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Hotels in Makarska

Pebble beaches beneath the wall of Biokovo

Makarska

LanguageCroatian
CurrencyEUR
TimezoneEurope/Zagreb
Temperature8-28 °C
Dial Code+385
Population3.9M
Area56,594 km²
SocketsType C / Type F
Tap waterDrinkable

Discover Makarska

The Makarska Riviera is a sixty-kilometre strip of beaches wedged between the sea and the wall of Biokovo, which rises almost vertically from the coast to one thousand seven hundred metres. Makarska is its main town: a semicircular bay with a promenade, a harbour between two pine-covered headlands, and behind them the mountain's white scree, glowing orange in the evening light. The beaches are fine white pebble, and thanks to the steep seabed the water is clear and quickly deep — the Makarska Riviera has some of the clearest water in Dalmatia. The resort has operated since the 1960s and everything runs smoothly: a pine-lined promenade, a restaurant in every other building, paddleboard rentals and boat trips to Brač and Hvar. Above town begins Biokovo Nature Park, with a glass skywalk suspended over the abyss. Split is eighty-five kilometres away along the coast road.

What to see

The places worth your time in Makarska, and what to expect at each

Sveti Petar Peninsula

Sveti Petar Peninsula

western headland

A wooded headland that closes off Makarska's harbour to the west. A loop path runs through the pines past a small chapel of St Peter to a lighthouse at the tip, with views over the whole bay and Brač opposite. You can swim off the rocks around the edge, away from the main beach.

Tip: The loop takes forty minutes and is best an hour before sunset, when the Biokovo cliff face lights up. Bring water shoes for the rocks on the south side, where the entry is over sharp stones.

Admission:
free
Time needed:
2 h
Kačić Square

Kačić Square

town centre

The main square, with a baroque Church of St Mark and a fountain at its centre, named after the Franciscan poet Andrija Kačić Miošić, whose statue stands in front of the church. On Fridays there's a market selling fruit, cheese and lavender from Biokovo.

Tip: Cafés on the square cost a euro more than in the side streets and don't have mountain views. For coffee with a view, head to the Marineta promenade instead; come to the market before ten, before it sells out.

Admission:
free
Time needed:
1 h
Franciscan Monastery and Shell Museum

Franciscan Monastery and Shell Museum

eastern edge of town

A monastery from 1502 on the eastern edge of town, whose ground floor holds a malacological collection of three thousand species of shells and corals from around the world. It was founded in the 1950s by a local friar who traded specimens with missionaries, and it's the largest collection of its kind in Croatia.

Tip: The museum opens in the morning and afternoon with a long midday break that most visitors miss. The monastery garden stays open longer and is the shadiest spot in town.

Admission:
from €4
Time needed:
1 h
Biokovo Skywalk

Biokovo Skywalk

Biokovo, 20 km

A glass horseshoe suspended over the abyss at one thousand two hundred and twenty-eight metres, on the ridge of Biokovo Nature Park. Seven hundred metres of open air lies below your feet, and on a clear day you can see Italy across the Adriatic.

Tip: A narrow mountain road with limited entry slots leads into the park — tickets with a timed slot are bought online and sell out a day ahead in high season. It's ten degrees cooler up top than at sea level, so bring a hoodie.

Admission:
from €20 with car
Time needed:
half a day
Sveti Jure

Sveti Jure

Biokovo, 25 km

Biokovo's highest peak and Croatia's second-highest, at one thousand seven hundred and sixty-two metres, topped with a stone chapel and a transmitter. The road ends just below the summit, and the final stretch is on foot over scree. The peak sits above the tree line, with views over the Adriatic and into Bosnia.

Tip: The drive from Makarska takes an hour and a half along hairpin bends with no crash barriers — not pleasant with an inexperienced driver. Set off early in the morning, since the ridge often clouds over around midday.

Admission:
included in park entry
Time needed:
full day
Nugal Beach

Nugal Beach

3 km south-east

A wild pebble cove beneath a high cliff face about three kilometres south-east of town, reachable only on foot along a forest path or by boat. There are no sunbeds or bars, just white pebbles, pines and water that's deep right from the shore. Part of the beach is nudist.

Tip: The path from Osejava takes forty-five minutes, with the final stretch descending an unpaved slope — sandals aren't a good idea. Bring your own water and food, as nothing is sold on the beach.

Admission:
free
Time needed:
half a day
Osejava Woodland Park

Osejava Woodland Park

eastern headland

A pine-covered headland on the eastern side of the bay, with a paved promenade right above the water, concrete sunbathing platforms and steps into the sea. Locals come here to run, swim away from the crowds and continue along the path toward Nugal.

Tip: This is the best spot in Makarska for an early swim — the water is deep and clear, and by eight in the morning the promenade is empty. There are no showers, just shade and concrete sunbathing platforms.

Admission:
free
Time needed:
2 h
Vepric

Vepric

3 km north-west

A pilgrimage site in a natural grotto three kilometres north-west of town, founded in 1908 as a Croatian counterpart to Lourdes. The altar stands right beneath a rock overhang, surrounded by a Stations of the Cross walk shaded by cypresses, and a spring where pilgrims collect water.

Tip: The site is open free of charge from morning to evening and can be reached on foot along the old road in about forty minutes. On August 15th, thousands of pilgrims arrive and parking nearby becomes impossible.

Admission:
free
Time needed:
1 h
Kotišina Botanical Garden

Kotišina Botanical Garden

5 km north-east

An unfenced garden on the slopes of Biokovo above the village of Kotišina, where nothing is planted deliberately — it protects native mountain flora in its natural setting instead. A path through the rocks leads to Kaštel, a fortified house built directly into the cliff face.

Tip: Entry is free with no ticket booth, but the terrain is rocky and the trail markings are patchy. April and May are best, when Biokovo's endemic plants bloom; by summer most of the vegetation has dried out.

Admission:
free
Time needed:
2 h

Photos: Sveti Petar Peninsula — Petr Štefek (CC BY 3.0) · Kačić Square — Hedwig Storch (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Franciscan Monastery and Shell Museum — Krzysztof Bergier (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Biokovo Skywalk — Marko Jukić -Majkl (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Sveti Jure — SKas (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Nugal Beach — Tengilorg (CC BY 3.0) · Osejava Woodland Park — TheMarkOnWiki55 (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Vepric — Mario Žamić (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Kotišina Botanical Garden — Martin Brož (CC BY 3.0)

Where to stay

Areas and districts, matched to the kind of trip you are taking

Centre and the Marineta promenade

Best for: a first stay, with everything close by

The strip between the harbour and the main beach, with restaurants, shops and the excursion-boat pier. Everything is on foot — a market in the morning, a promenade stroll in the evening. Accommodation here is the priciest and noisier at night because of the bars along the promenade, but you won't need a car.

Donja Luka and the main beach

Best for: swimming with children and hotels

The western part of the bay, with a two-kilometre pebble beach shaded by pines, where most of the large hotels with pools stand. Entry into the water is gentle only in a few spots; elsewhere the sea deepens quickly. Ten minutes from the centre along the promenade.

Osejava and the eastern side

Best for: peace and quiet and morning swims

A slope beneath the pine woodland park, with apartments and smaller guesthouses, fifteen minutes on foot from the square. Swimming here is off concrete platforms over deep water, not from a beach. The path to Nugal and the promenade toward Tučepi starts here.

Tučepi and Krvavica

Best for: a longer beach and lower prices

A neighbouring resort four kilometres south-east with the longest beach on the riviera and a walking promenade all the way to Makarska. Accommodation is cheaper and quieter, restaurants less touristy. The bus runs every half hour.

Search hotels →

Getting around

From the airport

The nearest airport is Split, at Kaštela, eighty-five kilometres to the north-west; the transfer along the coast road takes an hour and a quarter and is often included in a package. The alternative is Dubrovnik airport, a hundred and seventy kilometres away. Scheduled buses run along the coast between Split and Dubrovnik and stop at Makarska's bus station above the centre. By car from Prague it's roughly eleven hundred kilometres; leave the A1 motorway at Šestanovac or Zagvozd, then descend through the Sveti Ilija tunnel straight onto the riviera.

Split (Resnik, Kaštela) (SPU) · 85 km

  • Hotel transfer· 1 h 15 min· included in package
  • Scheduled bus via Split· 2 h 30 min· €15
  • Taxi from the airport· 1 h 15 min· €130
  • Rental car from the airport· 1 h 15 min· €45 / day

Dubrovnik (Čilipi) (DBV) · 170 km

  • Rental car· 2 h 30 min· €45 / day
  • Scheduled bus via Ploče· 3 h 30 min· €20

Around town

Makarska is entirely walkable, and the promenade stretches all the way to Tučepi. Scheduled buses run along the riviera between Brela, Baška Voda, Makarska, Tučepi and Podgora roughly every half hour in season. A car is only needed for Biokovo and inland day trips, and parking in town is a hassle. Ferries leave the harbour for Sumartin on Brač, and excursion boats run to Hvar and the sea caves.

Riviera busBrela – Baška Voda – Makarska – Tučepi – Podgora, every half hour in season. · €2.50
Ferry to Sumartin (Brač)From Makarska harbour, takes cars, forty-five minute crossing. · €5
Excursion boat to Hvar and BračFull-day trips from the harbour, including swim stops in coves. · €45
Rental carNecessary for Biokovo and Sveti Jure; parking in the centre is paid and full in season. · €45 / day

Useful apps: Google Maps, Jadrolinija, Bolt, Arriva Croatia

When to go

The season runs from June to the end of September, with the sea above 24°C from July to early October. June and September are best: warm, everything open, and beaches not claimed by eight in the morning. July and August bring temperatures above 30°C, the riviera is packed, and by midday the pebbles get hot enough that walking barefoot isn't an option. Biokovo can be visited from May to October; outside that window the road to Sveti Jure is often closed for snow or high winds.

Best time

June and September

What to avoid

August, for crowded beaches and higher prices

MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Day11°12°15°19°24°28°31°31°26°21°16°12°
Night5°5°7°10°14°18°21°21°17°14°10°6°
Rainy days1110101097447101212
Sea14°13°14°16°19°23°25°26°24°21°18°16°

Food & drink

The Makarska Riviera cooks Dalmatian food with a strong inland influence — lamb and cheese come down from Biokovo, fish and octopus from the sea beneath it. The classic dish is peka, which most taverns only make to order a day ahead. Restaurants on the promenade are pricier and aimed at tourists; the back streets behind Kačić Square and the villages of Bast and Kotišina above town cook for locals. The morning market on the square sells fruit, olive oil and lavender from the mountain.

What to try

Peka

Meat and potatoes slow-cooked for three hours under a cast-iron bell covered in hot coals. Arguably Croatia's best dish, but it must be ordered a day ahead and for at least two people.

Brudet

A thick fish stew made from several kinds of fish with tomatoes, served with polenta. A fisherman's dish made from whatever didn't sell that day, so it's a little different each time.

Janjetina s ražnja

Whole lamb spit-roasted, sold by the kilogram at roadside stands inland. Half a kilo per person is a portion; the bones count toward the weight.

Crni rižot

Risotto with octopus or cuttlefish, coloured black with cuttlefish ink. It tastes of the sea and reliably stains teeth — don't wear a white shirt.

Škampi na buzaru

Prawns stewed in white wine, garlic and breadcrumbs, eaten with your hands. Order it where they put a shell bowl and a wet napkin on the table — a sign it's done properly.

Pršut and paški sir

Cured ham from Dalmatia or Istria, and a hard sheep's cheese from the island of Pag, where the sheep graze on grass salted by the bura wind. A standard cold starter with a glass of wine.

Soparnik

A thin savoury pie filled with chard, baked over an open fire, a speciality of the Poljica region near Omiš. Sold by weight and the one Dalmatian dish that's vegan.

Fritule

Small fried doughnuts with raisins and lemon zest, dusted with sugar. Sold in paper cones on the promenade and the cheapest dessert on the coast.

What it costs

Coffee on the promenade

€2.50–3.50

Ćevapi or pizza

€9–13

Dinner at a tavern

€20–30 per person

Beer, 0.5 l

€3.50–4.50

Sunbed and umbrella

€15–20 for two sunbeds

Biokovo entry by car

from €20

Full-day boat trip

from €45

Night in a 4-star hotel

€110–170

Indicative prices that change over time — treat them as a guide, not a price list.

Practical information

SocketsCEuroplug, two round pinsFSchuko
Voltage230V / 50Hz
Tap waterTap water is drinkable — Tap water is safe to drink throughout Croatia and tastes good; on the coast it comes from karst springs. There's no point buying bottled water — just fill a bottle at your apartment in the morning. Restaurants, however, don't routinely offer tap water and will charge for bottled instead.
TippingTips are left but modest: at a café you round up, at a restaurant around ten percent for good service. Card terminals usually have no tip option, so it's worth keeping a few coins in cash. In taxis, just round up.
Driving on theright
SafetyThe Croatian coast is among the safest in Europe, and pickpocketing is rare even in season. The real risks are different: the beaches are sharp limestone pebbles, and sea urchins live in the shallows, so water shoes aren't a luxury. The bura wind can pick up within an hour and knock even experienced swimmers off inflatables, while the afternoon maestral carries sunbeds away from the shore. Jumping into the water from cliffs without checking the seabed first is the most common cause of the injuries ambulances respond to here. The standard European number 112 works, and operators speak English.
Opening hoursShops in resort towns open from eight to ten in the evening in season, including Saturdays. Sunday trading is restricted by law: most shops must stay closed, with only sixteen Sundays a year that a retailer can choose to open — so bakeries, newsstands and petrol-station shops run, but supermarkets don't. Sunday shopping needs to be done on Saturday. Restaurants and cafés aren't affected by the rule.
Customs & etiquetteSwimwear belongs on the beach — walking around town in a swimsuit or shirtless is fined under Croatian municipal bylaws, and in Dubrovnik, Split and Hvar the fines are genuinely enforced, starting around a hundred euros. Shoulders and knees should be covered in churches. Croatians take pride in being Croatian, not "former Yugoslavia" — don't be the one to bring up the 1990s war. Breakfast is light, lunch is around two, dinner after eight.
A few local wordsGood day — Dobar danThank you — HvalaPlease — MolimThe bill, please — Račun, molimCheers — Živjeli

How to plan your days

1 day

A day in Makarska

  1. 1Morning swim off the concrete platforms at Osejava, while it's still empty.
  2. 2The market and Kačić Square, coffee on the Marineta promenade.
  3. 3Lunch in the streets behind the square.
  4. 4Afternoon loop around the Sveti Petar peninsula to the lighthouse.
  5. 5Sunset on the promenade and dinner with a view of Biokovo.

2 days

Two days with the mountain

  1. 1Day one as above.
  2. 2Early morning drive up to Biokovo park for your reserved slot.
  3. 3The Skywalk with views of Brač and Hvar, then on up to Sveti Jure.
  4. 4Back to the sea in the afternoon for a swim on the main beach.
  5. 5Dinner with peka, ordered the day before.

3 days

Three days including an island

  1. 1The first two days as above.
  2. 2Morning ferry from the harbour to Sumartin on Brač.
  3. 3Drive across the island to Bol and Zlatni Rat beach.
  4. 4Return on the afternoon ferry.
  5. 5If time allows, a day walking out to the wild Nugal beach.

Day trips

Split

85 km · 1 h 15 min by car

Diocletian's Palace, dating from the fourth century and still lived in today, in Croatia's second-largest city. Buses from Makarska run hourly, and the drive along the coast road is scenic in its own right. A day is enough for the palace and the Riva waterfront.

Omiš and the Cetina canyon

40 km · 40 min by car

A small town wedged into the mouth of the Cetina river between sheer cliffs, once a pirate stronghold. From here you can go rafting through the canyon, ride a zipline across the valley, or climb up to Mirabela fortress above the rooftops. The best day of adventure activities on the riviera.

Brač and Zlatni Rat

15 km · 45 min by ferry to Sumartin

An island facing Makarska with Croatia's most famous beach — a pebble spit near Bol that shifts shape with the currents. From the port of Sumartin it's another forty minutes by car across the island. Brač is where the white stone quarried and shipped worldwide comes from.

Frequently asked questions

Does Makarska have sandy beaches?+

No, the whole riviera is white pebbles. They're fine and comfortable to lie on, but entering the water is uneven and the stones heat up by midday. Water shoes and an inflatable mat make a big difference. The upside of pebbles is clear, transparent water without stirred-up sand.

How do I get to the Biokovo Skywalk?+

By your own or a rented car up the mountain road from Makarska, or on an organised tour. The park entrance has limited capacity, and tickets are bought online for a timed slot, sometimes days ahead in high season. The drive up takes an hour along hairpin bends with no crash barriers.

Is Makarska suitable for families with small children?+

With reservations. The beaches are pebbly and the seabed drops off quickly, so there's practically no shallow water for toddlers. The main beach at Donja Luka has a few spots with a gentle slope and pine shade. For the youngest children, the shallower beaches at Baška Voda and Promajna work better.

Do I need a car in Makarska?+

Not for a beach stay — the town is entirely walkable and buses run along the riviera every half hour. A car pays off for Biokovo, Sveti Jure and day trips to Omiš and Split. Parking in the centre is paid and hard to find in August.

When is the sea warmest?+

In August and the first half of September, when the sea reaches 25–26°C. Swimming works from mid-June to early October. Because the seabed drops off steeply, the water is clear, but even in summer it can feel noticeably colder near the bottom a few metres from shore.

How do I get to Nugal beach?+

On foot along the forest path from the Osejava woodland park; the walk takes around forty-five minutes, with a steep descent on the final stretch. The alternative is a water taxi from the harbour. There are no facilities on the beach, so bring your own water, food and shade.

Can you get to the islands from Makarska?+

Yes. A ferry to Sumartin on Brač runs several times a day from the harbour and takes cars, with the crossing taking forty-five minutes. Full-day excursion boats run to Hvar and the caves. Korčula and Vis are far from Makarska — those are reached from Split instead.

What should I bring to Biokovo?+

A hoodie or jacket — even in August the ridge is ten degrees cooler than the coast, and it's windy. Fill up the tank, since there's no petrol station inside the park, and wear sturdy shoes for the final scree section up to the summit of Sveti Jure.

Visa Requirements

Check the latest visa requirements for entering this country. Some nationalities may need to apply for a visa or e-visa before travel.

Check visa requirements

Emergency Numbers

Police192Ambulance194Fire193

Language

Croatian

Currency

EUR

Timezone

Europe/Zagreb

Dial Code

+385

Population

3.9M

Area

56,594 km²

Voltage

230V / 50Hz

Driving Side

Right

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