Things to do in Makarska

Makarska is a coastal city of Split-Dalmatia County, located at the foot of a mountain Biokovo.

The city from the inland is divided by mountain Biokovo (the highest peak St Jure is 1762 m high). Makarska is one of the most famous tourist destinations on the Croatian coast, attractive for its nature and good climate, rich in tourist attractions and full of hospitable hosts.

If you are thinking about “things to do in Makarska”, you have to know that there are no real cultural sights, but Makarska is an ideal base for active holidays.

Makarska is known for its sandy beach, which is almost 2 kilometres long. The walkways are lined with pine trees and surrounded by luxury hotels, tourist facilities, and gastronomical havens, and there is plenty of fun for both adults and children.

What to see in Makarska

Concathedral

Makarska Concathedral of St Mark the Evangelist is located at the top of Kacic square. It was built in the Baroque style and construction began 1700th.

The Franciscan Monastery

The Franciscan Monastery includes a library with about 5,000 books, 24 incunabula and other documents.

The Malacological Museum

The Malacological Museum of the Franciscan Monastery was founded by friar Jure Radic year in 1963. The Malacological Museum in Makarska is a museum of shells – shells of marine molluscs. The museum is open to the public on April 1963 in the old Franciscan Monastery, which is legally protected as a cultural monument. From over 3000 samples exposed shells in this museum can be seen not only the shells of the Adriatic Sea but also many kinds of tropical and subtropical seas which have the most attractive colours and shapes of all the shells.

Observatory

Observatory in Makarska is unique in its position for several reasons: it’s built on a monument, located in the town centre, 50m from the seafront and 100m from the beach and elevated on a hill called Glavica and surrounded by a ring of pine trees provides a 100% dark!

Kacic Square

Kacic square is at the heart of town with its monument in the centre and it was built in 1890. The Venetian fountain, from the 18th century, is located on the Kacic square. It is known because of the coat of arms that is used today as a symbol of Makarska.

Vepric

Vepric, a Croatian sanctuary dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes was founded in 1908 by Bishop Juraj Caric. The natural cave as well as the surrounding landscape formed by hills and the creek running in the valley, greatly reminds pilgrims of the famous sanctuary of Lourdes in France. Because of its natural beauty and its peaceful surroundings, this sanctuary is visited by a great number of pilgrims, through the year. The most important dates for pilgrimages are: February 11th, March 25th, August 15th, and September 7-8th.

Botanical Garden

Botanical garden was founded by a Franciscan priest and scientist for the purposes of scientific research and monitoring, protection and preservation, and popularization of plant life mountain Biokovo.

Nature Park Biokovo

Nature Park Biokovo – The highest peak is St Jure, 1762 m. Biokovo was declared a Nature Park in 1981.

Promenade

Makarska promenade is very characteristic, connecting Makarska with all the places around. When you are on promenade don’t miss to take a photo with . That is sculpture which represents “seagull” (galeb) Jure and foreign tourist. Galebarenje in Makarska is popular art since the beginning of tourism. In fact, it is the art of seducing a tourist that local youths practice, and they called themselves the gulls (galeb).

Lighthouse

Lighthouse St Peter was built in 1884 on the eponymous peninsula located at the entrance to Makarska, close to one of the most beautiful beaches on the Adriatic. Lighthouse is 20 minutes walk away from centre of Makarska.

What to do in Makarska

Hiking

Biokovo Mountain offers walks, hikes and climbs for all levels. Trails are well-marked and there are companies that offer guided tours and jeep trips up the mountain.

You can choose routes of various lengths and difficulty starting from the easiest for beginners and families with children – Cycling across the promenade, to the extreme cycling for those with adventurous spirit.

Rafting on the River Cetina

Adventure about 9 kilometers long with a vertical drop of about 45 meters, which will be long remembered and are happy to recount. The entire course of the river Cetina is crystal clean and clear, rich in numerous tributaries that make the picturesque waterfalls…

Scuba Diving

Diving in Makarska includes training for beginners who want to become divers as well as diving for those who already have the necessary knowledge. Diving allows you to explore underwater world of one of the most beautiful sea in the world, and his life and turbulent history.

Gastronomy

Let’s start with a dessert, since Makarska is known for sweets, especially two kinds typical for this town. One is the cake “Makarana” made of almonds and Maraskino liquor known as Dalmatian cherry liquor. The other sweet is Makaranian ravioli, a tiny dough cake with a nut filling.

Other food and beverages offer you can find on Makaranian tables is just as rich and tasteful as in the rest of Dalmatia.

Explore Nightlife in Makarska

Numerous pebble beaches with their cocktail bars attract many young people. Many nightclubs and beach bars in Makarska are some of the most popular summer destinations for the youth in Croatia. With a wide variety of music, everyone can find something for themselves.