Makarska travel & tourism information

Makarska is an attractive Croatian tourist centre of same name Riviera. It is located on a horseshoe shaped bay between the Biokovo mountain and the Adriatic Sea. The city is noted for its palm-fringed promenade, where fashionable cafés, bars and boutiques overlook the pretty harbour where many pleasure craft are moored. Center of Makarska is an old town with narrow stone-paved streets, a main church square where there is a flower and fruit market, and a Franciscan monastery that houses a sea shell collection featuring a giant clam shell. The Makarska Riviera is one of the most famous tourist locations along the Croatian coast and is also one of the most beautiful with countless sandy beaches, pine trees, sparkling water and peaceful bays. Tucepi, Podgora, Zivogosce, Igrane, Brela, and Baska Voda are just a few of the larger towns located on the Makarska Riviera and are very close to the town ,as well as great places for a holiday.

Considering its geographical position, it is and ideal starting position for numerous excursions to neighboring places, no matter if You decide to visit the islands or some of the places with different natural and cultural beauties. There is no place in the whole Mediterranean area with a such wealthy and noticeable contrast of the sea and coastal area and Biokovo Mountain that stands vertically above the whole town and represents an unrepeatable combination of the sea, greenery and vertical stone cliffs.

Tourist offer of Makarska

Besides enjoying the sun, untouched nature and sea and different attractions the offer includes supreme accommodation in top-quality hotels, apartments, studio apartments, rooms and campsites.
Long beaches are well known by clean sea and pebble coast, silence of pine forests and everlasting sun. You can drink cocktails while sunbathing on the beach with no worries because there are always well trained baywatch lifeguards looking after you. There is lot of nudist beaches all along the coast. Beaches have Blue Flag international quality award.

It offers many fun activities. Parasailing, rent-a-boat, rent-a-scooter, speed boat, motor-hidro dragon flying, paragliding from Biokovo, rent-a-pedalina, one day boat trips to islands, rent-a-bike, rent-a-car, tenis courts, scuba diving school, jet-ski, hiking, big game fishing, and many, many more...

Mountain lovers may go by one of the mountain trails to the peaks of Biokovo, which offer a nice view on the surroundings, fresh air and quietness.
Those interested in an active kind of holiday can enjoy an attractive offer of plenty sport programs with different possibilities on the beach, in the town, on the Mountain as well as in the neighboring places. This implies that here You will find a great choice of traditional gastronomy, home-produced food and drinks served in restaurants, konobas and other consents Makarska is famous for.

There is also a health resort, with the well-known recreational and health centre Biokovka, which offers various therapeutic services.

History and herritage

Town has a long history and has seen the rise and fall of many rulers and kingdoms. The oldest known inhabitants were the Illyrians, but they would be far from the last to make their mark on this town. Throughout history, town fell under Slavic rule as well as Venetian rule and even had Austrian government for quite some time. Despite these changes in power, the commerce in Makarska has always stayed much the same, rooted in fishing and trade due to its ideal harbor location.

Many of the cultural draws can be found in the historical buildings, which serve as museums in their own right. Of these buildings, of special interest may be St. Mark's cathedral, a beautiful structure from the 17th century located on the Main Square of town.

One of the main sights in the town is the Franciscan monastery, which was founded by Bosnian monks and built in 1614. The basement of the monastery houses a Malacological museum which apparently has the largest collection of snails, shells and mussels in the world. Fossils from the region are also on display.

Another important sight is the Church of St. Mark (Crkva sv. Marko), on the main square (Kacicev trg), which was built in 1776.

The Holy Shrine of Vepric is a common destination for hikers. This shrine, nestled in a scenic and remote locale, has been a spot of pilgrimage for tourists and spiritual travelers alike for many years. Designated days for pilgrimage are February 11th, March 25th, August 15th, and September 7th and 8th.

Events

Cultural and entertainment programs are an integral part of the life of town, especially during the tourist season. The Makarska Summer runs from the end of June to September and includes a number of great events - music and theatre performances (traditional and modern), exhibitions, art events.

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