Holidays in Makarska

An introduction to Makarska

Sitting under brooding Mount Biokovo, Makarska gives plenty of bang for your holiday buck. Charm, great food and splendid beaches are here by the bucketful, all swathed in a contagiously easy-going atmosphere. Clasped between green peninsulas, the town's setting couldn't be more enticing. Azure seas fill a semi-circular bay scattered with sleek boats. The historic old town, once an outpost of the Roman, Venetian, French and Austro-Hungarian empires, climbs the slopes behind the bay. And by the water's edge, a palm-studded promenade ripples with people taking boat trips, feasting on ices and watching the world go by from colourful waterfront bars. Whatever you fancy doing, it's here. If you're hooked on beaches, this place will have you whistling a happy tune. Along the next-door bays, pine-shadowed pebble beaches and hidden coves beckon, all washed by warm, polished-glass waters that are dreamy for divers. And beach life isn't just a daytime thing here. After dark, stylish cocktail bars serve chilled drinks on the pebbles. Spot of culture anyone? Beat a path to Makarska's old town to admire the lovely Venetian fountain and churches cocooned in its stone-paved lanes. And don't miss its headline act, a picturebook 16th century Franciscan monastery, crammed with religious artworks and weirdly, a fascinating seashell museum. Or stretch your legs hiking in Biokovo Mountain Park, following trails through a collage of wildflower meadows, craggy peaks and half-forgotten villages. Later, rest at a harbourfront restaurant and watch the sun disappear as you feast on brodeto, Dalmatia's spicy fish stew, followed by Makarska's famous sweet ravioli sprinkled with sugar and almonds. Then it's onto a nightclub to dance the night away … or that pillow to dream of the day ahead.

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