Apartments and holiday homes in Makarska town
Makarska is the riviera's only real town: a horseshoe harbour with a palm-lined Riva, a stone old centre and a long pine-shaded beach, all under the grey wall of Biokovo.
Search stays in MakarskaMakarska grew up around a natural harbour sheltered by the Sveti Petar peninsula, and the town still faces it. The Riva, the waterfront promenade lined with palms and cafés, is where everyone ends up in the evening. Behind it, narrow lanes such as Kalalarga lead to Kačić Square, with St Mark's cathedral, a Venetian-era fountain and the statue of the poet-friar Andrija Kačić Miošić. It is a working town of around 13,000 people, so it stays open longer into the autumn than the villages do.
The town suits you if you want restaurants, bars and shops on the doorstep and do not mind noise in July and August. Families and couples who prefer quiet often stay on the edges and walk in. The Franciscan monastery holds a well-known shell collection, the Malacological Museum, and the Sveti Petar peninsula has pine-shaded paths out to the small church of St Peter. On the eastern side of the bay, the Osejava forest park is the start of the coastal path to Nugal beach.
For choosing where to stay: the streets just behind the Riva are the most convenient and the liveliest. The area west of the harbour, along Donja Luka beach, puts you close to the long pebble shore and its beach bars. Much of the town climbs the slope towards the D8 coastal road, and relatively few of our stays sit right on the water, so check the walking distance and the number of steps before you book.
Beaches
Donja Luka (the town beach)
The main beach runs west from the harbour for a couple of kilometres, fine pebble under pine trees with a gentle entry into the sea. Along it you will find pedal boats, water slides, sports courts, playgrounds and plenty of places to eat. It gets very crowded in high season, so come early for shade.
Nugal
If you want a wilder alternative to the town beach, follow the coastal path from the Osejava forest park for half an hour or so. Nugal is a pebble cove under steep cliffs, mostly used by naturists, with no cafés and little shade. Go in the morning, take water and wear proper shoes for the path.
Ramova dog beach
The Makarska tourist board promotes Ramova as the town's dog beach, a small pebble stretch where you can swim with your dog. It is the obvious choice if you are travelling with a pet and want somewhere you are clearly welcome. Ask your host for the easiest way to reach it from where you are staying.
Getting there and around
Split Airport is about 85 kilometres away, roughly an hour and a half by car or transfer along the D8 coastal road; buses from Split stop at Makarska's bus station just above the centre. The car ferry to Sumartin on Brač leaves from the town harbour. Parking in the centre is paid, scarce in summer and strictly enforced, so a stay with its own parking space is worth filtering for.
Stays in Makarska town right now
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Tips before you book
- The centre gets loud late on summer nights, especially near the Riva and the beach bars; ask for a room facing away from the street if you sleep lightly.
- Many apartments are up the slope; a 'short walk' to the beach can mean a steep climb back.
- The Biokovo Nature Park road and the Skywalk are close by, and organised tours leave from town if you do not want to drive the narrow mountain road.
- Makarska keeps more restaurants and shops open in May, June and September than the smaller villages.
Frequently asked questions
Is Makarska town good for a family holiday?
Yes, if you choose the location carefully. Donja Luka beach has a gentle entry, playgrounds and water slides, and everything you need is within walking distance. The drawback is noise and crowds in July and August. Families who want calmer nights often stay towards the edges of town or in Tučepi, just to the south, and walk or drive in.
What is there to see in Makarska besides the beach?
The old centre around Kačić Square and St Mark's cathedral, the Franciscan monastery with its shell museum, the Sveti Petar peninsula and the Osejava forest park are all walkable from the Riva. Just outside town is the Vepric shrine, a Marian sanctuary with a Lourdes-style grotto founded in 1908, and above you rises Biokovo Nature Park.
Do I need a car if I stay in Makarska town?
Not for the town itself: the beach, restaurants, bus station and ferry are all on foot. A car helps for Biokovo, quieter beaches along the riviera and day trips, but parking in the centre is hard in summer. If you drive, choose a stay with its own parking.