Travel guide to Croatia’s Makarska Riviera 

The Makarska Riviera epitomises idyllic getaways in Croatia – baby-blue coastlines, medieval buildings and verdant hillsides topped with a generous helping of sunshine.

Stretching for around 60 kilometres between the towns of Brela, Makarska and Gradac, there’s plenty of spiritual, coastal and cultural attractions that make a Makarska Riviera holiday one to remember. Lots of visitors explore this lovely part of Croatia on a small-ship cruise, sailing into small ports and staying overnight on tiny islands that would be hard to reach on any other type of holiday.    

Bus and boat links make getting around easy, while there is also a wide network of roads if you’d rather hire a car to discover the region.   

Travelling by bus is one of the most cost-effective and efficient ways to explore Croatia and the Makarska Riviera. Buses run to and through all the major towns and services are frequent, making this a really good choice if you want a good, inexpensive way to get around. It’s also a good way to meet the locals and see real Croatian life close-up.

Some Croatian cities further along the coast like Dubrovnik and Split have Hop on/Hop off bus sightseeing tours, which are a great way to tick off seeing the major attractions on one ticket.  

You might want to rent your own vehicle rather than use public transport. In which case, just let a member of staff know and they’ll take it from there. For drives further afield – e.g. through Bosnia and Herzegovina – you’ll need to ensure that your Green Card covers travelling in these countries.  Also take note that the drink driving laws in Croatia are slightly stricter than the UK, with the blood alcohol limit being 0.5 grams per litre compared to our 0.8. As usual, it’s often safer to avoid alcohol entirely if you’re considering driving. 

Biokovo Nature Park is one of the region’s prized attractions

Biokovo is the second-highest mountain range in Croatia, with the surrounding Biokovo Nature Park being one of the region’s prized attractions. One of the park’s highest points, the Sveti Jure peak, gifts hikers unrivalled views over the mountains and coastline – take your binoculars and keep your eyes peeled for rare mouflon sheep or chamois goat-antelopes. This park runs across most of the Makarska Riviera and is accessible by road.   

Makarska has been occupied by Romans, Turks, French, Venetians and Austrians which has led to a pleasing variety of architectural influences. The Franciscan Monastery was built by Bosnian monks circa 1614. Today, it houses a Malacological Museum in the basement, which is said to hold the world’s largest collection of snails, shells and mussels. There’s also the Baroque style St Mark’s Church, which overlooks Kacic Square. 

Located a few minutes’ walk from the town centre, Svetiste Vepric is a remarkable outdoor church and a popular Catholic pilgrimage site. It features a cave with a grotto modelled on the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, otherwise known as the Domain. Known as a peaceful spot, the site is popular with both worshippers and secular onlookers alike. 

Brac island is only an hour away from Makarska

You can get to Brac island, whose Zlatni Rat sandspit is an iconic symbol of Croatian tourism, from Makarska via boat, with journey times taking around an hour. As well as beaches, the island is renowned for its hard white stone and is home to a stonemason school. This is situated in the town of Pucisca, and guided tours here can show you the pupils hard at work. Make sure to taste the island’s locally produced vino at the winery in Bol.   

Head north towards Brela and visit the Punta Rata beach. This gravelly sunspot overlooks the Adriatic Sea and has been recognised by a number of national publications as one of Croatia’s – and the world’s – finest beaches. You’ll find the Brela Stone – a small pine-topped islet – on the western side of the beach. It’s often the cover of Brela postcards, but why not take your camera and capture its natural beauty yourself? 

Krka National Park is famous for its waterfalls

The natural trove of Krka National Park is easily reached by bus from Sibenik. Once there, a ferry excursion lets you get up close and personal with the wildlife, which includes reptiles, amphibians and over 18 different species of bat.  For many, though, the true highlight of Krka is its magnificent waterfalls. The most famous is Skradinski buk, an awe-inspiring waterfall network with 17 falls ranging through a height of over 45 metres. Or there’s Roski Slap, with 12 falls over 450 metres high.   

One of Croatia’s many UNESCO World Heritage Sites is in Split – the Old Town is located on the site of the Palace of Diocletian, which was built in the fourth century AD. Even as the town grew in the Middle Ages, much of the Roman structure survives. The Mausoleum of Diocletian himself now lies within the Cathedral of St Domnius, too.

Walk along the Peristyle, an open courtyard flanked by graceful columns, and you can easily imagine being back in Roman times. The many-splendored historical pedigree of Split doesn’t end there either. There’s two authentic Egyptian sphinxes and a statue of Gregory of Nin, the bishop who introduced Croatian language services to the population. It’s thought to be good luck to rub his toe, if you’re partial to tradition. 

On top of historical sites, museums and churches, you can also explore the tastes of Split. The Pazar, or Green Market, is a quintessential part of the city’s food culture. Later, head to the seafront promenade Riva, and explore the many cafes, bars and souvenir shops. 

It's worth taking a day trip to Dubrovnik

You likely don’t need much introduction to the medieval beauty of Dubrovnik, but we’d like to share some thoughts on how to explore this iconic city. First, approach it by sea and marvel at the castle that overlooks the harbour. Second, take the two-kilometre circular walking route along the city walls. From 22 metres up, you can get a truly 360-degree view of the city. And thirdly, you should take in Dubrovnik from above. 

The cable car to Mount Srd rewards visitors with panoramic views of the city. Try the Panorama restaurant at the cable car station if you want to refuel, sample local wines and drink in the view before heading back down. Back at city level, look out for sights like St Blaise’s Church, Orlando’s Column, and Sponza Palace. The latter is a Renaissance-era gem which now houses the historic city archives. And of course, if you love Game of Thrones, then the special tour that takes you in the footsteps of fan favourites like Tyrion Lannister is not to be missed. 

Banje Beach is Dubrovnik’s premier local beach, located right next to the Old Town. Enjoy the sun and a snack at its café bar or restaurant, or visit the chic Banje Beach Club next door and relax on its elegant white daybeds.

First established in 1967, the Festival of Dalmatia Klapa takes place annually in the town of Omis. It sees klapa singing performances, which are characterised by vocal harmonies rarely, if ever, accompanied by instruments. Performances take place outdoors, when many of the local population and tourists gather to listen to this traditional form of singing.

The Makarska Cultural Summer runs between July and August and involves concerts and theatre artists performing in town squares. There’s also carnival-esque parades by the marina, often creating a party atmosphere in the town. During the August leg of the festival, a weekly food-music evening known as Fisherman’s Night allows festivalgoers to taste local seafood catches while enjoying open-air music.     

Like much of Dalmatia, food in the Makarska Riviera tends to revolve around stewed meats. A typical local dish is pasticada – marinated and roasted beef, cooked in a rich, red sauce and served with either gnocchi or homemade pasta.  Other regional specialities you’ll more than likely come across include baked lamb, usually served with potatoes and onions. Due to the area’s coastal location, Makarska Riviera holidays are also renowned for seafood. Order some fried calamari with a side of aioli for some real Dalmatian flavours.

Red wine is popular in the Makarska Riviera and wider Dalmatia. A lot of the time the local offerings will come from the Peljesac peninsula or the island of Hvar. Alternatively, opt for a white blend made from the Posip grape, which is found mostly on the island of Korcula. The wines produced from Posip usually make for a dry taste, with bottles served in many Dalmatian restaurants and bars. Many locals mix white wine with water, come summertime. Although this might seem unusual, it’s a tasty way to stay refreshed in the baking Croatian sun.

As you’d expect in an Eastern European country, beer is a tipple of choice for many Croatians. One of the best-known brands is Karlovacko, which you’ll find in lots of bars and restaurants. Alongside that, look out for other national pale lagers like Ozujsko or Pan, which is brewed by Carlsberg’s Croatian branch. For craft beer there’s always Vunetovo, which originates from Hvar island, a boat trip away from Makarska. In terms of spirits, the Makarska Riviera is known for its cherry brandy.

Summer is the peak holiday season in the Makarska Riviera, but for smaller crowds and warm temperatures September and October are great times to visit.

It gets hot in the Makarska Riviera come summertime. July can see high temperatures of 34 degrees Celsius, with average recordings around 27 degrees Celsius. Rainfall is rare in the summer, but not unheard of. For summer holidays in the Makarska Riviera, pack cool clothes which you feel comfortable in – think shorts, t-shirts and something a little warmer for cooler evenings. Bring a waterproof on the off chance it rains.

Both spring and autumn tend to be pleasantly cool in the Makarska Riviera. April and October temperatures average at 16 degrees Celsius. As spring progresses into summer, temperatures start to heat up, while conversely the later autumn months get progressively colder. Pack light long sleeved shirts and trousers alongside a jacket which’ll keep you warm when the sun sets. Late autumn is the rainiest season here, so consider bringing a waterproof or umbrella if you plan on visiting then.

Winters on the Makarska Riviera are cold, but still warmer than that of the UK. Temperatures average at around five to seven degrees in December and January, progressively getting warmer throughout February and March. It’s best to pack for a few rainy days if you’re coming here between these months, along with warm, long-sleeved garments to wear underneath a coat. Snow is highly unlikely, so don’t pack your skis just yet!

Discover the Makarska Riviera for yourself on one of our holidays to Croatia