If sun, beaches, clear waters, great food, and hospitality are on your list then head on to one of Croatia’s most famous port towns and holiday destinations. Everyone needs a couple of days of rest and relaxation, so what better way to get this than on a beach with a cocktail in one hand and a book in the other. Although I spent most of my days in Makarska doing exactly this, don’t worry there is plenty more to do and a lot more things to see.
People say that if you go back to one place more than once, you must really like it. What does it mean if you’ve been to the same place more than 10 times? That is exactly how many time I’ve visited this charming little seaside town, and I’d gladly go back ten times more.
Although I love Makarska any time of the year, my favorite period has to be summer, which is no shocker since this little town has some of the best beaches in Croatia. Last time I visited Makarska, I spent 10 days there, having the time of my life. I stayed in a charming apartment called Studio Apartments Marija, which was about 65USD per night. This might be out there for some people, however, I did go there in July which is the peak season, and the apartment was a minute walk from the beach. One thing that I have to say about Croatia is that the costs for accommodation are high, although the costs for travel and food are pretty low, so that might balance it out.
After packing our suitcases we loaded the car and went on to Makarska. As soon as we stepped foot in this town we took a nap and it was time for our ten day holiday to begin.
1. Enjoying the amazing Makarska beach
One thing that makes Makarska so appealing is the 2km long pebble beach. Some people might not be fans of pebble beaches, and if you are looking for golden sand, Makarska is not the place for you. However, it’s the pebbles that make the beach in this town so popular, since they are why Croatia has some of the clearest waters. There is no way that a pebble beach can get muddy, so you’ll always be swimming in crystal clear waters. A large number of pine trees surrounding this beach offer some amazing natural shade, so you can either sunbathe or if you’re anything like me, then you’ll also have a place to sit in the shade and read a couple of pages of your favorite book.
Although there are certain parts of the beach where you don’t have to pay for loungers, most of the beach is packed with loungers for rent, so you’ll probably have no choice but to rent one. If you do decide to rent a lounger then it’s about 8USD a day. However, if you don’t want to spend money on this, something that I noticed a lot of people doing was sunbathing on the beaches with no loungers until about 3 pm, and then just lay in one of the unoccupied ones. This is so because most of the people who come to this beach come pretty early and stay until about 3 pm, so when they leave, their lounger is free for you to use. Regardless of what you do, Makarska’s beach will surely impress you and make you want to come back again.
2. Trying their specialties in one of their many restaurants
If you are a person who enjoys trying new specialties or just wants to have a cold beer or a refreshing cocktail then this town is just for you. The thing that I especially love about Makarska is the countless restaurants and bars, all with a seaside view. One thing that I and my boyfriend used to do every morning before going to the beach and every evening after we’d left the beach, was having a nice cold drink or coffee in one these bars. My favorite one is called Nautica, which offered the best service in all of Makarska, with some of the kindest and nicest waiters we had the pleasure of meeting.
As for food, I’m not the biggest fan of seafood, so my boyfriend would usually get a plate or prawns or mussels, while I’d settle for some good ol’ pizza. The pizzas were around 5USD while the seafood was a little bit more expensive or some 7USD. The drinks, on the other hand, were also pretty cheap where a bottle of their famous Karlovachko beer was about 3USD. Now, there were plenty of great restaurants in Makarska, although my favorite had to be Mucrum, where you get to enjoy your food with the sea at your fingertips.
3. Hiking up Biokovo Mountain
If you are not into sunbathing and swimming then a trip up Biokovo Mountain is a must. I and my boyfriend make it a priority to climb this mountain at least once every time we visit Makarska. This is not just because we enjoy hiking, but the view from this mountain is something unique that you won’t be able to experience anywhere else. The fact that escaping to the mountain allows us to also escape from the scorching sun is yet another plus. So, about halfway through our vacation we took our car and drove to the mountain as far as the road could allow it and parked our car at the mountain village Topolo, and hiked from there. Although you could continue your journey with the car, the roads are so narrow and dangerous that it’s better if you just went on foot.
This trip is a definite must for anyone who loves nature and the view from this mountain is sure to leave any man speechless. It’s believed that on a really clear day, you’ll be able to see the Dalmatian islands and some of the Dalmatian coast, and if you’re lucky you’ll also be able to see Monte Gargano in Italy.
Daily Cost:
If I had to classify Makarska in terms of costs, I’d put it somewhere in the middle, since it’s not too expensive, but it’s also not too cheap. My daily costs were about 60USD since I paid around 32USD for the accommodation splitting it with my boyfriend, and about 28USD on food, drinks, and on days when I felt like sunbathing on loungers. Now, if you visit Makarska in the off-peak seasons you’ll definitely be able to save some money, since everything is cheaper then, from accommodation to food and drinks.
Bottom Line:
Why did I keep coming back to Makarska? As I a said before this is not my first time in Makarska and it won’t be my last. There is something about this place that makes you keep coming back for more. Whether it’s the amazing pebble beach, the turquoise waters of the Adriatic Sea, or the amazing food and drinks and commendable hospitality, it’s a place that everyone can enjoy. So, if you are looking for a real paradise on earth, this charming little town won’t disappoint. Don’t believe me? Go ahead and see it for yourself!
