Makarska City – The Heart of the Riviera

Croatia’s Makarska Riveria has close to twenty towns and villages along its 60 kilometre stretch of pristine coastline, with the city of Makarska its heart.

This is the hub of the Riviera, so you’ll find a busier atmosphere here compared to some of the small fishing villages where less than 100 people live permanently.

But while Makarska itself may be classed as a city, you shouldn’t expect a bustling metropolis; really, it’s quite small, with only around 14,000 residents.

Like the rest of the Riviera, the city is a popular destination, but not overly so. Tourists have been coming here for years, but it hasn’t been overdeveloped with huge resort-style hotels.

There are some larger hotels, but generally, the pace of life is actually quite slow. While there are over 200 places to stay along the Riviera, many of these accommodations are smaller and more individual.

So if you’re looking for a beautiful place to visit that has tourist facilities yet retains plenty of its traditional appeal, Makarska could be the place for you!

Things to See and Do

Makarska is an attractive city centred around a horseshoe-shaped bay that serves as the city’s harbour.

You can walk along the promenade around the length of the bay, watching the yachts and ferries come and go, or sit at one of the many bars or cafes, or even do some shopping in the fashionable boutiques.

A 30-minute ferry ride from the harbour gets you to the town of Sumartin on the island of Brac and makes this a nice day trip if you want to see more of the surrounding region.

Makarska Old Town is where you’re likely to spend the majority of your time. Typical of many old towns, you’ll find narrow, stone-paved streets here, leading to the main market square where a fruit and flower market is often taking place.

Visit the old church or head inside one of the few museums.

The Franciscan monastery is a popular and well-known attraction, featuring museum-like exhibits, including its famous seashell collection.

A park on the peninsula that forms part of the horse-shoe -bay, on a slight hill, is a lovely place to walk to enjoy the views over the harbour, the city, and out to sea.

If you enjoy walking, there are plenty of opportunities to walk in the Biokovo Mountains too.