Dugi Rat: Sand Beach, Cycling Routes and Coastal Culture

Dugi Rat combines a long sandy beach within the municipality with cycling routes, hiking and climbing opportunities, and cultural attractions. When planning your stay, you can focus on different aspects: the coast, specific features of a cycling route, or traces of local architectural and festival culture. These different aspects offer pointers to help you tailor your stay to your own interests.

Sand Beach and Facilities

Within the municipality of Dugi Rat, a continuous sandy beach stretches for about three kilometres from Cape Dugi Rat to the border with Omiš. The shallow-water zone in front of it is about 300 to 400 metres wide and gradually slopes to a depth of two to three metres. The coastal stretch is therefore defined not only by its length, but also by a broad, gradually deepening shallow-water zone. Plaža Dugi Rat has parking, swimming buoys, rubbish bins, a café, a beach shower and a bench. Check the facilities before your visit, as beach amenities may change.

Cycling Routes by Course and Profile

The “St. John” enduro cycling route runs from Dugi Rat via Jesenice and Sv. Ivan and back to Dugi Rat. “Ponor” follows the Dugi Rat–Jesenice–Stare Duće–Dugi Rat route and is assigned a technical difficulty rating of 5. The “Viper” route starts in the centre of Dugi Rat, runs via Industrijski put–Stare Duće–Zagrad and returns to Dugi Rat. “Battalion” also starts in the centre; the route goes via Stare Duće on the way back and includes the Dugi Rat viewpoint.

The 8.2-kilometre “Sveti Ivan” enduro cycling route offers specific details: it starts in the centre at a public car park and runs via Jesenice and Sveti Ivan before returning to Dugi Rat. The route has an elevation gain of 246 metres and is 50 percent asphalt and 50 percent gravel. This makes it possible to compare the length, elevation gain and surface of “Sveti Ivan” with the listed technical difficulty rating of 5 for the “Ponor” route. The “A Mythical Cycling Tour” also starts in Dugi Rat and runs via Jesenice, Zeljovići, Stare Duće and Duće before returning. Check the current route and conditions before setting out, as trail conditions and access may change.

Landscape and Culture

Perun Hill is considered a place for hiking and more challenging climbs using climbing ropes. These explicitly more challenging climbs differ from hiking; for a specific outing, take the conditions into account, as route and climbing conditions may change.

The Kadić House in Dugi Rat is one of the coastal houses built around the turn of the century with newer stylistic features. The old village of Stare Duće is also located near Dugi Rat, with preserved historic stone houses and historic monuments. The two places draw attention to different aspects: at the Kadić House, the connection between its period of construction and stylistic features; in Stare Duće, the historic stone houses and monuments.

In June, the Feast of Saint John the Baptist is celebrated in Greben, at the tripoint of Krug, Mali Rat and Dugi Rat. The exact dates may vary, so it is worth checking them when planning your trip. The “DALMACIJA” cultural and artistic society ensemble is also part of local cultural life. It was founded on 8 March 1967 to preserve traditional Dalmatian customs as well as original and choreographed dances and songs, and organises numerous cultural events in the municipality of Dugi Rat. Check the dates of individual events in advance.

Diving, Windsurfing and Soparnik

Diving opportunities along the Dugi Rat Riviera include shallow underwater areas, deep walls and cliffs, as well as a sunken wreck from the Second World War. There are organised windsurfing schools along the Riviera. For specific options, you can ask about current conditions and offers in advance.

A regional speciality is soparnik: in the taverns of Dugi Rat, you can try this dish from Poljica, which is on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list. Availability at individual taverns may vary.

Discover more destinations: Duće, Jesenice.

Return to the main travel overview: Općina Dugi Rat.