Hiking the Marjan Hill Forest Park in Split: What to Expect?

Ready for a hike? Marjan Forest Park in Split may seem like a tough challenge at first glance, but if you’re in decent physical condition, it’s definitely not that bad. It’s a green oasis filled with a variety of fascinating plants and lookout points offering stunning city panoramas.

And it’s a give-and-take situation—the higher you climb up Marjan Hill, the more breathtaking the views become. The panorama from the top is simply incredible.

Let’s go! Just don’t be like me—wear proper hiking shoes!

---

---

---

---

---

Level 1 of Conquering Marjan Hill: The Stairs

If hiking Marjan Hill were a game, the first level would be conquering the tall stairs nestled between the city houses.

There are a lot of steps. But the views are gorgeous, too. It feels like you’ve stepped out of Split and wandered into a mountain village. And if you turn around, you’ll see a sea of red rooftops, and the bell tower of St. Domnius peeking through the narrow opening between the houses.

If you aren’t too sweaty from the climb, this is a great photo opportunity!

First Base: Vidilica Viewpoint of Marjan

Huh! We did it. We have reached the first viewpoint of Marjan hill. 

There is a café here, if anyone needs a pick-me-up. But we are heading straight to the spot from which the stunning panorama unfolds. You can see the houses, the sea and the mountains in the distance. Gorgeous!

If hiking is not your thing, you can call it a day here. You already got a dose of dopamine from this fantastic view. But we are not going to stop until we get to the flag on top of the Marjan hill.

The Plant Landscape in Marjan Forest Park is Amazing

Next, we continue through a more open area where the sea peeks out to the side. However, the bright blue water isn’t the most fascinating part here—it’s the flora that accompanies you on the walk.

I can’t believe I’m saying this, but look at those gigantic cacti! Aren’t they cool? Or at least, I think they’re cacti. Maybe they’re some kind of aloe? I have no idea. Please enlighten me if you can. I am referring to the gigantic, pale green plants with sharp needles on the leaves. 

And those little crooked trees are quite funny. Some of them look like they’re going to topple over any minute!

The Cat Point of Marjan Hill

Look who’s here! A furry friend. In Split, you’ll meet many friendly cats roaming the streets. If you check Marjan Forest Park on Google Maps, someone has even marked a spot called “Cat Point.” I thought that was hilarious!

Second Base of Marjan Hill: The Ancient Church of St. Nicholas

After a while, we come across an ancient stone church. It has a simple, rustic design and has apparently stood here since 1219—a very respectable age!

But to be honest, that’s kinda it. You can’t go inside, so it’s a quick 3-minute stop for me.

From here, we take a turn and exchange the flat path by the water for a more engaging climb through a forested area, shaded by pine trees and accompanied by a rock wall adorned with more cacti—some of which are blooming. This makes me ridiculously excited!

The Top of Marjan Hill: The Breathtaking Telegrin

Wow. I don’t think my vocabulary is rich enough to describe how breathtaking the views from the top of Marjan Hill are.

A panorama in soft shades of blue, white, and green unfolds before you. At the centre, a majestic Croatian flag flutters in the wind. And, to make the scene even more impressive, there’s a gigantic white cross on the other side.

Let’s soak this in for a while.

There’s even more to explore in Marjan Forest Park, but at this point,  my energy is drained, and I’m ready to call it a day. Remember, we still have to hike all the way down! I hope you’ve saved some willpower for that.

---

Thoughts?

The climb was definitely worth it. From the stunning views at every turn to the quirky plants, Marjan Forest Park offers a fantastic escape from the city without ever leaving it! Just make sure to pace yourself, enjoy the scenery, and take a break if you need to.