May the 22nd, 2026 – There’s a forgotten Croatian tunnel in central Dalmatia that you won’t find on the map, yet it still lures and fascinates plenty of drivers to this very day.
As Putni kofer writes, high in the rugged cliffs above the Cetina canyon near Omiš lies one of Dalmatia’s most unusual old roads. It’s a narrow mountain route carved directly through the rock, offering spectacular views, sharp bends and a glimpse into what travelling through coastal Croatia once looked like before modern highways arrived and changed it all.
The old road connecting Omiš and the old village of Gata may no longer carry the strategic importance it once did, but it sometimes pops up as one of the Adriatic’s most atmospheric forgotten routes. At the centre of that experience is the old Croatian tunnel itself, and it’s one you won’t find on a map.
a mountain road, in the truest possible sense
The road above Omiš climbs steeply away from the coast toward the historic Poljica region and the village of Gata, located on the slopes beneath the giant Mosor mountain. Long before the construction of modern bypasses and large infrastructure projects around Omiš, this road served as one of the key inland connections from the Adriatic coast into the hinterland. Because of this very difficult terrain, engineers had little choice but to carve parts of the route directly into the rocky cliffs above the Cetina River.
The result is a road that still feels dramatic even today.
One of the most striking features is this small, old Croatian tunnel cut directly through the stone. Unlike modern Croatian road tunnels with wide lanes, lighting systems and heavy engineering infrastructure, this older passage feels raw and intimate, it’s actually much more like a mountain passage from times gone by than a modern transport corridor. Drivers emerge from the rock directly onto panoramic views overlooking Omiš, the Adriatic and the Cetina canyon down below. For many visitors, the contrast between the dark stone tunnel and sudden open sea views lit up by the blinding Dalmatian sun is what makes the route so unforgettable.
pre-motorway dalmatia was an entirely different world
Before Croatia’s ultra-modern motorway network transformed travel times, roads like this were standard throughout Dalmatia. Driving along the coast and into inland villages often meant narrow cliff roads, sharp turns and slow mountain climbs. Today, much of Croatia’s transport infrastructure has become faster, safer and more efficient thanks to major highway projects and bypasses around congested coastal areas like Omiš. However, older roads such as the Gata route preserve a sense of how difficult (and visually absolutely spectacular) Adriatic travel once was.
this entire area of dalmatia has altered dramatically
Modern infrastructure around Omiš has transformed rapidly in recent years. New bypass tunnels, bridges and road projects were built specifically to reduce the enormous summer congestion affecting the Adriatic Highway through the town. During the height of the peak summer season, traffic through Omiš historically became one of the biggest bottlenecks on the Croatian coast, with tens of thousands of vehicles passing through daily.
The newer tunnels and bypasses represent Croatia’s modern infrastructure future. The old Gata tunnel represents its past, for better or worse.
Today, the route attracts not only locals but also photographers, motorcyclists and travellers searching for lesser-known panoramic roads away from the crowded Adriatic Highway (Jadranska magistrala). The surrounding landscape combines steep cliffs, Mediterranean vegetation and dramatic views toward the sea, especially during sunset or early evening light. The nearby area is also strongly tied to local history and legend, particularly the story of Mila Gojsalić, one of the most famous historical heroines from the Poljica region.
Part of the appeal lies precisely in the fact that this old Croatian tunnel and road still feel slightly untouched by modernisation, especially given the fact that the tunnel isn’t drawn on a map. Unlike Croatia’s sleek new infrastructure projects, this route preserves the roughness and atmosphere of older Dalmatian transport routes carved into difficult terrain long before mass tourism transformed the coast.
It’s much slower, narrower and less practical, that also makes it much more memorable.
croatia’s forgotten roadways tell stories that modern motorways could never manage
Modern Croatia increasingly focuses on high-speed infrastructure, bypasses and large-scale transport projects designed for tourism growth and economic efficiency. Yet, old, forgotten roads like the old Gata route remind travellers that some of the country’s most interesting journeys are still found tucked away from the fastest roads.
