Municipality of Podstrana – Coast, Trails and History

Below the 533 m-high Perun hill, the Municipality of Podstrana stretches along a varied coastline. Along approximately six kilometres, beaches alternate with trails leading towards the hill and places with a remarkable history. You can plan your trip according to whether you mainly want to spend time by the sea, enjoy outdoor activities or discover traces of the past.

Coast and trails by the sea

The coast is predominantly pebbly and serves as a beach along almost its entire length. Leisure facilities and amenities line the shore. The Lungomare also offers a way to include the sea in your daily plans: it begins in Strožanac near the mouth of the Žrnovnica and runs to the municipality’s southeastern boundary. As a cycling route by the sea, it is about six kilometres long, easy and flat. When looking for a holiday apartment, the coastal setting can be a useful first consideration if you would like to combine beach and cycling days.

If you prefer walking or more challenging trails, Podstrana has two newly equipped themed hiking and mountain trails: Put pod Pole and Put preko Mure. Other marked hiking trails start in Strožanac, at the Perun quarry, in Mutogras and in Gornja Podstrana, and are connected to the northern side of Perun hill. This gives you a choice of different starting points and trail themes, without every trail following the same route or having the same character.

Exploring Perun on foot and by bike

A circular hiking trail connects Gornja Podstrana and Pišćenica. It is three kilometres long and passes the Stations of the Cross on the way to the church of Sv. Juraj on Vršina; from there, you can enjoy sweeping panoramic views. A longer option is the seven-kilometre trail between the former Perun quarry area and the old village of Gornja Podstrana. Its surface is gravel, and it is suitable for walking, running and cycling.

There are also cycling routes of different lengths and types. The Podstrana–Stara Podstrana mountain bike trail is 14.5 kilometres long and suitable for MTB, e-MTB, gravel and trekking bikes. Perun hill itself stretches from the mouth of the Žrnovnica to the mouth of the Cetina near Omiš and is 17 kilometres long in total. If you are planning a stay with hiking or cycling, you can consider these trails as a focus for choosing a holiday apartment, alongside the coastal attractions. The marked trails on Perun are maintained by the Perun Mountaineering Club of Podstrana.

Another way to experience the landscape from the water is recreational kayaking along the coast of Podstrana and in Stobreč Bay. You can continue the trip on the Žrnovnica River, where lush vegetation and a variety of fish and bird species shape the landscape.

History, culture and local cuisine

The first international Croatian peace treaty was signed in 839 in the village of Sv. Martin in Podstrana, between Croatian Prince Mislav and the Venetian Doge Pietro Tradonico. The archaeological site of Sv. Martin is another reminder of the area’s long history. It includes an ancient necropolis with more than 25 inscriptions, most of them funerary inscriptions. The original stele is kept in the church of Sv. Martin; a replica stands at its original location among the stone blocks of the church enclosure.

In Strožanac stands the Cindro summer residence, which was protected as a cultural monument in 1979 and later renovated. Its courtyard provides a setting for many summer cultural events in Podstrana. Podstransko ljeto is considered a traditional cultural and entertainment programme featuring music, sport, folk festivals and gastronomic celebrations. Recommended local dishes include Poljica soparnik and Podstrana ujenak. This offers a culinary way to round off a day spent exploring the coast, trails and culture.

When choosing your holiday apartment, consider whether the coast, with its beach and Lungomare, or the hiking and cycling trails on Perun will set the tone for your holiday. The town of Podstrana is another starting point for getting to know the municipality better.

More municipal destinations in this selection: Municipality of Omiš, Municipality of Runovići, Municipality of Podbablje, Municipality of Dugopolje, Municipality of Tučepi, Municipality of Lećevica, Municipality of Zagvozd.

For the broader travel overview: Split-Dalmatia.