Perfect match of a mountain river and the sea – all that is Omiš

A very small town on the coast, only 20 kilometers away from Split, offers you something completely different, but everything you need for a good and pleasant vacation.

It’s no wonder that some unknown man, back in the Middle Ages, wrote at the entrance to his home: “Thank you, God, because I was born in this world,”GRACIAS AGO TIBI DNE QUIA FUI IN HOC MONDO. (Zahvaljujem ti, Gospode, što sam živio na ovom svijetu) considering the beauties of Omiš as his whole world.

What can one write about their hometown without being too personal?

I’ll probably be just like that old man from the 16th century. We have something in common – I also grew up in the historical part of the town, so the entire old city was my playground. I remember the time when playing on Poljički trg was my favorite part of the day. We couldn’t wait to come home from school so we could start. The neighborhood was huge, so we could all gather and play.

The old Venetian pillory (Stup srama) was just a quick stop for us while we were running around. The so-called “House of the Happy Man” was another interesting place, where we spent hours watching a man mend his fishing nets and sell salted sardines – an old Dalmatian specialty.

Living and playing beneath Mirabella, the pirate fortress

I knew even back then – unfortunately for us children – that there was no other way up unless we took the normal stairs. I think we’d all be rich by now if we had taken a penny from every tourist we helped back then, since there were no signs showing the way.

Another favorite part of the year was, of course, summer – not just because school was over, but also because of the Klapa Festival (a traditional a cappella singing festival). We always found a wall to climb and listen from, dreaming about singing there and winning the festival. (If that dream came true… I can’t tell you everything.)

Which beach to choose

Sometimes, when we felt like playing picigin, we went to the city’s sandy beach. Depending on the weather, we would decide if it was a day to go to Brzet to enjoy the waves and the small pebble beach, or whether we just wanted to jump into the city harbor – which was, and still is, forbidden. But for children, nothing is truly forbidden.

There were days when we got tired of the beach, and the Cetina River was right in front of us. I think we were like the forerunners of rafting, but in a different way – we just jumped in with swimming rings and let the current carry us for a while.

Walking and riding bikes through the canyon of the river was completely normal – we just hoped our mother wouldn’t find out, because she always thought it was too dangerous.

Climbing and hiking

“Dangerous” was a key word for us children. Climbing and hiking on the magnificent mountain that towers over the town of Omiš was our favorite pastime. Although via ferrata, free climbing, and zip lining are now popular activities in Omiš, back then it was normal for us kids to climb every day to our tree house and swing from a rope placed on a very steep slope. In a way, we experienced everything long before modern tourism arrived in Omiš. We witnessed how our pirate’s nest turned into an adventure haven.

And there are many other stories I could tell, but the best way to find out is to take a walk around the town with me.

Nikolina Tomasović

Hi, I’m Nikolina Tomasovic Bock. I studied journalism, but after some time, I realized that the fast-paced world of news wasn’t really for me. I decided to slow down and live more like my ancestors did, close to nature, in the countryside, with my dog, cats, chickens, and my husband.

There are many tour guides out there, so why choose me? I’ve traveled quite a bit and, like Candide from Voltaire said, there’s no better place than the one you know and where you grew up. That’s why I love showing people the real, authentic side of my country, the small towns and villages of Dalmatia where life still feels genuine and connected to the past.

When I travel, I’m not drawn to big cities, I love to wander in order to find the original cultural character. Instead, I want to see the places that make a country unique, the local traditions, the small details, the everyday life that tells a story. That’s exactly what you’ll find here.

If you’re ready to explore something different, I’m ready to guide you. I know many stories from my work as a journalist, stories that don’t always make it into guidebooks. Trust me, together we’ll find something special that will make your visit unforgettable, even if you’re a demanding traveler.