Are you heading to the Makarska Riviera in Croatia soon? You’ll find the most beautiful beaches, honest recommendations and insider tips here – from someone who’s been visiting regularly for the past five years.
I've been living in the Balkans since 2021, and the Makarska Riviera has meanwhile become our favorite summer destination. It's just under a three-hour drive from Sarajevo to the coast of Dalmatia — we can decide over lunch that we want fish for dinner with a picturesque sunset over the sea. A luxury I don't think I'll ever fully get used to.
At first glance, the stretch of coast along the Biokovo mountains between Split and Dubrovnik might seem picked-over and touristy by now — it has, after all, been popular with holidaymakers for years. But as everywhere in Croatia, the Makarska Riviera also has plenty of small beaches, villages and local secrets.
So let's get started with your overview of the Makarska Riviera in Croatia and everything you need to know for your trip there.
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Short on time? Here's your quick guide for the Makarska Riviera
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Best time to visit | Mid-May to mid-June isn't too crowded and the water is already pleasantly warm. Things quiet down again in September. October still works, but the Adriatic can get a bit chilly by then (at least for warm-water lovers like me).
How long to stay | My recommendation? Definitely three to four nights, so you can explore the coastline. If you have more time, you'll find my 10-day road trip route through Dalmatia here.
Where to stay | Personally, I'd never stay in Makarska itself. Try Baška Voda, Omiš or Bristinstead. Cheaper and quieter.
Best tours | A boat trip to Hvar or Brač is almost a must. And if you're in Dalmatia, a wine tasting simply belongs on the list.
Don't miss | Watch the sunset at least once – ideally from one of the many beach bars. One of the oldest in Dalmatia is Southern Comfort in Baška Voda.
Where Is the Makarska Riviera and What Makes It Special?
The Makarska Riviera is one of my favorite stretches of coast in southern Croatia, between Split and Dubrovnik. I've been here four times by now (even more if you count Dubrovnik and Split), each time in a different season – September, May, late June. More on which one is my favorite later.
By now I've become a real Croatia devotee – no coast is more beautiful, I declare, just like all the Dalmatians and Bosnians in my circle of friends. But where else do you get pine-lined beaches, crystal-clear water, and at the same time a mountain range, the Biokovo massif, rising into the sky behind every little village, behind every beach.
Good food, good wines, hiking and of course swimming. Whoever says you can't have it all will see here: turns out, you actually can. From Omiš at its northern end to Ploče in the south, right before the Dubrovnik Riviera begins, sweet little villages cling to the coast — names you've probably already heard, like Brist, Gradac, Baška Voda, Živogošće or Brela.
Which of them have won my heart, which are overhyped, and where the best beaches and restaurants are — I'll tell you now. So let's get started.
The best places on the Makarska Riviera
Makarska Town: Waterfront Promenade, Old Town and Nightlife
- Known for: Nightlife, a sweet old town
- For whom: First-timers. Anyone who wants a bigger town and nightlife
- Stay for: A morning on the beach promenade
Let's start with the town that gave the riviera its name. I myself haven't spent a whole holiday in Makarska, just one morning there. And honestly: I think that's enough. You can walk the main sights – the promenade with its cafés, Kašić Square, the Church of St. Philip – in two hours.
Makarska's picturesque old town is sweet, yes, but I find there are far nicer spots along the coast where you can soak up more of the Dalmatian way of life. Laganini, the Mediterranean, Dalmatian philosophy of taking things slowly, is something you still experience in the smaller towns. In Makarska, life in summer revolves much more around foreign travelers.
If you do want to stay in Makarska because you need a bit of city life to balance out the beach, you’ll find some good places to stay here , and further down in this post you’ll find a few beach recommendations.
Omiš: Pirate Harbor and Austrian Heritage
- Known for: The Cetina Gorge, adventure tourism, wine
- For whom: Anyone looking for something different from "classic Dalmatia"
- Stay for: 1-2 days, then head south to the beaches
This little town actually wasn't on our list at all, until we met a winemaker from Omiš at a wine event in Herzegovina. And since my husband and I can never say no to a good glass of local wine, it was clear: we had to visit Ivan and Katerina!
Lucky for us! Because Omiš is now my favorite spot along the roughly 60-kilometer coastline. And that's even though one of the rare summer thunderstorms caught us by surprise in Omiš, so we only managed a forty-five-minute stroll through the old town. That was enough to fall in love.
The Biokovo mountains tower over the town everywhere you look, and the Cetina gorge practically splits Omiš in two. Pirates used to hide their ships where you can now go kayaking or or canyoning . Thanks to the weather, we unfortunately didn't manage that, but: I'm guaranteed to come back.
We waited out the storm in rock bar Priča , by the way, a local spot where a white wine spritzer costs just two euros and local Dalmatians come and go non-stop. Unfortunately people smoke there, but you can't have everything. You'll eat well in Restaurant Milo.
And if you're in Omiš, a stop at Vinarija Brid is an absolute must! Ivan fulfilled a lifelong dream with it: from restaurateur to winemaker. He offers indigenous grape varieties that only grow in the region, and he's an entertaining conversationalist and the best host we've had in a long time. A visit is by reservation only, since you sit at the table with the winemaker himself.
Brela: Croatia's Most Famous Rock and Beach
Last year we explored Brist and Gradac; this year we stayed in Baška Voda and walked to Brela one morning. That's manageable even in the Dalmatian heat, because the promenade between the two towns runs right along the sea and under pine trees.
We learned that the area is protected, undeveloped, and the pine forests are wild. Because the whole promenade is lined with pebble beaches, you can still find a shady spot here even in summer (we were there in late June – which really is the last possible time for me!).
Brela itself doesn't really have much to offer beyond its landmark, the Brela Rock, and the accompanying Punta Rata beach. But cafés and restaurants line the promenade, and we found it has a sweet vibe. I liked Punta Rata, though by late June it was of course already quite crowded. There are definitely other good beaches along the Makarska Riviera.
If you want to stay in Brela, Villa Bose or Mala Berulia looked great for us.
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Vodopad Gubavica: The Best Viewpoint for the Cetina Canyon
We stumbled onto this waterfall by chance on Google while driving from Baška Voda to Omiš, and for me this viewpoint is one of the most beautiful spots in Dalmatia, because from the viewing platforms you get a deep view down into the Cetina canyon and onto the waterfall. Sound carries so far that we could even hear the travelers doing a canyoning tour down below (you can book that here), and several hiking trails lead from here deeper into the Biokovo mountains. But at 40 degrees, we skipped that this time.
Krvavica: An Absolute Local Secret
Our hosts in Baška Voda recommended Krvavica, just 10 minutes away by car. There's no big old town here, no hustle and bustle, just a small marina and a large campground. What it does have, though, is a pine forest that stretches right down to the Adriatic, where you can comfortably find a spot even in the afternoon. We mostly heard Croatian here, so this place really does still seem to be a local secret. There's a beach bar too – for the obligatory gemišt, a white wine spritzer.
Tučepi and Podgora: Hidden Pebble Beaches, Less Hustle
I only know these two small villages from passing through. I really liked Podgora – small, sweet, its marina lined with bars and restaurants. The beaches here still looked fairly empty in late June too. You can find a spot even late in the morning. I'd guess these two quiet places are especially well suited for families with children. And all the main sights are just a stone's throw away.
Živogošće, Zaostrog, Drvenik: The Quiet South
Honestly, most travelers just drive through these little towns – or rather past them, since the coastal road runs above the villages, which all sit directly on the sea. Of the entire riviera, these three places are the ones I know least, so I can't say much about them. But if you drive the length of the long Makarska Riviera, this is especially where you'll find plenty of totally untouched pebble beaches, recognizable only by the cars with Split or Makarska license plates parked along the roadside – a reliable sign that there's a wild, local beach nearby. And those are usually the most beautiful beaches in Croatia!
On our last day, for example, we swam at Duba Beach near Drvenik. We were almost alone, the water was perfect, the beach clean. But a word of advice: definitely bring water shoes to Croatia. And use them. The especially clean pebble beaches in particular are full of sea urchins, and stepping on one can ruin your holiday fast.
When Is the Best Time to Visit Makarska and the Makarska Riviera?
Anything except peak season. We were there in late June this year, and honestly, that was already cutting it close for me. Dalmatia gets very hot, very crowded, and accommodation gets more expensive. Personally, I like early June, when the water is already warm enough and most restaurants and bars are open.
If you travel too far into the off-season, though, many businesses close for the winter. September through early October can also still be a good time. We were still swimming in the Adriatic in early October, but it's already cooler by then, and beach bars or umbrella rentals in smaller towns have often already closed.
Getting There and Getting Around
I'd recommend renting a car for the Makarska Riviera. Simply so you can explore all the small villages and reach the more remote beaches as well. Driving in Dalmatia is relaxed (by my European standards), it's just that the roads are winding and often run right along cliffs – dreamy views!
Definitely book accommodation with parking. Parking spots are scarce everywhere along the coast. If you want to travel further from the riviera, for example to Bosnia and Herzegovina (Sarajevo is only three hours away, after all!), make sure your rental includes cross-border travel.
I always book with Discovercars, since I can see at a glance what's included, and I also always book full comprehensive insurance. Last year in Thessaloniki, someone crashed into our car, and Discovercars refunded us really quickly.
Where to Stay on the Makarska Riviera
As already mentioned, I wouldn't sleep in Makarska town itself, but rather in the surrounding area. The small towns like Igrane or Živogošće are dominated by big TUI hotels. You have to be into that. I'd recommend Brist instead if you really want peace and quiet, and Baška Voda if you want a bit of nightlife and small-town flair in the evening. You can find accommodation at the Makarska Riviera here.
Your Trip to the Makarska Riviera
I hope this article has honestly shown you what's worth it, what you'd better skip, and where to jump into the water. I'm already planning to visit another spot on the riviera next year, which will of course then be added to this guide too. And until then, feel free to check out my Dalmatia travel plan – it has a few more local secrets and recommendations in store!
FAQ — Frequently Asked Questions About the Makarska Riviera
No point beating around the bush here: yes, Makarska gets pretty busy in summer. You'll have to share the most beautiful beaches along the Makarska Riviera and the most famous sights in Makarska town with plenty of other holidaymakers.
A place that's truly "empty" doesn't exist here. But there are the secret spots where less is going on. Makarska definitely isn't one of them. My suggestion: : Visit Makarska for a day, and look for accommodation elsewhere on the Makarska Riviera, somewhere quieter and more relaxed.
At least three, ideally a week, I'd say. Because even though many of the small towns are similar, each still has its own individual vibe, and I'd recommend taking half-day trips from your accommodation. Our plan is always: morning at the beach, afternoon exploring. Or the other way around.
If you want to drive from Split along the riviera to Dubrovnik, you could stay two nights each in different towns, maybe in Omiš and Baška Voda.
I really don't want to rank them. The coastline has many beautiful beaches, and in the end it simply depends on what you're looking for: wild nature, amenities, empty beaches, or maybe a beach bar within easy reach.
If you want to drive from Split along the riviera to Dubrovnik, you could stay two nights each in different towns, maybe in Omiš and Baška Voda.
From anywhere on the Makarska Riviera, it's just a stone's throw to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Although I don't really want to recommend day trips to Bosnia (but I'm also biased), you can easily visit the Kravice waterfalls or explore Mostar in a single day. You're also just three hours from Sarajevo – the perfect way to round off a beach holiday with some culture. Or the other way around.
If you want to drive from Split along the riviera to Dubrovnik, you could stay two nights each in different towns, maybe in Omiš and Baška Voda.
Yes, you can still swim in October, though the water is cooler and some beach bars and businesses on the beaches may already be closed.
If you want to drive from Split along the riviera to Dubrovnik, you could stay two nights each in different towns, maybe in Omiš and Baška Voda.
There are no real secrets left on the riviera, but there are still the local spots where mainly locals swim. They may not have every amenity like showers, but they're more untouched in return. It's best to drive a bit outside the towns — that's where you'll still find real gems.
If you want to drive from Split along the riviera to Dubrovnik, you could stay two nights each in different towns, maybe in Omiš and Baška Voda.
