Makarska is a small resort town in Croatia with a population of about 13,700 people. It is located in the central part of the Adriatic coast between Split and Dubrovnik (60 km from the former and 150 km from the latter).
The city has a very good location: on the shore of a horseshoe-shaped bay, surrounded by the St. Peter and Oseyava peninsulas, at the foot of the picturesque Biokovo Mountain range. Makarska is the center of a popular resort area in Central Dalmatia, known as the Makarska Riviera.
Beaches and settlements of the Makarska Riviera
Makarska is well known far beyond the borders of Croatia, it has long gained popularity among tourists coming to this country. Most of the beaches of the Makarska Riviera have been awarded the international Blue Flag Award.
Makarska Riviera in Croatia has a total length of 70 km. In addition to the beaches of Makarska itself, the Riviera includes beaches of other resorts – the nearest are Brela, Tucepi, Baska Voda. From Makarska to the beaches of these resorts, you can walk, or you can take a bus – they go often.
If we talk about the main beaches of the Riviera in Croatia, then you can not count on a calm and quiet holiday there: constant traffic, loud music all day long, a large number of people. Life here is literally “boiling”, and in August on the Makarska Riviera it is generally impossible to find a place where there are no people-vacationers have to lie almost next to each other. To have time to take a seat, you need to come to the beach as early as possible, although some people, in order not to search in the morning, leave a towel for the night.
Beaches of Makarska
Cape St. Peter divides the narrow coast in the city of Makarska into 2 bays. West Bay, located between the capes of St. Peter and Oseyava, was successfully used for the construction of a port and yacht berths.
West Bay
In the western bay there is a resort recreation area with numerous beaches. The photo shows that the beaches in Makarska in Croatia are no more than 4-6 m wide, almost all of them are covered with small pebbles. All beaches located in urban and suburban areas are equipped with toilets, showers, and changing rooms. Sun beds and umbrellas are available for a fee.
The main beach of Makarska is Donja Luka. There are several good hotels here, in particular 3* Biokovka, which has a treatment center specializing in the treatment of the musculoskeletal system.
Near the St. Peter’s Peninsula there are wild rocky beaches – you can also sunbathe on them, but you only need to go into the sea in special shoes. Several beaches of Makarska are located near a small forest – there, in the shade of trees, it is ideal to relax with young children.
Promenade
The Marineta embankment runs along all the beaches of Makarska in Croatia. This walking embankment, which has many restaurants, clubs, shops, is a favorite place for tourists to relax. By the way, the most delicious grilled squid and shrimp are served in the Berlin restaurant. For children there is a variety of entertainment, and the largest playground with attractions is located near the central beach. For adults, there are several basketball and volleyball courts, tennis courts, a lot of water slides, trampolines and water bikes.
On a note! Ferry services to the island of Brac depart regularly from the marina of the port of Makarska, which takes only 50 minutes. What is interesting on the island and what to do there we will tell you in this article.
Beaches of Brela
In the small resort town of Brela, belonging to the Riviera, there are many picturesque and clean beaches. Pine trees grow all around, there is an amazing coniferous aroma in the air, there is a place to hide from the sun. The water is perfect for snorkeling. The coastline is narrow, the coast is pebbly and mostly rocky, and you need to go down to the beaches by long stairs.
Punta Rata is Brela’s main Blue Flag beach. It is small-pebbled, with a huge number of pine trees approaching almost to the water-the view is so picturesque that it is used for advertising photos of the Makarska Riviera in Croatia. Punta Rata is considered the most beautiful in Croatia and in Europe, and in 2004 Forbes magazine awarded it a high 6th place in the list of the 10 most beautiful beaches in the world. On Punta Rata is the famous stone, recognized as the official symbol of Brela. Those who come to relax by car can leave it in the parking lot for 80 kuna per day.
Punta Rata beach, as well as other Brela beaches, is very comfortably organized. There is a 10 – 12 km long embankment, where comfortable benches are installed in the shade, cafes, bars, pizzerias work. There are not many shops, and even those are concentrated mainly in the area of Punta Rata.
Entrance to the beaches in Brela is free, but you have to pay for the use of a shower. You can rent a sunbed and umbrella for 30, a catamaran can be rented for 50 kuna, parking — 20 kuna per hour.
Baska-Voda Beaches
Baska Voda beaches also belong to the Makarska Riviera in Croatia. They are mostly small pebbles, although there are sandy ones, and gentle ones, so it is convenient to relax with children on them. There are beaches where pine trees grow very close to the water – in their shade you can hide from the sun, even an umbrella is not needed.
Along the recreation area in Baska Voda runs a well-equipped embankment, which is the focus of local resort life. On the embankment there are cafes, souvenir shops, concerts, a playground with children’s entertainment.
Baska Voda is home to one of the most prestigious beaches on the Croatian Riviera – Nikolina Beach, awarded the international Blue Flag. Nikolina is well equipped:
- for people with disabilities, there are 2 descents to the sea;
- there is a rescue service;
- sun loungers and umbrellas are available for rent (40 and 30 kuna from morning to evening);
- children’s water activities are organized;
- boat and catamaran rentals are available (70 kuna per hour).;
- there are many cafes and restaurants along the beach.
Beaches in the Tucepi area
The beach of the small town of Tucepi is gentle and small-pebbled, although there are large stones everywhere. The beach strip stretches for 4 km in the northern and southern directions from the central part of Tucepi, along with a wide embankment with a series of cafes, bars, shops. The beach is equipped with cabanas for changing clothes, shower stands with fresh water. Sun beds (50 kuna) and umbrellas are available for rent. You can also sit on towels in the shade of pine trees.
Not far from Tucepi, on the Oseyawa peninsula, there is the Nugal beach, where nudists sunbathe. From Tucepi, you can walk there in 30 minutes on a pedestrian path through the forest park – there is no other way. This beach perfectly combines wild nature and modern comfortable conditions for recreation.
Hvar-holidays, beaches and attractions of the island
How much will a holiday in Makarska in Croatia cost?
The main items of expenditure during any holiday are accommodation and meals. Croatia is not one of the “cheap” countries, but by European standards it is quite suitable for different budget opportunities. What are the prices for holidays in Croatia, and in particular, in Makarska?
Accommodation
It is simply amazing how such a small town on the Riviera offers such a variety of accommodation options: apartments, villas with swimming pools, apartments, hotels… This resort is ready to host an infinite number of guests, but it is still better to think about the placement in advance.
- Hotel 4* Meteor, located on the very coast of the Adriatic Sea, with two swimming pools, a tennis court, a children’s club, has different rooms. This is a high-level hotel with a price range from 50 to 200 euros per night-the price depends on the room: from standard with 1-or 2-bed accommodation to a suite with a private terrace.
- Pension & Apartments Dany is located 100 m from the beach area. The apartment is surrounded by green vegetation, has a garden with barbecue, a kitchenette. A double room in Stuki here starts from 40 euros.
- Located 300 m from the main beach and 800 m from the city center, Apartment Fani offers a double room starting from EUR 30 per night.
In the hotels of Makarska, as in the whole of Croatia, prices for accommodation depend on the season — in July and August they are the highest. The best holiday is considered to be in September, when prices are reduced, the number of tourists decreases, and the weather is excellent — the water in the sea is well warmed, while in the daytime it is not as hot as in the summer months.
Food
Lunch in a cafe or inexpensive restaurant in Makarska can fit in 30 euros for two, it all depends on the choice of dish. The most expensive will be the fish plateau (30 euros), then the approximate prices are as follows (in euros):
- plate with prsutom and cheese-11;
- small fried fish-from 8;
- pasta – from 7;
- pizza – 6-9;
- beer – about 3.
Almost all restaurants in this resort are characterized by excellent cuisine, besides they are very clean, beautiful, cozy – there are many photos of vacationers in Makarska, confirming this. In restaurants, the cost of meals is already higher. But if you do not order alcohol, then you can have lunch together for 40 – 45 euros. Approximate prices in mid-level restaurants:
- rybnoye plato-from 30;
- grilled fish – 16;
- grilled lamb with vegetables – 13;
- fried chicken with vegetables-11;
- seafood risotto;
- pasta – from 9;
- salads-from 5;
- soups – from 2.5 to 6.
In fast food restaurants in Makarska, as in all of Croatia, a standard set (hamburger, French fries, cola) costs 5-6 euros. On the city streets there are many stalls that offer buns for 0.5 euros, pancakes with fillings for 2-3 euros, and ice cream for 1.5 euros.
You can also have a snack in pastry shops, where the average prices in euros are as follows::
- pancakes – 4;
- croissant with sweet filling-1.5;
- cake or slice of cake – about 3;
- cocktails-from 5;
- coffee – 1.5;
For light snacks, it is quite possible to buy food in stores. The most affordable prices on the Riviera in the supermarkets of the chain “Konzum”, “Mercator”, “TOMMY”. For 0.5-0.7 euros you can buy 1 kg of fresh vegetables, for 1 – 1.5 – fruit. A loaf of fresh bread, a baguette can be taken for 0,6 euros, milk – for 0,9 euros, 1 kg of cheese costs 8-12 euros.
On a note! As part of a one-day excursion, we recommend visiting the miniature old town of Omish. It is located just 40 km from Makarska on the Adriatic coast, surrounded by cliffs.
How to get to Makarska
The nearest airport to Makarska is Split International Airport in Croatia. You can take a taxi from Split to Makarska – as a rule, it is equal to 75-90 euros. Often the transfer is offered by the hotel manager or the owners of the rented villa.
By bus
The distance between Split and Makarska can also be covered by bus, especially since all of them are quite comfortable and air-conditioned. Split bus station is located near the seaport and railway station, at Obala kneza Domagoja. Flights are available from morning to late evening. Tickets can be purchased directly at the ticket offices of the bus station or on the website of the carriers Globtour, AP, Promet Makarska. The ticket price is within 13 euros (100 kuna).
By car
There is another option: use a rented car, and it is most convenient to book it in advance via the Internet. There are 2 roads: a highway with a paid section Dugopolje-Zagvozd and a free road along the Riviera along the sea. But it is better to go along the free highway along the sea-immediately at the entrance to Makarska, you can take a photo of the picturesque scenery of Croatia, and this trip will not take much longer than along the autobahn.
