If you’re looking for a stunning Croatian destination for your holidays in 2018, look no further than the beautiful Tucepi. Located 4km to the south-east of Makarska, Tucepi has a small population of less than 2,000 residents, and has become a popular tourist resort owing to its beautiful stretch of coastline and many opportunities for leisure and sports. The town has a long and diverse history, having been established around 4,000 years ago by the Illyrians. Tucepi is famous for being one of the most picturesque and delightful tourist destinations on the Adriatic and has a wide range of hotels, guest houses and restaurants. The defining characteristic of Tucepi is the scenic Makarska Riviera, a long gravel beach lined with attractive architecture, pine trees and olives groves. Tucepi’s clean white beaches have a pleasantly mild climate enhanced by a cool sea breeze, making it an ideal choice for families and those who prefer a slightly milder beach climate. A holiday in Tucepi is ideal for relaxing and recharging, getting away from it all and reconnecting with your loved ones. The nightlife here is relatively quiet, focussing on quiet conversations over a cup of coffee rather than a buzzing nightclub scene.
Tucepi has a tranquil ambience and a friendly vibe – the ideal choice for holidaymakers who prefer conversation and cultured dinners over throbbing dance music and raucous nights out. With a rich heritage and culture, holidaying in Tucepi puts you in touch with the culture of wider Croatia. It offers you plenty of opportunities to immerse yourself in the traditional Tucepi lifestyle by visiting the local historic attractions. There’s a selection of historical buildings in and around Tucepi, including the Necropolis at Sutvid Hill, which is renowned as being the oldest monument in the whole country. You can visit the remains of three Turkish castles in Upper Tucepi, as well as the remains of a more modern abandoned settlement. Other historical points of interest include the Church of the Little Lady, built in 1703 close to the sea. It’s now been restored following its destruction in an earthquake in 1962. Another beautiful historical sight is the Church of St Anthony, a Neo-Romanesque church featuring stunning marble altars and glorious stained glass windows, as well as an organ originating from the start of the 20th century.
Like much of Croatia, Tucepi has a distinctive and varied selection of food and drink that reflects its cross-cultural background. Gastronomy in Croatia is centred in Mediterranean-style seafood and fish dishes fusing with the meat and pastry-based food of Central Europe. The drinks here are adventurous and often strong, with a wide variety of wines and some particularly blistering spirits. If you’re visiting Tucepi on holiday it’s important to note that the dining schedule is later on the whole than in many other parts of Europe. Most Croatians eat lunch fairly late on in the afternoon, so most restaurants serve a list of brunch-style snacks from 10.30am until around midday. These are usually smaller versions of the regular meat and fish-based lunch dishes, making them a cost-effective option for a late breakfast or a midday meal. Breakfast in the area includes continental classics like scrambled eggs, bacon, butter pastries, salami and cheese. Some of the most popular main meals in the area include prsut, Croatia’s lovely home-prepared ham served on a platter plate with a cheese such as paski sir. Soups, or juha, are another local delicacy and are similar to ramen noodles in that they have a clear, light broth and thin vermicelli-style noodles. Some of the more substantial meat dishes include pan-cooked kotlet, or chop, and odrezak, which is an escalope or fillet of meat, usually veal or pork.
The laid-back lifestyle and friendly ambience of Tucepi make it the ideal setting for a family holiday, giving you an ideal opportunity to relax and unwind with your loved ones. Tucepi has a great range of beach activities and watersports that make for an fun day out for all the family. Traditional family holiday activities include swimming, lounging or playing ball games on the beach. If you’re feeling adventurous, you could try a banana boat ride or jet skiing, while parasailing offers the ultimate thrilling adventure with great views of Tucepi and the surrounding areas.
Most of the adrenaline-pumping activities in Tucepi revolve around the beach and the water, thanks to Tucepi’s coastal location and pleasantly mild climate. For a thrilling experience, you can opt for swimming, jet skiing or banana boating in the waters off Tucepi, or try parasailing to get a bird’s eye view of the stunning local landscape. One of the best places to enjoy more exciting activities in Tucepi is the Sports Center Slatina, which has a wide range of indoor and outdoor sports activities for guests. These include tennis, indoor and outdoor soccer and football, volleyball and cycling. They also cater for watersports including canoeing at the beach, surfing, water skiing and paragliding. Hotel Elaphusa has no less than 26 clay tennis courts and a number of thrilling activities including laser sailing and windsurfing. If you’re willing to travel further afield, try heading along the Makarska Riviera on a thrill-seeking tour of the local resorts including Split and Dubrovnik to enjoy activities including rafting on the Cetina River and riding horses through the local woods.
Tucepi has a huge range of beaches, with more than one hundred to choose from lining the surrounding coastline. They range from peaceful little coves to huge expanses of warm white sand. Tucepi is the proud owner of the longest beach in the Makarska area, at more than two kilometres long. The beach of the Hotel Jadran remains one of the most naturally beautiful parts of the Makarska Riviera. Jadran Beach is very popular with the local people, and features a series of small coves and pine trees with plenty of shade on the western side. If you’re looking for family-friendly beaches, try Lucia Beach, located between the upper bay and Zaostrog. Lucia is a secluded beach with a number of little coves and is particularly quiet outside of peak season. Other kid-friendly beaches include the Promajna centre beach and Podaca beach. For those travelling in couples or with a small group of friends, try Nugal beach, a tranquil and secluded beach with plenty of natural pine tree shade and a relaxed ambience.
There are no real nightclubs or discos in Tucepi itself, as the town has a very laid-back vibe that prefers relaxed conversation rather than trying to make yourself heard over loud music in nightclubs or bustling bars. If you’re looking for intimate beach bars to enjoy a drink and evenings with friends or your loved one, try the Michigan beach bar in Tucepi, which has a range of cocktails and wines, and frequently puts on evening events including DJ shows, concerts and karaoke contests. For a bar with a beachy, summer vibe all year round, try the Mamaris beach bar, while the Iris beach has a huge range of cocktails and an enviable location to the front of the Bluesun Alga Hotel.
Tucepi is a great choice of holiday destination for couples looking to spend plenty of time talking and enjoying each other’s company. Tucepi is ideally located for a number of day excursions to popular nearby resorts including Split and Dubrovnik, so you can treat your partner to an indulgent day of shopping. For the ultimate in romantic views, try a day trip to the stunning islands of Brac and Hvar, or head to Mostar to see the famous bridge. Other scenic places that make for a wonderful romantic day trip include the Biokovo mountain, while the gently vibrant nightlife in Tucepi is ideal for those who prefer to take their loved one out for quiet drinks or enjoy a romantic meal without the loud music and bustle of some of the busier Croatian holiday resorts.
Tucepi and the surrounding villages are distinguished by their scenic architecture, focusing on intimate gatherings, chatting over cups of coffee and traditional Croatian platters, and listening to live music. There are also plenty of cultural events on offer, including poetry recitals and the presentation of folktales. The official ‘town day’ of Tucepi is celebrated on 13th July, which is the feast day of St Anthony. On this day a large fiesta is celebrated in the town centre, with traditional live music and Dalmatian klapa groups that perform right through until the end of July. Other fun-filled local events in Tucepi include summer fishing festivals, singing contests and live performances from local musicians, which often run through the summer months. Some of the most culturally important attractions in the area are historic sites including the three Turkish castles in Upper Tucepi originating from the 15th to 17th centuries, the Neo-Romanesque Church of St Anthony and the Church of the Little Lady, which was originally built in 1703. Incredibly, Tucepi is also home to several Prehistoric sites at Gradac, Gomile and Gradina, where you can visit the remains of Illyrian fortifications and the previously hidden shelters of livestock breeders.