Most people planning a clothes-free holiday in Croatia head straight for Istria or start researching the islands. That’s understandable, both have well-established reputations. What fewer people realise is that the Makarska Riviera, a long stretch of Dalmatian coastline at the foot of the Biokovo mountains, might actually be the most densely packed nude beach area in the whole country. Nearly every town along the Riviera has at least one, often two, clothes-free options. That’s a lot of coastline to explore.
We spent time travelling north to south along this stretch, visiting 11 different nude beaches in total. Some were spectacular. Some were crowded. A few were a bit underwhelming.
Baška Voda (Baško Polje)
The northernmost stop on our list is Baško Polje, which used to be a campground. The camp is closed now, and the whole area has a slightly worn look to it. Rental accommodation is still available, and there’s a large paid parking area at 2.50 euros per hour.
There are two nude beaches attached to this stretch. The northern one is considerably better. From the main beach, head right and follow the coastal trail for a few minutes. You’ll arrive at a lovely pebble cove that’s part clothed, part nude, with official signs making the distinction clear. The water access is easy, the vibe is relaxed, and the mountain-meets-sea scenery makes it a genuinely pleasant spot. Some facilities are available back at the clothed section.
The southern nude beach is a different experience. It’s more informal, a rocky coastline with small pebble coves dotted along it, rather than a defined beach. Worth knowing about if you’re already staying in the area, but probably not worth a dedicated trip.
Krvavica
Krvavica is a small coastal town with decent parking options, and the nude section is easy enough to find. From the main beach, turn left and follow the walking trail along the coast. Within a few minutes, you’ll pass by a mix of rocky shoreline and small pebble beaches where going naked is the norm.
What we liked about Krvavica is the sense of privacy it gives you. The beaches are small, sometimes intimate enough that you have a cove almost to yourself, or share it with just a few others. There are no facilities on the beaches, but bars and restaurants in town aren’t far. The scenery is consistently beautiful along this stretch, which makes the walk pleasant in both directions.
Cvitačka (North)
Cvitačka has two options worth mentioning. There’s a nude section at the southern end of town, closer to Makarska, which is mostly a rocky coastline with small pebble coves and some homemade signs indicating it as a clothes-free area. Because of its proximity to town, this section tends to attract a more mixed crowd, and you’ll see plenty of bathing suits. It’s there, but it’s not the one we’d prioritise.
The northern cove at Cvitačka is another story, a much better one. It’s a rather small beach, maybe 20 to 30 metres long, but it was completely naked when we visited. Well, at least the people were. There was also a lot of very welcome natural shade throughout the day, and pretty easy water entry, which isn’t always a given in Croatia. This is definitely a beach worth seeking out.
Getting here is most easily done by parking somewhere in Makarska and walking the coastal path. There’s also a tourist train that follows the coastal route, which is a pleasant option if you’d rather not walk both directions.
Sveti Petar (Makarska Town)
If you’re staying in Makarska itself, there’s a clothes-free option right in the centre. Sveti Petar is a small peninsula, and the nude section is located at its southwestern tip, near the lighthouse.
The beach here consists of large concrete sunbathing platforms, functional rather than beautiful, and without any shade, the concrete gets uncomfortably hot in summer. That said, water access is straightforward, and the location couldn’t be more convenient. FKK markings indicate where the nude section is meant to be, though in practice, the nude and clothed sections blend into each other. We found it operated largely on a first-come, first-served basis.
Nugal Beach
Nugal has a reputation as the most beautiful beach on the Makarska Riviera. Having visited, we can confirm it’s genuinely spectacular. Unfortunately, we can also confirm it’s one of the most overcrowded. And that doesn’t benefit its nude beach status.
By late morning on the day we arrived, it was already packed. Hundreds of people in bathing suits, and even a boat selling fruit offshore. There are plenty of FKK signs, but in summer, these are ignored completely. Making it every uncomfortable for those like us who had hoped to enjoy this place in the nude. Friends who visited in October reported that even then, most visitors were clothed, so this is likely a nude beach we’ve lost and became a tourist attraction that happens to have FKK signage.
Kraljev Gaj
Kraljev Gaj wasn’t much of a success either, when we visited. It’s reached most easily from the northern part of Tučepi. Paid parking is available at around 3 euros per hour or 15 euros for a full day. From there, follow the coastal trail, the one closest to the water, and you’ll reach the beach after a 10 to 15-minute walk.
It’s a small cove, and when we were there, it had been largely claimed by people in bathing suits despite the FKK signs. It might be different earlier in the season or earlier in the day, but on our visit, it wasn’t functioning as a nude beach in any practical sense.
Dračevac (Tučepi)
This is one of the standout beaches on the Riviera, and probably the most consistently clothes-free stretch we found. Dračevac is a long pebble beach just south of Tučepi, with a few bars and restaurants on site and official nude beach signs at its southern end. It was one of the busiest nude beaches we visited. Popular, but in the right way.
The setting is excellent. The Biokovo mountains rise steeply behind you, green forest runs down to the edge of the beach, there’s reasonable shade, and getting into the water is easy. It definitely earns its reputation as one of the top clothes-free spots in the area.
To get here, either park in the south of Tučepi and walk south along the coast, or park in the northern end of Podgora and walk north for around 15 minutes. Both approaches are straightforward.
Garma
Another beach with genuine scenic beauty, and another that struggles with its own popularity in summer, is Garma. When we went, it was heavily crowded with clothed bathers. That said, there are several smaller coves directly adjacent to Garma that also carry FKK markings and tend to attract fewer people. Worth exploring those if Garma itself is too busy.
If you’re visiting in the shoulder season, it’s well worth the stop. In July and August, arrive early or adjust expectations.
Čaklje (Podgora)
Čaklje is accessed from the southern end of Podgora. If you’re early, there are a handful of parking spots along the main road. From there, a rough trail descends to the coast. It’s not always immediately obvious, but follow it, and it leads directly to the beach. The entire stretch here is considered nude beach territory, covering several small beaches rather than one main one.
This is the kind of beach that’s mostly considered a nude beach because the bathing suits don’t bother going there. And not too many naturists either. So if you’re looking for a bit of solitude during the busy summer season, it’s actually a pretty decent place to be.
Drašnice
The town of Drašnice has two nude beaches, one at each end. The southern beach is the more notable of the two, with a smaller cove leading into a larger main section. The ground is mostly larger rocks, though flatter spots exist if you’re willing to look. There are no facilities, and the path down runs through an olive grove. So not the place for flip-flops. It’s another quiet spot, especially outside high season.
Ratac Beach (Igrane)
Ratac, near Igrane, is our final stop and one of the better choices for anyone looking to escape the crowds. Several coves and small beaches make up this stretch, so you have genuine options for finding your own space. Natural shade is plentiful, privacy is good, and the views are rewarding.
The water is quite shallow, and the entry isn’t straightforward, so water shoes are worth bringing. It’s the kind of beach that rewards the unhurried traveller over the one looking for a quick dip.
A Few Practical Notes
The Makarska Riviera punches well above its weight for clothes-free beaches, especially considering how popular the area is with mainstream tourism. The general pattern we noticed is that the further from the main facilities and town centres you get, the more reliably nude the beaches tend to be. The most picturesque and accessible spots (Nugal and Garma in particular) have largely been overtaken in summer.
Most beaches have no facilities on site, so come prepared with water, snacks, shade, and anything else you need for the day. Water shoes are useful on several stretches where the rocky entry can be uncomfortable. And if you’re planning to road trip the Riviera, this blog post follows a logical north-to-south progression that makes it easy to plan a multi-day exploration.
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It looks like finding nude beaches is getting more difficult. I noticed that in one of your camera shots that where FKK had been written on a large rock, someone had written ‘NO’ above it. In many cases someone can just write whatever they want, and make their claim to whatever is their preference, whatever that is. A sad state of affairs!
Yes, in popular destinations, the biggest enemy of nude beaches is mass tourism. They also want to be on those remote and unspoilt beaches in the heat of the summer, but don’t want to share them with the naked people who have been coming here for decades…
Het eiland Jerolim t/o stad Hvar is een naturistisch eiland met zelfs een barretje waar je je dorst prima kunt lessen