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Makarska Harbour
Makarska is
a picturesque town and port at the foot of the towering Biokovo
mountain. The
old town core is classically Mediterranean and the newer part with
hotels and resorts radiates outward. It's surrounded by delightful
pebble beaches and within easy reach of Brela
beach. (See
Makarska on a map of Croatia)
The
setting is stunning and the climate relatively mild since the port
is protected by the mountain. There are no real cultural sights to
speak of but Makarska is an ideal base for active
travellers. 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. The less
energetic can take a pleasant seaside promenade or poke around the
old town.
History of Makarska
High in the Biokovo mountains lies the old village of
Markar, probably the Roman Muccurum, which was destroyed by the Goths
in 548. The Slavs moved in in the 7th century and spread down the coast.
They were not peaceable folks. Their tribe the Neretlyans, fought continuously
against the Venetians who gazed covetously on their prime real estate
on the Adriatic. The Neretlyans were strong enough to force the Venetians
to pay tribute for the privilege of sailing unmolested past their settlement.
Makarska was snatched up by the Croatian King Kresimir in the 11th
century and then fell under Bosnian rule until the Turks came in 1499
and destroyed it. It remained under Turkish rule for 150 years during
which time it became the main port for the salt trade for all of Bosnia
and Hercegovina. When the Turks left, Venice got ahold of the town
again and kept it until 1797.
Accommodation in Makarska
Makarska Church of St Mark
Hotels
Four-star hotels in Makarska
Hotel
Rosina
Villa
Riva
Hotel Osejava (see my review)
Hotel
Park
Hotel Meteor
Three-star hotels in Makarska
Hotel
Biokovo --In the old town and close to the beach.
The recent renovation included a wellness centre and new rooms
with an internet connection and air-conditioning.
Hotel
Porin
Hotel Makarska
Hotel
Lav
Hotel
Dalmacija
Lighthouse Accommodation
You can also stay in a lighthouse. The Sv Petar lighthouse is at the entrance to Makarska and contains
one 5-bed apartment.
Private Accommodation
My favorites are Apartments
Sulenta or Apartmani
Daniela but you could also check out the following
Getting to Makarska
There are hourly buses going from Dubrovnik
to Makarska (3 hours; see the schedule at buses
from Dubrovnik) and buses to and from Split
(1 1/4 hours) where you can catch the motorway to Zagreb.
Also frequent are the daily ferries to Sumartin on
Brac Island which range from two to five a
day. See the Makarska-Sumartin ferry schedule.
Rent a Car in Makarska
Even with all the buses leaving and arriving Makarska,
nothing beats the convenience of having your own wheels, especially
if you want to get out to the beaches of Brela
and Baska Voda. Most car
rental companies in Croatia have outlets in Makarska. Read
more.
Tourist Information in Makarska
The Makarska
tourist office (tel 021-612 002) is in the town centre at Tomislava
16.
Related Pages
Brela Beach
Hiking in Croatia
Day Trips from Split
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