Cetina River Boat Tour

Omiš is a small town with a big setting. It sits where the Cetina River breaks out of a deep limestone gorge and runs into the Adriatic, with cliffs towering above the old roofs and a fortress perched on the rock. The area was once the base of pirates who controlled the sea lanes and sheltered in the gorge, and their legend still colours the town. A two-hour boat tour on the river is the easiest way to see the landscape without any strenuous activity. You board at the quay, glide upstream along calm green water between walls of rock, pass old mills and meadows, and stop for a visit in the nature park, where there are paths and viewpoints. The pace is slow, the scenery is dramatic, and the experience is suited to people of all ages and fitness levels, including those who find rafting, canyoning or climbing too demanding. It makes a lovely half-day from Split and combines easily with a lunch in Omiš or a swim at the town beach.

The river has a different character from the sea. Where the coast is bright and open, the gorge is shaded, quiet and cool, with the sound of water against rock and birds in the trees. You will see steep cliffs, small beaches, riverside restaurants and sometimes kayakers, rafters and canoeists, since the Cetina is the busiest adventure river on the coast.

The guide or captain usually gives commentary on the pirate history, the geology and the wildlife, and the boat stops long enough for photographs. The pace is unhurried, so bring a hat and sunscreen and expect to take your time.

Getting there is straightforward. Omiš lies about a half-hour drive south-east of Split along the coastal road, and local buses run frequently in season. Departures are tied to the tide of visitors, with more boats in summer and fewer in the cooler months, so check the schedule before you travel. The tour is weather-sensitive, since heavy rain or high water can change the route, and operators will tell you if a trip is cancelled. Wear flat shoes, bring a light layer and keep your camera ready.

Build the rest of the day around the town. Walk its small old centre, climb to the fortress if you have energy, have a plate of grilled fish or river trout by the water and swim at the pebble beach near the river mouth. If you feel adventurous, add a rafting trip or a via ferrata climb on another day, because the same gorge supports many forms of exploration. The boat tour is a good first taste, especially for families and for travellers who want a quiet change from the busier coastal sights.

Because the tour is short and inexpensive compared with full-day excursions, it also works as a flexible add-on to a morning visit to Klis, Salona or a day on the beaches south of Split. Whatever you combine it with, the Cetina gorge is one of the prettiest places within reach of the city, and the boat is the gentlest way to see it.

Wear a swimsuit under your clothes if you plan to swim at the town beach afterwards, and carry a refillable water bottle, since the boat stops are short.