DAY TRIP IDEAS - SPLIT, ŠIBENIK, ZADAR, DUBROVNIK, PLITVICE LAKES
Thanks to its location, Makarska is a perfect starting point for various day trip itineraries.
Here we propose few options that we will be more than happy to provide further explanation for. The hardest part of preparing this list was remembering all the places one must experience when in Makarska. Maybe the answer is simply - all of them!
ZADAR
»Zadar has the most beautiful sunset in the world, more beautiful than the one in Key West, in Florida, applauded at every evening. «
Following this recommendation from the director of all movie directors, Alfred Hitchcock, Zadar sunsets are a must see. The best place to experience it is on the very end of the Zadar peninsula at a place called The Greeting to the Sun, where the sunset is accompanied by the sound of the Sea Organ, a truly unique musical instrument powered by the waves of the sea. Zadar is a great modern Mediterranean city with a number of restaurants and bars that will make you wish you could stay much longer than one day.
by Davor Saric
TZ Šibenik
ŠIBENIK
Often referred to as Krešimir's city (as a reference to 1066 when the city was first mentioned by the King Petar Krešimir IV), Šibenik is a city with a nice historical centre and a number of delights. In 1895, it became the first city in the world that had alternating current-powered street lights - thank you Nikola Tesla!
Today, it is a dreamy place that is not overcrowded with tourists like many other towns and cities on the coast. Yet, it offers a number of interesting cultural, historical and gastronomic experiences.
In the summer, the fortress Sv. Mihovil is a concert spot for numerous musicians from all over the world. The nearby town od Skradin is a picturesque yachting spot with great food options, like the famous slow-simmered Skradin risotto that takes several hours to be prepared. It is a meal that the late culinary great Antony Bourdain praised and enjoyed while he was filming his Croatian episode for his No Reservations show. Now that is a recommendation!
DUBROVNIK
Dubrovnik is probably the #1 destination in all of Mediterranean. So much has been written about the great walls of the Old Town and the rich history of Dubrovnik Republic. Lately, besides tourists and history aficionados, it became even more popular because of its constant appearance in the famous Game of Thrones TV show, playing the role of King's Landing. We wrote about visiting the pearl of Adriatic in more detail here.
PLITVICE LAKES
Plitvice lakes are only a four-hour drive from Makarska. It is a National Park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site of breathtaking beauty and truly mesmerizing nature that will fill your body with special energy only pure, untouched nature of this kind can provide. The park can be experienced either on foot or by boat, either way it is a must visit location when in this part of Europe.
SPLIT
Split, the biggest city in Dalmatia, is rich in both history and culture. It is a city whose life is intertwined with the sea. The famous Riva seafront is the epitome of the Dalmatian way of life. Sunglasses are a must while slowly sipping coffee and enjoying the sea breeze at the Riva.
Besides these everyday joys, Split is a significant historical city with the 1700-year old Diocletian Palace and Peristyle being the most important one. This monument is the best preserved object of Roman architecture in the world. It used to be both a luxurious summer house as well as a military base. Today it is both a museum and a place where the daily lives of the locals intersect with crowds of visitors who have only recently discovered this Adriatic gem.
