8 Things to do in Makarska, Croatia

Makarska is one of the most famous parts of Croatia. It has an amazing coastline with a beautiful backdrop of Biokovo mountains. It's a very touristy city but in a week I have grown to love it and I would stay there for a couple of weeks if I could. I put together a list of things and ideas to do if you visit Makarska, things that I thought would be great to experience.

1. Hike around the Peninsula of St. Peter

The Peninsula of St. Peter was probably my favorite part of Makarska because of the amazing views. On one side you see the port and on the other all the popular beaches in Makarska. On the way, we also discovered some smaller and more private beaches. You can also see the monument of St. Peter, as well as the church. Even on a cloudy day, the views are great, but on a sunny day, it's just breathtaking.

2. Eat Croatian food

Croatia is known for its delicious seafood dishes but I don't eat them, so you won't see seafood in my photos. The next best thing are basically "čevapčiči" - a grilled dish of minced meat. You also get fries, some lettuce, and "ajvar" (red pepper relish) with it. You can also find lots of hamburger and pasta places. We didn't like going to fancy restaurants and spending money, we preferred going to places that were on the beach for a quick lunch or dinner. One thing to not miss, are the ice cream and pancake stands - you get lots of different option and flavors of ice cream and lots of spread options for pancakes.

3. Go on a boat ride

You have lots of options for renting boats but we choose "pedolinos" - they are colorful pedal boats that you can see at every popular beach. You have two pedals on each side, so you can drive it. Usually, they also come with a slide. You can drive around the coast and enjoy in a view over the sea or over the Biokovo mountains.

4. Take a walk by the port

Makarska has a gorgeous port and you can see a ferry coming and going, as well as other bigger ships. The port feels like a little Monaco sometimes, because you can see really luxurious jachts parked there.

5. Stroll around the market and find yourself a souvenir

These types of markets are really common around Croatia. You have lots of stands where people sell souvenirs, toys, swimming accessories, food, clothes, bags, and other decors. I usually buy a magnet from each new place that I visit but you can choose a souvenir to your liking.

6. Watch amazing sunsets at the beach

My favorite part of Makarska were the magical sunsets. Find yourself a spot on the beach, get pancakes, ice cream, or a drink, and enjoy the beautiful view over the sea. 

7. Go to Brač island on a ferry boat

You can go on a day trip to Brač, I have a whole post about a road trip around Brač island here. There are a lot of different agencies that arrange trips to Brač, Hvar, or Korčula but they only take you to touristy places and beaches. I would really recommend going alone on a ferry (a one-way ticket is 5 €) and experiencing the island yourself.

8. Explore the city

The city didn't impress me too much, it's usually crowded, but I did like the old streets. You can also enjoy the view over the mountains.

What else you can do in Makarska and more ideas

You can rent a scooter and discover the city and its surroundings. A very popular activity to do there is also a great viewpoint for people who like adrenalin - Biokovo Skywalk - a glass path over Biokovo mountains. Another thing is different excursions to other islands. We choose to go alone to Brač, but you can book a touristy trip if you like.