Gornja Vala beach
Gornja Vala in Gradac is one of the longest beaches on the Croatian Adriatic coast. It's located in Dalmatia, on the picturesque shore of the south of Makarska Riviera, in the southern bay of the resort town of Gradac, about 40 km away from Makarska and is considered the most famous pebbly beach in the region. This five-kilometre (according to some sources – seven kilometers) coastline is a popular holiday destination for married and romantic couples as well as lovers of water sports.
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Beach description
The entire long pebble coast of Gornja Vala stretches along the village of Gradac and is divided into 2 separate parts: the Upper Bay, located south of the seaport, and Bošac Bay, located northwest of the harbour. From the beach you can admire the panorama of Biokovo mountain in the background, and its bays are surrounded by picturesque pine forests and olive groves, in the natural shade of which you can hide from the scorching sun.
One can note such features of this Croatian beach as:
- reliable protection from strong winds due to the specifics of the natural landscape (presence of the mountain and forests);
- very calm waters, ideal either for swimming or for safe yacht berthing (large boats are usually mooring in Bošac);
- a large area of shallow water and gentle entry into the water, making Gornja Vala particularly popular among families with children;
- presence of a secluded corner among the rocks for nudists on the edge of the beach
Here the cost is covered with fine alabaster-white pebbles, prevailing on the bottom of the sea as well, and the incredibly clean and transparent waters make it easy to admire it even from the coast. Snorkeling and kayaking are popular leisure activities on Gornja Vala, so this beach is also popular with young people who prefer this kind of recreation. The best time to come here is off season, when there are no crowds and you can fully appreciate the picturesque beauty of Dalmatia and feel all the benefits of the off-peak season in the Mediterranean region.
When is the best time to go?
Although the summer in Croatia is hot (the temperature can rise up to 30 degrees), but thanks to the sea breezes it is very pleasant - the best time for a beach holiday. If you want to see the sights of this country rich in historical events, it is better to choose tours in spring or autumn: firstly, the weather is comfortable, and secondly, there are not so many tourists in these times of the year, which positively affects prices.
Video: Beach Gornja Vala
Infrastructure
Gornja Vala is one of the most developed beaches on the Makarska Riviera. Vacationers can rent sun loungers and umbrellas here, there are locker rooms, showers and toilets. The beach has parking next to it, with the capacity of about a hundred cars, which is not enough during the peak season with a lot of tourists.
There's a pedestrian promenade along the coast, which has a lot of restaurants, cafes and souvenir shops. The beach itself also has 1 restaurant and many stalls where you can buy food and drinks.
For lovers of active leisure Gornja Vala offers the following range of services:
- Volleyball court and tennis court are placed on the shore. But you need to bring your own equipment here, because there are no rental shops around the beach.
- It's possible to rent kayaks, water scooters and skis, as well as bicycles for trips around the beach.
- There is also an organized marina for berthing yachts and boats.
The closest apartments to the beach is the Lina Apartments in Gradac (in the eastern part of the village, just 230 m from the coast). Also next to Gornja Vala there is Villa Amfora (0.5 km from the shore). The Bošac Bay has a low-budget hotel – Labineca 3 stars), which has a diving club.
Weather in Gornja Vala
Best hotels of Gornja Vala
All hotels of Gornja ValaUseful information
There are two ways to get to Gornja Vala beach:
- from Split – along the picturesque road past the colourful villages of the Makarska Riviera;
- from Hvar Island – by ferry from the village of Sućuraj.
Vacationing here, you can combine beach recreation with interesting active leisure and sightseeing program:
- There are many hiking trails in the vicinity of the beach. There are also various excursions with local guides to the mountain in the surrounding area with the possibility of climbing or just admiring the wonderful views from the many viewing decks. For example, you can climb the peak of Sv.Jure, rising above Gradac. Its height is 961 m, it will take about two hours to climb.
- From Gradac you can book excursions to the Baćina lakes (karst fresh water reservoirs up to 28 m deep, 8 km away from the village), to Dubrovnik or Mostar, as well as boat trips to Hvar and Korčula.
- In July and at the end of September, colourful festivals with traditional folk festivities take place in Gradac.