Stay & Explore Croatian Riviera guide

Stay & Explore Croatian Riviera guide

Stay & Explore - Croatian Riviera guide The Makarska Riviera epitomises idyllic getaways in Croatia baby-blue coastlines, medieval buildings and verdant hillsides, all topped with a generous portion of sunshine. It s around 60 kilometres in length, running between the towns of Brela, Makarska and Gradac. Asides from the region s obvious natural beauty, there s plenty of spiritual and cultural attractions that ll make your holiday here one to remember. Let our Local Expert be your in-the-know guide to the region. You ll soon see that its Dalmatian coastal allures run deep so you can t go wrong with a few well-informed pointers as to where s best to visit and when. The beauty of a Stay and Explore holiday lies in its freedom, though. At the end of the day, you re able to craft your own itinerary with the input of someone with real insider knowledge of the Makarska Riviera. Getting around the Croatian Riviera

Our Local Expert recommendations Reap the benefits of a Croatian insider s perspective on a Stay and Explore holiday. We ll have our Local Expert at your service whenever you need them, advising you on where to go, and what to eat and drink, while you re there. That way, you ll be all set to soak up the Riviera s charms. Must-see sights and must-do events Makarska Riviera Nature parks: Biokovo is the second-highest mountain range in Croatia, with the surrounding Biokovo Nature Park being one of the region s prized attractions. This park runs across most of the Makarska Riviera and is accessible by road. Makarska Religious sites and museums: Makarska has been occupied by Romans, Turks, French, Venetians and Austrians which has led to a pleasing variety of architectural influences. The Franciscan Monastery was built by Bosnian monks circa 1614. Today, it houses a Malacological Museum in the basement, which is said to hold the world s largest collection of snails, shells and mussels. There s also the Baroque style St Mark s Church, which overlooks Kacic Square. Located a few minutes walk from the town centre, Svetiste Vepric is a remarkable outdoor church and a popular Catholic pilgrimage site. It features a cave with a grotto modelled on the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, otherwise known as the Domain. Makarska Cultural Summer (July-September): the Makarska Cultural Summer runs between July and August, and involves concerts and theatre artists performing in town squares. There s also carnival-esque parades by the marina, often creating a party atmosphere in the town. During the August leg of the festival, a weekly food-music evening known as Fisherman s Night allows festivalgoers to taste local seafood catches while enjoying open-air music. Brac Island Natural beauty: you can get to Brac island, whose Zlatni Rat sandspit is an iconic symbol of Croatian tourism, from Makarska via boat, with journey times taking around an hour. As well as beaches, the island is renowned for its hard white stone and is home to a stonemason school. Brela Beaches: head north towards Brela and visit the Punta Rata beach. This gravelly sunspot overlooks the Adriatic Sea and has been recognised by a number of national publications as one of Croatia s and the world s finest beaches. You ll find the Brela Stone a small pine-topped islet on the western side of the beach.

Krka National Park Natural beauty: the natural trove of Krka National Park is easily reached by bus from Sibenik. Once there, a ferry excursion lets you get up close and personal with the wildlife, which includes reptiles, amphibians and over 18 different species of bat. For many, though, the true highlight of Krka is its magnificent waterfalls. The most famous is Skradinski buk, an awe-inspiring waterfall network with 17 falls ranging through a height of over 45 metres. Or there s Roski Slap, with 12 falls over 450 metres high. Split History: one of Croatia s many UNESCO World Heritage Sites is in Split the Old Town is located on the site of the Palace of Diocletian, which was built in the fourth century AD. Even as the town grew in the Middle Ages, much of the Roman structure survives. The Mausoleum of Diocletian himself now lies within the Cathedral of St Domnius, too. Dubronik Architecture and history: approach Dubrovnik by sea and marvel at the castle that overlooks the harbour. Second, take the two-kilometre circular walking route along the city walls. From 22 metres up, you can get a truly 360-degree view of the city. And thirdly, you should take in Dubrovnik from above. The cable car to Mount Srd costs around 60 HKR, one-way, and rewards visitors with panoramic views of the city. Back at city level, look out for sights like St Blaise s Church, Orlando s Column, and Sponza Palace. The latter is a Renaissance-era gem which now houses the historic city archives. Omis Omis Festival of Dalmatia Klapa (July): first established in 1967, the Festival of Dalmatia Klapa takes place annually in the town of Omis. It sees klapa singing performances, which are characterised by vocal harmonies rarely, if ever, accompanied by instruments. Dubronik Krka national Park

How to explore the Croatian Riviera All transport prices displayed are accurate at the time of publication. When staying in the Villa Hotel Kastelet, in Tucepi, you re within easy access of some of the Makarska Riviera s most renowned destinations. Bus and boat links make getting around easy, while there is also a wide network of roads if you d rather hire a car to discover the region. Tucepi Getting around by bus There s a bus stop around 500 metres from the Villa Hotel Kastelet. Buses to the town of Makarska itself run frequently with a journey time of ten minutes, costing 10 HRK*. You can also get to Gradac from Tucepi in 45 minutes, with services running throughout the day and tickets costing around 30 HRK. Services to Brela take just short of half an hour, depending on what time of day you travel, with tickets costing around 20 HRK. If you re wanting to travel further afield, you can get the bus to Split in one and a half hours for just over 50 HRK. Routes here run seven days a week, with several different services operating across the day. Getting to Dubrovnik will take slightly longer and will therefore be a bit pricier with journeys taking up to three hours and costing roughly 100 HRK. Getting around by car You might want to rent your own vehicle rather than use public transport. In which case, our Local Experts can help you book one just let them know and they ll take it from there. Of course, if you d rather organise it yourself you can. Make sure to take advantage of Saga s preferential 10% discount rates with Hertz, which comes with a free additional driver. You can book in advance online, or by calling Hertz on 0870 241 3657 and quoting CDP number 740421. We recommend booking at least 72 hours before your departure. Insurance can be arranged when you hire. For drives further afield e.g. through Bosnia and Herzegovina then you ll need to ensure that your Green Card covers travelling in these countries. Also take note that the drink driving laws in Croatia are slightly stricter than the UK, with the blood alcohol limit being 0.5 grams per litre compared to our 0.8. As usual, it s often safer to avoid alcohol entirely if you re considering driving.

Food and drink Food Meat dishes: like much of Dalmatia, food in the Makarska Riviera tends to revolve around stewed meats. A typical local dish is pasticada marinated and roasted beef, cooked in a rich, red sauce and served with either gnocchi or homemade pasta. Other regional specialities you ll more than likely come across include baked lamb, usually served with potatoes and onions. Seafood: Due to the area s coastal location, Makarska Riviera holidays are also renowned for seafood. Order some fried calamari with a side of aioli for some real Dalmatian flavours. Wine Red wine is popular in the Makarska Riviera and wider Dalmatia. A lot of the time the local offerings will come from the Peljesac peninsula or the island of Hvar. Alternatively, opt for a white blend made from the Posip grape, which is found mostly on the island of Korcula. The wines produced from Posip usually make for a dry taste, with bottles served in many Dalmatian restaurants and bars. Many locals mix white wine with water, come summertime. Although this might seem unusual, it s a tasty way to stay refreshed in the baking Croatian sun. Beer and spirits As you d expect in an Eastern European country, beer is a tipple of choice for many Croatians. One of the best-known brands is Karlovacko, which you ll find in lots of bars and restaurants. Alongside that, look out for other national pale lagers like Ozujsko or Pan, which is brewed by Carlsberg s Croatian branch. For craft beer there s always Vunetovo, which originates from Hvar island, a boat trip away from Makarska. In terms of spirits, the Makarska Riviera is known for its cherry brandy.