Discover Murter: shipbuilding tradition, island settlements and cultural heritage

Murter and the Kornati Islands are in the western part of Šibenik-Knin County. The county is home to Krka and Kornati National Parks. The island of Murter has four main settlements: Murter, Betina, Jezera and Tisno. There are ten cycling routes of varying lengths and easy to moderate difficulty on the island and in the mainland part of the Municipality of Tisno; six of them are on the island.

The names Murter, Betina, Jezera and Tisno offer a first introduction to the island. If you are interested in local history and architecture, you can explore the settlements as different starting points for discovering Murter. Betina is especially associated with the tradition of wooden shipbuilding: the Betina Museum of Wooden Shipbuilding regularly shows a documentary about Betina’s shipbuilders, offering insights into highlights of the local shipbuilding tradition.

Old Srimač, now Staro selo, is also distinguished by its architectural and urban features. As an ensemble, it stands out for its location, street network and building typology. These features make it a topic in its own right for visitors interested not only in individual buildings but also in the structure of a historic settlement.

The skill and art of building the Betina gajeta has been recognised by the Croatian Ministry of Culture and protected as part of the intangible cultural heritage of the Republic of Croatia. This goes beyond the story of a single boat: it is a recognised craft tradition associated with Betina. Those interested in maritime culture can explore this heritage from two different perspectives: the museum and the Latinsko idro regatta.

Latinsko idro takes place every year in late September and expresses Murter’s maritime tradition. The date is especially relevant to travellers who want to plan their interests around this annual event. Another historic landmark is the church in the cemetery of Murter and Betina: it is a cultural monument built on the ruins of Colentum and the oldest church in this cemetery.

Cyclists can choose from ten routes on the island of Murter and in the mainland part of the Municipality of Tisno. They vary in length and are rated easy to moderate; six run on the island. When choosing, you can take into account both the level of difficulty you prefer and whether you want to ride on the island or the mainland. The information does not specify a single route length, but describes a selection of routes of varying lengths.

Colentum offers another way to explore the area’s history. The ancient settlement is near the present-day settlement of Murter, and its remains lie at the foot of Gradina Hill. Today, Colentum is an archaeological park with viewpoints, walking paths and an archaeological beach. Archaeological remains sit alongside opportunities to explore the park on foot and visit its viewpoints.

For the Kornati area, locally produced lamb from the Kornati Islands and seafood are recommended. These culinary suggestions relate to the wider region and complement the trip’s cultural and landscape themes. If local cuisine matters to your travel plans, you can make it a focus alongside the shipbuilding tradition, local history and cycling routes.

For an introduction to the subregion, find more information on the Murter page. If you would like to compare other destinations in the catalogue, you can also explore Split-Dalmatia, Hvar, Zagreb County, Sisak-Moslavina County, Cres, Krapina-Zagorje and Čiovo.

When does the Latinsko idro regatta take place?

The regatta takes place every year in late September and expresses Murter’s maritime tradition.

How many cycling routes are there on Murter and in the Municipality of Tisno?

There are ten cycling routes in total, varying in length and rated easy to moderate. Six of them are on the island of Murter.

What can you see at the Colentum Archaeological Park?

Colentum includes remains of the ancient settlement at the foot of Gradina Hill, as well as viewpoints, walking paths and an archaeological beach.

For the broader travel overview: Croatia.