Bus from Durres to Makarska

Durrës (historically also known as Epidamnos) is the largest port and second largest city and a municipality of Albania. Geographically, it is central on the coast, about 33 km west of the capital Tirana.

It is one of the most ancient and economically significant cities of Albania. Durrës is home to Albania's main port. The city is at one of the narrower points of the Adriatic Sea, opposite the Italian ports of Bari and Brindisi.

When Albania became independent (in 1912) Durres was its capital. This remained until 1920. The total population is 200,110, while the metropolitan area has a population of 265,000.

Durrës is an important link to Western Europe due to its port and its proximity to the Italian port cities, notably Bari, to which daily ferries run. As well as the dockyard, it also possesses an important shipyard and manufacturing industries, notably producing leather, plastic and tobacco products.

Durrës is home to the largest archaeological museum in the country. There are also several museums such as Royal Villa of Durrës and the Museum of History (the house of Aleksandër Moisiu). Durrës host also the Aleksandër Moisiu Theatre, the Estrada Theater, the puppet theater, and the philharmonic orchestra. Localities from around of Durrës are known for producing good wines and delicious dishes.

Since ancient times, Makarska has been the center of the Makarska Littoral, administrative, political, economic, cultural and educational, and since the mid-20th century. st. and touristic. Today it is a city with more than 15 thousand inhabitants, which also includes picturesque settlements under Biokovo, Veliko Brdo, Puharići, Kotišina and Makar, from which came the name Makarska. Makarska is one of the most famous tourist destinations on the Croatian coast, attractive due to its natural and climatic characteristics, diverse tourist offer and hospitable hosts.

Makarska is located at the foot of the Biokovo mountain massif (1762 m), which protects from the penetration of the continental climate and has lush Mediterranean vegetation, mild winters, long and warm summers with a refreshing maestral. The sun is shining for more than 2750 hours a year with an air temperature of more than 20 ° C from June to September, and the clear sea from June to October has a temperature above 20 ° C.

The city of Makarska occupies a central position in the Makarska Littoral, not only because of geographical location, but primarily because of the economic and social factors that made this city the second largest economic and demographic framework of Central Dalmatia (right after Split), which is why Makarsko in the last time is increasingly using the name Makarska Riviera.