The Nude Beaches of the Makarska Riviera
Dalmatian Riviera, southern Croatia
Eleven nude beaches in 53km, with sharp differences in reliability between them.
snapshot
The Makarska Riviera offers a surprisingly high number of nude-friendly spots compared to Croatia’s more famous areas. Across eleven different towns, there are eleven beaches that are either officially labeled for naturists (FKK) or have a long history of people going without clothes. This gives travelers on the Dalmatian coast a lot more variety than they might expect from a place usually known for standard summer crowds.
season
June – September
LEGAL STATUS
Nudity legal
GETTING THERE
Car recommended
Vibe
Relaxed to vibrant
where we are
REGIONAL orientation
The Makarska Riviera runs along a narrow strip of southern Dalmatia, roughly midway between Split and Dubrovnik. Behind the coastline, the Biokovo massif rises to above 1,700 metres. The range is protected as a nature park, and in places the mountains press almost directly to the water, squeezing development into a thin corridor of pebble beaches and stone towns. That geography sets the character of the coast: compact, steeply framed, with the mountains always visible above the rooflines.
Makarska is the largest town and the practical centre of the coast. It has the widest accommodation offer, the best restaurants, and the most services overall. Smaller towns, including Brela, Baška Voda, Tučepi, Podgora, and Igrane, each have their own promenade and a distinct local pace. The Riviera has been a well-established European summer destination long enough that the infrastructure is reliable and the coastal culture genuinely relaxed. Clothes-free bathing has become a quiet part of that picture. It is recognised, practised, and accepted alongside mainstream tourism without much fuss.
the nude beaches
ONE BY ONE
Baška Voda
43°21'34.9"N 16°57'16.0"E
A former campsite area with two nude sections: the northern pebble cove is notably better, with clear FKK signage and easy water access. The southern section is an informal rocky stretch rather than a defined beach. Worth visiting for the northern cove, which has a relaxed atmosphere and strong mountain views as a backdrop.
AccessibleNatural settingPebblesNo facilities
Krvavica
43°19'56.0"N 16°59'19.6"E
A series of small rocky coves and pebble beaches south of the main beach, reliably clothes-free and rarely crowded. The coves are intimate enough to give a genuine sense of privacy. No facilities on the beach, but the town is close enough for a lunch break without carrying everything you need for the day.
QuietNatural settingRockyPebblesNo facilities
Cvitačka
43°19'14.7"N 17°0'9.1"E
A small pebble cove northwest of Makarska town. Consistently naked in practice, naturally shaded for much of the day, and with a gradual water entry that several other Riviera beaches lack. The best clothes-free option within easy reach of Makarska. A second, more southerly clothes-free section exists but attracts a more mixed crowd and is not the recommended stop.
QuietAccessibleNatural settingPebblesNo facilities
Sveti Petar
43°18'4.5"N 17°0'33.8"E
Concrete sunbathing platforms at the southwestern tip of the Sveti Petar peninsula, near the lighthouse. Functional rather than scenic, with no shade and surfaces that get uncomfortably hot in summer afternoons. The FKK section blends informally into the clothed section. The main draw is pure convenience for those based in Makarska town.
RemoteUrban/developedRockyNo facilities
Nugal
43°17'4.3"N 17°2'1.5"E
A dramatic cove south of Makarska with cliffs, pines, and clear water. Genuinely impressive scenery, with a 30-metre waterfall active in spring. However, it is heavily overrun by clothed visitors in peak season and has been for some time. FKK signs are present but largely ignored. Treat it as a scenic beach with early-morning nude potential rather than a reliable clothes-free destination.
LivelyNatural settingRockyPebblesNo facilities
Kraljev Gaj
43°16'46.3"N 17°2'21.3"E
A small FKK-signed cove north of Tučepi, reached by a 10 to 15-minute walk along the coastal trail. Based on a high-season visit, it had been largely claimed by clothed bathers despite the signage. Worth knowing about for early morning or shoulder-season visits if you are already based in Tučepi, but not a reliable destination.
RemoteNatural settingPebblesNo facilities
Dračevac
43°15'28.9"N 17°3'47.8"E
The standout choice on the riviera. A long pebble beach south of Tučepi with official nude beach designation at its southern end that holds in practice. On-site bars and restaurants, Biokovo mountain views, pine forest at the beach edge, and easy water access. Busy in season, but busy with people going naked. The most dependable clothes-free beach on this list.
LivelyNatural settingPebblesWith facilities
Garma
43°15'9.1"N 17°3'50.3"E
A scenic cove with established clothes-free credentials that struggles with oversubscription in peak season. A high-season visit found heavy clothed presence. The adjacent smaller coves carry FKK markings and see fewer visitors, worth exploring when Garma itself is busy. In shoulder season, the beach functions more as intended and is worth the stop.
Natural settingRockyPebblesNo facilities
Čaklje
43°14'6.9"N 17°5'30.4"E
A rough-access rocky stretch at the southern end of Podgora, covering several small coves rather than one main beach. Rarely busy because the rocky descent and complete absence of facilities deter most casual visitors. Clothes-free in practice because clothed bathers do not bother making the walk. A genuine option for solitude during peak season.
QuietRemoteNatural settingRockyNo facilities
Drašnice
43°12'29.9"N 17°6'56.4"E
A quiet town with a nude beach at each end. The southern beach is the more worthwhile: a smaller cove opens into a larger main section of mostly larger rocks, with flatter spots available. The approach runs through an olive grove and is uneven underfoot. No facilities. Particularly quiet outside high season.
QuietRemoteNatural settingRockyNo facilities
Ratac
42°7'21.9"N 19°3'48.7"E
Several coves and small beaches near Igrane at the southern end of the riviera. Good privacy, natural pine shade, rewarding views. The water is shallow and the rocky entry is awkward, water shoes are necessary rather than optional here. One of the stronger choices for avoiding peak-season crowds, and worth the unhurried approach it requires.
QuietRemoteNatural settingRockyNo facilities
WHO THIS IS FOR
WHO SHOULD GO & who should not
Great for
- ✓ Clothes-free road-trippers working their way along the Dalmatian coast
- ✓ Travellers who want variety across multiple beach characters in a single region
- ✓ Couples or solos comfortable with basic or no facilities on site
- ✓ Anyone who values dramatic mountain-meets-sea scenery over organised beach infrastructure
not ideal if
- ✕ You want a single reliably naked beach without planning or early arrivals in peak season
- ✕ Facilities at the beach itself matter
- ✕ You're hoping to avoid mainstream tourist crowds entirely
practical
GETTING THERE & what to know
getting there
Split Airport is the main entry point, around an hour and twenty minutes north by car, and hiring a vehicle there is strongly recommended. Most beaches on this list are unreachable without one. Buses run the full length of the coastal highway connecting the main riviera towns, but they serve the main road rather than beach access points. For remote sections at Krvavica, Čaklje, or Ratac, a car is the only practical option.
best time to go
The beaches are swimmable from late May through early October, with July and August bringing the highest crowds. Nugal and Garma in particular shift predominantly clothed during peak season. Late June and September offer the most consistent clothes-free experience: warm water, lower visitor numbers, and a better chance that signed FKK beaches function as intended. At the more popular spots, arriving before 10am makes a noticeable difference in both space and atmosphere.
legal status
Nudity is only permitted on beaches bearing official FKK designation under Croatian law. However, it’s regularly practiced on unofficial nude beaches as well.
what to bring
Water shoes are worth packing. Drašnice, Ratac, Čaklje, and southern Baška Voda all have rocky entries that are genuinely uncomfortable without them, and the path to Nugal is easier with proper footwear. Most beaches have no facilities, so carry food and water for a full day. Shade is limited or absent at several spots. Sveti Petar and Nugal have none, so a sun umbrella is essential, and a mat helps on the rockier stretches.
WHERE TO STAY NEARBY
virtual visit
SEE FOR yourself
Sometimes a two-minute watch tells you more than a page of text. Our video shows you what the beaches in this overview actually look like.
FAQ
most asked questions
Is nudity mandatory on these beaches, or can I keep some clothes on?
Nudity is not mandatory on any of these beaches. FKK designation means going naked is accepted and expected in the signed sections, but swimwear is never prohibited. Several beaches on this list have clothed and nude sections sitting directly adjacent to each other, and the boundaries are informally managed.
Are the nude beaches of the Makarska Riviera good for first-timers?
Some are well-suited, others are not. Dračevac has a genuine nude culture, on-site facilities, and a social atmosphere that makes it a supportive environment for a first-timer. Sveti Petar in central Makarska is convenient and low-key. Remote options like Ratac and Čaklje are quieter, but they are completely without facilities, which can feel isolating on an unfamiliar first visit. Depends on what you prefer.
Are these beaches family-friendly?
The more accessible and facilitated options, Dračevac in particular, are suitable for families. Remote beaches like Ratac, Drašnice, and Čaklje are genuinely quiet but require planning, as there are no facilities, rocky access, and no shade. Nugal and Garma attract a young tourist crowd in summer and may not feel like the right environment for clothes-free families during peak season.
Do I need a car to visit these beaches?
For most beaches, yes. Krvavica, Čaklje, Drašnice, and Ratac are not practical without a car. Town-centre options like Sveti Petar and the northern Cvitačka cove are reachable on foot from Makarska, and buses connect the main riviera towns, but they serve town centres, not beach access paths. A car unlocks the full list.
