Makarska Travel Guide, Croatia

One of the most sought places for vacation in Croatia is the Makarska Riviera. It is a long stretch of coastline that reaches more than 50 km.

The landscape and the scenery are magnificent and the beauty of the place is enhanced by the combination of sea and mountain landscape. You have the sea on one side and the mountains, cliffs on the other side. Driving along the coastline is a sheer pleasure if you think only of the landscape, the many curves and steep cliffs can be somehow scary, and if you take into consideration the heavy traffic during the high season it can give you a bit of a headache.

Most people drive to the Riviera but everywhere you stop there is a shortage of parking space which is a bit annoying. Actually there is little space for anything. Being a rocky region the roads are carved in the mountains and the houses are also made of stone and perched very close to each other on the mountains.

There is stone everywhere you look, some streets are made of stone, most of the mountains are “naked”, the houses are made of stone. But there is no shortage of vegetation though.

If you visit the National Park in Plitvize you will be awed by what you see there. Amazing flora, wonderful lakes situated at different levels, gorgeous waterfalls and more. If you have seen the new version of Winnetou you were definitely captured by the scenery and by the waterfall they hid behind in one of the most dramatic scenes of the film. Well it was filmed in this national park!

The colors that make up the landscape here are captivating! It is a park definitely worth visiting. You have to pay an entrance fee.

Dubrovnik is another must see city on the Makarska Riviera. It is an old historic city full of historical sites.

The beaches are mostly pebble beaches and it can be quite a shock for somebody used only to sandy beaches. But you can easily get used to it. First thing you have to do is buy a pair of typical sandals made of silicone which can be used both on the beach and in the water. Actually it is quite advisable to use it in water otherwise you might get stung by a sea hedgehog. There are plenty of them on the bottom of the sea. The water is very salty, clean and snorkeling is among the favorite way of spending your time on the beach. Kids definitely love it. There are no big waves and the water is usually calm making it great for kids.

Swimming is great too and if you are a good swimmer you can jump from cliffs right into deep water. There are few wide beaches and if you are thinking you want a place with a wide long beach you have to look for it as most of them are of small sizes. Anyway it is better this way as you can get more privacy and your own spot you can enjoy with your friends and family.

A good tip: If you are looking for accommodation that is close to the beach you will definitely find it, but you have to pay attention as it may refer to a small bay which is not appropriate for sunbathing or bathing.

The whole area is based on tourism as there are little possibilities of making money otherwise. The land is dry, rocky and agriculture is not at its best here. Olive trees can be seen mostly around and goat rising may still be on. You can find accommodation in hotels but there are plenty of other options like renting an apartment or a room with one at the local’s homes. The locals usually rent a part of their house and they mostly work with agencies. But if it is not high season you might find accommodation when you arrive without booking in advance. Staying in a house with the locals is quite cheap and clean. The bad part is that they do not speak much English and it is hard to communicate with them.

English is used though in most touristic points and especially in the touristic information points. Waiters speak English too.

Food – It can’t be said about Croatians cuisine that it is extraordinary. Well it really depends on somebody’s taste! But the food in restaurants is quite expensive and few can say it is delicious. Maybe the sea food is better and they have a variety of sea foods. Anyway you won’t see many fat Croatians around! Canteens are rare but if you want to cook your own food you can opt for an apartment of a possibility to use the kitchen.

To sum it up, Croatia is a lovely country and Makarska Riviera is sought by many foreigners, mostly Europeans. You can expect only top quality services, kind people, lovely paradise beaches and plenty of sunshine.