The Makarska Riviera

Welcome to perhaps Croatia's finest stretch of coastline - the Makarska Riviera!

Located between Split and Dubrovnik, the Makarska Riviera has small, charming villages and is bordered by high mountains while being beautifully framed by the islands of Brac and Hvar in the sea.

Here the water is usually very clear and gets deep quickly - a perfect destination for those who want to enjoy the sun and swimming! The coastline along the Makarska Riviera is rocky, so sunbeds or deckchairs are recommended for the best experience. If you don't have a mat with you, you can buy one in more or less every small shop along the coast.

Lying on an air mattress in the sea, with a coastline dominated by high mountains is really nice! If you turn around on the air mattress, the view is just as nice - here are the beautiful islands of Brac and Hvar, which are also worth a visit during your stay here. Excursion boats leave from most small villages to one of the islands and often serve fresh, grilled fish on board!

If you want a beach that's extra special, look out for excursion boats that stop in the village of Bol on Brac, home to Zlatni Rat beach, which has been named one of the finest beaches in the world!

If you're looking for a more active holiday and don't want to spend all day on the beach, there's plenty to do here, including walking from village to village (or paddleboarding between them) through the rugged but beautiful countryside.

If you're in the mood for shopping, a trip to Makarska might be a good idea - there's a large market open daily!

If you want to visit another, slightly larger city, there are several options. From the main town of Makarska, it's about 90 kilometres to Split, whose old town with its Roman polished squares is a big draw! If you come here, be sure to walk past the statue of Gregory of Nin (Grgur Ninski) and touch his big toe - it's said to be a sure-fire way to return to the city in the future!

It's also not far to Dubrovnik, perhaps Croatia's most famous city! From pretty much every town along the coast, there are day trips here with a guided tour of the city, which is also famous from Game of Thrones.

A third option is the city of Mostar, which is not in Croatia but in neighbouring Bosnia. It has a completely different feel to Croatia, due to the fact that it was once part of the Ottoman Empire. The city is perhaps best known for its beautiful bridge, Stari Most, which was destroyed during the Yugoslavian war but has now been rebuilt. If you're lucky, you might see some young people diving into the Neretva River, 24 metres below the bridge! There are also plenty of shopping opportunities along the beautiful streets, at attractive prices! Don't forget to bring your passport.

If you prefer to lie on the beach all day, that's also a great option! In some of the resorts, the beach is narrower than others, and the most desirable spots right next to the water tend to be occupied quickly in the morning. If you want to be a bit more strategic and not make the same rookie mistake as everyone else, put yourself a bit higher up, as the wind in the afternoons tends to eat up the first few metres of the beach!

A package tour and a linked arrangement offer travellers different booking processes but provide the same protection under the Package Travel Act, ensuring customer rights and peace of mind during the trip.