Things To Do in Tucepi

Don’t worry about the slightly odd name – it’s an abbreviation of the Croatian translation. This festival opens up the mostly abandoned hamlets in the hills around Tucepi, with plays, classical concerts and poetry recitals held in and around the villages’ old stone structures. For each performance, pop-up taverns will appear, offering free tasters of local specialities like prsut, krostule pastries, and fish stews.

Makarska – 10 minutes’ drive from Tucepi – has a sprawling outdoor market behind the church in its main square. As well as perusing the food stalls, you can pick up a range of Croatian souvenirs – including oil produced by nearby olive groves, traditional fruit-flavoured liqueurs, and freshly-picked sprigs of lavender. Neck ties are big here, too – apparently Croatia invented the clothing item.

The four-kilometre-long, pebbly Tucepi Beach is one of the prettiest in Dalmatia. Running along its edge, there’s a pine tree-lined promenade, which is punctuated by bars, restaurants and watersports centres. Scuba diving is really popular, thanks to the gin-clear waters in these parts. The giant inflatable obstacle course is a big hit with kids, as well.

Tucepi’s souvenir shops feature plenty of locally made goodies. Fill your basket with olive oil and lavender-scented products, and pick up a Makarana cake to tuck in to back on your balcony – they’re made with almonds and citrus fruits and drizzled with rum and cherry liqueur.

An outdoor stage in the middle of town is the setting for live music and dancing. It’s a mix of modern and traditional, with everything from pop music to folk dances. Time your visit to coincide with one of the regular fishermen’s nights, and you can also fuel up with a fish supper – the catch of the day is cooked al fresco at the harbour and served up with crusty bread and local wine.

Boats zip regularly between Makarska and the island of Brac. Once you arrive, cross the island to the resort of Bol, where you can lay your towel out on the smooth white pebbles of Zlatni Rat, the star of hundreds of Croatian tourism posters.

Tucepi’s pebbled beach unravels along the coast for 4 kilometres, so there’s plenty of elbow room. Pines provide the shade, and there are watersports like parasailing on offer. A promenade borders the beach, where you’ll find a cluster of bars, restaurants and souvenir shops.

Tucepi’s prom is packed with restaurants and konobe, traditional Croatian tavernas. Seafood tends to steal the focus – octopus salad and squid-ink risotto are two favourites. Look out for local labels on the wine list, too – there are vineyards all along the Makarska Riviera.

Nightlife in Tucepi tends to be a more relaxed, romantic affair – think laidback beach bars with Adriatic views. For something livelier, take a 10-minute taxi ride to the Listun in Makarska – a narrow pedestrian street stocked with a wide selection of nightclubs and cocktail lounges. Most of the tables are outside, and they get packed in the summer months.