croatia a few times. The ascent to this mountain could be done by using different trails but the most used one is a road that starts in the city of Knin. You can combine a visit to this mountain with sightseeing in this historic Croatian city.
Like in the case of Biokovo mountain, Dinara also has a road that is unpaved in this case and it doesn’t reach the top of the mountain. It’s also not suitable for regular cars. If you are willing to walk it would take you 6 to 7 hours to reach the top if you are starting from Knin. There is a mountain hut up in the mountains and you can sleep there thus making your ascent in 2 days and using the extra time to climb some of the lower peaks of Dinara mountain.
Unfortunately, this mountain is in the hinterland part of Croatia so the sea is not so visible, although you can see Kornati National Park in a distance. The unpaved road mentioned earlier is perfect for mountain biking so consider visiting Dinara Mountain by bike if you have them with you on your vacation.
Apart from Dinara Mountain, there are some other places you can visit in the vicinity while in the Knin area. Krčić waterfall and the spring of Krka River are a few of these places. A road that goes above Krčić waterfall and along Krčić river is perfect for cycling and if you follow it for a few kilometers it will take you directly beneath the Dinara mountain. If you follow it for more it will take you to Cetina River and valley. Dalmatian hinterland is an amazing and great place to explore in more adventurous ways.
- Location: Central Croatia, near the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina and closest to city of Knin.
- Highlights:
- Dinara is Croatia’s highest mountain in Croatia with its peak (Sinjal) reaching 1,831 meters.
- Proclaimed as a Nature Park in 2021, it features unique karst landscapes, caves, and much more.
- Trails lead through valleys and along high cliffs, past ancient shepherd houses ruins, and springs.
- Best For: Hikers and nature lovers who want to be the tallest standing person in Croatia.
3. Velebit Mountain
When you talk about hiking in Croatia and the Croatian mountains, this one has to be mentioned. It’s the largest mountain massif in Croatia and it has the third-highest peak – Vaganski vrh (1757 m). There are 2 national parks situated in this range – Paklenica and Sjeverni Velebit, just a confirmation of how beautiful this mountain is. Paklenica National Park is one of the most famous places for rock climbing in Croatia. It’s a deep canyon with a hiking trail in the middle of it, a hiking trail that will take you directly to the best places on this mountain.
If you want to experience this mountain to the fullest, the Premužić trail is one of the best ways to do so. This trail was made a century ago and it’s 57 kilometers long so don’t expect to walk through it in one day. The first 16 kilometers go through the national park Sjeverni Velebit.
Usually, it takes roughly 3 days of mild hiking to pass the whole trail. The whole mountain is full of shelters and mountain huts in case you want to spend some more time in high places. We still haven’t explored this mountain to the extent we want to. It’s not so near the place where we live but we plan to give this mountain the attention it deserves in the future.
- Location: Northern part of coastal Croatia.
- Highlights:
- Home to two national parks – Paklenica and Northern Velebit National Parks.
- Famous trails include the Premužić Trail and routes to Anića Kuk as well as through Paklenica canyons.
- Some of the most unique rocky formations such as Tulove Grede, can be found on Velebit Mountain.
- Best For: Hikers looking for a mix of challenging hikes and multi-day hiking experiences.
Some of our favorite hiking trails in Croatia
We’re done with the most famous mountains in Croatia. Let’s focus on some of the trails we absolutely love. Each of the mountains mentioned above is packed with all kinds of hiking trails, but here are some of our favorites that are not part of the most famous mountains in Croatia.
1. crnopac and little prince trail
One of our favorite places for hiking in Croatia. What a wonderful place this is. And different from everything else. You can do the tour in one day but we suggest you sleep in a mountain shelter at the start of this trail and let this mountain show you the best it can offer. So far, the mountain shelter in this mountain is the best one we have been to so far. Stunning place and landscape to build a shelter at. Trail of the Little Prince is a circular hiking trail with many different landmarks along the way.
One moment you’ll be climbing on a prominent peak and rise above the forest you’ve been walking through and in another moment you’ll be descending in a pit on a long metal ladder. Technically this peak and hiking trails are also part of Velebit Mountain. We have visited this place only once and didn’t have a chance to hike to Crnopac peak (1402 m), a thing we plan to correct in the future.
2. bijele and samarske stijene
These 2 separate trails are not a mountain in its core but rather a most beautiful part of Velika Kapela mountain range. We have passed both of these trails and can only say we were astonished by the natural creations at this place. At moments it seems that nature was a surreal artist here. Megalithic rocks, deep caves and holes, forests, and other characteristics make you feel like you’re on another planet.
Again, it would take you 2 days to pass both of these trails. You won’t stand on any high peak like you would on a regular hiking tour but you are going to visit one of the most fascinating landscapes of Croatia. You can spend the night in nearby villages but we suggest you sleep at Ratko’s shelter (Ratkovo sklonište). We won’t describe it, just look at the image below and you’ll understand everything.
3. risnjak
Risnjak is the only place we haven’t been to so far. We don’t know why and how since it wasn’t so far from us at a time when we lived in Zagreb, the capital of Croatia. It’s also a national park that got its name from a lynx (Ris in Croatian). This national park is situated in Gorski Kotar which is often called ‘the lungs of Croatia’. Expect a lot of forests there.
A fun fact is that this is one of the most rarely visited national parks in Croatia. Since we haven’t been there we cannot say much about it. Risnjak is considered to be one of Croatia’s most beautiful mountains. The highest peak of this mountain is Veliki Risnjak (1528 m).
4. snake’s hill (zmijino brdo) on pelješac peninsula
The highest peak of this mountain is Sv. Ilija (960m) and it rises above Orebić on the Pelješac peninsula. It’s also the highest mountain peak of Pelješac. The mountain is named Snake’s Hill because it’s full of snakes. Once you reach the top of this mountain you’ll have a chance to enjoy one of the best views in Croatia.
Just make sure you check the forecast before you embark on this hiking tour since the weather is tricky on this mountain and clouds can envelop the mountain peak in a matter of minutes making visibility very poor. This is what happened to us that one time we have visited this mountain so we can’t show you the view from up there since we haven’t got a chance to enjoy it.
Other Famous Places for Hiking in Croatia
Before we start discussing the best time of the year for hiking in Croatia, let’s just quickly mention a few other famous hiking locations in Croatia.
- Pag Island: Famous for its barren landscape and beaches, Pag has some great hiking trails too.
- Krka National Park: Shorter hiking trails surrounded by waterfalls and lush greenery. Great for beginners.
- Paklenica National Park: Famous for its canyons and the most famous place for rock climbing in Croatia.
- Mljet National Park: There are many coastal and forest trails on this stunning Adriatic island such as the hike to Montokuc peak inside of the Mljet National Park. There are many other places worth visiting on the Mljet island suc has Odysseus Cave.
- Učka Nature Park: With hiking trails leading to Vojak, the highest peak in Istria, and great views of the Kvarner Bay.
- Istrian Peninsula: Many coastal walks and trails through vineyards and olive groves. Great if you want to combine hiking with gastro experiences.
- Gorski Kotar: Forested trails in the greenest part of Croatia, ideal for cooler weather. Feature places such as Vražji Prolaz, Kamačnik Canyon, and much more.
Best Season for Hiking in Croatia
Well, let’s start with the worst season for hiking in Croatia – summer. At the same time, it’s the time of the year when Croatia is most visited and many of these visitors choose to venture into a hiking adventure too. Hiking in summer is fine, we don’t have anything against it, even though it’s not our favorite time of the year for hiking in Croatia (still, there are some advantages, such as longer days).
- Spring (April to June):
- Milder temperatures and nature start to awake.
- Perfect for exploring both coastal and inland mountain trails.
- Autumn (September to October):
- Also milder weather and the most colorful season.
- Fewer hikers on popular hiking trails in Croatia.
- Summer (July to August):
- Not our favorite, but suitable for higher-altitude trails, as coastal areas can get very hot.
- Start hiking as early as possible to avoid the heat that can be unbearable at moments.
- Winter (November to March):
- Great if you are an experienced hiker and want to enjoy in snowy conditions. We love hiking in winter, mountains are absolutely magical during this season.
Weather Considerations
Few more things to have in mind when hiking in Croatia. Always be prepared for all kinds of weather since mountains are known for their unpredictable weather forecasts and sudden weather changes.
- Coastal Trails: Warm and sunny most of the year, bring a lot of water on the hike.
- Mountain Trails: Cooler and more unpredictable; always check forecasts before hiking, although expect all kinds of weather, especially outside of the summer months.
- Rainfall: Spring and autumn can bring rainy weather, so pack with this in mind.
Essential Hiking Equipment
If you are a hiking enthusiast and know a lot about hiking, you probably know everything about hiking equipment of all sorts. But if you are a beginner or not sure what hiking equipment to bring for your Croatia hiking adventures, here are some basics:
- Clothing:
- Lightweight, quickly drying layers for warmer months.
- Insulated and waterproof layers for cooler weather.
- Proper hiking boots with good grip for rocky Croatian mountains. Always hike in proper hiking shoes.
- Gear:
- Comfortable backpack with sufficient capacity, depending on how many days you intend to hike.
- Trekking poles for uneven terrain and descents. These can be very helpful and your knees love them.
- GPS or a detailed map of the trail. You can install an app that can work offline and has marked hiking trails in Croatia.
- Other Essentials:
- Sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses are a must-have trio if you are hiking in Croatia during the summer months.
- A lot of water.
- Mobile phone with full battery.
- First aid kit, snacks, and a flashlight.
Staying in the Croatian Mountains Overnight
In case you are planning to spend more than a few days in the beautiful mountains of Croatia, here are some accommodation options.
- Mountain Huts: Managed by local mountaineering associations, these huts provide basic facilities like sleeping areas, water, and cooking equipment. They are usually marked on Google Maps so always research the trail you are going to hike on to find a suitable mountain hut for you to stay in. For some of them, you will have to contact the association that is responsible for maintaining that particular hut.
- Camping: While wild camping is generally prohibited in Croatia, some camping areas near trails allow you to spend your night in a tent. As long as you are following Leave No Trace principles, you’re fine. Don’t camp in protected areas though.
- Tips for Overnight Stays:
- Bring a sleeping bag, headlamp, and sufficient food and water.
- Book your spot in Croatian mountain huts in advance, especially during peak season.
Long-Distance Hiking Trails in Croatia
Croatia and its mountains are home to a few long-distance trails that are perfect for a multi-day hiking adventure. Here are a few of them:
- Via Adriatica Trail:
- A 1,100-kilometer trail stretching along the Adriatic coast from Istria to Dubrovnik.
- Highlights include great coastal views and trails, a range of different mountain peaks, and cultural landmarks along the way.
- Premužić Trail:
- A 57-kilometer trail in the Northern Velebit National Park, Premužić Trail is famous for its stunning landscape its built-in and relatively easy terrain.
- Perfect for multi-day hikes and has few access points.
- Dinara Trail:
- A challenging route through the new Dinara Nature Park, ideal for experienced hikers.
- Offers a chance to explore Croatia’s highest peak and landscapes of the highest mountain in Croatia.
- Biokovski Vuk (Wolf of Biokovo mountain): Multi-day adventure on the Biokovo mountain in which you have to walk across the whole mountain range and visit a few of the peaks along the way.
Multi-Day Croatia Hiking Tips
Here are some general tips if you plan to have a multi-day hiking adventure in Croatia:
- Plan Ahead: Research the trail and everything about it – length, difficulty, and available accommodations along the way.
- Pack Light: Focus on essentials to minimize the weight of your backpack. Water is essential when it comes to multi-day hikes in Croatia during the summer months.
- Check Resupply Points: Check where to find food and water along the route.
- Prepare for Emergencies: Carry a first aid kit and know how to contact local rescue services (112).
What to Do in Case of an Accident in Croatian mountains
Accidents happen even if you are the most prepared hiker ever. Sometimes it’s just inevitable. But don’t panic, here’s what to do if an accident happens to you while hiking in Croatia.
- Stay Calm: Everything is going to be just fine.
- First Aid: Use your first aid kit if you have a minor injury while you wait for the emergency service.
- Contact Emergency Services: Dial 112 for assistance in case of an emergency. Provide your exact location and describe the nature of the emergency. Croatian Mountain Rescue Service members will be the ones to help you.
- Signal for Help: If you don’t have mobile service, use a whistle or reflective gear to signal rescuers who are coming your way.
- Stay Visible: Remain in an open area to make it easier for rescuers to locate you. But don’t move much during the search and rescue.
- Prepare for Delays: Keep warm, hydrated, and as comfortable as possible while waiting for help, especially if the accident happened in a very remote area.
Before you venture into the hiking adventure in Croatia
There are many more good places for hiking in Croatia. If you have any questions regarding hiking in Croatia and you think we might help you, just let us know. If you are hiking during the summer months just make sure that you have the proper hiking equipment and good hiking boots.
Don’t go hiking in sandals. Yes, it sounds funny, but you’ll be amazed at how many people embark on an adventure like this. The temperatures in the summer can go up to 40 degrees Celsius so make sure you take extra water with yourself. We suggest using only marked trails since it’s easy to get lost. In the case of an accident in the mountain call 112 for help. Enjoy your hiking in Croatia and send us some photos!