Croatia
Car hire in Makarska
Makarska is a resort beneath Mount Biokovo, 62 km south of Split. It has no airport of its own: most people collect a car in Split and drive about an hour down the coastal D8. The car earns its keep here for Biokovo and the Skywalk, the neighbouring beaches and the ferry to Hvar — but in summer finding a space by the seafront is hard.
from €20 per day
- nearest airport: Split, 62 km
Search and book
A live catalogue with prices and availability for your dates. The rental contract and payment are handled directly with the rental company at pick-up.
Where to hire a car for Makarska
The nearest airport is Split (SPU). From Split to Makarska is 62 km, an hour to an hour and a quarter on the D8 past Brela and Baška Voda. From the A1 motorway, leave at Dugopolje and drop down to the coast on the D8. If you do not need the car for the whole holiday, look for delivery to your address in Makarska — the search above shows what is available for your dates.
Rental companies publish no separate terms for Makarska: licence, age and deposit are as for the rest of the country. As a rule, cars are available from 21–22 with one to two years’ experience.
Parking in Makarska in summer
From June to September the seafront parking is paid around the clock and is not cheap, and in July and August spaces are almost impossible to find. The safest bet is accommodation with its own parking: ask before you book, not after.
The usual rule of free parking at night and on Sundays does not apply here in summer — check the sign at every car park.
Driving up Biokovo to the Skywalk
The entrance to Biokovo Nature Park is about 6 km from Makarska on the road to Vrgorac. From there a narrow mountain road climbs to the glass Skywalk viewpoint at 1,228 metres. An engine of 1.4 litres or more helps, and on the climb one rule applies: the car going uphill has priority.
In winter and in bad weather the road can be closed — check with the park before you set off.
More day trips from Makarska
Brela and Baška Voda are about 10–15 km north on the D8, with quieter beaches. The Drvenik–Sućuraj ferry takes you to Hvar, but with a hire car only if the company allows it — say so before you book.
Dubrovnik is about 153 km south via the Pelješac Bridge, and Zadar about 217 km, around two and a half hours. The D8 along the sea is beautiful but full of bends and climbs — take it slowly in the rain.
Prices by class
A guide “from” price, built up from the lowest nationwide rate: from €20 a day in winter, from €33–35 in summer. The company works out the final sum for your dates when you book.
Economy
2–4 people, town and coast
from€20per day
Compact and estate
4–5 people, suitcases and the A1 motorway
from€24per day
Crossover
Biokovo, Lika, Pelješac — engine from 1.4 litres
from€30per day
7-seat minivan
families with luggage; a tall one may fall into toll class II
from€40per day
Premium and convertible
Istria and Dalmatia in comfort
executive saloons and convertibles
from€55per day
By city
Common questions
Does Makarska have an airport?
No. The nearest is Split (SPU). From Split to Makarska is 62 km, an hour to an hour and a quarter on the coastal D8.
Where can I park in Makarska in summer?
From June to September the seafront is paid around the clock, and in July and August there are hardly any spaces. Accommodation with its own parking is the safest bet — ask about it before you book.
Can I drive up to the Skywalk on Biokovo?
Yes: the park entrance is about 6 km from Makarska on the road to Vrgorac, then a narrow mountain road leads to the viewpoint at 1,228 metres. It can be closed in winter and in bad weather — check with the park.
Can I take a hire car to Hvar via Drvenik?
Only if the rental company has allowed ferry crossings: standard contracts rule them out. Mention the island trip before you book.
What are the rental terms in Makarska?
The same as across the country: a licence in Latin script or an International Driving Permit, as a rule from 21–22 with one to two years’ experience, and a deposit on most cars. Prices from €20 a day in winter, from €33–35 in summer.
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