Two towns, two different personalities, and so much to fall in love with.
When people start planning their holiday in Croatia, they often ask us the same question: should we stay near Split or Omiš?
And every time, we find it difficult to choose just one.
We live here. We know the busy summer days, the quiet winter mornings, the little streets, the beaches and the places where locals go for coffee. And even after all these years, there are moments when we look around and think how lucky we are to call this part of Croatia home.
Split and Omiš are different in many ways, but that's exactly what makes this area so special.
One has the energy of a city that never seems to stand still. The other sits between mountains, a river and the sea, with a beauty that's difficult to put into words.
And the best part? You don't have to choose between them.
Split – the city of šušur, music and Mediterranean life
There's a word we use in Dalmatia that doesn't translate perfectly into English: šušur.
It's the sound of people talking over coffee, friends calling out to each other across the street, laughter coming from restaurant terraces and the lively atmosphere that fills the city, especially during summer.
And if there's one place that knows how to do šušur, it's Split.
We love walking along the Riva, watching people come and go, and finding an excuse to sit down for another coffee. Because here, coffee isn't just something you drink quickly before getting on with your day. It's part of our way of life.
Then there are the old stone streets around Diocletian's Palace. No matter how many times you walk through them, there's always something to catch your attention. A little courtyard, an old doorway, music coming from somewhere around the corner.
And speaking of music, it's impossible for us to think about Dalmatia without thinking of Oliver Dragojević.
His songs are part of life here. You hear them in cafés, at family gatherings, on summer evenings and sometimes simply coming through an open window. Even if you don't understand the lyrics, there's something about his voice that captures the feeling of Dalmatia.
That's the Split we love. Not just the monuments or the places you'll find in guidebooks, but the people, the music and the everyday life happening around them.
Of course, Split has its busy side too. In July and August, the streets are crowded, parking can be a challenge, and the city moves at its own summer pace.
But that energy is also part of its charm.
If you enjoy history, good restaurants, lively evenings and sitting somewhere just watching the world go by, you'll probably fall in love with Split.
Omiš – where the Cetina meets the Adriatic
Now, Omiš is a different story.
We might be a little biased because this is our home area, but there really is something extraordinary about this small town.
Imagine standing near the mouth of the Cetina River. On one side, the Adriatic Sea stretches out in front of you. Behind you, the river winds between high rocky mountains, with the old town nestled beneath the cliffs.
It's one of those views that makes you stop for a moment, even when you've seen it hundreds of times.
The combination of the river, the mountains and the sea gives Omiš a character unlike anywhere else along this part of the coast.
But what we love about Omiš goes beyond the landscape.
Omiš has a long tradition of klapa singing, a traditional form of Dalmatian a cappella music. Every summer, the town hosts the Festival of Dalmatian Klapa, bringing together singers who keep this beautiful tradition alive.
If you ever have the chance to hear a klapa singing among the old stone streets, take a moment to listen.
You don't need to understand Croatian to feel the emotion in those voices.
It's one of those little experiences that stays with you long after your holiday is over.
And then, of course, there are the beaches.
Let's be honest about the beaches…
We love Split, but when it comes to beaches, our hearts belong to Omiš.
Split has its well-known city beaches, including Bačvice and Žnjan, and they're great for combining a day in the city with a swim.
But personally, we think the beaches along the Omiš Riviera are even more beautiful.
From the long sandy beaches of Omiš and Duće to the smaller pebble beaches around Lokva Rogoznica and Mimice, the coastline offers so many lovely places to spend a summer day.
The sea is wonderfully clear, the mountains rise behind the beaches, and some of the smaller coves still have that peaceful Mediterranean feeling we love.
We could spend an entire afternoon swimming, sitting by the water and doing absolutely nothing.
And sometimes, that's exactly what a holiday should be about.
One little piece of local advice, though: if you're renting a villa with a sea view, always check the actual route to the beach.
Our coastline is beautiful, but it's also mountainous. A beach might look very close on a map, while the road or walking route is considerably longer.
We always prefer telling our guests exactly what to expect rather than letting them discover it after arriving.
There's more to Omiš than the beach
One of the things we love most about Omiš is that you can have a completely different experience every day.
You can go rafting on the Cetina River, try ziplining above the canyon, explore the surrounding villages or simply take a walk through the old town.
And if you're staying in one of the villages above Omiš, you'll discover another side of Dalmatia.
Stone houses, olive trees, little roads winding through the hills, traditional food and evenings when the only thing you hear is the sound of nature.
It's a slower way of enjoying your holiday, and for many of our guests, that's exactly what they're looking for.
Not every memorable holiday moment needs to be a big excursion.
Sometimes it's dinner on a terrace, fresh local food, a glass of wine and a beautiful view.
Two towns, one unforgettable part of Croatia
Here's what we always tell our guests: Split and Omiš are only about 25 kilometres apart.
That's one of the reasons we love this area so much.
You can spend one day exploring Split, walking through Diocletian's Palace, having coffee on the Riva and enjoying the city's lively atmosphere.
And on another day, you can head to Omiš, swim in the clear Adriatic, explore the Cetina canyon and spend the evening wandering through its old stone streets.
You don't need to choose between city life and nature, or between history and beautiful beaches.
You can enjoy both.
Of course, during the busy summer months, the coastal road between Split and Omiš can get crowded, so we always recommend allowing some extra travel time.
But the short distance between these two destinations makes it easy to discover different sides of Dalmatia during the same holiday.
Finding your own little corner of Dalmatia
Over the years, we've learned that everyone imagines their perfect holiday a little differently.
Some people want to wake up overlooking the sea. Others prefer a quiet villa surrounded by olive trees. Some families love being close to the beach, while others are happy to drive a little further if it means having a private pool, a garden and more space for the children.
And that's what we love about the area around Split and Omiš. There really are so many different ways to experience it.
At AdriaVacay, we personally visit the villas we offer, and we know how important those little details can be.
A beautiful view is wonderful, but so is knowing how far the nearest beach really is, whether you need a car or what the surrounding neighbourhood is like.
We want our guests to find a place that feels right for them, not simply a beautiful house in a photograph.
Whether that's a modern villa near Split, a peaceful family home in the hills above Omiš or a little stone retreat overlooking the Adriatic, we're always happy to help.
Come and discover the Dalmatia we love
There are so many beautiful places in Croatia, and we're lucky to live in one of them.
Maybe it's the sound of an Oliver song drifting through Split's old streets. Maybe it's the voices of a klapa on a warm evening in Omiš. Maybe it's that first view of the Cetina meeting the sea, or a quiet morning on a beach before everyone else arrives.
These are the things that make this part of Dalmatia special to us.
And they're the things we hope our guests will discover too.
So if you're planning a holiday in Croatia in 2027, don't feel you have to choose between Split and Omiš.
Come and experience both.
We'd love to show you the Dalmatia we call home.
AdriaVacay – Beyond the Sea.
