Makarska Impression

Today, even small children know the word "Makarska riviera". Many of you must have been there, because Makarska is the center of the most famous riviera in Croatia. Some of the most beautiful beaches are located here and in its surroundings, there are many locations that are very popular among Slovak tourists.

Makarska is located south of SplitIt is the city after which the entire Riviera is named. It includes several other smaller locations such as Tučepi, Baška Voda, Promajna, Omiš and others.

If you are interested in the Balkans, you can find us also here.

This article is intended for those who haven't been there yet, although I assume that most Slovak tourists who like Croatia know it intimately. As a fan of locations that are not so sought after by Slovak tourists, I visited it only by chance. I was lured there by the offer of a free holiday and a previous visit to this city, even if only for a few hours. So, so to speak, I knew what I was getting into.

Our journey to Makarska went by incredibly quickly thanks to the hard work of the bus drivers. At 8 o'clock in the evening, our bus started from one of Bratislava's districts, and let's go on our way for a good vacation. After a few breaks in Croatia, we jumped off the bus at 8 in the morning on the main road in Makarska, where we were warmly welcomed by Zdravka, who took our whole group to their accommodations.

The apartment house in which we were to spend the following week was located about 200 m from the beach. We rolled with our suitcases to Vanda's villa, where, apart from a few foreign tourists of unknown nationality, we were greeted only by a half-awake red-haired overweight cat Frankey. Frankey was familiar to me (together with his owner Antun) from a previous visit. It was just as disabled on the first visit as it is now.

After a while, Ana, the real owner, also appeared at the door, who immediately guided us and showed us where we could leave our luggage. She was just cleaning our room and told us that it would be ready in an hour. I thought it was very kind and willing on her part, since by default she stays everywhere only from 2:00 p.m. We used the hour to taste the nearest sea water.

Despite the fatigue from the trip, no one objected that they did not want to go to the beach right away. We changed into swimsuits and went to the beach. We went down the road, turned at the Biokovka hotel and found ourselves on the promenade that leads through the entire resort. Even at such an early hour, the promenade was lively. It was the same on the beach. It was quite busy here. I wondered how many people could be here when the sun was at its hottest.

There were inflatable attractions floating on the surface of the sea, which prevented us from swimming a little, but it was enough for the hour we had at our disposal. Some familiar faces from the bus were already filling the surrounding bars and restaurants. After an hour we went back to our villa and were able to collect our room keys. Although our room was small, it had a huge terrace, which we especially appreciated very much in the evening. The heat and travel got the better of us and we spent a few afternoon hours sleeping in the room.

In the evening, we went for a walk around the neighborhood and got our bearings. The next day, right after breakfast, we went along the promenade to the city center. Promenade in Makarska is promenade where there are always crowds of people. Crowds of tourists cruise back and forth looking for a suitable beach, rushing from point A to point B, or just hanging around looking at the stalls or menus of local restaurants. In addition to stalls and restaurants, the entire promenade is naturally dotted with a number of hotels and accommodation facilities of various categories.On the way to the center, we passed by Franjo Tudjman - the first Croatian president. From the crossroads, the President looks at the Biokovo mountain range, which stands out in the background. Behind Franjo, the promenade slowly ends. It will lead you to the pedestrian crossing, beyond which the real old town and the harbor begin. In the center we visited the town museum with 2 rooms with an exhibition and bought a few period postcards.

Continuing further along the road, you will reach the main square (Trg fra Andrije Kačića Miošića),on which there is a small cathedral and a tower (Katedrala sv. Marko). Next to the square, you can buy resh fruit at trg (market). I recommend. The most famous street of Makarska Kalalarga leads back from the square .Opposite the square across the road is a small harbor where the ferry to the island of Brač stops. In the center you will also find an observatory (Makarska Zvjezdarnica), i.e. a small park with an observatory, but it is not open to the public. Locals use this place to relax or walk their pets.

The center is located in a bay, which is closed on 2 sides by 2 outcrops with parks. The one on the left is called Osejava. There is also a hotel of the same name. Closer to this side cruise ships tend to dock there. To the right you will reach a beautiful Mediterranean park with pine trees and beautiful views from the cliff (Park šuma Sveti Petar). It's a nice walk when you want to cool off from the scorching sun. You can also refresh yourself in the water, just be careful as there are waves and smaller cliffs. At the top of this park stands the patron saint of Makarska, Sveti Petar. When you take a walk here, you will come out at Franjo and the disco, where you can dance every night.

Makarska was a fishing village in the past. Today it has become a metropolis of tourism. . Everything here is adapted to tourists to a greater extent than anywhere else. The locals do not like the summer season very much, because during the year their peaceful city is bursting at the seams. Life never stops here in the summer. Tourists are constantly moving throughout the city, boats, jet skis can be seen without pause on the sea, parasailers' parachutes in the sky, a small ferry departs from the port at regular intervals and returns until dark. Foreign buses bringing and taking away other tours of tourists are blocking traffic on the main thoroughfare. Every day at a certain hour, the disco starts its merry-go-round and stops it again in the early morning. This goes on and on for a few months.

All this boiling peaks in July and August. Makarska is like a beehive. When you visit in the summer, you can constantly hear the distinct buzzing of bees, which are the employees who don't even have a day off and the tourists who keep coming. It is quiet in winter and only occasionally a bee flies by... those are Russian tourists who are not bothered by lower temperatures. And in a few months, the hive will be filled with new bees and the cycle of tourist life can continue. This is how you live in the paradise of tourists in Croatia - Makarska and its riviera.