Dalmatian Coast and Islands holidays

Cathedral of St. James, Sibenik, Croatia

Popular holidays

Holidays to the Dalmatian Coast invite you to sample everything typically Croatian – beaches flanked with pine forests, ancient historical attractions and straight-off-the-boat seafood.

Coast of Croatia

The Dalmatian Coast runs along Croatia’s western edge. The city of Split is the nucleus of the coastline and is filled with museums and UNESCO-listed sights. Spreading out on either side of Split are a range of pretty coastal towns and islands. If daytrips are your thing, there are plenty of great places to choose from.

A city with a palace

The heart of Split is the historic Diocletian’s Palace. The palace dates back to the 3rd century when it was built as a Roman emperor’s retirement home. Packed within its ancient walls are restaurants, bars and shops, as well as a cathedral or two. Outside of the walls is the Riva promenade. Running along the waterfront, this is perfect for an evening wander.

Pine-edged beaches

If you’d like to visit some beaches, leave the city and go south to the Makarska Riviera. Here you’ll be spoilt by the pine-flanked beaches that Croatia is famous for. Tucepi, Brela and Zivogosce are all pretty coastal towns that open out onto gentle waters, perfect for swimming and paddling.

Island hopping

Off the Dalmatian Coast, you’ll find an array of islands to visit. Hvar is well-known as an A-list hangout, with its trendy restaurants and waterfront bars. If you’re more of a watersports fanatic, head straight for Brac where you can relax or play on one of the country’s most renowned beaches.

Popular hotels in Dalmatian Coast and Islands

Top things to see and do in Dalmatian Coast and Islands

Beaches

Beach-hop in Zivogosce

Zivogosce lines up six kilometres of beach, split up into a necklace of bays and coves. Some are popular spots, others are more secluded, but they’re all postcard-pretty, with smooth white pebbles and backdrops of pines and olive groves. They’re great for families, too, thanks to the calm, clear waters.

Spend a day on Punta Rata beach

Brela’s Punta Rata Beach is a popular spot – its good looks once saw it given the best beach in Europe tag by Forbes magazine. This stretch of pebbles and gravelly sand is on the edge of town, with a backdrop of bottle-green mountains and a sprinkling of cafés and restaurants.

Pick a cove at Berulija Beach

Berulija, in Brela, is a three-in-one beach, made up of a trio of pebbly coves. There aren’t any parasols for hire, but all three beaches are fringed by pines so there’s plenty of shade. As for lunch and drinks, there are a couple of cafés and food kiosks nearby.

Shopping

Bargain buys

The beach towns along the Makarska Riviera offer plenty in the way of inexpensive souvenir shops and arts and crafts stores. Look out for local olive oil, lavender-scented goodies and products made from Brac marble.

Mid-range buys

In Brela, Tucepi and Zivogosce, you’ll find local artists hawking their paintings on the pavements. Split is home to Dalmatia’s biggest shopping mall, City Centre One. The directory of shops includes familiar fashion and footwear brands, like H&M, Mango and Monsoon.

Designer buys

You won’t find any high-end names along the Makarska Riviera, but head to Split and you’ll find a cluster of designer boutiques and homeware and jewellery stores. There are a handful of big names in the City Centre One mall, including Lacoste and Swarovski.

Nightlife

Laid-back evenings

Low-key evenings in Brela, Tucepi and Zivogosce centre along their seafront promenades, where you’ll find a generous helping of restaurants and konobe serving hearty mixed grills and fresh fish cooked in olive oil. They’re all west-facing, too, so they’re perfect for sunset-spotting.

Lively evenings

The Makarska Riviera isn’t really a party-all-night kind of place. Instead, you’ll find a handful of late-night bars in the beach towns, many with live music and terraces for al fresco drinks.