Omis Croatia Beaches, Pirates, and Alfresco Dining

About 25 km (16 miles) south of the second-largest city in Croatia lies the medieval town of Omis. You’ll find the most spectacular Croatia beaches where the turquoise Cetina River flows into the crystal blue waters of the Adriatic Sea. The town’s narrow stone buildings with red-tiled roofs and cobblestone streets also hold centuries of exciting history.

As promised in my post about the seaside town of Podstrana, today I’ll help you get to know the magical destination of Omis, Croatia.

Omis Riviera – Home of Gorgeous Croatia Beaches

If you love the beach, then this 30 km (18 miles) section of the tranquil central Dalmatian Coast is where you’ll want to stay to enjoy the pebble and sand beaches and magnificent blue waters of the Adriatic Sea. The Omis Riviera is a series of old villages and newer tourist towns dotted along the warm, quiet coastline. This Riviera is famous for its welcoming and clean Croatia beaches. In the summer months, you can enjoy a swim in the clear waters, share a picnic under the shade of pine trees, read a book, or nap in a secret cove in your own private corner of paradise. 

If you’re interested in more than Croatia beach activities consider rafting on the Cetina River. Free-climbing, scuba diving, trekking, canyoning, and windsurfing are just some of the other activities that you’ll find at the Omis Riviera.

The Rich History of Omis

Prehistoric artifacts have been found in caves in this region dating as far back as 2000-3000 BC. In 34 BC the Roman Empire conquered the region and the first written records mentioning Omis begin around that time. You may remember that the Roman Emperor Diocletian built his retirement home (Diocletian’s Palace) just a few miles north of Omis around 300 AD.

A wide array of prior residents of this ancient city include the Illyrians, Greeks, and Romans, members of the Venetian Republic, the Austrian Empire, and Napoleonic France.

You’ll find more history in the buildings and architecture of Omis. From 500-year-old fortresses like Mirabela and Fortica to the 16th century “Happy Man’s House”. The Church of St. Petra and the Illyrian Seminary (1750) represent just two of the significant religious buildings. You can spend an afternoon wandering the old Omis Cemetery to see gravestones dating to the 12th century. A wide variety of significant structures and landmarks can be seen around town. This list of cultural sites will help you find all the hidden gems.

The Pirates of Omis

In the 12th and 13th centuries, the port of Omis was a base for some of the most powerful and notorious pirates in the Mediterranean Sea. The sailors of Omis designed and built streamlined boats that were small and nimble called the “Omiš Arrows” (omiške strijele). These boats were small enough to navigate safely into the mouth of the river Cetina. They allowed the pirates to make quick strikes and ambush those sailing the waters of the Adriatic. Passing ships were looted and hijacked or forced to pay a toll for protection against attack.

The tall cliffs at the mouth of the Cetina River gave the pirates protection to retreat into the canyon and out of reach of the other ships. A unique underwater wall, called Mostina, prevented larger boats and ships from entering the river. The underwater wall had a secret passage adapted to the width and depth of the pirate boats but was a trap for the attackers’ ships. After more than 200 years of piracy, the Venitian Republic finally successfully attacked the port city in 1444 and conquered the pirates of Omis.

Omis Pirate Festival in August

Are you a fan of Johnny Depp’s “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie franchise, the Disney amusement park ride of the same name, or just pirate tales and frivolity in general? If so, head to Omis around August 18th each year when the town holds a historical re-enactment of a famous Pirate Battle of Omis in front of thousands of visitors.

The annual Omis Pirate festival and celebration includes a reenactment performed by raucous ‘pirates’ in authentic period costumes. Pirates carry treasure chests, muskets, and pistols. A festive parade through the main streets of the town and an after-party that a pirate would treasure continues throughout Omis late into the night. If you’d like to join in the fun there’s also dancing and “pirate games” like arm wrestling. Thousands of spectators come to the city to celebrate the infamous pirate history. The Omis Pirate Festival is truly a spectacle and well worth a visit. You may also find pirate experiences around town at other times of the year.

Take some time to visit the Omis Town Museum if you have an interest in learning more about the history of the region.

Festival of Dalmatian Klapas – Music in July

In 1967 the first “Festival of Dalmatian Klapas” in Omis was born. The festival has been happening for over 50 years! But these celebrations in singing are only a tiny drop compared with the long history of “klapa” singing in southern Croatia since the 19th Century.

This annual festival in July honors the traditions of multipart acappella, tightly harmonized singing, oral tradition, and simple music-making. Most of the (male and female) singers are amateurs that inherited the tradition from their ancestors. The Klapas Festival in Omis is recognized by UNESCO as an event that protects the “Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity” by keeping the rich vocal music history of Croatia alive.

The festival runs all four weeks in July. During this time Omis becomes the epicenter of amateur a’cappella singing. Every year the event attracts more singers from around the world – including from South America, Africa, and Australia.

A Magical Boat Ride and Meal on the Cetina River

After you spend the morning at one of the crystal clear Croatia beaches or enjoying one of the festivals, take a boat ride up the Cetina River to enjoy an alfresco lunch or dinner at the Radmanove Mlinice restaurant. This was one of my favorite activities when I visited Omis and the other Croatia beaches. The renovated 16th-century riverside water mill setting is gorgeous, with towering shade trees and open-air picnic tables.

To catch a ride about 6 km (less than 4 miles) upstream you’ll find the boats and boatsmen at the docks beside the road that runs northeast from the Cetina bridge, on the south side of the river. (across from Konoba Caća at Ul. Josipa Pupačića 1, 21310, Omis). There’s public parking near there too.

If you don’t see any signs, just ask around. You’ll soon find a boat to take you to the restaurant. Be sure to talk to the boat captain to see what your time limit is before they bring you back to your starting point. Normally you can pay for a round trip, but the ride back will be at a specific time, so don’t miss it. You can also choose to take the 10-minute drive to the Mlinice restaurant on land if you don’t want to go on the picturesque river. But believe me, the boat ride is stunning and a unique experience that’s so much fun for kids and adults.

Radmanove Mlinice Cuisine

Once you arrive find a table, order a drink and check out the menu. This restaurant is famous for its traditional specialties like fresh pastrva (trout) and pečena janjetina (roast lamb), grilled meat dishes, and warm baked traditional Croatian bread. You may even find unique seafood items like drunken octopus, frog, and eel on the menu. The portions are generous. The Mixed Meat Grill platter can easily satisfy two very hungry eaters. Look for Tomislav beer — a very dark and delicious beer that’s hard to come by elsewhere.

You can also experience a taste of the Croatian culture at Radmonove Mlinice. On Wednesday nights in July and August, the air is filled with live folk music and dancing performances.

Radmanove Mlinice Restaurant Details

Check on Seasonal Hours – Closed November to March

Address: Kanjon Rijeke Cetine, 21310, Omiš, Croatia

Phone 021-862–073

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/radmanovemliniceomis

Visitors can arrive by boat, car or other transportation.

Directions to drive to Radmanove Mlinice:

• To drive from Omis head northwest on Fošal ul. toward Ul. Ivana Gundulića
• Turn right onto Ul. Josipa Pupačića – go 5.8 km
• Then take a slight left to the restaurant

When is the Best Time to Visit Omis Croatia?

Summer is the best time to visit Omis if you’re looking for amazing Croatia beaches, fresh seafood, fruit, and vegetables. You can enjoy the traditional Klapas music festival in July, and the entertaining pirate celebration in mid-August. Plan on a range of summer sports like river rafting, kayaking, hiking, swimming and so much more in this popular season. June, July, and August offer the sunniest days and the most daylight hours. Temperatures average in the 80’s F in the summer months. On average, the warmest month is August with highs averaging 30° C (86°F).

If you want to avoid the crowds plan your trip in May or September when the high temperatures still average in the comfortable 70-degree F (20s C) range. Rainfall is slightly higher in those months, but still great weather for outdoor activities. We visited in mid-May and the weather was perfect.

Have you visited Omis Croatia or any of the Croatia beaches? What was your favorite part of your holiday vacation?