January the 7th, 2026 – There’s a Dalmatian mountain which not only offers incredible panoramic views across the entire area, but 80 kilometres of trails and even the longest cliff in all of Croatia.
As Putni kofer/Martina Hrupic writes, the world-famous Split waterfront and its picture-perfect palm trees, the even more famous Diocletian’s Palace and all the wonders in it that testify to its rich history, the beautiful sea, the deep green Marjan… Split has it all. In its vicinity, however, there’s even more to see, and some of these gems just outside of Split reach rather dizzying heights. The Croatian mountain record holder is the main topic here. Welcome to fabulous Kozjak.
Kozjak Mountain is one of several that surround beautiful Kaštela Bay. Opor and Trečanica stand alongside it, but it’s Kozjak that impresses in both height and length. It’s the highest and longest mountain in that company: it is 16 kilometres long, with an average height of 600 to 700 metres, and stretches from Klis in the east to the 477-metre-high Malačka Pass in the west.
Kozjak is famous for its striking feature: its imposing southern cliff. It’s the longest cliff in all of Croatia, from 50 to 250 metres high. It is called Kozjak’s Rock or Kozjak’s Beam. Its northern side is somewhat tamer than the southern one, consisting of rocky slopes that descend into the hinterland below. It is precisely because of its duality and contrast that Kozjak is sometimes described as a mountain with two faces.
a view over to italy (at least sometimes, anyway)
The highest peak of Kozjak is Veli vrh, which towers at 779 metres high. It is located to the east of the ridge, above Kaštel Gomilica. It is sometimes called Sveti Juraj or Kozjak, and on it sits the chapel of St. George, built on the ramparts of a prehistoric hillfort. Sveti Ivan Biranj, at 631 metres, is the highest peak in the western part of Kozjak, and next to it stands the chapel of St. John, the patron saint of Kaštel Lukšić. Generally speaking, Kozjak is known for its beautiful views of Kaštela, Split and Trogir, the islands, and sometimes, of course, if the weather conditions are favourable, even neighbouring Italy can be seen.
The former caravan routes that led over this mighty Dalmatian mountain are now being replaced by hiking trails. Kozjak boasts as many as 80 kilometres of marked hiking trails, and its rocks and cliffs are also popular with climbers. The most popular climbing destinations of all are Sveti Ivan Biranj and Sveti Juraj, as well as Veli vrh.
a name with greek origins…
Generally speaking, Kozjak is known for being an accessible, but also very interesting mountain, because almost every hiking trail touches its famous, record-breaking cliff in some way. However, it’s still a mountain, and it should be traversed with the utmost respect. As for the hiking infrastructure itself, it is abundant in mountain huts.
Kozjak amazes all who visit with its panoramic views of the Kaštela Bay, and almost every single peak or below it boasts an interesting historical site, chapel or archaeological site. That means that a walk on Kozjak is simultaneously a journey through space and time, interwoven with rich culture and interesting history.
It is assumed that the name of this imposing Dalmatian mountain was derived from the translation of the Greek word for the mountain, similar to the case of Trogir (the name Tragurion comes from the word tragos, which means goat).
The shortest approach to Sveti Juraj is from Solin, while the one via Split’s old cobblestone path from Ninčević is the most alluring of all. “However, it should be noted that it is demanding and is not recommended for inexperienced hikers. The climb from the Putalj mountain lodge is slightly longer than these approaches, but it is interesting for hikers who want to walk along the entire length of Kozjak,” they explained from the Croatian Mountaineering Association.
As for the very peak of Sveti Ivan Biranj, the same source describes the ascent from the Malačka Pass as a beautiful and simple hiking walk, while the aforementioned pass can be reached by road or on foot from Kaštel Stari.
